Page 39 - 2003 DT 12 Issues

Western History . . . those interesting Kit Carson, continued from page 1

f acts that mak e it so uniq ue. ○ ○ ○ killed their horses and sheep and burned

by Chuck Kleber ○ ○ their orchards. Ironically, Carson had
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some allies in Indians who had no love
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Five members of the Custer family were at the Battle of the Little ○ ○ for the Navajos. Finally, the Navajos sur-
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Bighorn in June, 1876. Accompanying General George Armstrong Custer ○ rendered. With that, about 8,000 men,
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were his two brothers Tom and Boston (both officers), his brother-in-law, ○ women, and children were forced to take
the “Long Walk” of some 300 miles to
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Lt. James Calhoun, and his 18 year-old nephew, “Autie” Reed, who came ○
○ Fort Sumner, New Mexico. They were
along for the excitement of an Indian campaign. They all died. ○ ○ kept in confinement until 1868 when they
Rustlers use a “running iron” to alter brands. This was a branding ○ ○ were allowed to return to their ancestral
iron that had a curve at the end, thus making it relatively easy to change ○ homes where they live today. Although
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one symbol or letter. A rocking sign, for example, could be changed into a ○ ○ this episode had its brutal side, Carson
“lazy s.” ○ tried to soften governmental attitudes to-
○
Although the conflict be- ○ ward the Indian. He was particularly fond
○
○ of the Utes.
tween European settlers and Indians
After the Civil War, Kit Carson was
spanned some 400 years, it is the
○ given command of Fort Garland in Colo-
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post-Civil War era that has particu- ○ rado where he also continued a ranching
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larly captured the imagination and ○ business. Soon, however, his health be-
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dominated the cinema. Over 1,000 ○ gan to fade. He died on May 23, 1868,
engagements took place during ○ ○ but not before requesting a final meal of
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those years while some 15,000 sol- ○ buffalo meat, coffee, and a smoke from
○ his clay pipe. He liked a good smoke, but
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diers were stationed at various forts
never touched liquor. His had not been a
○
and posts throughout the West. ○
long life (he was born in 1809), but it was
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Privates were paid $13 a month. A ○
○ filled with adventure. He had been a
first sergeant got $22. ○ scout, soldier, explorer, and much more.
○
John H. “Doc” Holiday is a ○ ○
legendary gunslinger of the West, ○ ○
but instead of dying in a shootout, ○ ○
○
he died at age 35 of consumption. ○
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His close friend, Wyatt Earp, said, “Doc was a dentist whom necessity ○
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made a gambler, and the nerviest, speediest, deadliest man with a six-gun ○
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I ever knew.” Holiday came from a good family background in Georgia ○
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where his father practiced law, but early on he decided to head for a drier ○ ○
climate in the West for his health. ○ ○
According to Navajo legend, the Petrified Forest in Arizona’s Painted ○ ○
Desert was formed after a god went hunting in the forest. After a success- ○
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Kit Carson home, oil on canvas,
ful hunt he needed to make a fire to cook the game, but the wood was too ○ painted by Walter Ufer
○
damp to ignite. In anger, he cursed the forest and turned the wood to stone. ○ ○
John B. Stetson’s name lives on in his hats. In 1865, he started ○ ○ Today, you can visit Kit Carson’s
making them by hand. These were big, all-weather felt hats with wide ○ ○ home in Taos, built in 1825 and purchased
brims that he called “Boss of the Plains.” Cowboys highly valued their ○ ○ by him in 1843 as a gift to his bride,
“John B’s,” hats that not only gave them protection from the burning sun ○ ○ Maria. It was their permanent home un-
○
and shelter from heavy rainstorms, but hats that could also serve as a whip ○ til both died in 1868. Portions of the
○ original home are incorporated in the Kit
○
to spur on a horse, a trough for water to give the animal a drink, a device to
Carson Home and Museum.
○
fan a fire and a pillow for the night. They were expensive; $10-20, but
you’d have to hunt for a cowboy who felt his Stetson wasn’t worth it.
FORRC/May 2003 Page 7