Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-04-05

brave soldier. He entered the service
as a lieutenant in Company Z of the
First California regiment OF cavalry,
n afterward served as captain of
Company X, First New Mexico caval-
ry, which company he had recruited.
The colonel Of this regiment was Kit
Carson, and who for a time was COM
mandant- of Fort Union, in Texas.
A particular friend of Captain Hills
was Lieutenant George H. Pettis of
Company X, First California infantry.
And 1t comes to pass that these two
officers met for the first time In twenty
years since the war, and their place OF
meeting was Boston.
AS the two comrades sauntered lels-
urely up Washington street, and were
having a delightful time recounting
clarifying the objects of their hero
worship, their old commander, General
Carson, 1t occurred 10 Captain Hill
that he had heard of a fine photograph
was taken Of Carson when, in the
spring OF 1868, only a short time before
his death, the general In his official
capacity of Indian agent, visited Bos-
ton, accompanied by a nevy OF promi-
lent Indian chiefs. That was the oc-
casion, it will be remembered, of his
official visit to Washington and tour of
several of the northern and eastern
states.
Found Old Photo OF Kit.
II do wish we could find one of Kits
photographs exclaimed Lieutenant
Pettis.
80 do Il" said Captain Hill, with
equal emphasis. Then, after a mo-
ment's pause, he added: "A thought
has struck me. 1t is this: that the pic
ture must have been aiken by Black,
fnr hA fC thA N NrhA oAn ,nAnny xyAn rC
made sittings of famous public men
who came to this city. Let's go to his
studio and see about it,"
The two hero worshiperS accelerated
their pace n presently were at the
photograph rooms Of j. w. Black, who,
as picture taker of noted people, was
& connecting link between Josiah
Halves of the past and the present.
Hill explained their mission, referring,
of course, to the visit Of Carson and
his red allies.
"Oh, yes, / remember the incident
perfectly" responded Mr.. Black. Gen
eral Carson honored me with a sitting,
n l made a large picture of him. l
haven't one printed, but you call again
in a day or two, If so disposed, and
meanwhile I'll ook over my old mega
tives. I'm quite sure 1 have one Of
Kit Cason."
I'LL iS hoS ~ llilotihCll. III NlCIl
the two friends again called on him he
displayed, to their delighted gaze, one
of the the finest likenesses of Carson
ever taken by any one. They forth
with ordered several copies.
Carson's Career.
Christopher Carson was born In
Madison county, Kentucky, December
"a, 1909. He died at La Junta, Colo,
May 70, 1868. While an infant his pa
rents emigrated to what is now How
ard county, Missouri, then q wilder
ness. He was in the service of Lieu
tenant (afterward GeneraD John G..
Fremont as guide on his first and sec
ord expeditions to the Rocky noun
tains and Utah. In 1S47 he went to
Washington as bearer of dispatches.
at the period of the Mexican war, and
was then appointed second lieutenant
In the United States mounted rifles,
cut declined the honor.
In 1853 Carson drove $500 sheep over
the mountains to California, a hazard
Gus undertaking; and on his return to
Laos was appointed Indian agent in
New Mexico. Under this appointment
he was largely instrumental in bring
ing about the treaties between the
United States and the Indians.
During the civil war he did great SER
vice for the government In New Mex
leo, Colorado and Indian Territory, and
was breveted brigadier general. Upon
the close OF the wal he resumed his
huties as Indian agent. In this rela-
ton he visited Washington in the win
ter n early spring of 1868, and made
a tour OF some of the northern and
eastern states. including Massachu-
setts and her capital.
Kit Carson was remarkably modest,
and never boosted of his own achieve
ments. He ~instinctively was a sharp
Judge Of character, and he thoroughly
knew the Indians. AS trapper, scout,
hunter. explorer and Indian fighter, he
was nationally famous. and he also
possessed a transatlantic reputation.
He was truly a romantic character and
like his renowned predecessor in "Old
Kentucky" Daniel Boone, is the hero
Of fiction, albeit the true story of his
saring adventures and chivalrous
deeds constitute q chain of romano
IN real life that needs no embellish-
uent.
Loved by Associates.
Noble, truthful. kind, and with a char.
Aoter above rsproach, Carson was loved
and honorsd by his associates. and Il 70