Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-10-03
COLUMBUS, OHIO, SATURDAY MORNING,
QDb(lloj::.5. o::.5.Statel';s|in],I1,|;,al1nt TAI
Kit Carson and the Utah Chief. {.

Nit Carson and the Utah Chief. 4
During residence of ten years in the
Rocky Mountains, became intimately
acquainted, with Kit Carson. Il have
hunted, trapped and fought Indians in
company with him., and more congen=
ial companion it has never fallen to my
lot to meet In the summer of the year
1S45, / was camped with Kit Carson,
Bob Fisher, Lucien Maxwell and Dick
Wooden,on the Rio,a creek that empties
its waters into the Red River. We
were building adobe houses intending to
make, a permanent settlement. Judge
Beaudien, of Taos, Maxwell's father-in-
law, sent us out some cows, hogs, chick
ems, and a number Of Spaniards whom
we employed in planting about one hun
dred acres of corn on the opposite side
of the creek without any fencing. Our
corn looked well, and we were anticipa-
ting large crop, when one day vii
lage of Utahs, consisting of about sew
enty-five lodges, under Big Antler, their
chief, made their appearance. They
had great many horses, and after
camping, which they did about one half
mile above us, they deliberately drove
their stock into our corn. We mounted
our horses, taking our rifles with us, and
drove them away, then riding up to their
camp, asked the chief "if it was his in
tention to destroy our corn 90 He said,
Eyes; he came for the purpose of re-
cruiting his horses, which were poor,
and he knew of no better place than
there, and he was told that the whites
were going to war with the Utahs." at
the same time he gave orders to his
young men to drive the horses back into
the corn. -, ,'. ...
Seeing that he was in earnest, and
not willing to have the crop destroyed
without an effort to save it, Kit sprang
from his horse, saying, "Boys, cover me
with Npur guns-I will fix him. and in
stantly springing upon the chief,clutched
him by the throat. "Now," he said,
"order your young men to bring back
those horses or you are a dead man.
IF your stock enter my corn I shall kill
you," at the same time holding seven
inch butcher knife to his breast. The
chief seeing that he was in bad pre-
dicament, and having good reasons to
know that the threat would be put in
force, ordered the horses brought back.
Big Antler was, and had always been,
the friend of the whites. and the most
honorable Indian in the Utah nation-a
brave man, and one who respected brave
ry in others. Carson knew this, and
thought that by acting in the manner he
did he would be most apt to succeed
After releasing his hold of the Indian
he asked him chow he learned that the
whites were going to war with the
Utahsl" Big Antler said 'Black Cloud
had Just come from Taos and brought
the news"
Black Cloud, who was standing by,
said, Eyes, it is so," and that we should
die, and our property be Destroyed
Kit said that he was talking crooked,
and trying to get the Utahs to commence
war;" Big Autler said that "as Black
Cloud was double-tongued, and did not
love the whites, he would wait and hear
further news, and not be too hasty in
the matter, as he did not want to go to
war without cause" The warriors now
began to crowd around us with threat
ening gestures, which, being perceived
by the chief, he ordered them to desist
and stand back, saying: "Warriors,
would you be towards to attack these
/, men in your own camp? The first that
lays hand on these men 1 shall shoot
down like a dog. I am going to camp
on this creek the balance of this moon,
and see that not one head of our horses
trouble the whites. These men are
brave, love them, and who among my
young warriors are going to join me in
protecting them p He hardly ceased
| speaking when about fifty braves sprang
to the side of their chief.
Black Cloud, who was man of inhu-
ence among the Utahs, a very giant in
size, and of bloodthirsty nature, who
had caused Big Antler a great deal Of
trouble by his quarrelsome disposition,
and had also killed the chiefs own
I brother some few years before, stepped
forward and tried to persuade the bal
ance that they had better kill and de-
stroy all belonging to us. Having the
majority with him, he began to argue
with the chief. "You know" he said,
"that the Utahs never had much love for
the whites. Now is our time Let us
kill these men! they are captains and
braves. We have them in our power
Let us kill them, and then go down to
, the camp and kill the Spaniards and de.
stroy their stock and corn, and then we
} will fight the whites whenever we meet
them. Have they not driven our buffaloes
away, caught our beaver, and, by hunting
through the country, made the game
, wild, so that our young men find it hard
work to get meat to feed our women and
children Are we not the owners o.
J, this country? What right have they
here2 They trade with our enemies
: the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and fur
| nish them guns and ammunition to fght
us with" Then turning to his owr
/ crowd, he said, "Have you heard me
, braves. Shall we be women and let Big
Antler dictate what we shall do in this
f matter? No warriors Let us xii
5 them and every white we can catch il
, our country from this time out. My
( heart is big-big for the Utahs. Biz
Antler's heart is big for the whites
:, Whom will you You join ? Who shall
, be your chief and lead you against the
/ whites2 1 have done.
As soon as he stopped speaking, al
: old brave said, "Utahs, pause moment
: Open your ears and hear your chic
: first. You all know he is strong in war
K, and strong in council. Big Antler, speal
} to your people"
, The chief stepped forward, and throw
! ing his robe on the ground, stood befor
: them a perfect model of strong anC
: active man. With head erect, anc