The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-09
KIT CARSON.
a Few Friends of The POinecr Are
Still Alive.

'elcSl III ltS relation 10 the pioneer
history of the West. It's vicinity has
been the scene of many exciting
events of early Colonial history. Fif-
teen miles west of the town are the
ruins of Bents old fort, the most
noted of early outposts, located where
one of the most travelled of the over
land trails crossed the Arkansas.
Five miles east of the town on the
site of the Old Fort Lyon now stands
the modern Naval Hospital, New Fort
Lyon the Mecca toward which Uncle
Sans seamen who develop tuEercu
losis look with longing eyes, Here the
doctor in charge is accomplishing
wonderful things with his merucry
treatment of that dread disease.
New Fort Lyon with it's electric
lights, cold storage, artesian water
and sewerage system is a model city.
It's $50 patients have all the comforts
and cOnveniences of a city of the first
that they live in tents and spend most
of their time in the open air. Bow
ling alleys and billiard parors are
FURNISHED for their pleasure and
recreation, as we'll as tennis and ball
grounds. Here is located the house
in which Kt Carson died, soon to be
turned over to the Daughters of the
Revolution of Colorado and by them
restored. This association intends
to gather here relics of the great
guide and scout and to preserve them
for the benefit of future generations
Two miles south of Las Animas on
the Pugatoire, on a ranch whose
buildings are crumbling to ruins,
once called Boggsville, is the old
home of Carson, and parts of the
walls of the old abode house in which
his wife died are still standing. Mrs.
Carson, a Mexican woman, died in
1867, her husband the year following
and in 1869 both bodies were revomed
to Taos, n. NJ, by Jhon Huff, a
friend of Kits where they now lie.
There are still persons in Las Ami
mas who were associates and friends
Of Carson. Luke Cahill, who was
Carson's orderly when Kit was hriga-
dier-general in the United States
service. and was present at his death.
Carson was q man who possessed
no great mental gifts but was a
steadfast friend and comrade. His
reputation as a guide and scout is
traceable to his illimitable knowledge
of the plains and mountains. None
of the old-time frontiersmen was SC
we'll acquainted with the passes of
the mountains from Fort Laramie to
Santa Fe as was he, and none of them
had that penetrative knowledge of
Indian character that he possessed.
His superiors had implicit confidence
in this knowledge and relied upon it,
He was practically commander of
every force he guided. He was never
eager for a fight and his ways of
avoiding one were his strongest rec
concentrations. A knowledge by the
Indians that Carson was guide was
party's best protection.
l went out today across the old
Carson trail where it approaches
Bent's Fort. In some places the
winds of so seasons have furrowed it
deep into the soil at another, but a
few miles from Las Animas, it lies
at the bottom of a reservoir that ir-
rigates thousands of acres. Numer-
our railroads now cross it, each one
daily transporting more freight than
by the old methods was carried in
line of the old trail a piece of board
or cluster of them marks the rest
ing place Of those who fell by the
way. Where there is more than one
the rule is to give the Indians credit
The pioneers Of history have been
unlettcred men. From Boone down
the ranks have been filled by men
whose principal acquaintance has
been with nature. 1 have known a
number Of them who We're unassum-
ingly faithful until death as friends,
and who never killed game except
when the camp required it. Those
that were married, whether to MeXi-
can or Indian women, We're kind to
their wives and beloved by them.
Jim Baker, who was married to a
Snake woman, was twice saved from
death by her interposition. With alb
Solutely no thought of her own dang
CT she faced death to save his lie.
old Jack Rand, the hermit of Mid