California--Sufferings of the Hunters--The Mission of San Gabriel--The
Hudson Bay Trappers--Characteristics of Carson--He Leads the Party which
Captures an Indian Village and Secures some Criminals.
California, one of the most magnificent regions of the earth, with its
amazing mineral wealth, its rich soil and "glorious climate," has its
belts of sterility and desolation, where the bones of many a traveller
and animal lie bleaching in the sun, just as they fell years ago, when
the wretched victim sank down and perished for want of food and water.
The hunting party to which Carson was attached numbered eighteen,
and they entered one of those forbidding wastes, where they suffered
intensely. All their skill in the use of the rifle was of no avail, when
there was no game to shoot and it was not long before they were forced
to live on horse flesh to escape starvation. This, however, was not so
trying as might be supposed, provided it did not last until the entire
party were dismounted.
Fortunately, in their straits, they encountered a party of Mohave
Indians, who sold them enough food to remove all danger. These Indians
form a part of the Yuma nation of the Pima family, and now make their
home on the Mohave and Colorado rivers in Arizona. They are tall, well
formed, warlike and industrious cultivators of the soil. Had they chosen
to attack the hunters, it would have gone ill with the whites, but the
latter showed commendable prudence which might have served as a model to
the hundreds who came after them, when they gained the good will of the
red men.
Extricating themselves from the dangerous stretch of country, the
trappers turned westward until they reached the mission of San Gabriel,
one of those extensive establishments formed by the Roman Catholic
clergy a hundred years ago. There were over a score, San Diego being the
oldest. Each mission had its priests, a few Spanish or Mexican soldiers,
and scores, hundreds and sometimes thousands of Indian converts who
received a scant support and some religious instruction.
The Mission of San Gabriel was by no means the largest in California,
and yet at the time of Carson's visit it owned 70,000 head of cattle,
200 horses, 3,000 mares, hundreds of mules, oxen and sheep, while the
vineyards produced 600 barrels of wine every year.
Those old sovereigns of the soil dispensed hospitality without stint to
all who knocked at their gates. When the trappers caught sight of the
Mission, as they rode out from the wilderness, they knew what awaited
them in the way of entertainment. They were treated right royally, but
remained only one day.
Not far away they reached another Mission of less extent than the
former, but, without halt, they pressed steadily forward toward the
Sacramento River. The character of the section changed altogether. It
was exceedingly fertile and game was so abundant that they feasted to
their heart's content. When fully rested, they proceeded to the San
Joaquin river down which they began trapping.
While thus employed, they were surprised to discover signs of another
trapping party near them. They wondered where they came from and it
did not take them long to learn that their neighbors were a company of
trappers belonging to the Hudson Bay Company--that enormous corporation,
founded two centuries before, whose agents and employees tramp over
British America, far to the northward of the frozen circle, and until a
recent date hunted through Oregon.
The two parties were rivals in business, but they showed excellent
sense by meeting on good terms and treating each other as friends. They
trapped near each other until they came to the Sacramento once more,
when they parted company. The Hudson Bay trappers started for the
Columbia River, while the one to which Carson was attached went into
camp where they were for the rest of the summer. With the approach of
warm weather the trapping season ended and they devoted themselves to
hunting and making ready for cold weather.
It will be borne in mind that Kit Carson was still a youth, not having
reached his majority. He was of short, compact stature, no more than
five feet, six inches tall, with light brown hair, gray eyes, large
head, high forehead, broad shoulders, full chest, strong and possessing
remarkable activity. Even at that early age, he had impressed the
veteran hunters and trappers around him as one possessing such
remarkable abilities, that, if his life was spared, he was certain to
become a man of mark. If we should attempt to specify the particular
excellencies in which he surpassed those around him, it would be said
that while Carson was one of the most fearless men who lived, yet he
possessed splendid judgment. He seemed to know instinctively what could
be accomplished by himself and friends in positions of extreme peril,
and he saw on the moment precisely how to do that which often was
impossible to others.
His knowledge of woodcraft and the peculiarities of the savage tribes
around him was as perfect as it could be. He was a matchless hunter,
and no man could handle a rifle with greater skill. The wilderness, the
mountains, the Indians, the wild animals--these constituted the sphere
in which nature intended Kit Carson should move and serve his fellow men
as no one before or after him has done.
Added to these extraordinary qualifications, was the crowning one of
all--modesty. Alas, how often transcendent merit is made repelling by
overweening conceit. Kit Carson would have given his life before he
would have travelled through the eastern cities, with his long hair
dangling about his shoulders, his clothing bristling with pistols and
knives, while he strutted on the mimic stage as a representative of the
untamed civilization of the great west.
Carson was a superior hunter when a boy in Missouri, and the experience
gained among the experienced hunters and trappers, soon caused him to
become noted by those who had fought red men, trapped beaver and shot
grizzly bears before he was born. And yet it could not have been that
alone: it must have been his superior mental capacity which caused those
heroes of a hundred perils to turn instinctively to him for counsel and
guidance in situations of extreme peril. Among them all was no one with
such masterful resources in that respect as he.
While the trappers were encamped at this place, a messenger visited
them from the Mission of San Rafael, with a request that they would help
chastise a party of Indians, who, after committing some outrages at the
Mission, had fled to an Indian village. When a demand was made for the
surrender of the refugees, the villagers not only refused to give
them up, but attacked the party and drove them off. Appreciating
the importance of upholding their authority, the priests sent to the
trappers for assistance in bringing the guilty ones and their friends to
terms.
As soon as the request was made known, Carson and eleven of his
companions volunteered to help their visitors. Thus reinforced, the
company from the Mission set out again for the Indian village.
Nothing can attest more strongly the skill and bravery of Kit Carson,
than the fact that he was at once selected to lead the party on its
dangerous errand. While he was as modest as a woman and with a voice as
gentle and persuasive, he could not be ignorant of his own capacities,
and he assumed charge without any pretense of unfitness.
It is easy to understand the great care required in this expedition,
for the warriors in the village, having beaten off their assailants,
naturally looked for their return with reinforcements, and, in order to
insure success, it was necessary that the attack should be a surprise.
Having brought his men quite close to the village unperceived, Kit gave
the signal and the whole company swept through the place like a cyclone.
There were a few minutes of terrific fighting, during which a score of
warriors were killed, and then the entire village was captured. Carson
as the leader of the assailants, demanded the surrender of the offenders
against the Mission. Not daring to disobey such a summons, they were
delivered up to the authorities, and Carson, seeing nothing more to
do for his friends, returned with his companions to camp and resumed
hunting and their preparations for cold weather.