The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-01-29
20 OaraonIa Narrow Eaoape.


lie commenced his journey by travelling
around Lake Klamath and had not proceeded
far 10 that direction, before he found himself
encampcd on a small stream which emples
into the lake,
The nest morning he sent Kit Carson on
ahead with ten chosen men, giving him or
ders 10 the effect that II he discovered large
village Of Indians, which was the general sur
mise, without being himself seen, he was 10
send back Hordi when he tFremont) would
hasten on with reilforeemeuls Ia order %
make the assault. II il should happen that
the Indians were the first to be apprisod Of
his near approach, tlien, without delay, Car
son Was 70 engage them as he thought heat
Acting under these instructions, XII Carson,
with his detail Of men, set out, aud fortunately
soon fourd O fresh trail that led directly 10
where the Eayages had established their VII
lage This Indian village numbered forty
lodges and, 20 each wigvam, the mountain
GERS estimated three braves, as this il the
complement Of men who live In one Of these
/ huls on the prairos and in the Rocky Noun
I taius' thus making the force of the indians
to be in the ncghborhood OF one hundred
and ifly From she oommolon noticed in
= iHc village, It WAS evident to al present thar
! the tribe had become awarc Of danger, hnd
/ that there was no time TO be lost in sending
/ back the desired information, Kit Carson,
/ Notwithstanding the strength Of his enemies,
determined to hazard an attack and, after
brief consultation with his companions, he
decided 10 take advantage Of the confusion
that was existing among the red men by
charging right in among them. lfcyer there
Ia a time when Indians viii stand their
ground, It is when defending their families
| therefore, on this occasion, the white men
were very warmly recciycdi but they fought
with such degree Of desperation a. they
/ themselves had netcr done before. The re-
suit was, that the snyages became panie'sirick,
en-, and soon aitcrward fed, leaving every
thing they possessed behind them. The
| yiclors after pursuing the Indians for some
| distance, and adding few more to the list
/ Of killed, returned to the village, which they
/ found TO he rich in booty.
| The lodges here taken, Kit Carson de-
scribes as being the most tasty pieces of
handwork that Indian skin could devise. and
surpassed anything Of the Kind that he had
( previously looked upon. They we're made of
the broad leaves Of the svamp.nag. which
we're beautifully aud inticaicly woven to-
gcthcr. within the wigwnms, the party found
a very large amount Of fish IN different stag
. n 81 F.yE Etst,
/ to do these people rs much harm o' possible,
and thus be even with them for their recent
Savage cru,lies'e On their own party, Kit Car
am gate Ate sifsl=r to -esiipst prrE-thinys IN
/ the lodges and arrange the articles in such
manner that fire would either destroy or com
! pletely damage them, Having accomplished
this work, the lighted tindcr was apPlicd
when the flames lenpcd high up In the air
forming a 1T funeral pyrc for their slain com
pnnions. Fremont saw the reflection Of the
fro, and also the smoke, and at once knew
that Kit Carson was engaged with tho In
dinns' consequently, he pushed on at a very
rapid pace to assis, him. lie arrived too late
Tor what the men called the sport; hut in
stead. heard the report Of his lieutenant and
guide, Kit Carson, whose words 10 use his
/ N'rcmont'sj own language, rare synonymous
with truth The gloom which had pre-, allied
over the pnrty, while the men rccouuted TO
their friends the details of the fight was tenn.
porariiy dispeiiciy md whilc thus engaged,
the command moved on about two miles from
the INDIAN village Hlving here selected a
site, they went into camp. After comfortably
slowing themselves away in this rcsting-pacc,
another "war-talk was called, aud what was
best to be done canvassed oyery After the
udjuurrmcrt uf the council, Fremont decided
to send back twenty men, under Richard
Owens to the ncighborhood Of the ruins Of
the village, there to conceal themselves and
to await the return Of the indians, who il was
} thought. might come back to look after their
dead. lie did so and Owens had not been
sccrcted great while before about ffty
saw 'es returned. and, by the Moons light
wer~ quite visible. As had been preyi.
ously agreed upon, wordwas sent by trusty
messenger to Fremont, who, with six com
pauions, Kit Carson being Of the number,
hastened on horseback to join his outpost
For fear Of being discovered Fremont chose
a different route from the one taken BY OW-
ems, which was quitc direct while that of the
former was circuitous, On approaching ths
smouldering remains OF the village, Kit Car.
son discovered only one Indian wandering
about the ground, As soon almost as.ht was
seenby the party, they made a dash at him.
Kit Carson was in the advance, and on nrriv-
ing within about ten feet of the warrior, he
he drew up his horse and brought his rife to
his shoulder to fire, hut the gun only snap
ped, and left its owner ina very precorious
situation, as the red mnn'had already drawn
the string of his bow to plant an arrow in
the body OF his adversary. moment more
! and in all probability. Kit Carson would have