The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-04-12

that the Sioux had 1000 warriors and
many rifles, and the Comanches and
Arapahoes we're afraid Of them on ac-
count OF their great disparity Of num-
bers, but that II he would go with
them on the warpath they felt as
sured they could overcome their enc
mics. Carson, however, instead OF en-
couraging the Comanches and Arapa-
hoes to fight, induced them to nego-
tiate with the Sioux He was sent
as mediator and so successfully did
no accomplish his mission that the in
truding tribe consented to leave the
hunting grounds of the Comanches as
soon az the buffalo season was over,
which they did, and there was no more
trouble.
In the adobe dwelling house at Old
Fort Lyon, where Kit Carson died
now part of the United States Naval
hospital near Las Animas-Luke Ca
hill, the only person now living who
saw the great frontiersman die, told
the story of his death. "It was on
May 22, 1868" said Cahill, that Gen.
Carson died here. His head rested
near this window and he had been
looking out through the window at the
world outside He semed to want
to get out of doors. He had been Ill
across the Arkansas river, where he
had been living for a time AS he grew
steadily worse the fort physician, DR..
Tilton, and others OF his friends had
persuaded him to permit himself to
be brought to the fort for medical
treatment and hospital attendance. He
had come very reluctantly. All was
done for him that could be done, but
it was no use. He grew steadily worse.
There was a smile on his face as, with
his hand in my hand, he looked out
of the window at the glowing sunshine
and died. When he died the last
page Of the last chapter of the heroic
days Of the Old Trail was finished.
He was the great man of the trail"
The most memorable military expe-
dition up the Old Trail-indeed, the
most marvellous military expedition in
the memory Of the United States-was
that led by Col Alexander w. Doni-
phan, in 1916. The thousand Mis-
sourians, under Col. Doniphan's com
mand, formed part Of the Army of the
West, under Gen. Stephen w. Kear-
ney, which left Fort Leavenworth
June 26, 1S46, over the Old Trail for
Santa Fe. This body of men," wrote
William Cullen Bryant, Conquered the
states Of New Mexico and Chihuahua
and traversed Durango and New Leon.
On this march they travelled more
than 5000 miles, consuming 12
months During all this time not one
word Of information reached them |
rom the government, nor any order |
they neither received |
any supplies Of any kind nor one cent
If pay. They lived exclusively on |
he country through which they pass
ID and supplied themselves with pow
Ter and ball by capturing them from
he enemy. From Chihuahua 20 Mata-
noras, distance Of 900 miles they
marched in 40 days, bringing with
hem II pieces of heavy artillery as
rophies" 1t was this expedition.
which decided that New Mexico and
arizona should become states of the
american union.
Richens Lacy Wooton, Uncle Dick
Vootton, as all trail travellers knew
i'm, deserves high place in any ac-
cunt of the historic personages of
he trail Col Richard Owenby has
estored near Trinidad the old Woot-
on toll house where the frontiersman.
aving built a road over Ration noun
ain, levied tribute upon all who trav.
led thereupOn.
The Trail attracted the young man
1T Carson went west upon the Trail
t the age Of II years; Doniphan and
is soldiers wer mere youths, Wootton
as but Is years of age when he "hit
le Trail" and James Bridger, the
)remost mountaineer was only 16
ears old when, under the leadership
William H. Ashley, the fur mer-
lant, he went out on the Trail. The
lrly age at which the frontiersmen
1T home for the wilds of the west
~-e~o~-~N~-~~~-~-~~~~~~