The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1905-09-13
Stream:

~ofe running in Forest and
Stream:
Fortunately Fremonts party was
ahead of the annual Santa Fe cara
vans. which insured them good grass
at the camping places. They had not
gone far before they met parties OF
Mohave Indians, who seemed friendly
enough, but on the day following. two
Spanlards, a man and a lad. came into
camp telling Of their party of six hav-
ing been attacked by Indians, about
eighty miles beyond the encampment.
They had with them about thirty
horses, and were suddenly attacked
by party of Indians, who had pre-
yiously been in camp and seemed
Friendly. The horse guards-the two
who had just come into Fremonrs
tamp-drove their animals through the
Attacking party and escaped with their
horses, which they had left about
twenty miles behind on coming TO
FremOnt's camp When the white
men came TO the place where the
horses had been left It appeared that
the animals had been driven Off by
the Indians. Carson and Godet, with
the Mexican Fuentes, started after
them, but In the evening the Mexican
returned, his horse having given out.
'In the afternoon OF the next day a
war whoop was heard, such as Indians
make when returning from victorious
enterprise, and soon Carson and Go
dey appeared, driving before them a
band OF horses, recognized by Fuentes
TO be part of those they had lost. Two
bloody scalps, dangling from the end
OF Godey's gun, announced that they
had overtaken the Indians as well as
the horses. They informed us that af-
ter Fuentes left, from the failure OF
his horse they continued the pursuit
alone, and toward nightfall entered the
mountains, into which the trail led.
After sunset the moon gave light, and
they followed the trail by moonshine
until late in the night, when II entered
a narrow deflle and was difficult TO
follow. Afraid Of losing Il In the
darkness OF the defle they tied up
their horses, struck no fire and lay
down to sleep In silence and in dark
ness. Here they lay from midnight
till morning. At daylight they re-
sumed the pursuit, and about sunrise
discovered the horses. and Immediate
ly dismounting and tying up their own
they crept cautiously TO rising ground
which interviewed. from the crest of
which they perceived the encampment
of four lodges close by. They pro-
ceeded quietly. and had got within
thirty or forty yards of their object
when movement among the horses
disclosed them 10 the Indians. Giving
the war shout they instantly charged
into the camp. regardless OF the num-
Der which the four lodges would imply
The Indians received them with a
flight OF arrows shot from their long
bows. one of which passed through
Godey's shirt collar, barely missing
the neck. Our men fired their rifles
upon steady aim and rushed In. |
Two Indians were stretched upon the |
ground fatally pierced with bullets |
the rest fed, except a lad that was
captured. The scalps of the fallen |
were instantly stripped OFF, but In the |
process one OF them. who had two
balls through his body. sprung to his
feet, the blood streaming from his
skinned head, and utterlng a hideous
howl. An old squaw, possibly mis-
mother. stopped and looked back from
the mountainslde she was climbing
threatening and lamentlng. The
frightful spectacle appalled, the stout
hearts OF our men, but they did what
humanity required. and quickly ter
minated the agonles OF the CORY saw
age. They were now masters oe the
camp, which was pretty little recess
in the mountain. with fine spring.
and apparently safe from invasion.
Great preparations had been made to
feast a large party, for II was very
proper place for n rendezvous, and for
the celebration OF such orgies as rob.
bers Of the desert would delight I'm.
Several OF the best horses had been
killed. skinned and cut up. for the In
dams, living IN mountains and only
coming into the plains TO rob and muir.
der, make no other use OF horses than
to cat them. Large earthen vessels
were on the fire. boiling and stewlng
the horse beef, and several baskets
containing fifty or sixty pairs OF moe
caslns Indicated the presence or expec-
an Of considerable party. They
leased the boy, who had given strong
evidence OF the stoicism or something
else OF the savage character, IN com.
mencing his breakfast upon horses
head as soon as he found he was not
to be killed, but only tied as a prison
er. Their object 0ccomplis our
men gathered up all the 5 ling
horses, fifteen I'm number. retained
upon their trail, and rejolned us at our
camp in the afternoon OF the same
day. They rode about 100 miles in the
pursuit and return, and all in thirty
hours. The time. place, object and
numbers considered, this expedition OF
Carson and Cooley may be considered
among the boldest and most dlslnter-
ested which the annals of western al.
venture, 30 full OF daring deeds. ca
present Two men, In a savage desC
pursue day and night an ungv Vn
body OF Indians into the de1lr an
-. Ia.a All.