The Chemawa American, January 16, 1929, Image 1

OREGON STATE LIB
CHEM AWA(jf)AMERIC A N
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P r i n t e d a t C h e w a w a , O re g o n , a n d D e v o te d to t h e In t e r e s t s o f I n d ia n E d u c a tio n *
Pol. XX X
W ednesday, Jan. 1& 1929
KIT CARSON
By FRANK JOHNSON* Chemawa Student
When a boy Kit Carbon became acquainted with
danger and learned how to meet it. At the age of
fifteen years he was apprenticed to Mr. Workman, a
saddler. This trade, requiring close confinement,
yjas of course, utterly distasteful to a boy already
accustomed to the use of a rifle and the stirring plea­
sures of a hunter’s life. At the end of two years he gave
up this work and sought something that had adventure
in it. He joined a band of armed traders in an
expedition to Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico.
This at that time (1826) was a perilous undertaking
on account of the Indian tribes who were ever ready
to attack a trading band when there was a prospect of
oyercoming it.
No attack was made and nothing happened except­
ing an accident to one of the teamsters, who wounded
himself by carelessly handling a loaded rifle so as to
make it necessary to atnpqtat?hisarm . Ih this oper­
ation Carson assisted, the surgical instruments being
a razor, an old saw, and an iron bolt heated red-hot
in order to apply the actual cautery. Notwithstand­
ing this rough surgery the man recovered.
In November (1826) the party arrived at Santa Fe,
the capita}, and the largest town ip what was then a
province of Mexico.
Soon after their arrival at Santa Fe Carson left the
trading band, which lie had joined when he abandoned
the saddlery, and proceeded to Fernandez de Taos.
In this place Carson passed the winter of 1826-7 at the
house of a retired mountaineer and it was while residing
there that: he acquired the thorough familiarity with
the Spanish language which in after years proved of
such essential service to him.
In the spring he joined a party bound for Missouri,
but meeting another band of Santa Fe traders, he joined
them and returned to that place. Here, his services
being no longer required by the traders, he was thrown
out of employment. He now joined a party of traders
and trappers going to Sacramento, California. Their
route led them through one of the dry deserts of the
country, and not only did they suflei^ifrom:-?want
water, but their provisions giving out they were often
happy when they could make a good dinner on horse
flesh. Near the canon of Colorado they encountered a
party of Mohave Indians who furnished them with
No. 12
provisions, which relieved them from apprehension of
immediate want. They then pushed north to the fertile
valley of Sacramento. In this neighborhood they
trapped for beaver, and Carson displayed his skill as
a hunter of deer, elk and antelope.
Carson had many Opportunities to explore the country
which he gladly embraced, and thus he became fa­
miliar with many localities; the knowledge of which
was in after years of such great value to himself and
others.
On one occasion a lot of Indians drove sixty horses
away from the trappers while they slept. Carson with
twelve men, was sent in pursuit. It was nòt difficult
to follow the fresh trail of so large a drove of horses,
yèt he pursued them for a hundred miles and into
the mountains before comi ng Up to them. The Indi­
ans Supposed themselves too far away to be dis­
covered, or followed, and were feasting on thè flesh
of the stolen horses that they had slaughtered. Car­
son’s party arranged themselves silently and without
being seen, and rushing Upon the Indian camp, killed
eight men arid scattered the remainder in every djl
rèCtion.
The horses were recovered, excepting six killed
and partly consumed, and with three Indian children
who had been abandoned in the camp, they returned
to the joyful greetings of their friends.
Here, while left in charge of the camp, with only a
few men, Carson found himself suddenly confronted
by several hundred Indians. Théyentéredthe camp
with the utmost assurance and acted as though they
felt the power of their numbers. Carson at once
suspected that all was not right and on attempting to
talk with them, he soon discovered that each of them
carried his weapon concealed beneath his garments.
He immediately ordered them out of camp. Seeing thè
small number Of the white men, thè Indians were not
inclined to obey, but chose to await their own time and
do as they were accustomed to do with the Mexicans.
They soon learned that they were dealing with men
of different mettle, for Carson was not a man to be
trifled with; .H is men §tpod^round him, Each with
his rifle Tesmig in the crook of his atm, ready to be
dropped to deadly aim on a sign from the young com­
mander. Carson addressed the old chief in Spanish
(for he had betrayed his knowledge of that language)
(C ontinued on page 4)