Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-07-13
"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 o.
| anecdotes, and gives us many hair. breadth
escapes from mountain storms and Indian
| fights.
He says the last tight place ne got into
was in the year 1849, during the Mexican
war. The Mexicans were committing
depredations, and had stolen some OF our
government horses and mules. Captain
Price-afterward Gen. Sterling Price
was in command of a company OF United
States volunteers, who were ever ready
for a scout or fight He was ordered to
make 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 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 squad, at this moment
Bob Carson rode up, well mounted on his
favorite hunting horse, Leo. A shout
from the twelve brave men bid him well
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 q 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 scalp.
The sequel shows how Us 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
ferent tribes, Carson and his band hurried
to overtake them, hoping to gain some in
formation concerning the stock.
The Indians saw them approaching, and
halted for them to come up. AS Carson
and his men came up, his keen eye discov-
cred that they were on the war-path, but
knowing no fear, he rode up, and the In
dams, four hundred strong, closed wings,
and completely surrounded them. Sandl-
we're, the chief, rode up to Carson, ex-
claiming:
"Yeds teddy you are my prisoner.
Carson, after questioning the chief a
short time, found that they were also in
pursuit of lost stock, stolen, as they con-
| sidered, by the United States troops.
The Mexicans had told him this tale to
screen themselves. But all OF their in
| trigue 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
to send one of his best runners to Cap
tain Prices camp, and if things were not
| found Just as represented, that on the
fourth day of departure of said runner, at
twelve o'clock, he might do with his pris,
oners as he pleased. The runner started
Carson and his men, sanguine that every
thing would prove satisfactory to tht
chief, remained their prisoners cheertully
and happy.
On the morning of the fourth day al
were momentarilly expecting the runnc
to appear Ten o'clock came and no run
ner in sight; II and no runner in sight
Everything in camp was excitement ant
commOtion. Sandivere was certain tina
his runner had been foully dealt with, ant
in his anger made preparations for sum
mary vengeance. Twelve o'clock, and NJ
runner in sight as far as the eye could
reach.
Carson thought his hour had come, al
preparations were made; and, well know
! ing the terms would be complied with, hi
called Sarnliyere and told him he would
like to have talk with him before he ant
his men were shot Carson and Sandivert
commenced their talk, Carson in the mean
time walking slowly and leisurely from
the camp, telling the chief that the horses
saddles, blankets, etc, were all donated Of
willed to him, the great chief and that HI
was not compelled on account of this do
nation to divide them among his warriors
The chief was much interested anC
pleased with this donation, and by thil
time they were eighty or one hundred
yards from the Indian camp, when Carson
with the dexterity of an Old mountaineer
pulled from his boot leg an ugly-lookint
holster pistol, cooked and presented /
directly at the face Of the old chief, ex
claiming:
"Stand, sir, you are prisoner"
"What do you mean?" asked Sandivere
81 mean just what say-if you move
one inch you are dead man"
The Indians, seeing their chief in dan
ger, started to his rescue, but Carson tolt
him to motion his men back, or he woulc
shoot him on the spot. The old chief
we'll knowing the man he had to deal with
instantly complied, and motioned his mer
back. Carson then told him to order uT
his twelve men with their horses just al
he had received them, and Leo with them
This was instantly complied with.
Carson then mounted the old chief be
hind one Of his men and started for Capt
Prices camp, where Sandivere found
things as represented by Carson. The
runner had been there but had lost the
trail, which had caused the delay. Capt
Price gave the chief many presents, and
escorted him 20 his tribe. He afterwards
was true friend to the whites, and in
many instances did very valuable service
Thus by the GOODNESS, cunning and
downright bravery fBob Carson this de-
voted band of twelve brave men were
rescued from certain death.
TRUTHFUL JAMES, made so familiar by
Bret Harte, is an old Californian product
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