The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-18

|
mento valley. 1t was not from vagabond
instinct, however, that he led this life, but
as a means of support for his family. His
experience was attended with all the dan
ger and excitement that falls to the lot Of
a pioneer in a savage wilderness, and in
this way the latent boldness and prowess
of a naturally modest nature were highly
developed.
1t is hardly to be expected that a man
whose modesty is extolled on all sides
would have history filed with the most
daring exploits. Yet such is the case with
Carson, and the deeds he was capable of
may be illustrated by one of his best early
ones. While trapping on the Laramie
river with a party they were much an
noyed by Indians, and adopted the tactics
of opening battle on sight Once Exit"
and three companions were exploring for
beavers, when they were confronted by
four red men in war paint splendidly
mounted. The trsppers dashed ahead, but
the Indians wheeled and sped away like
lightning, leadingtheir rash pursuers into
a cleverly arranged ambush. Carson was
at the head of his party, and-when he saw
the trap, and some fifty warriors drawn
up along the pathway, he rushed at them
as boldly as though he had a regiment at
his back instead of but three men. The
others followed his lead. and the Indians
were so dumfounded that they did not
fire a shot until the riders were well
abreast of them. Then exit" and his men
sheered off, breaking the force of the vol
ley, only two shots of which took effect,
and the trappers were soon beyond rife
range. 1t turned out thatthe ambush was
only a part of campaign arranged to
destroy Carson's party and another band
of trappers before they. could unite, and
thus the boldness,of Exit" had saved the
whole trappersi camp from humiliation.
On another occasion Carson displayed
his great readiness and courage in saving
the life of one man at the peril of his own.
His party was trapping in the Yellowstone,
and were given much trouble by the In
dams. One day, finding themselves in
some strength in the vicinity of a village.
they decided to attack, and with Exit" at
the head dashed into the midst of the
warriors, killing several at the first charge.
The Indians, however, recovered from their
surprise and made stubborn fight, coming
to such close quarters that the trappers
were driven to the use of their pistols. Even
then they were outfought, and began the
retreat at a gallop. In the mad flight
a horse was shot, and its rider was caught
beneath it as it fell Immediately a
dozen painted fends rushed forward in a
race for the trapper's scalp. Kit" was
some distance away, his horse tearing along
at breakneck pace. Seeing the straits Of
his comrade, struggling under mountain
weight, with his savage foes bowling close
at hand, he flung himself from his saddle,
wheeled and ran back, emptying his rife
at the foremost Indian and bringing him
to earth. Others were shot, the remaining
warriors recoiled, and the imprisoned trap
per was set free.
After his trapping experiences Carson
spent eight years as the hunter at Fort
Bent He was on his way to visit his old
home in New Mexico when he met the
Pathfinder, bound on his first expedition
in 1872 He was at once engaged as guide.
Fremont says of him in his memoirs, de-
scribing this first meeting, that he was Of
medium height, broad shouldered and
deep chested, with clear, steady blue eye
and frank speech and address,"
He remained with Fremont through the
first expedition, and at the express request
of the explorer Joined the second one.
a Ms was lLAOhSn Sl1n duu W llc GIGdG
Salt Lake.
On the return toward the states they
took the Spanish trail, and one day a
Mexican, accompanied by a lad, came to
the explorers camp with q touching tale
of wrong at the hands of the Indians.
They were Mexican traders, and had been
attacked with their friends and had es-
capped with their lives, leaving the wife of
the man and the father and mother ofSthe
boy, together with band of horses and
valuable goods, at the mercy of the
savages. Touched by their grief Exit"
volunteered to go and help rescue their
friends. Another mountaineer, Richard
Cooley, accompanied him, and in
short time they struck the trail leading
through desert. The boy was sent back
TO camp, and soon the elder Mexicans
horse gave out and he turned back, leav-
ing Carson and Cooley to pursue their
chivalrous adventure alone. They sur
prised the Indian village, consisting OF