The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-08-25
KIT CARSON'S FIGHT.
THE FRONTIERsMAN ENcoUN-
y TIERS TWO BEARS.
Driven up a Tree by Hungry Grizzlies and
Without Time to Snatch up His
Rifle, Carson Saved Himself
by a Big Club.

lille, Carson Saved Himself
by = Big Club.
While sojourning at Ell Paso Texas
during the early fifties l had frequent
interviews with many Of the early
and hardy frontier pioneers OF that
country. says a writer in the Phila-
delphia Times and among the most
noted was the renowned and daring
frontier guide and scout. Kit Carson.
One story which ! had already
heard about him and doubted he cor.
roborated substantially. II was as
follows. He had started from Taos,
N. NJ, to go to Fl. Davis in Texas,
some 800 miles down the Rio Grande
from Santa Fe, N. NJ. and as usual,
cut across" the country alone on
foot with only his trusty rife two
Colts skies and belt knife buckled
around him. his provision sack and
pocket instruments. These excurs-
ions being generally made for pleas.
ure and pastime he was never in a
great hurry. but spent great deal of
time viewing the country and pros
pectlng for precious metals, etc. +.
While among the foothills of the
Guadalupe mountains searching
through the stunted pines that grew
along the base of the mountain. one
evening in search OF water and a
place to camp he was suddenly
aroused from his reveries by the ap-
pearance Of two monster grizzly bears
SO close upon him that he had not
time to reach for his rife. 1t was
touch and go, and Kit freely acknowl-
edged that for once in his life he was
frightened. and as he expressed it, he
imagined he could see St. Peter hold
ing the gate ''as.ar' for him. But
being a man of ready perception and
rapid execution he. proved equal to
the occasion, and was into the top of
small pine tree as quick as thought
leaving his rifle at the base of the
tree to 'overawe'' the beasts
But he said he soon perceived in
dismay that his rifle was no go" as
the bears boldly approached the tree
and after smelling of the gun one of
them proceeded to climb after the
prize perched near the top. some
twenty feet from the ground. Kit
said that he began to feel like cow
ardly leopard with the spots coming
out on him thick and fast but it was
no time for swapping horses" and
being full of expedients, he concluded
that the best weapon under the cir
cumstances was a stout club By the
time the bear had reached near
enough to begin the battle Kit had
provided himself with branch from
limb of the tree. with very large
and heavy butt end. AS soon as the
bears nose got in reach Kit welted it
with his club with such rapidity that
the bear was glad to slide down a lit
tie and reconsider the matter.
After a moments rest however
the bear returned to the charge with
such furious energy that Kit involun-
,tsrily said to himself: Mr.. Carson
prepare to pass in your checks"
The bears determination created a
like feeling in Kit and he came to
the defence of Mr. Carson with all
the energy he possessed. He swung
by his left hand from the topmost
bough and belted Mr. Grizzly's nose
with SUCH desperate force that the
beast spouted blood equal to forty
horsepower engine.
AS the bear again retreated down
the tree shaking his huge head and
roaring like demon, hit said he
looked upon it with the liveliest feel
ings, of satisfaction and looked upon
that pine club as the greatest weapon
out especially in such close quarters.
&HAlthough expecting the attack to
be again renewed by one OF the bears
he felt comparatively safe as his
tough green pine club was still good
for many more such battles After
the bear had reached the ground the
two seemed to mold a council of war
and to deliberate over the prospects
of capture, but neither seemed dis
posed to venture up the tree again.
the wounded one only looking up at
him now and then with eyes of fire
and growing in revengeful hatred.
The other made several feints as
though he would try his luck, but as
quickly backed down.
These maneuvers were kept up till
the sun was getting uncomfortablv
low and Kit began to feel like being
compelled to roost where he was for
the night but he soon observed with
delight t hat the bears were firing of
their vigil and We're showing signs of
giving up the contest entirely.
They would trot on together for
fifty or a hundred yards and return
again, looking up at him and growl-
ing as though they could tear the tree
up by the roots. But at last. firing
OF this they finally kept on their way
until they were out of sight Calcu-
lating that they were several miles
away when he lost sight Of them or
their retreat he felt safe in leavln 9
his enforced imprisonment and seek
ing some place Of greater safety for
the night and finding water, which he
was not long in doing. He said he
had eaten many suppers that he
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