New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-02-04
Colorado Trapper and Family
STOOD Off" War Party
for Five Weeks.

Trinidad. Col. Jan 30.-Prominent among
the rocky. mesalike hills that surround this
CITY. is a rugged. gray point, within the
outskirts OF the town. known as "Simp-
sons Rest" Recently there was erected on
this Hill 4 monument communicating the
brave fight put up at this spot by John
sjmpson. one Of the earliest settlers Of
Colorado. against war party OF Utes and
Choyennes in 1855. Here Simpson and his
little family held the Indians at bay five
weeks until rescued by soldiers from Fort
Lyon. The Indian fighter and his wife are
buried on top OF the hill, and thousands OF
visitors climb the steep ascent annually
and wonder at the yalor displayed by the
pioneer in holding this rocky emlnence so
! long against an overwhelming force.
| Simpson was we'll known character on
the plains in the early days of the trappers
and gold hunters lie came West IN the
.o's and built a cabin on the present site OF
Trinidad. which was then on the old Santa
Fe trail. Within sight OF the door the long
strings of prairie schooners used TO pass
and repass on their way to or from Santa
Fe. The trail took a sharp turn to the
south near simpsons home, and after
climbing tie steep Ration Mountains on
the present Colorado-New Mexico line. the
fortune hunters found themselves at the
very threshold OF their El Dorado.
Along the trail passed many characters
famous in Western history, chief among
these being Kit Carson. who guided many
expedltions In safety through hostile Ind
ian country. Simpson was a skilled
TRAINER. and often went with Carson on
trapping expeditions in the mountains
Like ether pioneers Simpson was a rough
and ready Indian fighter, and was engased
with Carson on more than one punitive
expedition against the Kiowas and other
tribes that made travel along the Santa re
trail a matter of much hazard.
The ITtes and Cheyennes made the foot
Mills and the plains adjoining the Rockies
their hunting ground, but they rarely gave
trouble 10 settlers Consequently, one May
morninr in 1855. when simpsons children,
Rob and Nora, aged fifteen and thirteen.
were making their way to small stream
near their home, they were SURPRISED u
see a large party of Indians riding toward
them at a terrific pace, shaking tneir
Iances and uttering bloodthirsty cries. AT
the same time they heard cry from the
direction of the cabin, L saw their father
running toward them with his rifle in his
hand.
simpson had Just returned from an ex-
rodition. He had heard that the Cheyennes
and IItes had gone on the warpath, and he
had FASTENED home just in time to rescue
his family. Seeing the trapper, the Indians
hositated for Simpsons fame as shot
tod snread throughout the frontier, and
tho redskins knew that several among
them would meet death If they persisted
IN their attempt TO capture the children.
TeIline the children 10 run ahead Of him.
s,mnson made his way back to the cabin,
where his frightened wife was making
hurried preparations for departure. simp-
son informed the members of his family
thar the Indians had massacred several
sam,Iies on the Arkansas River. and that
endorsements would soon arrive. 1t was
sanoIess 10 attempt to defend the cabin,
ord he told his wife that they must at
tempt TO reach the top OF the hill few
hundrod yards from the house
TWO burros were packed with provisions, !