The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-02-01

hundred dragons. But the Callforni-
ans were not towards, they had risen
against the American invasion, they
were fighting magnificently, and FIRE.
mont had rather bad time before he
completed the conquest
1t was during the California cam
paign that Carson made his famous
ride. the greatest feat Of horseman-
ship the world has ever known. As
despatch rider. he made his way
through the hostile tribes, and ter
rife deserts from the Missouri to Cal
ifornia and back, total of four thou
sand, four hundred miles. But while
he rested In California, before he set
out on the return, ne Joined a party
of Californian gentlemen on trip
up the coast from Los Angeles to San
Francisco. Two OF the six men had
remount each, but four of them rode
the six hundred miles without change
of horses In six days. Add that, and
the return to Kit Carson's journey,
and 1t makes total Of five thousand,
six hundred miles. So, for distance,
he beats world records by one hun
dred miles, at a speed beyond all COM
parison, and In face of difficulties past
all parallel.
For some of us old western repro
bates who were cow hands, despising
sheep man more than anything else
alive, it is very disconcerting to, know
that Carson went into that business.
He became partner Of his lifelong
friend, Maxwell, whose rancho In New
Mexico was very like castle of the
Middle ages. The dinner service was
of massive silver, but the guests
bedded down with cowhide on the
floor New Mexico was conquered
country owned by the United States,
at intervals between the Mexican re-
volts. when Kit settled down as
rancher The words settled down."
mean that he served as a colonel or
volunteers against the Mexicans, and
spent the rest of the time fighting
Apaches, the most ferocious of all saw
ages.
Near SAINT Fe, lived Mr. White and
his son who fell In defense of their
ranch, having killed three Apaches,
while the women and children of the
household met with much worse fate
than that of death. The settlers re-
fused to march in pursuit until Car
son arrived, but by mistake he was
not given command, Frenchman hav-
ing been chosen as leader.
The retreat of the savages was far
away in the mountains, and well forti-
fed. The only chance of saving the
women and children was to rush this
place before there was time to kill
them, and Carson dashed in with
yell, expecting all hands to follow. So
he found himself alone. surrounded
by the Apaches, and as they rushed.
ne rode, throwing himself on the Off
side of his horse, almost concealed
behind its neck. Six arrows struck his
horse. and one bullet lodged In his
coat before he was out of range. He
cursed his Mexicans, he put them to
shame, he persuaded them to fight,
then led gallant charge, killing five
Indians as they fed. The delay had
given them time to murder the woln-
en- and children.
Once, after his camp had been at
tackled by Indians, Carson discovered
that the sentry failed to give an alarm
because he was asleep. The Indian
punishment followed, and the soldier
was made for one day to wear the,
dress of a squaw.
We must pass by Kits capture Of
gang of thirty-five desperadoes for
the sake of better story. The officer,
commanding a detachment of troops
on the march, logged an Indian chief,
the result being war. Carson was the
chiefs were deciding how to attack
his caravan, he walked alone into the
council lodge. So many years were
passed since the Cheyennes had seen
him that he was not recognized, and
nobody suspected that he knew their
language, until he made speech in
Cheyenne, introducing himself, recall
ing ancient friendships, offering all
courtesies. AS to their special plan
for killing the leader Of the caravan,
and taking his scalp, he claimed that
he might have something to say on
the point. They parted, Kit to encour-
age his men, the Indians to waylay
the caravan; but from the night camp
he despatched a Mexican boy to ride
three hundred miles for succor. When
the Cheyennes charged the camp at
dawn, he ordered them to halt, and
walked into the midst of them, explain
ing the message he had sent, and what
their fate would be If the troops found
they had molested them. When the
Indians found the tracks that proved
Kits words, they knew they had bust
ness elsewhere.
In one more campaign Colonel Car
son was officer commanding and gave
terrible thrashing to the Cheyennes,
Kiowas and Comanches.
Then came the end, during visit
to son of his who lived in Colorado.
Early In the morning of May %,
1858, he was mounting his horse when
an artery broke in his neck, and with
in few moments he was dead.
But before we part with the from
tier hero, it is pleasant to think of
him still as living man whose life
is an inspiration and his manhood an
example.
Colonel Inman tells of nights at Max
wells ranch. Il have sat there" he
writes, .in the long winter evenings
when the great room was lighted only
by the cracking logs, roaring up the
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