Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-12
A NIGHT ENCOUNTER.
Another Reminiscense OF the
Famous and Unterrified
Kit Carson.
The Guard Fell Asleep and the
Party Is Attacked by
JaguarS.
After 4 Lively Contest all In
furiated GrizZly Causes
n Panic.

MISSION as inspector OIL CuSIOIuS 1Or Illt
port of PasO del Norte under Calet
Sherman, of Kalamazoo, Mich, as col
lecor during the administration of Pres
ident Pierce says Il writer in the Phil
adelphia Times.
Ell Paso was then, as it is today, the
most important point on the Rio Grande
between Laredo, Texas, and Santa Fe
New Mexico. | had frequent OppOrtu-
mites to meet and form the acquaint
ance of the most noted men of the
frontier, and not the least among them
was the redoubtable Kit Carson. One
of the most interesting stories ran AZ
follows:
Kit was at the time engaged in scout
ing and prospecting for the military
and often secuted in company with g
single companion, being furnished by
the government with horse, arms and
provisions.
It was while on one of his trips across
the desolute and trackless solitudAf
fY3oH 9Q 10 sYBoJQ uI9lsgo 9Q1 SuOp
mountains, in company with second
lieutenant by the name Of Lazelle, .
fresh recruit from West Point, that be
experienced one Of the most perilOus
adventures of his whole frontier life.
They had provided themselves with
sufficient supplies for a weeks scout
for the purpose of locating the rendez
vous of a rowing band of Apache ma
RAIDERS.
After bein out three days they had
reached point probably 100 miles from
Santa Fe, and in one of the most desc
lutte and inhospitable parts of that un
inviting wilderness.
They rode along the breaks of the
mountains that wall in the canyon il
which they were then confined, IL
search Of water, which from certain in
dications they had great hope of find
ing, having been without it the whole
day.
1t was during an unusually dry time
even for that country, and all the little
reservoirs had dried up, and cOnse
Quently wild beasts were frequently
found in considerable bands near these
infreQuent watering places Of the noun
tain foothills.
After being out three days they hat
discovered Il small spring, the stream
from which soon lost itself in a small
pool twenty feet away.
They came suddenly upon a small
band of antelope among the caCh near
the spring, and killing one, they soon
prepared a SumptuOuS supper off the
-@n nj ho wiz cnn1,rn1 th DIR
horses by their strong forty-foot stake
ropes, they turned in quite comfortable
for the night.
Lieut.. Lazelle, being wholly ineXperi
enced in such a life and unacquainted
with the nature and habits of wild
beasts, seemed to feel quite at ease and
uncOncerned about the night disturb
ances. Many Of the most ferocious an
imals Of the wilderness do not venture
out for water till dark.
Carson, well acquainted with the
dangers of their position. proposed that
one should stand guard while the Other
slept. each two hours alternately, and
informed Lazelle that they would prob
ably witness the most stirring scenes OF
their lives toward the middle of the
night, as that seemed to be a great re
sort for ferociOuS beasts for water anC
prey.
They had cut their antelope up II
quarters and tied the best of it to the
stalk of a large Spanish bayonet, or cac
tus tree. which Carson well knew would
attract the ravenOus jaquOr and pan
Their, and perhaps the proud monarch OF
those canyons the grizzly, as this was
the home of that dreaded monster.
Lazelle readily consented to stanC
sentinel on the first watch, and no
realizing the true nature Of the DANCE
Of the situation, he was anxious, and II
fact eager for something to turn up
10 drive away the monotony OF the dull
tramp they had had so far.
But the arduous ride of twelve hour
without water or food was too mucl
for his untutored nerves, and he ha(
unconsciously fallen asleep soon afte
entering upon his watch, and was hard
er to arouse than the indomitable Car
son, who had been so accustomed f
sleep with one eye open that the un
usual sounds which soon broke in upo1
their sl1lmberS aroused him to a full
realization of their peril.
The full moon was just peering owe
the opposite wall of the canyon and Ii
I'D the whole valley. Kits practice
eve was quick to take in the situation
and. rs forewarned is forearmed, b
was always ready upon moment
warning to enter upon the most deadl
fray.
The horses were in a state of perfeC
frenzy. snorting and lunG1ng in tn
greatest desperation to free themSelve
from their fastenings and the hungr
1aquars which had beset them in force
Kit charged upon the tigers with sue
desperate energy, discharging his ca
bine, the report of which resounde
down the valley like small cannon, tbs
he scared the beasts away for time.
On looking around for his companio
he was nowhere to be seen, and he We
beginning to feel somewhat alarme
when, to his surprise the lieutena1
called out from the top of a large ca
tus: Exit. did YOU kill anything?"
Carson told him no. but he woul
soon be compelled to kill something {
be killed as he had heard the roar
an approaching grizzly, and the safe
place for him was on the ground, as IL
bear would break that cactus stalk wit
one desperate grasp. Lazelle was SOC
at his side, performing the nimrod a