The Shasta courier., 1868-08-08
COURIER.
Kit Carson and the Utah Chief

| During a residence of ten years in the
Rocky Mountains | became intimately ac.
quanted with Kit Carson. / have hunted,
trapped, and fought Indians in company with
him, and a more congenial and pleasant COM
panion it has never fallen to my lot to meet.
In the summer of the year 1915, was camp
ed with Kit Carson, Bob Fisher, Lucien
Maxwell, and Dick Wooden, on the Rio, a
creek that empties its waters into Red River
We were building adobe houses Intending to
make permanent settlement Judge Beau
dian of Taos, MaxwelPs father-in-law, sent us
out some cows, hogs, chickens, and num-
ber of Spaniards whom we employed in plant
ing about one hundred acres of corn on the
opposite side of the creek without any fenc-
ing. Our corn looked well, and we were
anticipating large crop, when one day a
village of Utahs, consisting of about seventy
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 de.
liberately 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 g if it was
his intention to destroy our corn?' He said
yes he came for the purpose of recruiting
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, aud rot
willing to have the crop destroyed without an
offort to save it, Kit sprang from his horse,
saying, Boys cover me with your guns,
will fix him." and instantly 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 shall kill you,"
at the same time holding seven-inch butch
er knife to his breast. The chief seeing that
he was in bad predicament, 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 bravery in others. Car
son knew this, and thought that by acting in
the manner he did he would be most apt to
succeed. After releasing bis hold Of the In
dian, he asked him " how he learned that
the whites were going to war with the
Utahs ?" Big Antler said Black Cloud
bad Just come from Taos and brought the
news"
Black Cloud who was standing by said,
yes, 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 Antler 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 20 to
war without cause" The warriors now be-
gan to crowd around us with threatening ges-
lures, which being perceived by the chief he
ordered them to desist and stand back. saw
ing Warriors, would you be towards to
attack these men in your own camp? The
first that lays hand on these men | shall
shoot down like dog. | 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
lie hardly ceased speaking when about ffty
braves sprung to the side of their chief
Black Cloud, who was man of influenza
among the Utabs, a very giant in size, and of
blood thirsty nature, who had caused Big
Antler great deal of trouble by his quar-
resome disposition, and had also killed the
chiefs own brother some few years before.
stepped forward and tried to pursuade the
balance that they had better kill and DESTROY
all belonging to us. Having the majority
with him he began to argue with the chief
You know" he said, that the Utahs ney-
er had much love for the whites; now is our
time; let US kill these men; they are can.
tains and braves we have them in our now.
er; let us kill them and then 90 down to
the camp and kill the Spaniards and DESTROY
their stock and corn, and then we will fipbt
the whites whenever we meet them. Have
they not driven our buffaloes awav. caught
our beaver, and by hunting through the
country made the game so wild that our
young men find it hard work to get meat to
feed our women and children Z? What are
they to us? Are we not the owners of this
country? What right have they here? Thev
trade with our enemies the Cheyennes and
Arrapahoes, furnish them guns and ammu-
milton to fight us with ~ Then turning to
his own crowd he said Have YOU beard
me, braves Shall we be women and let
B'g Antler dictate what we shall do in this
matter? No, warriors Let us kill them
and every white we catch in our country
from this out My heart is big-big for the
Utahs. Big Antler's heart is big for the
| whites Whom will you join? Who shall
be YOUR chief and lead you against tho
| whites? l have done.''
As soon as he stopped speaking an old
brave SAID: "utahs, pause moment. Open
your ears and hear your chief first. You all
know he is strong in war, and strong in coun-
ell. Big Antler, speak for your peoples
! The chief stepped forward, and throwing
his robe on the ground, stood before them q
perfect model of strong and active man.
With head erect and flashing eyes, be COM
menced
| Il have listened to Black Cloud | have
heard all he said. He has been a great war
rior. He counts more COOS than any other
man in the nation. His enemies scalps
hang on every pole in his lodge. His squaws
and children..never want for meat, for he is
great hunter There is no Utah in the tribe
as big as he. Look at him as he stands there
head and shoulders above you1all Why
was he not chief? l will tell you. He
was not born to be chief, he is too wicked