Wild Life in the Far West; personal adventures of a Border Mountain Man, etc

Front matter

THE AUTHOR AS A COMANCHE. Wild Life IN THE FAE WEST; PERSONAL ADVENTURES •#)f| -a %artlqt[ Jfeititattt JjJatL COMPRISING Hunting and Trapping Adventures -with Kit Carson and others; Captivity and Life among the Comanches; Services under Doniphan in the War with Mexico, and in the Mexican War against the French; Desperate Combats with Apaches, Grizzly Bears, etc., etc. By Captain JAMES HOBBS, OF CALIFORNIA. rLLVSTBATED WITH NUMEROUS -E25TG-E,^*V-Il*rG-S. "Published by Subscription Only. HARTFORD, CONN.: WILEY, WATERMAN & EATON. F A HUTCHINSON & CO., ST. LOUIS, MO.; CHICAGO, ILL; CINCIN- NATI O-A. L. BANCROFT & CO., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 1875. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by WILEY, WATERMAN & EATON, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. press or WILEY, WATERMAN & EATON, HARTFORD, CONN.

Introduction

. IN presenting this work to the public, it is not the intention of the publishers to add another to the already numerous histories of the parts of country which are the scene of the adventures herein recited, but to give what the title page promises, an account of the personal adventures of the author during a long and wild life in the far West. He belongs to that class of pioneers and trappers, now become nearly extinct, of which the famed" Kit Carson, who was for many years the companion of the author, has been considered the most perfect type. In addition to his experiences as a hunter and trapper, we have an account of his life as a prisoner among the powerful and warlike Comanches, his adventures as a trader in Mexico, his services as interpreter and guide, under Doniphan, in our war with Mexico, and with the Liberals in the Franco-Mexican war as Captain of artillery, as well as his experience in mining in the days of the "forty-niners" in California, and elsewhere.

Probably no man living has passed through so varied and exciting a life as this one. At times he has seemed on the high road to fortune, when by a turn of the wheel he would find himself penniless. But in what-

INTRODUCTION.

. ever condition he was, he was always ready to respond to any call for aid from the famishing emigrant train who were lost on the great plains, or the settlers who were in peril from the remorseless cruelty of the savages. In writing out the incidents of this strangely event ful life, no attempt has been made to put them in glow ing colors, but we have the account in few words. There are many incidents and descriptions that occupy but part of a page, which could easily have been spread over several pages ; but the fact is there. Had as many words been used to say as little as there are in many books, it would have required several volumes the size of this to have contained the account of the author's experiences. One thing the author wishes distinctly understood ; he has in no case "drawn upon his imagination for his facts."

There are a few incidents given upon what he considers reliable information, and they are so desig nated ; but nearly all is from his own experience. As he never contemplated the publication of his adven tures, he kept no diary or record of events, but relies entirely upon his memory, which prevents his giving exact dates in all cases. But this does not affect his own acts, and as has been stated, this is not intended for a history. THE PUBLISHERS. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. 1. Chromo, Author as a Comanche, - Frontispiece. 2. Warlike Exercises op Comanches, 27 3. Comanche Warrior, (Tail-piece,) ----- 31 4. Comanches Moving, -.------38 5. Indian Welcome, (Tail-piece,) 50 6. Bringing Meat into Camp, - - - - - . - - 55 7. JFandango, ---------63 8. Indian on Guard, (Tail-piece,) - 66 9. Comic Bull Fight, - 79 10.

Indian Scout, Enemies, (Tail-piece,) 100 11. Combat with Indian Chief, 151 12. A Horn too much, - 157 13. Monterey and Buena Vista, - - - - - - 161 14. Matamoras, (Tail-piece,) - 168 15. General Taylor, l^ 16. The Greaser's Mistake, ------- 185 17. Castle op San Juan d" Ulloa, (Tail-piece,) - - - 188 18. Great Square, Mexico, - - 197 19. The Last Arrow, (Tail-piece,) ----- 215 20. Fatal Encounter "with Grizzly Bear, - 229 21. Rancheros, 269 22. Execution op Maximilian, 31 1 23. Corpus Christi, (Tail-piece,) - - - - - - 312 24. Playing a Lone Hand, - 319 25. Cavalry Vidette, (Tail-piece,) ----- 356 26. Mexican Robbers, (Tail-piece,) 374 27. An Unwelcome Visitor, - 389 28. Mr. Jones in a Deer Trap, 39° 29. Apache Courtesies, (Tail-piece,) - - . - - 411 30. Hunting the Bear, (Tail-piece,) - - - - - 438 31. Comanches Catching Wild Horses, - - - - 461 32. Lasso Fight with Elk, 473 33. Novel Barricade, - CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Birth-Place. Death os my Mother. Occupations of my Boyhood. Start out with a Trapping and Trading Company. Description of Bent and Savery. Spiebuck and the Shawnees. An Attack by Pawnees. Meet a Party of Sacs and Americans. Pursue a Buffalo Cow. Captured by Comanches. " Old Wolf " and his Suspicions of our Brandy. Four Texans, Prisoners of the Tribe. Savage Watchfulness. A Council to Decide our Fate. Fate of Mexicans previously Captured. Comanches, their Dress and Habits. Join a War Party against the Pawnees. Sad Reflections on passing the Place of my Capture. Surprise a Party of Pawnees. " Spotted Fawn " given me as a Wife. Marriage Ceremony. Surprise of the Indians at sight of Negroes. - - - . - - -17

Chapter II

A Raid on Mexicans. Capture of Nathan Martin. Ceremonies at the Burial of Warriors. Comanche Worship. The War Party's Report to the Chief. Indian Surgery. Winter Occupations. Delight of Indians at being Taught the use of a Seine. War Party against the Apaches. Winter Sports. Training Young Warriors. Winter Occupations of Squaws. Example of the Strono* Constitution of the Squaws. Use made of Looking- Glass by Indians. " Moving " Incidents. Annual Feast. Meeting with Kit Carson, and a Description of Him. " Old Wolf" Declines to Visit Bent's Fort. Plans laid for the Coming Year. Encounter with Pawnees. Battle with Sioux. Dancing over Scalps. Fight with Crow Indians. Raid into Mexico. Escape of Martin. Entertain the Arapahoes and Cheyennes. " Old Wolf's " Friends Advise Him to Visit Bent's Fort.

June Feast with the Cheyennes. Visit Bent's Fort. Batiste and Myself Ransomed. Meeting with Old Friends. Peg-Leg Smith and CONTENTS. 32 51 (1 His Characteristics. "Old Wolf " Surprised by a Cannon. Trad ing. Arrangements for Future Meetings. Parting with Spot ted Fawn. The Brown Sisters.

Chapter III

Habits of Hunters and Trappers at Bent's Fort. Start on a Hunting Trip under Lead of Kit Carson. Mclntire's First and Last Bear Hunt. Bringing Meat into Camp. Capture an Old Crow Squaw. A Crow Chief in our Camp. Arrangements made for Trading with the Crows. Return to the Fort and start on another Trip. Meet a Number of Traders at Santa Fe. Lead a Party to the Relief of Speyers's Train at the Bone Yard. Character of Mr. Speyers. Peg-Leg Smith in his Characteristic Humor. Attend a Fandango. Jealousy of the Natives. The Governor Appealed to. Result of His Joining our Party. Gabe Allen. Trouble Between the Governor and Troops from Chihuahua. Start with Mr. Speyers for Chihuahua.

Chapter IV

Unsuccessful Attempt of Navajo Indians to Stampede our Animals. Dead Man's Plain. Apaches run off a Large Number of our Mules. The Pursuit and its Hardships. A mule for Provision. Animals Recovered. Return to Camp. Treat our Friends to " Mule Venison." Given up for Lost. Handsomely Rewarded for our Success. Crossing Dead Man's Plain. Two Murdered Mail Carriers. Arrival at the Rio Grande. A Black Stump Causes a False Alarm. Shoot a Raider. " No Black Stump about That." Spiebuck's Idea of Peace with Apaches. Dangerous Ford at Paso del Norte. Spiebuck's Single-handed Fight with Apache3. Chihuahua Custom House Officials. Attend the Fair at San Juan. Meet with a party of Comanches.

Chapter V

James Kirker. An Expedition Planned Against the Apaches under Contract with the Governor of Chihuahua. The " Bull Pen." Pursuit of Apaches. Advance on an Indian Village. Plan of Attack. Premature Alarm by a Negro. A General Engagement. A Stinging Rebuke to Kirker. The Negro Punished for Disobedience. Scalping the Mexican Guide. Discovery of Ancient Ruins and Rich Mines. Celebrate our Success. CONTENTS. 9 Spiebuck's Idea of Hunting. A Prisoner's Escape from me and Spiebuck's Indignation. Arrival and Reception at Chihuahua. Turning over the Scalps. Rescued Women and Children Turned over to the Authorities. A Dinner and Ball in our Honor. Settlement with a Merchant. Spiebuck in War Paint. Division of Property. Meet with Old Friends. ... 81

Chapter VI

Decide to Visit the Comanches. Visit Bent's Fort. Mexican Thieves on the Way. Dispose of my Spare Mules. Part with my Friends and start alone for the Comanches. Troubled by Wolves. Manner of Driving them Off. Disappointed. Reception by my Old Friends. Distribute my Presents. At Home. Comanche Hatred of Texans. "Old Wolf's" Friend on a Steamboat. Decide to Return to Mexico. The Chiefs Argument to Detain Me. Parting with my Family. News from my Father's Family. Part with my Escort and Proceed to Santa Fe. Experiences as a Freighter and Trader in Mexico. War Declared Between the United States and Mexico. My Property Seized for the Mexican Army. Interview with Santa Anna. Settle with my Teamsters, Procure a Mexican Costume and start for Zacatecas. Go on to Durango. Find Friends in Trouble. Take a Letter to Col. Doniphan. A One-Sided Horse Trade. Information for Col. Doniphan. The Old Flag. 101

Chapter VII

In Danger from my Friends. Interview with the Colonel. Meet my Brother and Col. Owens. Volunteer for Duty. Death of Col. Owens. Mexican Officers held as Hostages for Friends in Durango. March for Chihuahua. Col. Doniphan's Laws. Friends in Durango Released. Execution of the Colonel's Laws. Meet my Friend of the Horse Trade. - 125

Chapter VIII

Sent by Col. Doniphan as a Scout. Carry Dispatches to Gov. Bent. Quickest Time on Record. Bent's Assassination and Price's Retaliation. Sent with Dispatches to Fremont. Return to Chihuahua. The Regiment Ordered to Saltillo. Appointed Interpreter for the Quartermaster. Mexican Thieves and their Fate. The Regiment Provided For. Death and Burial of Cap- CONTENTS. tain Reid. A Mexican Well. Indian Cruelty. Fight with In dians. Lose my Favorite Horse. Liberate Several Captives. An Indian Trophy. The Regiment Entertained by Mr. Evarro. Johnny Murphy's Big Drink. Reception of Gen. Wool. Bat tle Ground of Buena Vista. -,--..--- 137

Chapter IX

Turning over Commissary Stores, &c, to Gen. Taylor. Interview with the General. The Regiment Reviewed by Gen. Taylor. The Regiment starts for Home. Mexican Guerrillas. Texan Rangers. Released Guerrillas Shot by the Infuriated Regiment. The Battle Ground of Resaca de la Palma, Animals sent to Missouri with an Escort. Reception of the Regiment at New Orleans. A Masquerade Ball. ----- 160

Chapter X

Parting Speech of Col. Doniphan. Complimented Personally by the Colonel. Liberal Present from the Quartermaster. Departure of the Regiment for Home. Visit to my Uncle. Arrival and Reception of Gen. Taylor at New Orleans. Sent in Charge of a Vessel to Gen. Worth at Vera Cruz. Trouble with the Captain. Breaking Mules. ...---. 169

Chapter XI

Peace Declared. Appointed Head Wagon Master of a Train for Mexico. Interview with Gen. Twiggs. Start for Mexico. Battle Field of Cerro Gordo. Arrival at the City of Mexico. Interview with Gen. Worth. Evacuation of Mexico. Encamp near Vera Cruz. A Texan Ranger Sentenced to Death for an Act of Self-Defense. Gen. Twiggs and the Rangers. Visit to the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. - - - - - -177

Chapter XII

Description of Vera Cruz. Take a Train from Vera Cruz to Mexico. The Castle of Perote. Volcanoes of Orizaba and Popocatepetl. The Publanos. The Museum at Mexico. The " Trioya Horse." Church of the Virgin Mary. The Arches of Water. St. Patrick's Guard. Montezuma's Stone Almanac. Earthquakes. Engagement with an English Mining Company. Adroitness of Mexican Thieves. Experience in Blasting. An CONTENTS. Explosion. Success in Mining. An Unsuccessful Mining Venture. Extensive Mines of the English Company. - - - 189

Chapter XIII

An Attack of Gold Fever. Start for California. Aguas Calientes. The Mayos and Yaguis. Villa Del Fuerte. Strange food of the Mayos. Relieve Several Cholera Patients. Gratitude of the Tribe. Ceres Indians. Embark in a Cattle Speculation. Find Water in Tracking Thieves. Fort Yuma and an Outrageous Ferry Company. Retribution by Outraged Indians. - - 205

Chapter XIV

Indians' First Sight of a Steamboat. Crossing a Desert Sixty Miles Wide. Loss of an Emigrant Train. A Mexican Murdered by Dave Brown. Arrive at El Monte and Divide our Stock. Fate of Dave Brown. Hire a Man to take my Stock to San Jose. Meet with Gabe Allen and Peg-Leg Smith. Dispose of my Cattle at San Francisco. Organize a Mining Party and go to Camp Sonora. An Attempt at Blackmailing. A Mining Government Organized. Return to San Francisco, and my Party Leave for Mexico. Quicksilver Mine and Soda Spring. Visit to Relatives. A Hunting Expedition. Aid a Friend in Catching a Thief. Narrow Escape from a Grizzly. Sad Fate of One of our Party. 216

Chapter XV

Engage as Interpreter in the Land Commissioner's Office at San Francisco. Mission Dolores and a Fraudulent Attempt to Obtain the Title to the Land. A Vigilance Committee. Suicide of Yankee Sullivan. A Well Organ-ized City. Judge Jenkins and my Mining Experience with Him. Practicing Medicine. Trial as a Quack. Meet with Placa de Vega and Romero. The Condition of Mexico at this Time. An Uprising. Gen. Lanberg. Appointed Captain. Collect Assessments. A Priest Brought to Terms. Gen. Garcia Morales comes to our Assistance. Preparing for Active Service. Placed in Command of the Artillery. - CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XV.

We Unite with Romero at Mocarito. Our Ambuscade Revealed by the Barking of a Dog. Engagement with Church Forces. Morales Wounded. A Hospital Established. Valuable Recruits. Plan to Capture a Vessel in the Harbor of Mazatlan. Mistake of Morales. Seizure of a United States Vessel by the Church Forces. Demand for her Release. English Interference. Our Prizes Taken from us by an English Man of- War. A Colored Picket. Strategy of Morales. Junction with Coranow. Capture of Mazatlan. Presented w7ith a Marine Saber. Prisoners Escape with One of our Vessels. Recapture of our Vessel and Bombardment of San Bias. Expedition Against Lozado. Our Leader, Coranow, Killed. Sold out by Cordero, His Successor. Return to Mazatlan. Capture and Execution of Cordero. -------- 244

Chapter XVII

Capture of a Merchantman and Valuable Cargo. Lose our Prize by the Treachery of De Vega. De Vega a Defaulter. Second Expedition Against Lozado. History of Lozado. Ordered to join Gen. Zaragosa at Sayula. Join Zaragosa and Proceed to Guadalaxara. Mining the Enemy's Barracks. Escape of Miramon. Col. Cheeseman Poisoned. Ordered to Cinaloa. Engagements with Lozado's Warriors. Rasing Recruits. Engagement with the Enemy Under Coghen. Ordered to Mexico. Battles by the Way. Capture of Mexico. - 263

Chapter XVIII

War Declared by France Against Mexico. Engagement near Puebla. I am Wounded. Taken to Mexico. Death of Gen. Zaragosa, and Gen. Arteaga as Commander. Return to Mazatlan. Treachery of Lanberg. Sent to Altata to Intercept French Recruits. Capture and Exchange of Prisoners. Capture of a Steamer with Supplies. Land at Guaymas. Start for Hermosillo. Primitive Navigation. Join Col. Corea. Taken Prisoner. Escape by the Aid of the Guard. Rebuke to Col. Corea. Sent by Gov. Pesquiera to Confer with Col. Lewis. Ordered to Sonora. Capture of Magdalena. Skirmish with Tannery. Lanberg Joins Maximilian. Encouraging Incidents. Drawn Battle with Gen. Lanberg. A Rich Prisoner. Benefits CONTENTS. 299 328 of Strategy. Battle near Ures. Death of Lanberg. State of Affairs. 276

Chapter XIX

Maximilian's Black Flag Decree. Juarez in the United States. French Troops Withdrawn from Mexico. Ordered to March on Guaymas. Capture of the Indian, Tannery. Shooting of Traitors. Friendship of United States Naval Officers. The War Ended in Sonora. Trouble with Martinez. Ordered to Mazatlan, and from Thence to Zacatecas. Battle with Lozado. Explanations. Condition of Affairs in the Spring of 1867. Battle of Queretaro. Surrender of Maximilian. Interview of Maximilian with Juarez and the Doctors. The Execution of Maximilian, Miramon and Mejia. Entry into Mexico.

Chapter XX

Expedition Against Marquez at Oaxaca. His Flight without a Battle. Mutiny. Ordered to the Mountains of Allico to Attack Lozado. I Resign my Captaincy. Paid for my Services by Gov. Pesquiera. Visit Fort Tubae. " Peaceable " Indians. Seven to One. Exchanging Shots. Incredulity Convinced. A Surgical Operation. Examples of Apache Cruelty. A Valuaable Bullet. Unsuccessful Gold Hunting. Lieutenant Williams and his Apache Ward. An Emigrant Train Attacked by Indians. Emma Brown and her Escape from Apaches. Kindness of United States Officers. 313

Chapter XXI

Miss Holliday's Rescue from Indians. Her Marriage with the Commander of the Troops. Obliged to Leave for California. Mexican Depravity. A Surgical Operation. Meet Nathan Martin and my Cousin. My Uncle's Massacre by Mormons. Join a Party to Pursue Mormon Horse Thieves. Prospecting with Brown and Bennett. Danger of Shooting Cubs. An Important Discovery. Accident to Mr. Bennett. An Unpleasant Night. Mr. Bennett's Effects. Dishonesty of Brown. An Affray with Brown. - - . - •* CONTENTS.

Chapter XXII

Go to the Owen's River Mines. How the Cerro Gordo Mines were Discovered. Engaged in Smelting Ores. Death Valley. Gun Sight Lode. Return to Cerro Gordo. Supplied with Provisions by Miners. Honn's Idea of Whiskey and Flour. A Visit from a Pah Utah. Deserted by our Guide. Meet an Old Squaw who shows us Water. Joined by two Americans who Escaped an Indian Massacre. Unsuccessful Search for the Copeland Brothers. Mr. Wilson's Revenge. White Mountain Mines. Owen's Lake. A Family Killed by Pali Utahs. A Husband's Desperation. Treaty with Pah Utahs. - - - 340

Chapter XXIII

Disappearance of Hog Rogers. A Faithful Dog. Finding of Roger's Body. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. Attempt at Bribery. Recovery of Stolen Property. Restraining a Mob. Delaney's Trial and Confession. The Execution. An Appropriate Nickname. --------- 357

Chapter XXIV

California in its Early Days. Joaquin Murietta and Three- Fingered Jack. Breaking a Bank. Murietta Refuses to Surrender Himself. A Company Organized for his Capture. Death of Murietta. His Wife Identifies his Head. The Last of the Gang. Large Amount of Property Recovered. An Order to Restrain Outlaws. -------- 305

Chapter XXV

I Engage as Guide to an Exploring Expedition in the Vicinity of Death Valley. Remains of a Murdered Mining Company. Account of their Massacre. Digger Indians. A Rabbit Hunt. Return to California. Pinon Trees and Nuts. Capture of an Indian Child. Prospecting near the Colorado River. Hot Springs. Summary of Mining Experiences. Mining in Lower California. Pursuing Indians who had Massacred a Mining Company. The Attack. Jones and Patterson. A Good Month's Work. Leave the Camp to Avoid the Deperadoes our Success had Brought. Driven into Trees by a Grizzly. Game too Abundant. Leave for Safety. ---._. 37,-j CONTENTS. 15 391

Chapter XXVI

An Interesting Mexican Family. Jones's Conversation with a Young Lady Interrupted. Our Friend Patterson Commits Matrimony. Leave our Friends and go to La Paz. Pearl Divers. Visit Guaymas. Amalgamation Process. Pimos Indians. Meeting with Apaches on our Way to the Opoto Village. Dance over Apache Scalps. An Indian's Opinion of Americans. The Publanos and some of their Habits. Saint's Week at Magdalena. Plancha La Platus Mines. A Mexican Girl Rescued from Apaches and Restored to her Friends. A Timid Major. Taking Receipts. My Opinion of Apaches. -

Chapter XXVII

Visit Penalto Mines. A Vigilance Committee and its Acts. Beaver Trapping on the Gila and Colorado Rivers. Guide to a Party from Fort Yuma to Sonora. An Interview with Gov. Pesquiera. Sunday Amusements. Cure a Member of the Party of a Rattlesnake's Bite. Establishing a Port on the Coast of Sonora. Engagement with Robbers. An Outlaw Killed. An Escaped Thief Captured. ----- 412

Chapter XXVIII

Poor Inducements for Trapping. Mining Frauds. Fight Between Indians and Lumbermen. Death to Mule Thieves. Trip from Fort Tuma to Tueson. Shooting of Apache Mule Thieves. Under Arrest. Avenging a Murder by Apaches. Unpleasant Traveling. An Interview with Col. Thompson. Cow Hills Diggings. Supplying Game to Miners. Meet Patterson and his Wife. Supplying Game for the San Francisco Market. A Brutal Dog Fight. How a Huge Grizzly was Caught Alive. 426

Chapter XXIX

A Trip to the San Bernadino Mountains. Burns kept out all Night by a Bear. A Grand Turkey Shoot. A Misanthrope. Trip to Fort Mohave. Error of a Vigilance Committee. Start for the White Pine Mines. Deserted by our Guide. Rescue of CONTENTS. 439 i 474 a Mexican Girl. Mono Lake and the Grave of Kit Carson's Daughter. A Disgusted Dutchman. Marriage of Burns and the Mexican Girl. -

Chapter XXX

Catching Wild Horses. Breaking a Horse. A Boastful Chilian Comes to Grief. Lead a Party to the Rescue of Texan Emigrants. Prospecting for a New York Company. Failure of the Company to come to Terms. Jones Declines to Join me in Mining, but Joins a Texan Widow in Housekeeping. A Visit to the Comanches. Comanches and their Horses. Lassoing Horses. Creasing Horses. Return to California and Aid a Party of Mexican Shepherds on the Route. ... - 452

Chapter XXXI

A Second Trip as Guide to a Surveying Party in the Vicinity of Death Valley. Meeting with the Indians who Formerly held Burns's Wife Captive. Visit San Francisco. An Ex-Robber. Return to Tulare County. A Trip as Guide over the Sierra Nevadas. A Friend in Trouble. Capture of a Thief and Restoration of Property. Execution of the Thief. Decide to Settle Down. Stopping a Runaway Team. Catching an Elk. Sheep Speculations. --------- 464

Chapter XXXII

Omitted Adventures. Stage Driving Between Zacatecas and Agua Calientes. A Bragging Party Quietly Robbed. Robbery of a Mule Train. Stage Load of Englishmen Attacked. Confession of a Wounded Robber. A Thieving Community. My Life in Danger from my Escort. Their Plans Frustrated. A Novel Barricade. Comic Bull Fights at the Fair at San Juan De Los Lagos. Fight with a Grizzly and My Life Saved by my Dog. A Strange Pet. Lose my Dog in a Fight with a California Lion. A Material Ghost. Conclusion. WILD LIFE IN THE FAR WEST.

Chapter I

I WAS born on the 10th of May, 1819, in the Shawnee Nation, on the Big Blue creek, a tributary of the Missouri river and about twenty-three miles from Independence. The place then known as Indian territory is now better known as Jackson county, Missouri. Being one of a pair of twins, the chief care of me de volved on a faithful old negro nurse who was one of my father' s slaves. My twin sister, who was brought up on her mother's breast, after weaning, looked so much whiter than I that my tanned and sunburnt complexion has been the occasion of many a joke from friends who laid it to my nursing from a negro. My mother died in 1825, when I was about seven years of age. My father married his second wife when I was about thirteen years old, and she, being quite a young woman and high-spirited, commenced to rule the house after she had introduced the first one of a second crop of children.

This made matters very uncomfort able for me, but I contrived to amuse myself for three years longer at home or till the age of sixteen, when I struck out for myself, pretty much on my own hook, resolved to hunt for furs with some company, or hunt Indians, or do any thing else that would pay. While working on my father's plantation I had be come familiar with the rifle and shot gun, and indeed BENT AND SAVERY. had to provide nearly all the meat for the family ; but game was plenty and that was an easy task, much easier than pleasing the mistress who took no pains to give me any educational advantages. Though young, I was nearly full grown when I found an excellent chance to join a fur company that had just started out from St. Louis, under the lead of Charles Bent, and were going out to a fort and trading-post called Bent1 s Fort, some three hundred miles south of Pike' s Peak on Big Arkansas river.

The party consisted of about sixty men. The more prominent hunters were Charles Bent, Guesso Chauteau, William Savery, and two noted Indian trappers named Shawnee Spiebuck, and Shawnee Jake. Some of the party were agents of, and interested in, the Hudson' s Bay fur company, having their head-quarters at St. Louis. This was in 1835. As I shall have considerable to say of some of this party, a brief description of them may be of interest to the reader. Charles Bent, the leader of the party, and a manager of the fur business at Bent' s Port, was a native of St. Louis, Mo., and a brother of the famous Captain Bent who originated the theory called the ' ' Thermal Gate ways to the Pole." At the time I joined his party, he was about thirty -five years of age, light complexioned, heavily built, tending to corpulency.

In all my acquaintance with him I always found him perfectly up right in his dealings, both with his party and the Indi ans. He commanded the confidence and respect of all the tribes he dealt with, and his honorable treatment of them prevented violence on their part. Savery, who was next in interest to Bent was a French Canadian a few years younger than Bent, and like him was a very fair and honorable man in all his SPIEBUCK. dealings. These two men were well calculated for In dian traders, for they were respected as honest men, and would never furnish intoxicating liquors to the Indians for the purpose of making more advantageous bargains with them. Spiebuck was a noble looking Indian, full six feet high, had a high forehead, Roman nose, malicious looking black eye, and was rather lighter colored than most of the Shawnees who composed the party, who were all large, well-built men.

He spoke English fluently, having been educated at a mission-school in Missouri. He retained, however, many of the In dian peculiarities, among them his fondness for liquor and his roving disposition, so that we never could keep him at one thing long at a time. He was the best shot with a rifle, at long range, I ever saw. The Shawnees of the party wore buckskin pants and hunting-shirt, with fringes of buckskin strings along the seams of the legs and sleeves. They nearly all could speak English, but when by themselves they usually employed their own language. They were quiet and peaceable except when under the influence of liquor : then they needed just such a man as Bent to restrain them and keep them within bounds. Most of the white trappers wore a dress similar to that of the Shawnees, on account of its great durabili ty, as it would last from three to four years, notwithstanding the very hard usage it received.

The prospect to me was very pleasing. We were all mounted on horses, having some led mules and half a dozen one and two-horse carts to haul our provisions and bring in our furs, &c. It was a wild and lonely tramp. Before us were the vast plains, unbroken ex cept here and there with a belt of timber, and we were ATTACKED BY PAWNEES. following a mere trail, never seeing a house after leaving Independence. My capacity in the company was that of hunter, to provide fresh meat we needed on the route. John Batiste, a boy about my age, was mule packer. We had proceeded, without adventure, until the night after crossing Pawnee Fork, between five and six hundred miles from Independence, our point of de parture. We crossed the fork, staked out our animals and, after supper, lay down in the tall grass that cov ered the valley.

I stood guard from two till half-past three in the morning, and when one of the company named Spencer had taken my place, the six on guard had all been changed. About daylight, while the camp was wrapped in slumber, I was startled out of my blanket by a yelling, stamping of horses' feet, cutting tent-ropes, and then came the click of two arrows against a water bucket by my side. We sprang to our feet and seized our rifles, amazed to discover that three or four hundred Pawnee Indians had crept through the long grass, surprised our guard and made a fierce assault with a view of running off our animals. We were not slow in returning their fire and soon the savages were driven into a corner where a precipitous ledge prevented their retreat. Finding it difficult to create a stampede among our horses and mules, and seeing us all well armed, the Indians took to the river in front of us and swam over.

I broke one red-skin's back with a bullet as he was climbing the opposite bank, and three others were killed. Our party were more frightened than hurt, though one or two were pierced with arrows. At that early period guns and ammunition had not been freely sold by Indian agencies to these hostile western tribes, and their principal weapon was the bow and arrow. After this our party MEETING A PARTY 0E AMERICANS AND SACS. 21 kept a stronger guard and looked out for night sur prises. I had little difficulty in keeping the company sup plied with meat, as there were great numbers of buffalo, antelope, deer, elk, &c, on the plains at that time. After traveling about one hundred and twenty-five miles further, we met at Big Coon creek a party of about three hundred Sacs with twenty-five or thirty Americans.

These Sac Indians were friendly, and were taking one hundred and fifty buffalo calves to Missouri to raise for English purchasers. These calves had been given to cows whose calves had been killed to make room for these hump-backed strangers. Be sides these calves the party had young grey wolves, elk, and antelopes. We camped and feasted together four days, fishing for trout in Coon creek, hunting deer, &c, and at night carousing around, drinking liquor, and having a good time generally. The reader must bear in mind that the men who en gaged in expeditions of the kind we were on, were not noted for their total abstinence, any more than the rep resentative sailor, having the same roving and frolick ing nature. Their party was under the direction of Mr. Fitz hughes, and he had taken the Sacs as a protection to his American party.