Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-17
Kit Carson.

Kit Carson.
On the twenty-third of May, the re-
nowned pioneer, hunter, and guide, Kit
Carson, died at Fort Lynn, Colorado. For
years he has been the most noted of that
once numerous class which is rapidly disap-
pearing before our advancing civilization.
Kit Carson was born in Kentucky, in 500.
While he was but an infant, his parents
moved to Howard county, Missouri, where
he remained until the age Of seventeen,
when he commenced the adventurous life of
hunter and trapper. He accompanied Lieu
tenant Fremont in his explorations, the
success of which was largely due TO his
services as guide. In lS47, Carson received
the commission of Lieutenant in the Rife
4 Corps of the United States army, and dur
/ ing the war rose to the rank of Brigadier-
General by brevet. In 1858, he was ap-
pointed Indian Agent in New-Mexico. 1t
is probable that for many years past there
/ has been no white man so thoroughly ac-
! quainted with the Indian character as Kit
Carson, or evincing such cool Judgment and
wisdom in dealing with the red men. He
has thus been useful in aiding in the nego-
tiations of most of our Indian treaties.
Kit Carson was peculiar for the modest
estimate which he placed upon his own
merits and achievements, presenting in this
respect marked contrast to other men of
his class In an interesting volume of
Western travel, published a short time since
by Hurd & Houghton, we find a chapter
devoted to Kit Carson. The book is en-
titled Ttco Thousand Miles on Horseback,
and describes a summer tour, taken by the
author, Mr. james F. Meline, through Kan
sas, Nebraska, Colorado and New Mexico,
/ in the year 1866 1t exhibits throughout
evidences of close observer, as well as
pleasing writer; and few extracts relat-
ing to the lately deceased hunter will,
doubtless, be acceptable to our readers:
/ The pleasantest episode Of my visit
/ here Santa Fe), has been the society of
Kit Carson, with whom passed three days
| need hardly say delightfully."-. He is one
of the few men [ ever met who can talk
! long hours to you of what he has seen, and
yet say very little about himself He has
to be drawn out. l had many questions to
ask, and his answers were all marked by
great distinctness of memory, simplicity,
candor, and desire TO make some one else,
rather than himself, the hero of his story.
3 N
In answer to queries concerning Indians, he
would frequently reply-unlike so many |
have met who knew all about them |
don't know can't say | never saw
/ that
Rife-shooting being under discussion,
The Utes,' says Carson, are the best
shots in the country, whether Indian or
white l have handled the rife since l
was so high Indicating the size of a small
boy), and shot good DEAL most men of
Carson's skill would have said, | consider
myself the best shot in the Rocky Noun
tains, or I'll turn my back on no man for
rife-shootingO. but some of the Utes beat
me-
" He cares but little for title, and when
some one at the table apologized for call
ing him Colonel, instead OF General, Oh !!
call me Kit at once, and be done with it,
was his reply.
"Some one referred to Carson's intimate
knowledge of Indian strategy. Why,
yes he said, | am up to a good many of
their tricks, but they fooled me once
they fooled me pretty bad that time. I'll
tell you about it. 1t was Inlet me see
yes, 1885. There were six of us hunters
out after buffalo, up in the Snake country
We had made pretty good hunt, and came
into camp at night intending to start in
next morning Well, we camped. Had a
good many dogs with US some Of them good
dogs. They barked good deal, and we
heard wolves. As l lay by the fire, [ saw
one or two big wolves snnat;rs eho''+ ~o-'r
one of them quite in it. Gordon wanted
to fire, but | would not let him, for fear of
hitting some of the dogs. | had just a lit
tie suspicion that the wolves mis- ght be In
dians, but when | saw them turn short round
and heard the snap of their teeth, as the
dogs came too close TO one of 'em, felt
easy then, and made sure it was wolf.
The Indian fooled me that time. Confound
the rascal becoming animated), contound
the rascal, do you think he hadn't two old
buffalo-bones in his hand that he cracked
together every time he turned to snap at
the dogs? Well, by and by we dozed Oft
asleep, and it wasn't long before L was
awoke by crash and blaze. | jumped
straight for the mules, and held 'em. Ii
the Indians had been smart, they'd had US
all, but they run as soon as they fired"
Kit Carson, at the time of his death, was
Colonel of the New-Mexican cavalry, and
Indian Agent for New Mexico, to which
position he was. for the second time, ap-
pointed last year.