The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-01-05
KIT CARSON'S NIGHT WATCH IN
THE ROCKIES.


Times.
EI Paso was then, IS it is to-day the
most important point on the Rio Grande
between Laredo, lex and Sante Fe.
New Mex. | had frequent opportunities
to meet and form the acquaintance CT tie
most noted men of the frontier, and not
the least among them was the redoubta-
! bic hit Carson. One OF his most inter
! estlng stories ran as follows:
kit was at one time engaged in scout
lag and prospecting for the military, and
often secuted in company with single
companion, being furnished by the gov
ernment with a horse, arms and provis-
! ions.
1t was while on one of his trips across
the desolate and trackless solitudes along
the eastern breaks of til e Rocky Noun
taIns in company with a second Ieuren-
ant by the name Of Lazelie, a fresh re-
crult from West Point, that be experience
ed one Of the most perilous adventures
OF his whole frontier life.
They had supplied themselves with sui
lclent supplies for week scout for the
purpose of locating the rendezvous of
rowing band Of Apache marauders.
After being out three days they had
reached point probably 100 miles frou
Sante Fe, and in one Of the most desolate
and hospitable parts of that uninviting
wilderness.
They rode aloa the breaks Of the
mountains that wall in the canyon in
which they were then confined, in search
of water, which, from certain indications
they had gIeat hope of finding, 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 consequent
ly wild BEASTS are frequently found in
considerable bands near these infrequeDt
watering places of the mountain foothills.
About two hours before sundown they
discovered a small spring, the stream
from which soon lost itself in a small
pool twenty steps away.
They came suddenly upon a small band
Of antelope among the cattle near the
spring, and killing one. they soon prepar-
ed sUmptuous supper of the broiled
steaks and having secured their horses
by their strong forty foot stake ropes,
they turned quite comfortable for the
night.
Lieut.. Lazelle, being wholly inexperi-
enced III such life and unacquainted
with the nature and habits OF wild beasts,
seemed to feel quite at ease and uncon.
cerned about the night disturbances
Many of the most ferocious animals of
the wilderness do not venture out for
water till dark
Carson, well acquainted with the dan
gers Of their position, proposed that one
should stand guard while the other slept,
each two hours alternately, and informed
Lazelle that they would probably wit
ness the most stirring scenes of their
lives toward the middle OF the night, as
that seemed 10 be great resort for fero-
cious beasts for water and prey.
They had cut their antelope upln quar-
ters and tied the best of it to the stalk
OF large Spanish bavonet, or cactus
tree, which Carson well knew. would at
tract the rayenous jaguar and panther,
and perhaps the proud monarch of those
canyons, the grizzly as this was the
home Of that dreaded monster.
Lazalle readily consented to stand
sentinel on the first watch, aud not real
izing the true nature Of the danger OF
the situation, he was ANXIOUS, and in
fact eager for something to turn up"
to Grive away the monotony of the dull
tramp they had so far.
But the arduous ride of twelve hours
without water or food was too much for
his untutored nerves, and he had uncon-
sclously fallen asleep soon after entering
uDon his watch, and was harder to
arouse than the indomitable Carson
who had been SO accustomed to sleep
with one eye open that the unusual
sounds which soon broke in on their
slumbers aroused him to full realization
of their peril.
The full moon was just peering over
tho opposite wall Of the canyon and lit
up the whole valley. Kits practiced eye
was quick to take in the situation, and,
as forewarned is forearmed, he was al
ways ready at moments warning to en-
ter upon the most deadly fray.
( The horses were in a state of perfect
1 frenzy, snorting and lunging in the
! greatest desperation to free themselves
from their fas.enings and the hungry
Jaguars which had beset them in force.
Kit charged upon the tigers with such
desperate energy, di5charging his car
bine, the report of which resounded
down the valley like small cannon. that
he scared the beasts away for time.
On looking arouni for his companion
he was nowhere TO be seen. and he was
beginning to feel somewhat alarmed
when, to his surprise, the lieutenant
called out from the Top of a large cactus;
Kit, did You kill anything?"
Carson told him no, but he would soon
be compelled to kill something or be
killed, as he had heard the roar of an
approaching grizzly, and the safest place
for him was on the ground, as the bear
would break that cactus stalk with one
desperate grasp. Lazelle was soon at
his side, performing the nimrod act in
fine style.
The approach OF the grizzly seemed to
be the signal for the departure of all
other beasts, and the field was soon clear
ed of all other dangers and left to the
monster of the canyon.