Cañon City record., 1908-11-12
FRONTIER

In October. 1862, companies K and
H Of the New Mexico volunteer cav
airy commanded By Kit Carson started
for the indian country. While sn-
camped near the Turkey mountains
north Of Lasvagas they we're visited
~ ! party Of indians. headed BY their
ch3se. Maauslito. who said thsy de-
sired to b good indians ana dA rot
want to nght the whites. They Were
eivaa provisions and promised not 70
nolsst tAs settlers. They started for
thstr village while the soldiers eampsd
q the mountains and were not troub-
~ tAat llght EAe 4e4t mornins
CA11nIn 0i1ydoa 61ok : 161Sn or 70
oe his uaaa - staft6d o. ~ trail Of
tAs frisndly Maa.slito. H overlook
The indiaas and . baEtls snsssd. In
which flfteea ce their pu1obsr we're
killed. while 0raydoa's msa all got OF
without . ssrateA.
0raydon returned add reported that
tAs indians kAA j1mpei- him and that
he had great dinculty in standing
thom OF. The captured indians and
some OF his own men subsequently,
testified that Graydon fred into the
Indians without provocatiou while
tAsy were making for their village In
numbered with their women and CHILD
raa and that the bucks were too sur
peised 10 resist and fell like sheep.
This story became noised about the
camp and caused criticism OF Captain
0raydon's conduct which led TO direst
results. For several days the soldiers
vefe too busy to take any notice OF
tha4 rumors. Hostile Apaches sur
rounded them on all sides and they
also had to frequently hght detach-
ments of Texas confederates.
Il was November before the COM
maad returned to Fort Stanton. which
had been burned during their absence.
The boys bivouacked within the walls
oe the ruined fort and AZ the nights
were cold q number Of camp nres were
gleAming. Colonel Carson and DR..
Whitlock. . rsgimeutal contract sur
esoo. stood BY one OF these fires. II
had been common talk In camp that
Dr.. Whitlock had severely criticized
Captain GrAydon for following the In
dians into the Turkey mountains and
nsiag into them after thsy had made
premises Of frisndlyness. Dr.. Whit
look had characterized the act n .
sovafdly dssd aaA said Captain Gray
aoa had killed the indiaas In pare
wnnhpaness- Coloael Carson weat
: TITO his anartsfs and Caseaia 0saydsa
appeoaeAsd the camp Ere. He haAdsd
Df. Whitlock . folded note. Every
bAdy knew that II was challenge.
oaotain 0raydon appeared 10 -
Asrvous and excited. He bad two big
axshooters At his hips on which be
clasped his hands - he backed slowly
away from Dr.. WhitIock. The doctor
Vas calm and collected. He cooly
opsned and read the note. Thea he
walked away twenty PAGES. tarned and
drew his revolver from its bolster.
Captain 0raydon was the Arst TO at.
ea1pe 70 fire but his revolver snapped.
Wlfh an oath he threw Il from him aAA,
drew the other weapon. Al that In
staat DR.. Whitlock nred twies. one
ballst striking the captain In his pistol
u he early sixties II was almost
daily occurrence during the summer
and tall season 70 sss Blake street
ffNn 8ixtsenth 10 Cherry creek liaed
% both sides with loaded wa0oos. the
cattle rssting while the loads were
taksn OF at the various Wholesale
hoases. Denver at even that early
period was - Il 10 today che geasral
distributing point for the Rocky
mountain region. Outside Of the reg
ular frsiEhting trains which Travelled
between Denver and the Missouri riv-
O, there were hundreds OF freiGhters
n the business for single trip-men
VITO were anxious to reach Pikes
Peak gold fields and having but q
tev hundred dollars would purchase
several yokes Of cattle and . wagon
and loading ont with suitable sup
piles.
After reaching Denver they would
cell their goods at . handsome pro-
n and would dispose OF their cattle
and wagon for double what tAsy gave
DOR the outfit st the Missousi river.
eAsrs1y plaeiAg thsm n comfortable
nnascial coalition for Q trip 10 the
nosntalns 10 search oe apld. After
Q fsw noAtAs most Of then returned
% nsaver dead broke AaaAeially but
roes4 N health. to asAin tackle a|