Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-06-09
KIT CARSON.
A Hunt with the Famous NimrOd OF
Kentucky and the West.

'llRg lH!s person, and especially every read
ing NnJ3, in tncse United States,
writes William Thompson in the
New York Sun, is more or less famil-
lar with tho history of the world
renowned trappcr, scout, hunter,
explorer and Indian fighter, Christie
pher, or exit" Carson, who, born in
kentucky in 1909, died at Fort Lyon,
Colorado, on May 23, 1868, leaving
behind him the record of spotlcss
character and a reputation for deeds
OF chlvalrous daring and adventure
which have made his name a house
hold word.
Although Carson was fifteen years
Older than |, it was my privilege to
know him well, and | look back to
the various periods passed with him
as among the happicst of my life. |
first became acquainted with him
while crossing the great plains in
1919, and was then an eyewitness
to his marvellous rescue OF two white
women--thc sole survivors of their
party-from a band o. Apachcs.
From the time of this first meet
ing until the day Of his death Inever
entirely lost track of this famous
man. In 1855 l shared many peril
Gus adventures with him, and in the
fall of '57 was for several weeks a
guest at his home in the queer old
village Of Taos, n. III. His home
there was an immense one story
building, covering more than quar-
ter of an acre, and was favoritc
rendezvous for ncighboring Mcxicans,
half-breeds, and friendly Indians,
among whom he was nffcct;onately
known as Father Kit. There, too,
used to come great numbers of ira
velers, 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 resi-
dencc," in contradistinctio to his
farmhouse at Rczcda, where in part
nership with his old friend Maxwell,
he had large and wcll-stocked
ranch.
Mrs. Carson, young and very at
tractiyc woman, was alive at this
time. She was Kits second wife,
dcyotcdly attached to him and her
children, and a charming hostess.
She died in Colorado on April 20,
1873, 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 .l8 years old, and,
though by no means large man, was
phcnomcnally strong and active, a
superb horscman, and capable of
bearing any fatigue.
lie 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 truculcnt-
looking, loud-voiccd, yiolcnt-tcm-
percd giant, as som" have pictured
him, he was of sing llarl y mild cast
OF countcnancc, kindly, cquablc
temper, and an exceedingly bcncvo-
lent disposition. His voice was soft
and low as that Of cultured woman.
But when aroused by wrong or OPP
preston, particularly toward the
weak and dcfcncclcsa, Carson could
be terrible. At such times his gray
eyes would flash, his lips meet in
stern resolve, and his whole form
dilate with righteous anger; and woe
to the dclinqucnts, white or red, few
or many, upon whom that anger
should fall, for in the cause of right
Kit never counted odds.