The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-15
K,t Carson. Of The West.

KIT Carson, Of the West.
This singular man left Washington this morning, in
company with Mrs Fremont, for the west On entering
fine War Office yesterday, were askel, "l1lve you
seen Kit Carson! lie has this moment left my room and
a singular and striking man he IS! Modest as he is
brave, with the fire OF enterprise in his eyewith the
bearing of an Indian, walking with his toes turned
n-I wish you could have HIM" We
fortunate as to miss him, though curiosity great
IL excited but in the of two hours, gentleman,
who had much of Carson, waited upon and po-
ley furnished with the following description OF this
singular man. The portrait is admirably drawn, and
cyes us great pleasure lay it before readers II
he character of of those bold and enteprsng spirits
of the west whom the peculiar influences of the frontier
settements-between the white man and the red man
are so well calculated to produce Carson, however, is
master spirit whose habits we like TO understand, and
whose adventures delight to hear
How easy would it be for the pencil Of Cooper to take
all the materials which Kit Carson could furnish, and
obise the world with another picture OF the romantic
manners OF the Far West Such unique character ought
to be preserved by the magic pen OF genius before its
traits disappear under the advance OF civilization.
Under this name, within few years. has become
quite familiar TO the public, mainly through his con.
necton with the expeditions of Fremont, one OF
the best those noble and original characters that
have from time to time sprung up on and beyond
our frontier, retreang with it to the west, and draw
the udeness and sensuasm OF the savage but genuine
simplicity and ruhiulness OF disposition, and generosity,
bravery and single heartedness 10 degree rarely found
in society. Although Kit has only become known to
the reading people OF the States and of Europe through
Fremonts reports, he was long ago famous in world as
extended if not Rou1Ss do Od ex xs a
CURES and develops He has been celebrated Enough
now aged only about 81 years. as hunter trapper,
guido or pilot of the praires, and Indian fighter uniting
10 the necessary characteristics of that adventurous and
sturdy class Kindness of heart and genteness of manner
that relieves it of any possible harshness or aspery He
s now in 'the Sates" having recently arrived with de-
spatches from California; and have taken the opportu
nity to extract from him few incidents of his eventlul
life Heis worthy OF an honorable and more extended
memoir and his adventures fully written out, they
would possess an interest equal to any personal nara
tive whatever.
Christopher Carson was born in Kentucky in the year
1870 1911, his father having been one OF the early
settlers, and also noted hunter and Indian fighter. In
the year following Kits birth, the family removed, for
the sake of elbow than the advancing pop
ulation of Kentucky left them, to the territory OF Mis-
souri, On this frontier, bred to border life, Kit remained
TO the age of fifteen, when he joined trading party to
Santa Fe This was his ntroductono those vast plans
that stretch beyond the State of Missouri. Instead OF
returning home, Kit found his way by various adven-
lures SOUTH through New Mexico to the copper mines
OF Chihuahua, where he was employed some months as
teamster
When about seventeen years old, he made his first
petition trapper. This was with party which had
been induced by favorable accounts of fresh trapping
grounds on the Rio Colorado of California, adven-
ure thther that Kits first exploits were in the same
remote and romantic region where, during the last year
he and all his comrades, with their commander, have
earned mperishable honor The enterprise was success
full and Kit relates many interesting anecdotes OF the
harshps OF the wilderness and OF the encounters OF his
party with the Indians. The Mexican authorities and
settlers in California were even at that time jealous OF
the Americans, and threatened to seize even thus molten
sve and rowing party Of r They made
whence soon after Kit joined trapping party to the
head waters OF the Arkansas, likewise a region EN-
braced since the last published Expedition, in the sur
NJ Cal Without
Kit went northward to the region OF the Rocky noun
tains that gives to the Missouri and Columbia rivers
and there remained eight years engaged IN the ther
important occupation OF trapping The great demand fol
the beaver, and the consequent high prices al that tune
paid for the petries gave an additional stimulus TO the
adventurous spirit OF the young men OF the west, and
drew nearly all who preferred the excements and haz
ards of life in the wilderness to quieter pursuits, INTO the
recesses of the Rocky Mountains Here peculiar class
was formed the elements, the sturdy, enterprsng, ant
uncurbed character of the frontier; the circumstances
that influenced and formed il. nature in her widest
toughest and grandest both as assoc
ates and foes of every cast from the wretched Rootdig
gers the vndctve Blackfee and the courageous ahc
warlike Crows-and vocation OF constant labor, pva
ton, and peril in every shape yet OF gains OF nature
and degree to give somewhat of the characteristics
gambling The decrease OF the beaver before pursul
of the poor animal so ruthless as was thus smu
lated and the substitution of other commodities To-
the beaver fur, have left trapping scarcely worth fol
lowing vocation and the race OF trappers ha'
nearly disappeared from the mountain gorges where
they built their rude lodges where they set thei
traps for the willy beaver, and where were thel
frequent combats with the savages and with vii,
beasts not less formidable In the school OF men thus
formed by hardship, exposure, peril, and temptation, on
hero acquired all their virtues and escaped their wees
He became noted through the extent OF the trapping
grounds and both sides of the Rocky mountains, a
a successful trapper, an unfailng shot, unerlns
guide and for bravery sagacity and steadness IN all CIR
Cumstances He chosen to lead in almost all enter
prses of unusual danger, and in all attacks on the In
dams AT time, with party of twelve, he tracked
band of sixty Crows, who had stolen some OF thu
horses belonging to the rappers, cut loose the animal
which were tied within ten feet OF the strong fort OF log
in which the Indians had taken shelter attacked them ant
made good his retreat with the recovered horses an In
dian OF another tribe, who was with the trappers, bring
ing away Crow scalp trophy. In one combat wit
the Backfeet, Carson received rifle ball IN his lei
shoulder, breaking it. Save this, he has escaped tn
manifold dangers to which he has been exposed, with
out serious bodily injury OF course, turbulent an
unrestrained life there were not unfrequent persona
rencounters among the rappers themselves, nor cou
the most peaceably disposed always avoid them Thes
most frequent and savage at the periods when tn
irappers went in to the rendezvous, called tn
points where the companies kept Their establishments 10
receiving The petres and supplying the trappers Her
few days of indulgence were commonly allowed hun
self by the trapper, and there much drinking ant
gambling and consequently f,ghtng feudS, growln
out of national feelings would also naturally enoug
sometimes among the trappersthere being Cana
dams and Mexicans well as the Americans all havln
pride of race and'country. On OCCASION French
man. who ranked as a bully, had whipped good man
Canadians and then began TO insult the Americans say
ing they only worth being whipped with switches
At this Carson fired up and said, (" lie was the mos
ting one among the Americans, and TO begin with hun.
After some little talk, each off and armed him
sef-Carson with pistol the Frenchman with rifle
and both mounted for the fight Riding up until thei
horses heads touched they fred almost al the in