The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-10-07
KIT CARS0NS
Birth ANNIVERSARY
Celebrated Throughout the
Rocky Mountains.
Recalls Numerous Achievements
of the Great Western
Pioneer.

celebrated the Tooth anniversary OF
the birth of one of the most IA
nous characters of the heroic days
of the plains"-"Kit" Carson, trap
per, hunter, scout pathfinder and
plainsman.
A year of centennials was 1909, the
Tooth anniversary Of many men of
worldwide fame-such as Lincoln.
Darwin, Poe, Tennyson. Gladstone
but among them all Carson's life
history Is unique. To him Is due
no little of the glory that has been
accredited to FREMONT as The Path
finder OF the Rockies for it was
Carson who acted as Fremont's guide
and TO a great extent made his sue
cess possible.
Aside from that, however, to Car
son belongs much credit for the ex-
tension of our boundaries over the
vast region of the West. He was an
advance guard of civilization. For al
most half a century his name was one
feared and respected by the Indi-
ans from the Missouri River to the
Pacific Ocean, and his presence a
source of satisfaction and relief
whenever he could accompany them,
to the caravans that crossed the
western half of the continent before
the coming of steam transportation.
Carson was born in Madison coun-
ty, Kentucky the day before Christ
mas, 1909. His parents moved to
Missouri when he was about Is and
apprenticed him to a saddler at
franklin, Howard County. But Car
son ran away after year and in
s2G entered upon the career which
made him probably the most daring
and picturesque plainsman of his day.
AS a preliminary to his life as a
t-apper, scout and Indian fighter,
Kit Carson attached himself in the
humble capacity of a mule driver
TO the caravan of Col Ceran St. warm,
one of the big men in the employ of
the caravan month before he gave
an exhibition of that nerve and cool
ness that marked his whole life.
One OF the Transfers accid entally
shot himself in the arm, crushing the
bone. In a few days gangrene set
in and it was evident that unless the
arm was amputated the man could
not live. Not one of the men in the
caravan would volunteer TO attempt
the operation. Young Carson, realiz-
ing the necessity of prompt action.
declared that he would take the
chance.
All the tools he could find We're
razor, saw and the king bolt of
wagon. He cut the flesh with the
razor, sawed through the bone and
scared the horrible wound with the
king bolt heated to a white glow.
The operation was complete succ ass
and the man lived to accompany car
son on many an expedition of la
ter years
II was while employed by Col st.
Warm that Carson shot his first In
dian. The caravan was camp,-d at
Pawnee Rock, ian the Walnut VAL
ley, one of the most dangerous spots
on old Santa Fee trail. Every pre-
caution was taken to prevent a sur
prise by the savages. The wagons
were formed into corral the an
finals being hobbled in the grassy
Enclosure. The guards Were doubled
and every man-jack slept with his
rifle within easy reach of his hand.
At dark the sentinels were posted
and to young Kit fell the important
post Immediately in front of Pawnee
Rock, about two hundred yards from
the corral. About midnight the
camp was awakened by a rifle shot
and the warning cries of the guards
as they sought the protection of the
Enclosure Kit was the last to reach
the corral.
What is it-Indians?" asked Col.
st. Vrain.
Yes" answered Kit; and then he
added proudly: ! killed one Of the
red devils! | saw him fall.
But there was no further hostile
demonstration that night. The trap
pers rolled themselves in their blan-
kets, and the sentinels returned to
their posts. At daybreak Kit look
ed around for his Indian. Instead
Of a painted Pawnee, Kit discovered
his own riding mule. shot through the
head.
OF course the boy was numerically
suyed by his companions, but the
following morning at daybreak the
caravan was attacked by Pawnees.
and the young muleteer was SO cool