New-York daily tribune., 1849-02-24
The FLIGHT OF THE ANTELOPE.
An EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF KIT CARSON.
WRITTEN FOR IHE TRIBUNE
BY DAVID L. 3 BROW WV.

had not participated in tue srray. Tor the purpose
Of procuring something in the shape OF horse or
mule on which to noun; myself was startled by
female shrek, and. on looking suddenly up had
barely time 70 spring aside as Blackioot whom
recognized TO be a Chief, few past the loose ends
of the buffalo robe on which he vas riding brushing
me- in the face. He had one Of our women before
him. on his horse. who was wriihins in his arms
and making vain and Intellectual endeavors 10 ire
herself from bis powerful grasp. raised my rifle
nstinctively 70 fire. but the utter impossibility Of
shooting the savaee without at the same time
eerIing the life OF his captive compelled me to
desist I was giving up all hope Of succor Tor the
poor girl, when at the distance OF about mile, at
a point or elbow formed by sudden turn OF the
river, discovered one of our men dashing at full
speed for the purpose, apparently OF interepting
the Blackloot before he could gain the Madison at
the only available point whore he could cross over
and join the rest OF his tribe. 1t was moment
OF intense and even agonzing, interest to me for
this woman was and deservedly. a very great
favorite with us all she was the squaw OF Jack
Robinson, one OF our very best men, and had en-
deared herself to the whole camp by her intelli-
gence Kindness OF heart, and native feminine deli
cacy Of feeling to say nothing Of her good looks.
which were nearly OF the very highest type Of
Indian beauty.
On aitcnuvely observing the horseman, who
had all at once become an object OF absorbing iu-
terest the hopes which had been fast waning
within me. sprung into instant aud vigorous life.
Tor in that figure moving with the case and vclo-
city Of the wind, saw one whose very name has
since become the synonym OF desperate adven
ture. and romantic courage This was my bosom
friend Kit Carson, who was mounted on a superb
booded horse, which had been presented TO hun
some two years previous 10y Sir William Drum
mond Stewart, with his head guitless of hat-a
flet being simply bound around this long, light
brown or auburn hair streaming in the wind, his
slight but muscular FORM swaying and bending
with inimitable grace, to every motion oithe noble
animal, as il fec rather than dashed over the un-
dulatng prairie that interyened between him and
the Indian Chief, increasing ct every bound the
chances OF rescue, and being seemingly conscious
OF the infinite importance of its present exertions
The Backioot who had quickly seen the hunter,
and OWNED his intention 10 cut him of from the
exertious to accomplish his purpose. But Carson
was too quick for him They were about twenty
yards apart when the latter discharged his gun,
but apparently with little effect, as the former did
not swerve from his course in the sighted degree.
They were now within a hundred yards Of the
spot, where n narrow and steep buffalo track form
ed the only practicable descent to the River Madi-
son, when Carson, who had hitherto carried his
rifle in the hollow of his leit ann, brought it sud
denly round to his shoulder, snd fired. knew
that the shot had taken effect. as could perceive
the Indian straighteu himself in the saddle. and
in the next moment hs knife was cleaning aloit
and descended upon the form Of bis helpless cap
tive Both fell heavily 10 the earth and the horse
of the Blackfoot Chief freed from its double bur
den. bounded wildly forward, and disappeared
down the steep and rugged pass which It's master
had .triven in vain 20 rcach.
IL was the work OF a moment tor Carson to
spring from his horse, aud disengage the woman
from the death grasp OF the savage. She was
badly but not mortally wounded, the knile oi the
savage having struck upon the bone OF the fleshy
part of the arm, from which II glanced and passed
entirely through, inflicted an ugly but not danger
Gus woand upon her side With the assistance
Of some of our men who arrived Immediately after
this fortunate termination of the conflict, Kit car
ied the poor girl to the camp, where she was
given in charge to the women who always act
as surgeons on such occasions, who incontnently
dressed her wounds and made her as comfortable
as the circumstances OF the case would admit oI'
The conduct OF the Indian woman on this trying
Il
occasion was So characteristic, and at the same
time so dissimilar to that which woudin all proba
bity have been displayed in like situation by a
civilized woman, that il Is worthy OF remark 10
those curious in human nature. From the time
she was snatched from her horse until she was
relieved from her perilous position by the heroic
and timely interference ol hit Carson the lndian
eirl had given but one scream. which was pro-
duced more by surprise than iear aud from that
instant silently submitted to her fate, with The
quiet determination, however, to avail herself OF
any possible means OF escape thst chance or ac'
cident might present. When Kit overlook her
abdactor. and for some time hesitated about firing,
fearful oil ininring her whom he had come 10 save
she resolutely told him to shoot, and never to mind
her; and when the Blackioot raised his knife. It
was only bN quickly shilthi- "tt Pv9t'''" ''"' ~"
avoided receiving the weaponi in her breast where
the blow would doubtless have been mortal Her
position and conduct can only be properly aPPre-
ciated. when We reflect that she was mensced by
fate the most terrible that can well be conceived
which was, to be given over 10 the Blaekeel
women. and put to death by every species OF tor
ture that savage ingenuity could devise backed
by long experience in the most cruel and subtle
methods of extracting the greatest amount OF
physical agony from their wretched victims And
all this she perfectly well knew, iorit Is customary
with all the mountain tribes 50 70 treat their
female prisoners.
v
On looking over the field after the array
counted the dead bodies of seventeen Indians
every one Of which had been scalped, pre-
senting a most hideous and revolving spectacle
There was but one exception to this universal and
barbarous mutilation and that was the body OF the
Chief, whose hairy honos were left undisturbed
by Carson, and who had specially charged the
hunters to respec, the mortal remains OF bis enc
my. He thus spared the kindred and tribe OF the
savage Chief flor they would doubtless come anc
| D rfafz M