Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1904-02-13
A DEADLY SHOT
How Ten Thousand Navajo Indians
Surrendered 10 XII Carson,
WHITE BEARD WAS KILLED

Perhaps the most wonderful event
OF kid Carsona career was the win.
ming Of a great Indian battle BY the
firing OF q single shot While the
shot was n phenomenal one a war no
less remarkable than the result for
10000 Indians surrendered 20 che
army without further economy This
incident occurred nc the time Of the
navajo war in New Mexico during
1864. Tho army was trying a. move
the Navaios 20 a new reservation On
the pecOB but the bucks did not want
30 go and b. retired 10 rendezvous
on high plateau called Lava noun.
tain The great chief % the tribe.
White Beard appeared daily on the
edge OF a Gill; seated upon n magni.
ncont white horse and went through
category OF dorlsiyo aud insulting
movements he fet sato in this pro.
ccdurc as the cliH was 27O yards in
height and the whites were oncamp.
ed some distance from the base.
The chiefs taunts greatly disturbed
son OF kit who finally cou.. mo-
.
Iie asked permission Of hls father 10
take a shot az the chief and II was
granted. Young Nit repaired 20 tho
open palrie and for two days lahorad
in the construction Of a stone breast
work when finished 10 contained a
very small hole whiCn barely admit.
I'd the end of "a gun barrel he was
armed with rlolesgnt rino pre-.
| vioualy used by his famous parent
When an things we're prepared for che
reception the Md took his place bo.
hind the bulwarlls and awaited the
daily visit OF the white horse rider
The old chief appoard and began his
program. Young kit sighted his rife
at the figure. which was fully $50
/ yards distant and 40 an opportune
moment hvrd Tnc bouy az the chief.
now good a. well AZ great feli 90
the bottom OF the cliH.
Never IN au my experience nave
heard such a acrccChlng and wailinE
az arose when the head chief fell
said CarsoA in relating The incident.
Ten thousand warriors and half az
many sqGaws and children Joined the
I terrible yelling and bowling u vas
a great period OF mourning for the
Navaios ! mace my way 10 the pro.
tocted spot where the chiefs body lay
and began removing the valuables
which he no longer needed. The body
was literally covered with ioWolry and
In che collection were gold watches.
earrings. bracelets. finger rims and
other articles, while % trousers we're
lined with gold and silver buttons.
There were packages of letters also.
"Afior { returned 90 camp the dead
chiefs squaw and child came In under
the iar Of truce Ny man is dead.
ny man o. dead. she murmurod she
asked permission TO remove the body
and I Informed her that We would
honor the corpse BY Durying u under
"a monument 90 rocks. but that the
tribe must attend the funeral We
held the squaw prisoner while the
neWs was conveyed 10 the bucks
indians honor thoir dead and the pos
slblo loss OF the great chiefs body was
not 90 he thought o. That Afternoon
the entire tribe came into camp and
its members diaarmcd Twelve chiefs
we're captured this time. The Other
Indians were removed 20 Fort Union
while Carson TOOK the twelve chiefs
10 washington On his return trip an
old wound 10 mis- lett side, made BY
poisoncu lance G. n Comanche beEan
20 trouble him. but he roachoa Fort
Union In New Mexico, where be died
Ia 1867 and was subsequently, buried
at Fort Bent 60 Colorado, after which
h.s body was removed 10 Taos, New
Mexico.