The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-16
The STAMPEDE.

spent the previous winter on Salmon |
River, where four of their number had |
been slain by the Blackfeet Indians, the |
most implacable toes OF the white men |
visiting the beaver runs Of the country. |
They followed the Bear River down to |
its outlet in the Dead Sea of America, |
from which place they returned TO Green
River, where they found another party
OF trappers under the leadership of
Mr.. Sinclair, who had left New Mexico
a short time after the departure Of Car
son and friends.
The parties remained together for sew
eral days, during which Kit learned that
Captain Gaunt, one of the most famous
mountaineers and hunters Of his day,
had passed the preceding winter ON Lar
am 9 River, and that he was then with
his men at New Park. Captain Gaunt
was an old friend of Carson's, and he
determined to join him. Four OF his
companions expressing Willingness to
accompany him, they immediately start
ed in quest of The Captain. "a
In the Rocky Mountains are two nat
ural parAs, which, to distinguish them
from each other, are known as the New
Park and Old Park. Tney are the favor
ite haunts Of the deer, antelope and elk,
while the numerous streams which run
| through tuem are plentifully stocked
/ with beaver and otter. Wnen one views
these natural ouriosities, he can but re-
| fleet that, ii left undisturbed, for few
years, they will become the pride and
glory OF the West.
AT New Park they found Captain
Gaunt and his men, who were greatly
pieased to be Joined by Kit and has com.
panions. The two partles united; and
after trapping The streams in The vicinity
OF New Park ana the Lamarie, as far
as the souLn fork OF the PlatLe, they lett
the neighDorhood and went 10 the Ar
kansas.
BY this time they had collected large
amount o. peltIies, aud Captain Gaunt
started for Taos TO dispose OF them,
while the hunters continued thelr work
upon the Arkansas until the return OF
the captain. AT the end Of TWO months,
the latter made his appearance, having
disposed OF his iurs to great advantage.
They Immediately resumed trapping
Operations, and continued lnem until
the Arkansas frOze over, when theJ
went into winter quarters.
/ They now had comparatively easy
times. They had slain large number
of butfaloes before cold weather set in,
and mad TODD enough prepared to last
them the entire winter, allowing them
TO fare sumptuously, too.
al
trappers found their supply of 1ood
ABUNDANT, and they ate, smoked aud
fwere merry. Every night their guards
were stationed; but, having seen moth
ling of Indians thus far, tney became
lrather Careless, and almost lorgot that
such thing as danger threatened. Ole
might there were two men acting as seh-
tinels, when one fell asleep, while the
nignt was only slightly advanced. The
other, about the turn OF midnight, heard
a sllgnt disturbance among the horses,
which aroused his suspicion al once.
1 He was about TO stare directly to the
spot, when he hesitated. IL was ex-
tremely cold, and, as a Justification OF
his reluctance TO change his position, he
muttered:
"Tnar's Jim, Just as sharp a sentinel
as ever lived; ii he dun't think it worth
while to go,wha's tae use Of my Wadlns
out there through the SNOWY
Not knowing his companion was
asleep, he remained where he was, all
needless OF the disturbance, which,
though s!ight, was unmis taxable.
When morning came the remissness of
the sentinels lully revealed itself. Dur
ing the darkness, of the preceding nis ht
iully fifty Grow Indians had stolen in to
camp, and silently stampeded (run off
witty nearly a dozen OF their best
horses.
AS soon as the loss of the apimals was
discovered, Kit Carson went to the out.
skirts OF the camp and made a careful
examination OF the signs, which were
abundant in the snow. Having satisfied
himself as to the number of the thieves
and the general direction they had taken
he determined on an attempt to recap
lure the horses, whose loss they could
ill afford to stand. Accordingly, with
twelve Of his hunters mounted upon the
heetest OF the remaining animals, they
r started at once in pursuit, riding at d
gall0p which could not iail rapidly tu
: lessen the distance between the two
parties.
Although at first 1t was very easy
matter to follow the trail, yet it soon be
! came extremely difficult, owing to the
) herus OF butfaloes which had crossed
and recrossed it during the night. THIS
rendered the tracks very indistin ct
, and in some places entirely oblitera Led
r them.
The party halted for consultation, az
they saw no signs Of the Indians; and il
was plain that their own animals mus
have rest before proceeding further. The
day was pretty nearly gone, and, after q
+ free exchange Of views, 1t was decided
UG6I W ~ ANU Cdul IVA thQ
About third of a mile to the left was
\ large wood, toward which the party
Immediately headed. One OF the mer
rode considerably in advance of thu
others, and upon reaching the wood, in
stantly raised his hand as a signal that
he had discovered something. The trap
} pers instantly halted, while he rode for
, ward to reconnoitre. He returned in {
| few minutes, and leading his horse b!
the bride, rejoined his waiting compan
, ions.
, "They're in there" said he, his fac,
, lit up with pleasure"
"Whom do you meanw inquired Kit
! s.The redskins we're alter; and tn,
horses are there too"
THIS was pleasant information to tht
! trappers, VINO had entirely lost the trail
and had no hope Of coming up with thei
enemies before the morrow.
The day was we'll gone, but it was no
dark, and for fear OF discovery it wa,
deemed best to withdraw from tn,
, vicinity of the grove and wait Unit
t night before attacking them.
They accordingly retreated to a Sc
4 cluded spot where there was no danger
e of their being discovered, and, as theil
first duty, secured their own animals
e.,