Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15

days after his arrival in San Diego he
was deranged.
In March Carson was sent east With
dispatches telling of the conquest of Cali
fornia. Marked honorS were shown to
him at various places. At Washington he
was presented to the President. and
few days later he nominated for
appointment as lieutenant in the army.
Back to California he was sent again
with dispatches, aud as soon as he reach
ed there he was put in charge Of
company OF dragons.
With the close of the war he expected
to enjoy some of the pleasures of life
With man named Maxwell he purchas-
ed great ranch near Taos. and there
Indians came to smoke the pipe of peace
and enjoy his hospitality. But before
long he was called to the warpath again
The ApacheS were on maraudng and
numbering expedition. When they were
subdued he Went to Taos once more.
In the summer Of 1870 he set out with
Maxwell and large train of wagons for
St Louis. After selling his stun lac
bought stock of goods and started on
the long return trip to New Mexico. Just
before reaching the forks of the Arkan-
sas river band of Cheyennes came down
upon the party. The indians professed
friendliness. They did not recognize car
son. VINO, shaver and shorn. had discard
ed the garb of the plains and was dress
cd in store clothes. While seated about
the wagon train the Cheyennes in their
own dialect discussed a plan for mas
sacring the whole party. Quietly Carson
advised his companions of the situation
Then addressing the Indians i'm their
own tongue. he told them that the first
one who made an offensive move would
die.
The Indians were thunderstruck to hear
a paleface in store clothes talk to them
IN Cheyenne and besougilt Carson to tell
them who lie was. When he mentioned
his name they expressed the deepest
contrition.
In lSa2 Carson held big hunt All the
famous hunters Of the west the men with
whom he had traversed the wids years
before, Joined him in a great game ex-
petition through the Rockies Never be-
fore or since We're SO many great hunters
in one party. After roaming nearly l.0nO
miles the party had a big feast near
what now is Buena Vista, Col
The following year Carson visited CALI
forna. and the whole state united in do
Ing honor to him. Then the national gov.
ernment appointed him special Indian
agent, and he traversed the west settling
disputes and making treaties with Indian
tribes. When Indians got bad he took
the warpath and served as before as
leader or as scout. He had plenty of
action.
Soon after the civil war began the
Confederate general, Sibley. made a raid
into New Mexico. There was only a small
force of Union troops in the territory, and
the Indians took advantage of the situa-
ton to settle old scores with the whites
The MeScaero ApacheS, the CHA Apaches
and the NavajoS I'm turn made war Car
son, commissioned as a colonel. overpow-
cred both the Mesca leros and the elias
and then dealt a crushing blow to the
NavaJos by capturing their famous strong
hold in the Canyon de Chiefly Later in
t6sa In n
guished himself. and was made briga der
general by brevet. After the civil war
closed he again was appointed special
Indian commissioner, this time with juris-
diction over the Kiowas. Cheyennes and
Arapa hoes.
In 1865 he was called to Washington to
give evidence and advice in dispute be-
tween the government and the Apaches.
He was accompanied on his trip by var-
Gus Indian chiefs, and cities We'd with
each other in inviting the scout and the
chiefs to see the sights.
On his way back west Carson Went to
Fort Lyons. Colorado. to see his son, and
there while mounting his horse he burst
a blood vessel in his neck and died in
stantly.
\ simple headstone in the graveyard at
Taos. y. NJ. marks Carson's last resting
place. \ marble shaft, severe in its
plainness. stands in a public square at
Santa Fe. These are all the monuments
that exist to his memory.
So far known, but one of Carson 3
old companions is still living = Charles
Simpson OF Taos. Simpson was CarSon's
secretary" while Carson was Indian com
missioner, and was with him when he
died.
This year at various places throughou:
the west ii is planned to have services in
honor of Carson. for the year 1909 is tn"
centenary of America greatest scout and
Indian fighter.
Copyright, 1909. by Richard SPilan.b