The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-05-05
OLD BOB CARSON.


A "Reminiscences of the Mexican War,
& From the Saline. (Mo,) Proggesss.l a
This celebrated mountaineer and
trapperyetlives onthe Missouri river
nigh the town. Of Arrow Rock; is
hale, stout and hearty. He is full Of
anecdotes and gives US many hair
breadth escapes from mountain storms
and Indian fights lsaoqmi sat wai5
He says the last tight place he got
into was in the year 1916; during the
Mexican war. The Mexicans were.
committing depredations Of all kinds,
and had stolen some of our govern
ment horses and mules. Capt. Price
afterwards Gen. Sterling Price
was in command of a company of u
S. volunteers, who were ever ready
for scout or a fight. He was order
ed to make detail Of twelve of his
best men and send them in search of
the stolen property. Twelve choice
and well tried men were chosen. II
Then came the query who is able and
willing to take command of this sqad
1t must be some man who can talk
with the different Indian tribes
through which they may have to pass
in pursuit of the Mexicans.
Luckily for the squads, at this mo-
ment Bob Carson rode up, we'll noun
ted 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 Carson
better than this.
He told Capt. Price that he could
follow cold trail as fast as any liv-
ing 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 he succeed
ed.
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 friend
" terms with the different tribes,
Carson and his band hurried to over
take them, hoping to gain some in
formotion concerning the stock.
The Indians saw them approach
ing and halted for them to come up.
AS Carson and his men came higher,
his keen eye discovered that they
were on the war-path, but knowing
no fear he rode up; and the Indians,
400 strong, closed wings and COM
pletely surroundedthem. 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 in pursuit of lost stock, stolen as
they considered by U. S. troops.
The Mexicans had told him this
tale to screen themselves. But all
of this intrigue could not induce San
divere to release him and his twelve
men.
The next morning the chief COM
menced making preparations to shoot
and scalp his prisoners. Carson call
ed him aside for talk, and finally
persuaded him to send one of his best
runners to Capt. Prices camp, and if
things were not found just as repre-
scented, that on the fourth day from
the departure of said runner, at
twelve o'clock, he might do with his
prisoner as he pleased. The runner
started. Carson and his men, SAN
guine that everything would prove
satisfactory to the chief, remained
their prisoners, cheerful 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. San
| divere was certain that his runner
had been foully dealt with, and in
his anger made preparations for sum
mary vengeance. Twelve o'clock,
and no runner in sight as far as the
eye could reach, sa
Carson thought his hour had came,
as preparations were made and well
knowing that the terms would be
complied with, he called Sandivere
and told him he would like to have a
talk with him before he and his men
were shot. Carson and Sandivere
commenced their talk, Carson in the
meantime walking slowly and leis-
urely from the camp, telling the
chief that the horses, saddles, blan-
kets, ETC., were all donated or willed
| to him, the great chief, and that he
was not compelled on account ofthis
donation, to divide them among his
warriors.
The chief was much interested
and pleased with the donation, and
by this time they were eighty to one
hundred yards from the Indian camp
when Carson with the. dexterity of
an old m ountaineer, pulled from his
boot leg an ugly-lOoking holster pis-
tol, cooked and presented it directly
in the face of the old chief, exclaim-
inp;