Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-07-29
Renaissance of Old Bob Carson.

1
Assay--I'm twcnty-five!
- - -
"Reminiscences OF Old Bob Carson.
In the town of Arrow Rock, oil
the Missouri River, the celebrated
mountaineer and trapper, Bob Car
son, yet lives; Is hale, stout and
hearty, able and willing to make
many more like trips. He Is full of
anecdotes, aud gives us many hair
breadth escapes from mountain
storms and Indian fights.
He says the last tight place he got
into was I'm the year 1S49, during the
Mexican war. The Mexicans were
mmittingi depredations, and had
stolen some of our government hors.
es and mules. Captain Price-after-
ward Gen. Sterling Price-was in
States volunteers, who were ever
ready for scout or a fight. He was
ordered to make o detail OF twelve
of his best men and send them In
search of the stolen property
Twelve choice and tried men were
chosen. Then came the query-who
Is able and willing to take command
Of this squad? 1t must I've some man
who can talk with the different In
dian tribes through which they may
have to pass lin pursuit of the Next
cans.
Luckily for the squad, at this mo.
ment Bob Carson rode up, well
mounted on his favorite hunting
horse, Leo. A shout from the twelve
brave men bid him welcome their
object stated and requesting him to
take command. Nothing suited Car
son better than this.
He told Capt. Price that he could
follow a cold trail as fast as any liv-
ling man could, and to give himself
no uneasiress, that he would bring
his twelve men back and not lose a
scalp.
The sequel shows how he succeeded.
The second day out they struck the
trail; late i'm the evening they saw
In the distance large party of In
dams, and AS they were on friendly
terms with the different tribes, Car
son and his band hurried to overtake
them, hoping to gain some iniorma-
ton concerning the stock.
The Indians saw them approach
ing, aud halted for them to come up.
AS Carson and his men came up, his
keen eye discovered that they Were
on The war-path, but knowing no fear
he rode up, and the Indians, four hun
ired strong, closed wings, and com
pletely surrounded them. Sandivere,
the chief, rode up to Carson, exclaim-
ing:
"Yeds tedoly"-you are my pris
oner.
Carson, after questioning the chief
"a short time, found that they were
also I'm pursuit of lost stock, stolen as
they considered, by the United
| States troops.
The Mexicans had told him this
tale to screen themselves. But all
of their intrigue Guild not induce
Sandivere to release him and his
twelve men.
The next morning the old CHIEF
commenced making preparations to
shoot and scalp his prisoners. Car.
son called him aside for talk, and
finally persuaded him To send one OF
his best runners to Captain Prices
camp, and If things were not found
lust as represented, that on the fourth
lday of departure of said runner, at
twelve o'clock, he might do with his
prisoners as he pleased. The runner
started. Carson and his m n, sam
guine that everything would prove
satisfactory to the chief, remained
their prisoners cheerfully and happy.
On the morning Of the fourth day
all were momentarily expecting the
runner TO appear. Ten o'clock came
and no runner in sight: ii and no
runner in sight. Everything in camp
was excitement and commotion. =
/ Sandivpre was certain that his run
ner had been foully dealt with, aud
la his anger made preparations for
summary vengeance. Twelve O'Clock
and no runner in sight as far as the
eye could reach.
Carson thought his hour had come,
az preparations were made; and, we'll
knowing the terms would be com
piled with, he called Sandivere and
told him he would like to have n talk
with him before he and his men were
shot. Carson and Sandivere com
menced their talk, Carson in the
meantime walking slowly and leis-
urely from the camp, telling the chief
that the horses, saddles, blankets,
etc., were all donated or willed TO
him, the great chief, and that he was
not compelled on account OF this do
nation to divide them among his
warriors.
The chief was much interested and
pleased with his donation, and by
this time they were eighty or one
4. "A IN IN a.