Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-17
The STORY Teller.
KIT CARSON.
A Hunt With the Famous Nfmrod
of Kentucky and the West.

A Hunt With the Famous Nfmrod
of Kentucky and the West.
I presume that almost every read
ing person, and especially every read
ing boy, in these United States, writes
William Thompson in the New York
Sun, is more or less familiar with the
history of the world.renowned trap
per, scout, hunter, explorer, and In.
dian fighter, Christopher, or exit
Carson, who, born in Kentucky in
1909, died at Fort Lyon, Colorado, on
May %, 1868, leaving behind him the
record of spotless character, and q
reputation for deeds of chivalrous
daring and adventure which have
made his name household word.
Although Carson was fifteen years
older than I, it was my privilege to
know him well, and l look back to
the various periods passed with him
as among the happiest of my life: l
first became acquainted with him
while crossing the great plains in 1s49,
and was then an eyewitness to bis
marvellous rescue of two white wo'
men-the sole survivors of their party
from band of Apaches.
From the time of this first meeting
until the day of his death I never en-
tirely lost track of this famous man.
In 1856 I shared many perilous adven-
lures with him, and in the fall of 81
was for several weeks a guest at bis
home in the queer old village of Taos,
N. M. His house there was an im-
mense one-story building, covering
more than a quarter acre, and was a
favorite rendezvous for neighboring
Mexicans, half.breeds, and friendly
Indians, among whom he was affec-
tionately known as Father Kit. There,
too, used to come great numbers OF
travellers, many of whom had ridden
scores of miles off their direct route to
visit one Of whom they had heard so
much that was good and nothing that
was bad. Carson laughingly called
this big house his "city residence" }"
in contradistinction to his farmhouse
at Rezeda, where, in partnership with
his old friend Maxwell, he had a large
and well.stocked ranch.
Mrs. Carson, a young and very at
tractive woman was alive at this time.
She was Kits second wife, devotedly
attached to him and her children, and
a charming hostess. She died in Colo
RADIO on April 20, 1868, and there is
no doubt that her death FASTENED that
of her husband, who loved her with all
the strength of his nature. At the
time Of my visit Carson was 48 years
old, and, though by no means large
man, was phenomenally strong and
active, superb horseman, and capa-
ble of bearing any fatigue.
He was the exact opposite in per-
son of what one who had heard of his
wonderful exploits, but had never seen
him, would naturally expect to find.
Instead of being a truculent-looking,
loud.voiced, violent-tempered giant,
as some have pictured him, he was OF
a singularly mild cast of countenance,
a kindly, equable temper, and an ex-
ceedingly benevolent disposition. His
voice was soft and low as that of a
cultured woman. But when aroused
by wrong or oppression, particularly
toward the weak and defenceless, Car.
son could be terrible. At such times
his gray eyes would fash, his lips
meet in stern resolve, and his whole
form dilate with righteous anger; and
woe to the delinquents, white or red,
few or many, upon whom that anger
should fall, for in the cause of right
Kit never counted odds.
Though seldom rashly imprudent, he
was fearless as an enraged grizzly and
inflexible as fate, while his skill in fol-
lowing trail, and in avoiding traps
set for him, was so extraordinary that
any band of marauding savages dread
ed his single pursuit more than that OF
hundred ordinary foes. The hun
dred might fail in inflicting punishment,
but "Sure Kill Kit" never did yet,
throughout his whole career, he was
the steadfast friend of all peaceable,
well-disposed Indians. I have known
him to feed destitute families of such
Indians for months, wait personally
upon their sick, even when the dis
ease was smallpox. I have known
him, at the risk of his life, to defend
and succor friendly Indians who, be-
cause of their friendship for him, were
in danger of immediate massacre by
members of hostile tribe. Once, in
Arizona, I saw him, backed only by
my then inexperienced self, ride down
upon whole band of Apaches, and
rescue Pah-U,e prisoner whom they
had tied to stake, and were about to
torture to death.
On riding over the crest of bluff
one morning, we came unexpectedly
upon this band, and Of course would
have retreated at once had not Carson
recognized in the prisoner an old
friend.
"It's desperate venture" he said ;
"but We'll at least try to save that poor
fellow. See, the reds have discovered
US, and are running off to get their
ponies in order to give chase. Now's
our time! Keep close to me-"
Carson was riding powerful stall