The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-04-12

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that the Sioux had 1000 warriors anu
many rifles. and the Comanches al"
Arapahoes were AFRAID Of them on nc
count of their great disparity OF mum
beers, but that if he would 20 win
them on the warpath they felt as
sured they could overcome their enc
mics. Carson, however, instead oi en-
couraging the ComanChes and Arapa'
hoes to fight. induced them TO ncgo'
tiate with the Sioux. He was sent
as mediator and so successfully did
he accomplish his mission that the IN
truding tribe consented 10 leave me
hunting grounds OF the Comanches rs
soon as the buffalo season was over,
which they did, and there was no more
trouble
In the adobe dwelling house n Old
Fort Lyon. where Kit Carson died
now part OF tho United States Naval
hospital near Las Animas-Lukc Ca
hill, the only person now living who
saw the great frOnticrsman die, told
the story Of his death. 1t was on
May 10. 1865 said Cabin. that Gen.
Carson died here. His head rested
near This window and he had been
looking out through the window at the
world outside rs seemed TO want
a rIf nf l.,
across the Arkansas river. where he
had been living for a time. As he grew
steadily worse the fort physician, Or.
Tilton, and others o. his friends had
persuaded him TO permit himself to
be brought 10 the fort for medical
treatment and hospital attendance. He
had come very reluctantly. All was
done for him that could be done, but
IL was no use. He grew steadily worse.
There was a smile or his face as. with
his hand in my hand. he looked out
OF the window at the glowing sunshine
and died. When lie died the last
page OF the last chapter of the heroic
days of the Old Trail was finished
The most memorable military cxpe.
dition up the old Trail-indced. the
most marvellous military expedition in
the memory OF the United S,utes-was
that led by Col. Alexander W. Doni.
phan, in 1886. The thousand Mis-.
sourians, under Col. Doniphans com.
mand, formed part Of the Army OF the
West, under Gen. Stephen w Kcar.
noy, which left Fort LeavCaworth
June 26, 1876. 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 10
months. During all this time not one
word OF information reached them
from the government. nor any order
whatsoever; they neither received
any supplies OF any kind nor one cent
OF pay. They lived exclusively on
the country through which they pass.
ed and supplied themselves with nov.
der and ball by capturing them from
the enemy. From chihuahua 20 Mata.
moras, distance OF 900 miles thev
marched in 40 days. bringing with
them IL pieces of heavy artillery IA
trophies II was this cxpedi,jor
which decided that New Mexlco and
Arizona should become states nj tha
American union
Richens Lacy Wooton. Uncle D,cL
Wootton, as all trail travellers know
him. deserves high place IN any no.
count of the historic personaroq =,
the trail Col Richard Ovenbv bos
restored near Trinidad the old Woo,
ION Toll house where the fron,iorsm,p
having built road over Ration rom.
TAM levied tribute upon all who ,rav.
eled thereupon.
The Trail attracted the vour, 49,,
hlt Carson went west upon tho Trait,
at the age of II years: Dominican ana
MS soldiers wer mere youths Woo,,oa
was but is years of age when be ..bi,
the lrail,' and James Bridger tho
foremost mountaineer. was only "a
years old when, under the leadorshiD
OF William II. Ashley. the fur mo,
chaht' ne went out on the Trail Tho
cary age at which the frontlersmen
lett home for the wilds OF tho ~.