The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-07-06
"Reminiscences of Old Bob Carson.

lIOm tle elUO". numbers, OF course, are
shown by holding up the fingers.-Apple-
| toms Journal
"Reminiscences of Old Bob Carson.
In the town of Arrow Rock, on the
Missouri River, the celebrated mountain
eer and trapper, Bob Carson, yet lives; is
hale, stout and hearty, able and willing to
make many more like trips. He is full Of
| anecdotes, and gives US many hair breadth
| escapes from mountain storms and Indian
| fights.
He says the last tight place he got into
was il the year 1S49, during the Mexican
wsf. The Mexicans We're committing 2
| derredations, and had stolen some of our
| gCsernment horses and mules. Captain
Price-atterwari Gen. Sterling Price
was in command of company of United
States volunteers, who were ever ready
for scout or fight. He was ordered to
make detail of twelve of his best men
| ard send them in search of the stolen
| pr 'perty. Twelve choice and tried men
wsre chosen. Then came the query-who
Is able and willing to take command of
| th s squad? 1t must be some man who
ca talk with the different Indian tribes
through which they may have to pass in
| pursuit of the Mexicans.
Luckily for the squad, at this moment
Bob Carson rode up, well mounted on his
taVorite hunting horse, Leo. A shout
from the twelve brave men bid him wei
come; their object stated and requesting
him to take command. Nothing suited
| Carson better than this.
He told Capt. Price that he could fol-
low cold trail as fast as any living man
could, and to give himself no uneasiness,
that he would bring his twelve men back
and not lose a scalp.
The sequel shows how hs succeeded
| The second day out they struck the
trail; late in the evening they saw in the
distance large party of Indians, and as
they were on friendly terms with the diff
serent tribes, Carson and his band hurried
20 overtake them, hoping to gain some in
DrmatlOn concerning the stock.
The Indians saw them approaching, and
Lalted for them to come up. AS Carson
md his men came up, his keen eye discov-
Ged that they were on the war-path, hut
moving no fear, he rode up, and the In
dams, four hundred strong, closed wings,
and completely surrounded them. Sandi-
v1e, the chief, rode up to Carson, ex
| Ginning:
Yeds teooly"-you are my prisoner.
Carson, after questioning the chief
slort time, found that they were also in
pursuit of lost stock, stolen, as they con-
silered by the United States troops.
| The Mexicans had told him this tale to
screen themselves. But all of their in
| tJigue could not induce Sandivere to re-
lease him and his twelve men.
The next morning the old chief COM
menced making preparations to shoot and
scalp his prisoners. Carson called him
aside for talk, and finally persuaded him
- send one of his best runners to Cap
tain Prices camp and if things were not
found iuss as represented, that on the
fourth day of departure OF SAID runner, at
twelve O'Clock, he mign. 20 WIN ms rs 3 prs
Carson and his men, sanguinc thai every
thing would prove satisfactory TO -"
chief, remained their prisoners cheerfuiIy
and nd happy.
Ier IL Sight; Ii anu nu tunnel -; -
Iveribinp in camp was excitement anu
omnotion. Sandivere was certain 'laI
he inner had been foully dealt with, ana
ms ANGER made preparations tor sum
rr,rr vengeance. Twelve o'clock, ana no
rnfer in sight as far as the eye coulu
JaCl. -, ,,,o &c
Carson thought his hour had come, as
renarations were made; and, well Know
,g the terms would be complied with, ne
.Iled SanJiyere and told him he would
La tn have q talk with him before ne anu
e mon were shot. Carson and Sandlvere
commenced their talk, Carson IN Ihe hledh rl
e me walking slowly and lelsureiy lloii l
: ne camp, telling the chief that the nolses,
j adde's blankets, etc, were an ooiatet 10
- lyilled to him, the great chlel, any ,l!a' no
S Iyas not compelled on account Oh lhls ~
: Lation to divide them among MS "aiiio-s "a
e The chief was much lnteres'tu th;s Itin
1aasod with this donation, and by TINS
5, Inc thew were eighty or one hunoreu
it vards from the Indian camp, when larson
II ,,,,;th the dexterity of an old mountaineer
lie orilad from his boot leg an ugly-looklhs
,r boister pistol, cooked and presented
r E;rootlv Of the face of the old cher, eA
II, claiming: i,o,orn
ir, aWhat do YOU mean?" asked SandlVere
fly aI mean lust what say-if you NOV
es one inch you are dead man. :; Al,
nd Tba Indians. seeing their chief IN oai
rs rer started to his rescue, but Carson 70,
e: FIN tn motion his men back, or ne "oul
ne shoot him on the spot. The old eng
res veil knowing the man he had TO aeal WV
he instantly complied, and mouoneo us -, ,
iteI back. Carson then told him 10 oruel
his twelve men with their horses JuSo
he he had received them, ard Leo Win 'n0'
er This was instantly complled WIN. ,
th,I Carson then mounted the Ola chleI r. ,
tn hind one of his men and starLeu loi s Sa
, inl Prices camp, where oan0,selo H TT r
and things as represen1ou ny Srt had lost
;oh LII tuaii which had caused the delay. Ca
iCn ~; p-it p.;ne gsve the chief many presents,
the the es.orted = him 70 his tribe. He aiterwa
the the wrs = ~ true friend to the whites, ana ana
-o" o." m.ny instances did very valuable ;ae serV
the Thus by the GOODNESS, cunning
al downright bravery of Bob carson oon .his s
Won Vhe1 band of twelve brave men "
so1o reicued from certain death.