Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-06-19
KIT" CARSON'S
GRAVE AT TAOS
Masons to Place a Suitable Railing
Around Burial Plot on July
Eighth.

The remains of the late Christopher
G. Carson, known all over the South.
west as kit Carson" in his time, a
great hunter and trapper, a guide of
much skill and experience, an Indian
fighter of great fame and success, and
one of the pioneers of the Southwest
are inferred In the cemetery near the
town of Taos, the picturesque county
seat of the county of that name.
Carson died May %, 1868, at the
ranch home of John s. Hough, which
was then situated at the confluence
Of the Purgatoire river into the Ar.
kansas and about midway between
Fort Lyon and what was then Ben's
Fort on the Arkansas river in the
state of Colorado.
He had moved there few months
before from Taos Which had been his
home for twenty years.
A few weeks before his demise his
wife had passed away. Carson was
then suffering from the effects OF
wounds he had received In various In
dian fights and injuries incurred by
having been thrown from precipice
" hen riding horseback in the San Juar
mountains years before. His wife's
death evidently had a very depressing
effect upon him and a few weeks there
after he Joined the silent majority.
The body was taken to Taos, which
he had considered his home and where
there were relatives of his wife. His
body was there inferred in the GENE
terry where for forty years it has rest
ed. At first the plot around the grave
was well taken care of but of late ii
has been neglected.
A wooden paling was placed around
the plot which long ago has disap.
peared A grave stone was placed at
the head of the grave, the stone having
upon 1t the inscription:
Exit Carson. Died May %, 1868
Aged SO years."
Carson was a Free Mason and a
member Of Montezuma Lodge No. /
of that order located in Santa Fe, the
Oldest body in the Southwest. At the
last session of the Grand Lodge OF
Free Masons of New Mexico it was re.
ported to that body that the plot OF
ground in which rested the last re.
mains Of Kit Carson, who during his
life time had been a very jealous Ma.
son, gallant soldier for the Union,
and one Of the most successful Indian
fighters for over twenty-five years,
was neglected and resolution was
endorsed appropriating the sum of one
hundred dollars for the purpose of Sc
curing suitable iron railing which
should be placed around the plot for
marking the grave properly and there.
after providing for an appropriation to
keep the premises in proper shape.
This was adopted and a railing has
been ordered. A special grand com
munication of the Grand Lodge OF
New Mexico Free Masons will be held
on July 9Th in Taos for the purpose
Of observing the proper ceremonies in
placing the railing around the burial
plot and dedicating the stone and the
plot of ground to the memory of the
dead hero and Free Mason.
Carson was made and entered a
Prentice Mason Of Montezuma Lodge
Iat Santa Fe on March 20, 1854, and
passed to the Degree Of Fellow Graft
on June II, 1854, and raised to the
Sublime Degree Of a Master Mason
on December 26, 1854.
Whenever in the city Of Santa Fe
he was always an attendant at the
lodge meetings.
The ceremonies will likely be per
formed by Hon. Nathan Jaffa, terri
torial secretary, who will act as the
Special Deputy Grand Master and the
Free Masons of Taos and vicinity, o1
whom there are many, are expected
to attend.