The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-09
"reminiscences of Old Bob Carson.

IL per yet lives on the Missouri river,
near the town of Arrow Rock: is hale,
stout and hearty, able and willing to make
many more like trips. He is full of an
ecdotes, and gives us many hair-breadth
escapes from mountain storms and Indian
fights. .' ." .T.
He says the last tight place he got into
was in the year 1916, during the Mexican
war. The Mexicans we're committing
depredations of all kinds, and had stolen
some of the government horses and mules.
Captain Price--afterwards Captain Sterl-
ing Price-was in command of company
of United States volunteers, who were
ever ready for scout or fight. II was
ordered to make a detail of twelve of his
best men, and send them in search Of the
stolen property. Twelve choice well-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 requested
him to take command. Nothing suited
Carson better than this.
He told Captain Price that he could
follow coal train as fast as any living
man could, and to give him self no un-
easiness, that he would bring his twelve
men back and not lose scalp.
The sequel shows how he 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
different tribes, Carson and his band hur-
ried to overtake them, hoping to gain
some information concerning the stock.
The Indians saw them approaching,
and hating for them to come up. AS
Carson and his men came higher, his
keen eye discovered that they were on
the war-path knowing no fear, he rode
up, and the Indians, l 400 strong, closed
wings and completely surrounded them.
Sandivere, the chief, rode up to Carson,
exclaiming: " Peds tedoly-you are my
prisoner !" ..r Poi. uI
Carson after questioning the chief a
short time, found that they were also in
pursuits of lost stock, stolen, as they con-
sidered, by United States troops. ,..r
The Mexicans had told him this tale
to screen themselves But all his intrigue
could not induce Sandivere to release him
and his twelve men, ..a. .,fi b....
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 W ere not
found just as represented, that on the
fourth day from the departure of said
runner, at twelve o'clock, he might do
with his prisoners as he pleased, The
runner started. Carson and his men,
sanguine that everything would prove
satisfactory to the chief, remained their
4 prisoners, cheerful and happy r,l. d
| On the morning of the fourth day all
we're momentarily expecting the runner to
appear Ten o'clock came and no runner
in sight; IL, and no runner in sight.
Everything in camp was excitement and
commotion. Sendivere was certain 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 4eiHu1 un' hGf 0l sH Htf '
Carson thought his hour had come as
preparations were being made; and, well
knowing the terms would be complied
with, he called Sandiyere and told him
that he would like to have u talk with
him before he and his men were shot,
| Carson in the meantime walking slowly
and eisureIy 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 com
PEELED, on account Of this donation, to
divide them among his warriors. 4 'l a'i
The chief was much interested and
pleased with this donation and by this
time they were eighty to one hundred
yards from the Indian camp, when Carson,
with the dexterity of an old mountaineer,
pulled from his bootleg an ugly-looking
holster pistol, cooked and presented di-
rectly in the face of the old chief, exclaim-
ing :aafr r r aaHI
I g Stand sir you are my prisoner"