The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-11-20

Cooley Travelled $50 miles in thirty four
hours, and performed the daring and mag
unanimous service without other reward
than the thanks of the distressed Mexicans.
w hen Fremont reached the California
coast on his last expedition, and with
commodore Stockton captured Los An
geles, Carson was sent overland toward the
states as bearer of dispatches to the gov
eminent at Washington. He took the
route through New Mexico, along the old
Spanish trail, and was here met by Gen. S.
w. Rearny, of the United States army,
who with an escort of 100 men was on the
way to California. Carson's dispatches
were sent to Washington by other hands,
and he turned about to guide Kearny to
the Pacific coast. When the party reached
the frontier Of California, Stockton and
Fremont, who were at San Diego, learned
OF kearny's situation, and sent out relief
| or forty men to open communications.
With the united command of about 40
the general pushed on toward San Diego.
and misunderstanding attempted to surprise
the Caltornians who were in arms against
the United States. He was defeated, and
| he established his men on hill Of rocks,
1ntendingt to makes stand until relief came
from Stockton. The Californians were in
great strength, and were led by Gen. Don
Andres Pico, brother of the governor of
California. A party of messengers sent
out by Kearny reached Stockton's camp
with the news of his situation, but on at
tempting to return and reassure Kearny
or nope OF succor they fell into Pico's
Ishands. Stockton, acting on his infor1na-
tlon, sent out column to meet Kearny,
but had it not been for Carson, with his
1ndOm1fGOln riff no
might never have taken place. and
the establishment of United States an
thority on the coast must have been
indefinitely delayed. All the cattle
in Kearny's camp had been lost in the
light, and his men were reduced to mule
meat Pico had large force completely
surrounding the American position. At
the end of four days. siege matters were
| desperate for Kearny and he determined
to try issue with his enemies, desperate as
the undertaking seemed. Everything was
| put In readiness, the baggage was Destroy
| ed the wounded and sick placed on stretch
ers and the little caravan stretched itself
out in shape to show which route they
| aimed to go. Suddenly there appeared in
view heavy corps of Picos Mexican lane
ers, which moved into line along the road
selected by, kearny and stolidly awaited
his coming.
10 go forward would mean surrender or
annihilation. A council was called and
the grave situation was discussed Should
it be surrender or fight to the death9
Many, even the suffering sick and wound
ed preferred the latter, for Mexicans,
when their fierce passions are aroused, can
be as savage and cruel as Indians. The
only alternative was relief from Stockton,
and there were believed to be insurmount-
able obstacles in the way of that. But at
length the spirit of devoted heroism arose
as a silver lining to the cloud that hung
like pail over that beleaguered. starving
band: A young midshipman, a mere boy,
who had come out from Stockton's camp
in the first party, offered to point out the
way to San Diego if "Kit'' Carson would
go with him as a bearer of tidings.
Kearny at once demurred, and said that
Carson could not be spared from the coun-