Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-19
KIT CARSON.
The famous Kentuckian Who Fig
ured in Border History.

ured In Border History.
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 initi-
ated him into border excitement and
gave him taste for the free, wild life he
ever afterwards lived. The vast plains
of the West had fascination for him be-
yond all things else. Like Daniel Boone,
he could not stand the smoke of civiliza-
tion, and he despised its restraints and
luxuries. For eight years he was a trap
per, 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 General John G. Fremont, in his cele
brated exploration beyond the Rocky
Mountains in 1912 and in 1884, con-
sidered at that day 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 expected no attack,
the Colonel didn't like to ask it Of them,
but sat up late himself. Owens and l
were sleeping together, and we were
walked at the same time by the licks of
| the axe that killed our men. At first |
didn't know it was that, but called to
BASIL who was on that side: Whats the
matter there2 What's that fuss aboutP
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 other groaned little as he
died. 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 bravely. As soon
as l had called out saw it was Indians
in the camp, and and Owens-together
cried out, Tndiansp There were no Or
ders given; things went on too fast,
and the Colonel had men with him who
didn't have to be told their duty. The
Colonel and 1, Maxwell, Owens, Cooley
and Stepp jumped together-we six-and
ran to the assistance of our Delawares.
don't know who fired and who didn't;
but think it was Stepp's shot that killed
the Klamath chief, for it was at the crack
of Stepp's gun that he fell. He had an
English half-axe strung to his wrist by a
cord, and there were forty arrows in his
auiver-the most beautiful and war-like
arrows l ever saw. When the Tlamaths
saw him fall they ran, but we lay, every
man with his rifle cooked, until daylight,
expecting another attack. In the morn
ing we found from the tracks that from
fifteen to twenty of the Tlamaths had at.
tackled us. They had killed three of oul
men and wounded one of the Delawares
beside one killed-who scalped the
chief, whom we left where he fell. Oul
dead we carried on mules, but after going
about ten miles we found it impossible tC
get them any further through the thicl
timber and, finding secret place, WI
buried them under logs and chunks, hav
ing no way to dig grave"
/ The many deeds of this gallant Ken
tuckian would make up an interesting
volume No drawer man ever lived; nj
more generous heart ever beat in an,
mans bosom. No call of distress wa
ever passed unheeded; suffering femal'
innocence never failed to find in him ;
stanch and earnest champion.
Carson entered the Federal army dur
ing the late civil war, and rose to tn
rank of Brigadier-General, and in 1856
resumed his position as Indian agent il
New Mexico, which position he he'll
number Of years before the war. HI
was one of the pioneer wool growers o
the Pacific slope, and in 1858 drov
across the plains $500 sheep, an enter
} prise at that time hazardous in the ex
treme. He died in 1868, in his 59tl
year. Courier Journal