New-York daily tribune., 1849-02-23
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
THE FLIGHT OF THE ANTELOPE
AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF KIT CARSON
wMIIES FOR IHE TRIBUNE
BY DAVID L. BROWN.
III

had arrived from st. Louis no the Fur Compa!
oost on the yellow Stone. IT, lad brought a''-
with him some Of the genuine Small IoA vi ',
Being informed that the Indians in the fia'Iis "a''
At different times suffered greatly from ils ioal"'
some scourgc, aud knowing their anxiety 70 Dc
freed from It's ravagcs bc induced some lTlHciPai
chiefs among the Backfeet,-this tribe being In
the habit Of trading largely at tins establishment,
to consent a. be iunocuatcd. The consequences,
which were probably iorsoen and intendcd, were
d;s.strous in the extreme. The tribe was cut Oft
bv thousands. The poor wrctches, wholly uuac-
quainted with the nature Of the fearful maady
that slnOtc them Ike dcstroyin angel and look
ing only 70 present relief from the intense fever
thirst and fire that was raging within them
sought the rivers by scores aud hundreds and
perished ia their agony. The effects Of this fright
iul decmaton may be partially realized, when 1t
is understood, that previous to tins visitation, the
tribe was supposed 10 number thirty thousand
warriors aud now, not more than half that mum
Der was in existence. We passed by new
lodge, surrounded by willows, on the banks Of the
Madison, which was literally filed with the dead
bodies Of their men, women and children, all Of
whom had fallen prey to this fell disease. 1t
outward appearance, the habitation Of living sen
tient beings, but inclosiug only in its snow-white
folds the chastly and unburicd remnants Of NOR.
tality. 1t was ssd that an only brother Of the
doctor had n some time or other, been murdered
by the Blackfect and this wGs his rcrcugc. OF
course nothing IS TO be said in defence or extenuo
tion of crime so appalling. Nevertheless,
very much question if there was single man in
our camp who did not consider it iustiable, and
everything considered, even praiseworthy mode
Of getting rid of a troublesome enemy.
A few days subsequent to Shower disappear
ance when about to enter a narrow gorge through
which the Madison fork of the Missouri forces its
way, leaving only sufficient space for mounted
men to pass between the river and the precipce
that frowns incumbent over its northern bank, we
found our ingress barred by large party OF Black
feet. This being the only practicable route to the
particular portion Of country through which we
designed 10 trap, and whose streams were con-
sidered 10 be moro aIlaent in beaver than almost
any other portion OF the mountain regions, we
had no alternative left other than to turn back,
fight our way through IT, We decided upon the
latter The savages were about two hundred IN
number mounted on horseback, and drawn up IN
line directly the mouth of the pass. Our
leader, Jim Brdgor, ia celebrated character IN
those regious) had at first objected to attack
them but being strongly urged thereto by
number of our resolute spirts, he finally gave his
consent.
Our party when all together, amounted to abont
eighty men. but there were not over fifty present
some thirty of our best hunters having set out
tlaa q
aud its tributaries.
These savages had quite an imposing appear
ance. with their tall, slender, symmetrical forms
entirely naked, with the exception OF slight
covering about their oins their faces aud heads
decorated. the former with red paint, and the lat
ter with eagles's feathers, and their long guos
with their highly polished barrels ON which the
sun kept glancing and flashing, as their horses
impatient of restraint, pranced and curvettei IN
the ranks.
When at the distance of about four hundred
wards from the savages, they raised their peculiar
veil or war.whoop at the same time putting spurs
70 their horses and dscharging some OF their guns,
they dashed tow ard us at full speed. Our horses,
which were quite eager for the atfray as their
masters, sprang forward at a rapid pace, and as
we passed like arrows through the rushing mass oi
the enemy, we delivered a wcll-drccted hre that
swept many saddle of its occupant. Ihe hsh'
now became extremely animated, the contehdihs
n.rties spreading themselves over large space
aud fighting Independently riding paFanel 10
each other at full gallop, and loading and hrins
without checking their speed for an instant Not
wi,hstanding the great advantage "hieh the D'a'A-
feet possessed in this species OF oncounier-""h-
out considering their great superiority Oh hulhoo'S
from being able, when in fall career to throw
themselves on the sides of their horses opposite
their antagonists, in horizontal position 50 thht
nothing but their heels are exposed to be shot at
and in this manner firing from under the necks OF
their horses with almost perfect immunity from
danger-yet shortly succeeded IN driving them
before us. My horse having been shot under me
at the beginning of the fight, l had nothing to
do but TO observe the scene before me. In looking
over the ground, my attention wss attracted
especianv TO two of the combatants One OF these
| recognized to be Major Joe Meek, famous
hunter: the other was very powerful looAihS
savage Both appeared to be wounded, and ooth
were riding at full speed-the former IN pursuit OF
the latter, who was bending to the neck oil his
horse and apparently doing every thing III ms
power to increase his speed. Meeks face was
covered with blood from ghasily wound IN his
forehead He was mounted on feet and power
iul bay horse that was gaining at every jump upon
his red-skinned antagonist, who was evidently
riding for hse, as he cast from time TO time
fierce and despairing look behind him, as 10th to
fy. yet certain Of death. The Majors rifle was
dubbed, and, as he came within striking distance
he dealt upon the head Of the Indian blow so
tremendous that it hurled him TO the ground
senseless mass, when his now mas,eress horse
dashed suddenly aside and continued on his course
with frantic speed. The Major, having reined up
rode 10 'he place where the savage lay, and jump
insfrom the saddle having in the first place cleaned
his eyes oil the blood with which his entire face
was covered he deliberately stabbed and scalped
him, and hosting the bleeding trophy on the muz
zle OF his rihe gave prolonged unearthly yell OF
triumphant vengeance that rivaned in gusto the
ruthless demonstrations of our mercile,s sntseo-
nists The Blackieet were now i, sou s;.l. ,,,r