St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-01
KIT CARSON.

A Famous Kentuckian Who Has
Figured in Border History.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Christopher Carson, or exit Carson %
as better known to the readers of West
ern history. was native of Kentucky,
and was born on Tate's creek, in Madi-
son county, Dec. "a, 1909. When young
Christopher was seventeen years old he
joined hunting expedition which in
itiated him into border excitement, and
gave him a taste for the free, wild life
he ever afterwards lived. The vast
plans OF the West had fascination for
MN beyond all things else. Like
Daniel Boone, he could not
and he despised its restraints
and luXuries. For eight years he was a
trapper, and for similar period he was
chief hunter for the garrison at Bent's
fort. For almost the remainder OF his
life he was guide, scout and Indian
fighter on the Western frontier. He
acted as guide to Gen. John G. Fremont
IN his celebrated exploration beyond
the Rocky mountains in 1912 and in
1854, considered at that time one of
the grandeSt achievements of the time.
Carson gives the following account of a.
night attack of Klamath Indians: "This
was the only night in all our travels,
except the one night On an island in the
Salt lake. that we failed to keep guard,
as the men were tired, and as we ex-
pected no attack. The colonel didn't
like to ask it of them, but sat up late
himself. Owens and l were sleeping to-
gether, and we were walked at the same
time by the ticks of the AK that killed
our men. At first didn't know it was
that, but called to Basil, who was on
that side: What's the there? What's
that fuss about?' He never answered,
for he was dead then. poor fellow, and
he never knew what killed him. his
head had been cut in his sleep; the
DelaWares 1--WE had four with us) were
sleeping at that time, and they sprang
up as the Tlamaths charged them. One
Of them caught up gun that was
loaded, but although he could do no ex-
ecution he kept them at bay, fighting
like a soldier, and didn't give up until
he was shot full of arroWs-three enter
ing his heart. He died brayely. AS
soon as [ had called out saw 1t was In
dians in the camp, and l and Owens to-
gether cried out, 'IndiansP There
were no orders given; things went on
too fast, and the colonies had men with
them who didn't have to be told their
duty. The colonel and I. Maxwell,
Owens, Cooley and Stepp jumped to-
gether-we six-and ran to the assist
ance of our Delawares. l don't know
who fired ana who didn't; but l think
it was Stepp's shot that killed the Tia
math Chief, for 1t was at the crack of
Stepp's gun that he fell. He had an
English half-axe strung to his wrist by
cord, and there were forty arrows left
in his quiver-the most beautiful and
warlike arrows that ever saw. When
the Tlamaths saw him fall they ran, but
we lay, every man with his rifle cooked,
until daylight, expecting another at
tack. In the morning we found from
the tracks that from fifteen to twenty
of the Tlamaths had attacked us. !: They
had killed three of our men and
wounded one of the Delawares-be-
side one killed-Who scalped the chief,
whom we left where he fell. Our dead
we carried on mules, but after going
about ten miles we found it impossible
to get them any further through the
thick timber, and finding secret.place,
we buried them under logs and chunks,
having no way to dig grave.''