El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-16

While hunting for work In st. Louis
met Kit Carson at the American hotel
where had applied to the clerk for
Job. The proprietor told me that mac
better 60 home to my mother, and tina
he had nothing for such boy as l wa
to do. As l started to leave the office
brushing the tears from my eyes, l wa:
sccosted by Carson, who had been cit
ting there, with a paper in front OF his
face, listening to the conversation
tsCome here, my boy" he said, In sucr
q kindly tone that my confidence wal
fnstsnt ly won and l walked up to him
feeliog that he was my friend. When
he asked me where my parents lived
told him they were dead. he asked
me if had no one to advise me or to
take care of me, and told him that
had left the only ;friend 1 ever had,
Gen. Jackson, who was my neighbor
while living on q farm near Nashville.
Tenn. Carson said:
"Hov would you like to go with me
TO the Rocky Mountains and learn to
be q hunter, trapper and guide?"
Bully" said 1.
Carson then asked me where I had
been staying since 1 came to town. 1
told him with Mrs. Beckett, q
widow, who had boy about my
age.
Lets go and see Mr.. Beckett" said
he, and in a few minutes we sat down
in her parlor. He asked Mrs. Beckett
how much 1 was indebted to her, but
met with the reply that she had boy
who might be left alone some day, and
that owed her nothing. Carson turn
ed to me and said: "Willie. get your
clothes and well CO." When we were
ready to leave Carson pulled S5 gold
piece from his pocket and threw 1t
~ mil haI In
you some, dear lady, and rest assured
chat L appreciate the kindness you
have shown this boy, whom l am going
to take 70 the Rocky Mountains. The
time will come when he will look
back with appreciation upon your
kindness to him."
10 few days we started for the
west, on the part were Kit Carson,
James Hughes and myself. This was
probably the smallest party that had
ever started across the plains at this
time.
We went by way of Port Scott, and
when we crossed the Missouri line we
babe farewell to civilization. Our next
stop was at Council Grove, Kansas.
where there we're troops stationed, and
there we struck the old Santa Fe trail
leading up to the Arkansas river. Up
above the big Arkansas, just as we
were ready to 60 into camp one even
ing, Carson saw come Indian signs,
which be said we're made by Conan
ohes. Said he: Boys, we're going to
have trouble with Indians. and that
soon. We'd better prepare for it right
now"
We took the packs from our horses
backs, piled them up to serve as breast
works, picketed our horses in the bend
of the river il the rear and then sat
down 70 q supper which l cooked.
that night was q broken up
meal. one man sitting down and eating
while the other one watched. Shortly
after dark Carson said: 'Get ready.
I believe they're coming now" The
reader will understand that at this
time we had nothing but muZzle-load-
Ing guns and single barreled pistols.
Carson gave US the order: "Be careful.
Don't was your ammunition, and fire
when give the word. If they crowd
On Us TOO strong after firing your guns
and pistols, draw your hunting knives
and use them lively"
After waiting in suspense few min
ases peeped over the breastworks and
saw what thought to be wolves coming
up to our camp. Carson laughed when
[ spoke to him about it, and said:
Boys, take good aim, and fire at the
crack of the guns, the wolves" sprang
10 their feet and made off into the dark
ness. II was but u few minutes until
The Indians, twenty-five or thirty in
number, renewed the attack. We
fred. dropping three, but they ad-
steadily upon US. We drew our
pistols And fired again three more In
1iAns dropping, when they turned and
an, yelling like q band of demons.
For the rest OF the night we were left |
n peace. Carson said the next morn |
ng that for the next 100 miles we must |
watch carefully, as we were likely to
,e attacked at any time. So every |
light each man took his turn at picket |
luty.
We had no more trouble with hostile |
indians Dn,il we reached Bent's Fort,
>olo., where we eamped and spent the
winter In trapping and hunting, watch
ng from day to day for the arrival of
>ol. Fremont and his men, who were
N their way to the Pacific coast,
ting for new route across the
Zoe kies- Carson had previously agreed
o pilot the Colonel across, and was
imply awaiting his arrival. When
he colonel and his men arrived in the
pring we ascertained that the cause of
lis delay was that the colonel had
zen mlsled by man who claimed to
70 guide. but proved to be traitor,
nd who led them into false pass In
be Rockies aud there left them with
ut q guide: with snow falling and with
% food except the few mountain sheep
hey could kill, and their horses. The
fremont party had hard time of it.
dany of the men had been attacked by
curry and were almost dead When
arson learned of the location of FIRE.
mont and his party, which numbered
men. he and I started at
nee for the town to secure food and
urros for their transportation. We
urned back with our supplies and met
he colonel near where Pueblo now
lands. AS we rode into the camp the