 Chapter 33, The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth, Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer, and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians. Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Upper Californians, on account of their great distance from the Mexican government, had long enjoyed the forms of an independent principality. Although recognizing themselves as a portion of the Mexican Republic, they had for years past had the election of their own officers, their governor inclusive, and enjoyed comparative immunity from taxes and other political vexations. Under this abandonment, the inhabitants lived prosperous and contented. Their hills and prairies were literally swarming with cattle. Immense numbers of these were slaughtered annually for their hides and tallow. And as they had no armies of liberation to support, and no costly government to maintain in extravagance, they passed their lives in a state of contentment. Every man sitting under his own vine and his own fig tree. Two years prior to my arrival, all this had been changed. President Santa Ana had appointed one of his creatures, Torion, Governor, with absolute and tyrannical power. He arrived with an army of bandits to subject the defenseless inhabitants to every wrong that a debasing tyranny so readily indulges in. Heavy taxes were imposed for the support of the home government, and troops were quartered to the great annoyance and cost of the honest people. The lives of the inhabitants were continually in danger from the excesses of the worthless vagabonds who had been forced upon them. Their property was rifled before their eyes. Their daughters were ravished in their presence or carried forcibly to the filthy barracks. The people's patience became at length exhausted, and they determined to die rather than submit to such inflections, but they were ignorant how to shake off the yoke. They were unaccustomed to war and knew nothing about political organizations. However, provenance finally raised up a man for the purpose. General Jose Castro, who had filled the office of commander under the former system, but who had been forced to retire into privacy at the inauguration of the reign of terror. He stepped boldly forth and declared to the people his readiness to lead them to the warfare that should deliver their country from the scourge that inflicted them. He called upon them to second his exertions and never desert his banner until California were purified of her present pollution. His patriotic appeal was responded to by all ranks. Hundreds flocked to his standard. The young and the old left their ranches and their cattle grounds and rallied round their well-tried chief. There was at that time quite a number of Americans in the country, and according to their interest and predilections, they ranged themselves upon opposing sides. Our present worthy and much respected citizen, General Sutter, was at that time, if I'm a stake not, a colonel in the forces of the central government, and at the outbreak of the revolution, he drew his sword for Santa Ana and entered into active service against the rebels in Pueblo de Angeles. There was an American, long resident in the country named Jay Rowland, who sought my cooperation in the popular cause. He said that every American who could use a rifle was a host against the invaders and besought me to arm in defense and to influence my men likewise to espouse the cause. I replied to his solicitation by promising him my active cooperation and also that I would represent his arguments to the men living with me. Accordingly, I informed my people that I intended to shoulder my rifle in the defense of life and property, and they were unanimous in their resolution to accompany me. Hence, there were 13 riflemen instead of one. We shortly after received an accession of 60 more good frontiersmen and mustered ourselves for service. The company elected me captain, but I declined the office. Mr. Bell finally assumed the command with the promise of my unflinching support and extremities. Our company steadily increased in number until we had 160 men, including native Californians who joined us with rifles. General Castro's first movement was against Pueblo. He entered the place at the head of his forces and took the fort arsenal with all the government arms, ammunition and stores with a slight loss of one officer wounded. This enabled the rebels to arm themselves and he was shortly at the head of a small but well appointed army. The general highly extolled the rifle battalion and he looked upon it as a powerful support. Castro then took a detachment of rebel troops and proceeded northward to recon order the enemy's position. Our main body also moving in the direction of the enemy as far as Monterey. Where were the governor's headquarters? On first hearing the intelligence of the outbreak, the governor had put his forces in motion and issued orders to shoot the rebels wherever met and destroy their property of whatever kind. General Castro, having proceeded as far as Santa Barbara, a distance of 96 miles and having obtained full information concerning the movements of the governor, returned and joined the main body. During his expedition he captured five Americans in the Mexican service. He disarmed them, telling them that he had no disposition to injure Americans and that he would return their arms as soon as he had expelled the enemies of the people. Our forces were concentrated in a large open prairie, the enemy being stationed at no great distance likewise on the prairie. I ascended one morning the summit of a mountain which would afford me a fair view of the enemy's camp just to discover their numbers and strength of position. On my road I encountered two Americans who were serving in the capacity of spies to the enemy. I accosted them and expressed surprise to see them in the service of such an old rascal as Torrillon and recommended them to join the popular cause. But they seemed to have an eye to the promised booty of the rebels and my arguments could not influence them. I dispatched one of them with a letter to Gantt, an American who held the commission of captain in the governor's army, offering him, as we did not wish to fight against our American brethren, to withdraw all the Americans from the rebel ranks if he would do the same on the side of the governor and leave the Mexicans and Californians who were most interested in the issue to measure their strength. Some Germans who were with us also made the same proposal to Colonel Sutter. Our messenger conveyed the dispatches and delivered the Germans letter to Colonel Sutter, who read both that and our letter to Captain Gantt. He returned for answer that, unless the Americans withdrew from the insurgent army immediately, he would shoot us every one by ten o'clock the next morning. This embittered us the more against the barbarity of the opposing power and we resolved to make their leaders, not accepting Sutter, feel the effects of our rifles as soon as they placed themselves within range. On the following morning a weak and ineffective cannonade commenced on both sides. We lay low, awaiting the enemy's charge. As their riflemen had not shown themselves and we were desirous to obtain a sight of them, myself, with seven or eight others, advanced cautiously in search of them. On our way we discovered a small cannon which the enemy had loaded and was about to discharge upon our ranks. Had there been a gunner among them it must have done us great injury. We advanced within a few yards of the peace and had raised ourselves up to shoot the artillerymen when one of our party arrested our aim by suddenly exclaiming, Don't shoot! Don't shoot! He then pointed out the enemy's riflemen carefully emerging from a hollow with the intention of stealing upon our flank and saluting us with a volley of lead. I laid down my rifle and hailed them to halt. I recognized a number of mountaineers among them, with some of whom I had intimate acquaintance and I urged them to adopt the cause of the people, for the side they had now espoused was one no Americans should be seen to defend. They heard me through and all or nearly all the Americans were persuaded by my arguments and returned with me to join our battalion. This assured us of victory. The cannonade was perfectly harmless. Some of the balls passed 300 feet over our heads. Others plowed up the prairie as near to their ranks as ours. All the damage we received was one wagon shivered to pieces and a horse killed under Colonel Price, which animal had been captured by us at Pueblo and was now serving in the rebel forces with the same rank he had held under government. The desertion of the riflemen seriously affected the enemy's prospects of victory. Ten o'clock had passed and Colonel Sutter had not put his threat into execution. The enemy finally retired from the field and marched in the direction of Pueblo. I took a party and ascended a mountain to watch the progress of the retiring foe. We stayed out some hours with the view to learn where they encamped. While thus employed, a courier sent from our commander brought us orders to return immediately. We instantly obeyed and found the army gone with only one man remaining to direct our steps. On coming up with our forces we found that our Colonel had made a movement which cut off all retreat from the enemy and which must bring him to an engagement or an unconditional surrender. In the morning I again took a party with me and mounted an eminence to reckon order the enemy's position. We approached to within 500 yards of their camp where we shot a bullock which we quietly proceeded to dress. While we were thus engaged I perceived an officer approaching from the enemy's camp to ascertain who we were. I took my rifle and dodged among the bushes eager to get a shot at him. But before I could do so one of my men prematurely fired and missed his mark. The officer had dismounted in order to get a nearer view of us and this admonitory shot warned him back into camp. Myself and another advanced to within 50 rods of it and boldly seized the officer's horse and they did not fire a shot at us. We saw their camp was hemmed in on all sides. Our artillery was placed in battery, matches lighted and men in position. All was ready for action. The enemy, perceiving their desperate condition, sent a flag of truce for a negotiation. Articles of capitulation were eventually drawn up and signed to the effect that the Governor and his forces should immediately lay down their arms and leave for Acapulco as soon as their embarkation could be accomplished. Accordingly they laid down their arms and marched under escort to the Embaradara, distant 20 miles from Pueblo. The Governor was not permitted to return to Monterey but his lady was sent for to the Embaradara where she rejoined her husband and they quit the country together. Colonel Sutter on the day of embarkation left his detachment of naked Indians with the army and proceeded as we supposed to his fort on the Sacramento but he returned the next day and gave himself up to us. His force of Indians were very well drilled but would have been far better employed in raising cabbages on his farm than in facing rebel riflemen on the battlefield. A trial was held upon the Colonel which resulted in his full acquittal with the restoration of all his property fallen into our hands such as cannon and other military effects by the surrender of the government forces. The Americans, in jest probably, seemed very desirous to have the prisoner shot which produced great alarm in his mind and recalled to his recollection his recent threat to shoot all the Americans in our army. Our countrymen were almost carried on the shoulders of the Californians in gratitude for their participation in the revolution. For although the victory had been a bloodless one they attributed their easily one success to the dread inspired by the name of their American Confederates. After seeing the departure of the government troops the rebel army returned to Pueblo where they elected Colonel Pico Governor. Colonel, now General Castro, commander of the forces and filled other less important offices. Fandangos which were continued for a week celebrated our success and these festivities over the insurgents returned to their various homes and occupations. Some few weeks after a small proportion of the inhabitants sought to displace our newly elected chief magistrate and appoint some other in his place. I was sent for during the night to guard the governor's palace with my corpse of rifles and we succeeded in capturing the leading conspirators who were tried and sent to Acapulco in Irons. I had a quarrel with the Ocalde shortly after this service and he put me in Irons for cursing him. As soon as the governor heard of my misfortune he had me immediately discharged from confinement. I now resumed my business and dispatched my partner Mr. Waters after a fresh supply of goods but before he had time to return fresh political commotion supervened. There still seemed to exist in the minds of the majority a strong hankering for the domination of Mexico. Notwithstanding they had so recently sided with the revolutionists in shaking off the yoke of the national government. Among other causes of excitement too the American adventurers resident there had raised a bear flag and proclaimed their intention of establishing an independent government of their own. This caused us to be closely watched by the authorities and matters seemed to be growing too warm to be pleasant. In the midst of this gathering ferment news reached us from Mazatlan of the declaration of war between the United States and Mexico and I deemed it was fully time to leave. Colonel Fremont was at that juncture approaching from Oregon with a force if combined with the Americans resident there sufficient to conquer the whole country and I would have liked exceedingly to join his forces. But to have proceeded toward him would have subjected me to mistrust and consequent capture and imprisonment. If I looked south the same difficulties menaced me and the West conducted me to the Pacific Ocean. I had but little time to deliberate my people was at war with the country I was living in. I had become security to the authorities for the good behavior of several of my fellow countrymen and I was under recognizance for my own conduct. The least misadventure would compromise me and I was impatient to get away. My only retreat was eastward. So considering all things fair in time of war I together with five trusty Americans collected 1800 stray horses we found roaming on the Californian ranchos and started with our utmost speed from Pueblo de Angeles. This was a fair capture and our morals justified it for it was wartime. We knew we should be pursued and we lost no time in making our way toward home. We kept our herd jogging for five days and nights only resting once a day to eat and afford the animals time to crop a mouthful of grass. We killed a fat cold occasionally which supplied us with meat and very delicious meat too. Rather costly but the cheapest and handiest we could obtain. After five days chase our pursuers relaxed their speed and we ourselves drove more leisurely. We again found the advantage that I have often spoke of before of having a drove of horses before us. For as the animals we bestowed gave out we could shift to a fresh one while our pursuers were confined to one steed. When we arrived at my fort on the Arkansas we had over 1000 head of horses all in good condition. There was a general rejoicing among the little community at my safe arrival. The Indians also coming in to bid me welcome. I found my wife married again having been deceived by a false communication. Her present husband had brought her a missive, purporting to be of my indicting, wherein I expressed indifference toward her person, disinclination to return home and tendering her a discharge from all cannubial obligation. She accepted the document as authentic and solaced her abandonment by espousing her husband's messenger. My return acquainted her with the truth of the matter. She manifested extreme regret at having suffered herself to be imposed upon so readily and as a remedy for the evil offered herself back again. But I declined, preferring to enjoy once more the sweets of single blessedness. I left the fort on a visit to San Fernandez. I found business very dull there on account of the war and great apprehensions were felt by my friends in regard to the result. Perceiving that was no very desirable place to remove to, I returned to my community. General Kearney was just then on his march to Santa Fe. I took a drove of my horses and proceeded down the Arkansas to meet him on his route. For it was probable there might be an opportunity of affecting some advantageous exchanges. The general came up and found me in waiting with my stock. We had been acquainted for several years and he gave me a very cordial reception. Backworth said the general, you have a splendid lot of horses, really? They must have cost you a great sum of money. No general, I replied, but they cost me a great many miles of hard riding. How so, he inquired. Why, I was in California at the time the war broke out and not having men enough at my command to take part in the fighting. I thought I could assist my country a little by starting off a small drove of the enemy's horses in order to prevent their being used against us. Ah, Backworth, you are truly a wonderful man to possess so much forethought. And he laughed heartily. However, added he, trade them off as quickly as possible for I want you to accompany me. You like war and I have good use for you now. I informed him that I was ready for service and accordingly I sent all my remaining horses back to my plantation and went on with the general to Santa Fe, which place submitted without firing a shot. The general sent me immediately back to Fort Leavenworth with dispatches. This was my service during the war. The occupation was a tolerably good one and I never failed in getting my dispatches through. I enjoyed facilities superior to almost any other man as I was known to almost all the Indians through whose country I passed. My partner and I had purchased a hotel in Santa Fe and we transacted a very profitable business there. My associate attended to the business of the hotel while I carried dispatches and Santa Fe was generally my starting place. Many messengers lost their lives on the route as at times there were dispatches to be sent and I would not be at headquarters to carry them. The distance from Santa Fe to Fort Leavenworth is 913 miles. I have frequently made the trip and from 20 to 25 days my shortest trip I accomplished in 18. I well knew that my life was at stake every trip that I made but I liked the employment. There was continual excitement in it and indeed sometimes more than I actually cared about. More particularly when I fell in with the Pawnees. The service furnished an escort of 15 or 25 men but I always declined the company of troops as I considered myself safer without them. If I had taken troops with me it would have led to incessant fights with the Indians and if they had seen me with white soldiers it would have been very apt to kill me the first opportunity. Another thing, I did not think the United States regular troops good for anything against the Indians for I knew that the Comanches would stand and fight them almost man for man. I chanced to fall in with Kit Carson one day as I was about to start from New Mexico to Fort Leavenworth and he proposed going with me as he wished to learn my route. I was very much pleased with his proposal as I thought that with Kit and his men I should go through strong handed. I told him that I should rest at Teos one day to get my horses shod and that he could easily come up with me there or on the road tither. I left with two men and stayed at Teos as appointed but he failed to rejoin us. I roamed on as far as my ranch. Still he did not appear. I filled a large fire before proceeding into the Indian country thinking to attract him by the smoke and thus bring him on to our trail but I saw no more of him and it was supposed he was lost until he eventually turned up in the city of Washington. We both had a narrow escape from Indians on that trip. I had contrary to my usual practice and camped one night in the prairie and was to start in the morning when we heard buffalo running close to our camp. On looking out I saw a great number chased by the Pawnees although the Indians were not yet in sight. We made all possible haste to the timber threw our horses on their sides gagged them and fastened them to the ground and then secreted ourselves in the willows. The Indians flocked round busyed in their pursuit and some of the buffaloes they dressed with a gunshot of our secret camp. I thought that day the longest I had lived through and I expect the poor animals thought so too for they lay in one position the whole time without food or water and without being permitted to whisper a complaint. At night we made good our escape and arrived at the fort without further difficulty. When I was ready to return to Santa Fe I could find no one willing to accompany me. The weather was intensely cold and no inducement that I could offer was sufficient to tempt men to leave their comfortable fires and encounter the perils of the Indians and Jack Frost in the prairies. Many men had been frozen to death on the route and a general shutter ran through the company when I proposed the journey to them. I could have been furnished with soldiers and plenty but I was unwilling to take them as it imposed so much trouble on the road to stay to bury every man that perished with the hardships of the journey. Important dispatches had arrived from Washington which must go through and I looked fruitlessly round for a man hardy enough to go with me. At length a boy, a Kentuckian, volunteered. He had followed the army to the fort and had lived about the barracks until he had become well accustomed to the privations of a camp life. He was an intelligent lad but unfortunately had a malformation of one of his feet which seriously impeded his walking. However, I liked his plaque and proposing and eventually consented to take him. I went with him to the settler's store and procured him the warmest clothing I could and then bait him repair to my boarding house and stay there until I was ready to start. When I was prepared for departure I furnished him with a good horse and taking an extra one between us we started on the long journey. I gave him particular directions that if he should become very cold he was to acquaint me and I would stay and build a fire to warm him by wherever there was any wood but the proposition he declined. Three days after we reached the Arkansas and encamped Isaac was busy in preparing supper while I walked to an eminence close by in order to survey the country. I perceived an immense number of Indians approaching directly toward us and at not more than three or four hundred yards distance. I shouted to Isaac to catch the horses quickly and tether them and I hastened back to the camp. I inquired what the matter was and I told him there were a thousand Indians coming after us. The approaching individuals belonged to the Comanche tribe and numbered over a thousand warriors. They were in full speed. They dashed through the Arkansas with such precipitation that I thought they would throw all the water out of the channel and hurl it onto the bank. I ran in front of the advance and challenged them to stop. They halted for a moment and asked me who I was. I told them the crow. Thereupon they grabbed me up like a chicken and carried me into our little camp. They had nine white men's scalps which to appearance were hardly yet cold and they said they must kill my white boy and his scalp would just make ten. I told them the boy was my nephew and that they must not kill him. That great braves never kill boys. They then conversed among themselves a minute or two and finally said he, being your nephew, may live. Tell him to make us some good black soup. I foresaw that my coffee and sugar must suffer for my black soup they meant coffee. I directed Isaac to set about making it but to secrete a little for ourselves if he could do so unperceived. The Comanches have a great fondness for coffee and I never fell in with them without having to part with all I had and I sometimes imagined they preferred my coffee and sugar to my scalp. The same day just before dusk while jogging steadily along the boy discovered a small party of Paw and Ease. I hastily dismounted and tied the heads of our three horses together to prevent them running and directed the boy to see they did not move. I then took his gun in my own and went away from the horses. As I was leaving the boy inquired if he should fire too. I told him no, not unless I was killed and then to defend himself as best he could. I took a secure position and fired and Indian fell. I fired again and killed a second. They cracked away at me but did no harm. I reloaded and fired again until I had leveled five of them. They retreating at every discharge. When the fifth warrior fell the whole party fell back to cry. I knew that after they had cried for a few minutes they would make a rush for revenge. Therefore I shouted to the boy to cut the animals loose and mount in haste. He did so. I sprung on my horse instantly and we flew away leaving the mourners to their lamentations. At every fell I shot the boy would ejaculate. Woop! You fetched him. He's got his gruel. And other sayings thereby displaying more bravery than many men would have shown under similar circumstances. Ever afterward he considered that we were a match for any number of ponies and as for the Comanches I could beat them off with black soup. We traveled on for several miles and then encamped. In the morning I started along a ravine for our horses which had strayed away. I returned toward the camp where I found that they had taken themselves up another small ravine and then I had passed them. While thus pursuing the stray animals the boy came to acquaint me that he had seen a great number of Indians. I led the horses to the camp and then mounted a little rise of ground from whence I described a large village. I did not know what tribe they belonged to though I knew they were not ponies for that tribe never visited this country except on war excursions. I took the boy and walked with him up to the village but their faces were all strange to me nor did I like their appearance and movements. On perceiving one at a little distance wrapped in his robe I thought he might possibly be a chief and I approached him. He addressed me in crow ah my friend what brought you here. I replied that as I was passing through I had thought it well to call on him. I am glad to see you said he enter my lodge my warriors are bad today. The Indians were apaches and the chief was named Black Shield an old and intimate acquaintance. He insisted on my spending the night in the village which I consented to. He was perfectly rabid toward the whites and stated his intention to manure the prairie with their bodies in the coming season. He would not leave one in the country. I applauded his intention telling him the whites were unable to fight. Seeing that I was on his side that is if my words made me so he continued I have plenty of warriors and plenty of guns and balls but I am a little short of powder. When will you return? I informed him as nearly as I could calculate but I added that my return was uncertain. Will you bring me some powder? he inquired. I will I said but I shall return by way of the eagles nest hill. That is the very place I am going to from here he rejoined and if I am not there myself some of my warriors will be and they can take it from you. This afforded me no put off and I accordingly promised to furnish him with the powder. If the reader will indulge me in a witticism I beg to assure him that I carried the powder to the old chief in a horn. In the morning he furnished me with mean enough to subsist us for a week together with new moccasins and sundry other articles. We then bade him adieu and proceeded on our journey arriving at Santa Fe without any farther than the adventure. On reaching my destination I informed some of my friends of my promise to the black shield and where they could find him to deliver the powder to enable him to carry out his commendable resolution. A party started to meet him at the appointed spot but in delivering the powder they managed to explode it and he and his warriors only received the bullets of which they already had plenty. End of Chapter 33 Chapter 34 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout, and Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org On my arrival at Santa Fe I found affairs in a very disturbed state Colonel Donovan had just gained the battle of Bercito and was carrying all before him in that section of the country He had forwarded orders to Santa Fe for a field battery in order to make a demonstration against Chihuahua Major Clark was entrusted with the duty of conveying the artillery to the Colonel Scarcely had he departed when we received intelligence of an insurrection in Teos The information was first communicated by an Indian from a village between Santa Fe and Teos who reported to General Price that the Mexicans had massacred all the white inhabitants of that place and that a similar massacre was contemplated in Santa Fe of which report full information could be obtained by the arrest of a Mexican who was then conveying a letter from the priest in Teos to the priest in Santa Fe A watch was immediately set upon the priest's house and a Mexican was seen to enter The guard approached the door to arrest the man as he issued but he, being apprised of the action of the authorities left the house by another door and escaped At night there came a violent rapping at my gate and on going to open it I perceived my friend Charles Town who on being admitted collapsed me around the neck and gave vent to uncontrolled emotion perceiving that something alarming had occurred I invited him into the house, spread refreshments before him and allowed him time to recover himself He then informed me that he had escaped almost by a miracle from Teos where all the American residents had been killed He was a resident there having married a girl of New Mexico and his wife's father had apprised him that he had better affect his escape if possible for if he was caught he would be inevitably massacred His father-in-law provided him with a good horse and he retreated into the woods where after considerable risk and anxiety he providentially eluded the assassins On receiving this alarming information I lost no time in repairing to the headquarters of General Price accompanied by my informant who related the above particulars General Price immediately adopted the most effective measures He assembled his officers and instructed them to set a close watch upon the house of every Mexican in the city and to suffer no person to pass in or out He also ordered that every American should hold himself in readiness for service during the night Before morning several of the most influential Mexican citizens were placed under arrest In searching them important conspiracies were brought to light Correspondence implicating the most considerable residents was read and a plot was detected of subjecting Santa Fe to the same Saint Bartholomew massacre has had just been visited upon Teas The city was placed under martial law and every American that could shoulder a musket was called into immediate service All the ox drivers, mule drivers, merchants, clerks and commiserate men were formed into rank and file and placed in a condition for holding the city Then placing himself at the head of his army 400 strong General Price marched toward Teos On arriving at Kenjara, a small town about 20 miles from Santa Fe we found the enemy numbering 2,000 Mexicans and Indians were prepared to give us battle The enemy's lines were first perceived by our advance guard which instantly fell back upon the main body Our line was formed and an advance made upon the enemy the mountaineer company under Captain Savarene being placed in charge of the baggage As soon as battle was begun however we left the baggage and ammunition wagons to take care of themselves and made a descent upon the foe He fled precipitately before the charge of our lines and we encamped upon the field of battle The next day we advanced to Lombota where the enemy made another stand and again fled on our approach We marched on until we arrived at Teos and the barbarities we witnessed there exceeded in brutality all my previous experience with the Indians Bodies of our murdered fellow countrymen were lying about the streets mutilated and disfigured in every possible way and the hogs and dogs were making a rip past upon the remains Among the dead we recognized that of Governor Bent who had been recently appointed by General Kearney One poor victim we saw who had been stripped naked scalped alive and his eyes punched out He was groping his way through the streets beseeching someone to shoot him out of his misery While his inhuman Mexican tormentors were deriving the greatest amusement from the exhibition such scenes of unexampled barbarity filled our soldiers' breasts with abhorrence They became tiger-like in their craving for revenge Our general directed the desecrated remains to be gathered together and a guard to be placed over them while he marched on with his army in pursuit of the barbarians Late in the afternoon we arrived at Pueblo where we found the enemy well posted having an adobe fort in their front No attack was attempted that evening and strict orders were issued for no man to venture out of camp In the evening I was visited by a man who informed me that he had a brother at Riomondo 12 miles distant whom, if he was not already killed he wished to save for a massacre I determined to rescue him, if possible and having induced seven other good and trustworthy mountaineers to aid me in the attempt We left the camp unproceed and proceeded to the place indicated On our arrival we found two or three hundred Mexicans all well armed We rode boldly past them and they dispersed many of them going to their homes We reached the door of the Mexican general Monteo who styled himself the Santa Anta of the north and captured him We then liberated the prisoner we were in quest of and returned to Teos with our captive general At Teos we found our forces which had retired upon that place from Pueblo after having made an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the enemy We informed our general of our important capture and he affected great displeasure at our disobedience of orders Although it was easy to see that, in his eyes the end had justified the means The following morning a gallows was erected and Monteo was swung in the wind The correspondence that had been seized in Santa Fe had implicated him in some of the blackest plots and we thought that this summary disposal of his generalship would relieve us from all further danger from his machinations Having procured artillery to bombard the enemy's position our commander returned to Pueblo We cannonated in good earnest but the pieces were too small to be of much service But we cut a breach with our axes half way through the six foot wall and then finished the work with our cannon While engaged in this novel way of getting at the enemy a shell was thrown from a mortar at the fort but our artillerymen, not being very skillful in their practice threw the shell outside the fort and it fell among us A young lieutenant seized it in his hands and cast it through the breach It had not more than struck before it exploded doing considerable damage in the fort We then stormed the breach which was only big enough to admit one man at a time and carried the place without difficulty The company of mountaineers had fallen back midway between the fort and mountain in order to pick off any Mexican who should dare to show himself We killed 54 of the defenders as they were endeavoring to escape upon the person of one of whom an officer we found 160 doubloons Some of the enemy fired upon us from a position at one corner of the fort through loopholes and while looking about for a covert to get a secure shot at them we discovered a few of the enemy hidden away in the brush One of them, an Indian, ran toward us exclaiming, Bueno Bueno, me like Americanos One of our party said If you like the Americans, take this sword and return to the brush and kill all the men you find there He took the proffered sword and was busy in the brush for a few minutes and then returned with his sword blade dripping with gore saying, I have killed them Then you ought to die for killing your own people said the American, and he shot the Indian dead The battle lasted through the whole day and a close watch was set at night to prevent the escape of those yet occupying the fort The assault was renewed the following morning and continued during that day also Toward night several white flags were raised by the enemy but were immediately shot down by the Americans who had determined to show no quarter On the third morning all the women issued from the fort each bearing a white flag and kneeled before the general to supplicate for the lives of their surviving friends The general was prevailed upon and gave orders to cease firing The enemy lost severely through their disgraceful cowardice Our company lost but one man through the whole engagement Nine of the most prominent conspirators were hanged at Teos and seven or eight more at Santa Fe It was about this time that the report reached us of the butchery of Mr. Waldo with eight or ten other Americans at the morrow After the insurrection was suppressed I started again for Fort Leavenworth On my way back from the fort I again fell in with Black Shield and his Apaches I said to him You told me false You said that you would meet me at the Eagle's Nest but when I went there you were not to be found I had to throw the powder away that I brought for you and run for my life for the whites discovered my errand and were close at my heels I know it, my friend said the Black Shield We saw your kegs there but the whites had taken all the powder out I am sorry they came upon you so suddenly for we had to run as well as you The second day after we left the Apaches we discovered an object in the distance which I at first took for a stump but still thought it singular that there should be a stump where there were no trees near as we approached the object moved and we at length discovered it to be a man of the name of Elliot Lee who had been wounded by the Apaches three or four days previously and had not tasted food since he had belonged to a party of seventeen or eighteen mountaineers on their way to Santa Fe they had stopped to rest on the bank of a creek and were suddenly set upon by the Indians several of the party were killed among whom was my friend Charles Town and all the rest were more or less severely wounded some few had succeeded in getting away not withstanding their wounds but Mr. Lee had been shot in the thigh and was unable to crawl along when we picked him up he was delirious and his wound was greatly swollen and inflamed we gave him food and carried him along with us until we fortunately came up with his wagons we then gave him into the keeping of his friends and proceeded on our way on my arrival home I disposed of all my property in Santa Fe and started to buy horses of the Indians to dispose of to the discharged troops I had arrived within a short distance of my ranch when I met a man who advised me to conceal myself two rewards had been offered for my apprehension one of a thousand dollars by Colonel Price and another of five hundred dollars by Mr. Kisek, quarter master I was accused of confederating with rebels in Indians and assisting them in stealing horses from the Whites and leading the hostile bands in their warfare upon the American troops I listened to this information and was astonished at the invention that is news indeed I said but they shall not have the profit all to themselves I will immediately go and deliver myself up and obtain the rewards I advise you as a friend not to go rejoined my inner colluder for they will assuredly hang you directly they lay hands upon you while hang or not hang I answered I am resolved to go for I have not been a month absent from Santa Fe and I can give account of every day and night I have since spent at the time I met with my informant I had an order from Captain Morris of the United States Army in my pocket authorizing me to pick up all the government horses that I might find in my rambles and bring them in but up to the time that I was informed of the charges against me I had found but one horse the property of Captain Severine and it I had restored to the owner accordingly I returned without delay to Taos where I saw Colonel Willock who was Lieutenant under Colonel Price him I acquainted with my determination to proceed to Santa Fe to deliver myself up for the rewards I had offered for my apprehension but he urgently requested me not to go he was about to start with an expedition against the Apaches and wished to engage me a spy interpreter and guide he promised to forward an exculpatory letter to Santa Fe that should set me all right with the authorities the letter was sent but not delivered as the messenger was shot on the way I concluded to accompany the Colonel and aid him to the extent of my ability in the object of his expedition we started with a small battalion of volunteers for the Apaches the first day in camp the common soldiers fare was spread for dinner which at that time I felt but little appetite for I informed the Colonel that I would go out and kill an antelope why? said he there is not an antelope within ten miles around the soldiers have scoured the whole country without seeing one I told him I felt sure I could find one and took up my rifle and was about to start hold on! cried the Colonel I will go with you and will further engage to pack on my back all you kill we started and kept on the road for about half a mile when I discovered the tracks of three antelopes which had just crossed our path and gone in the direction of a hill close by the Colonel did not see the tracks and I did not point them out to him we passed on a few rods farther when I suddenly stopped threw my head back and began to sniff like a dog senting his prey what the dickens are you sniffing for? asked the Colonel I am sure that I smell an antelope said I you smell antelope and the Colonel's nostrils began to dilate I can smell nothing well Colonel I said there are antelopes close by I know for my smellers never yet deceived me and now added I if you will start carefully up that hollow I will go up on the other side and I am confident that one of us will kill one I knew that if the animals were in the hollow they would start at the approach of the Colonel and most probably in my direction and thus afford me an opportunity of getting a shot at one I proceeded cautiously along until raising my head over a knoll I saw the three antelopes which had crossed us two had already laying down and a third was preparing to do so when I sent a lead messenger which brought him down involuntarily the Colonel shouted to inquire what I had shot at antelope I answered and he came running at his best speed there was the very beast beyond all dispute to the utter astonishment of the Colonel who regarded for some moments first the game and then the hunter and you smelled them he pondered well I must confess your ol' factory nerves beat those of any man I ever yet fell in with smell antelope huh I will send my boy to carry him in but that was not the bargain Colonel I said you engaged to pack in on your back all I should kill there is your burden the distance is but short but the Colonel declined his engagement we finally hung the antelope on a tree and the Colonel on our return to camp dispatched his servant to fetch it in he never could get over my smelling antelope and we have had many a hearty laugh at its sense the following morning at daylight I took five or six men with me and proceeded on my duty as spy while the Colonel moved on with the troops we returning to camp every evening at dusk we frequently saw signs of Indians but we could make no discovery of the Indians themselves we continued our chase for nearly a month our coffee and sugar had given out and our provisions were getting low the soldiers could kill no game and there was a general disposition especially among the officers to return in leaving the camp as usual one morning I directed the Colonel to a camping ground and started on my search late in the afternoon I discovered what I supposed to be a large party of Indians moving in our direction I ran with all possible speed to communicate the information but in ascending a small point of land when I was in my way I found a strange encampment of United States troops lying before me I knew it was not Colonel Willick's command for these had tents, wagons, and other appointments which we were unprovided with when I was first perceived some of the men pointed me out to their companions there's Beckworth, there's Jim Beckworth I heard whispered around it was a detachment commanded by Colonel Edmondson who had just returned from Santa Fe with a reinforcement having been defeated in an engagement with the Apache some time previously when the Colonel saw me he inquired of me and my errand I have come after horses I replied and plays intent but I see you have none Beckworth said to Captain Donahue I have been defending your character for a long time I now want you to clear up matters for yourself I found I was not in very good saver among the parties present owning to a mistake in my identity made by one of the soldiers during their late engagement with the Indians it was supposed I had entered their camp hurled my lance through a soldier and challenged another out to fight telling him he was paid for fighting and it was his duty to engage me this suspicion added to flying reports of evil doings which derived their origin in the crow village from my adventure with Fitzpatrick had associated me in the soldier's minds with all the horse raids and white massacres they heard rumors of and I was regarded by them as all a desperate walless character who deserved hanging to the first tree we ever met at this moment two men came running toward the camp at full speed shouting to arms to arms as though the whole Apache nation were behind them where is your party? asked Colonel Edmondson of me coming yonder sir I replied pointing in the direction of the two approaching heralds for I suppose it was Colonel Willick's command they had seen and whom and their fright they had mistaken for Indians immediately there was a bustle of preparation to receive the coming foe the muskets were snatched up and the men fell into line but in a few moments the real character of the approaching company was ascertained and the Colonel advanced to greet them at the junction of the two parties both engaged on the same errand matters were discussed by the two colonels and it was resolved to abandon the expedition for it was manifest that the Indians were too much on the alert to be taken I was dispatched to Santa Fe with a letter to Colonel Price from Colonel Edmondson and Willick while they resolved to march back with their detachments Colonel Edmondson to Santa Fe and Colonel Willick to Taos the morning following I again sent out for Fort Leavenworth having for companion Mackintosh who by the way was a Cherokee and known as such to the Indians whom we fell in with on the road we reached the fort without any accident and delivered our dispatches safe on our return we overtook Bullard and company's trains of wagons which were on their way to Santa Fe with supplies for the army Bullard and his partner proposed to leave their charge and go in with us if I thought we would be able to keep up with them I answered that we would try and keep their company as far as possible but that they would be at liberty to proceed at any time that they considered we retarded them they went with us as far as the morrow two days ride from Santa Fe where we were compelled to leave them as they were tired out and had already detained us two full days my next engagement in the service of Uncle Sam was a trip to Chihuahua to convey dispatches but previous to starting Captain Morris wished to engage me as a guide in an expedition against the Utah Indians so preferring the latter service I transferred my trust to my brave and faithful friend McIntosh and accompanied Captain Morris the expedition consisted of 90 men the object was a treaty of peace with the Utah's we succeeded in finding the Indians but as they supposed our only object was to fight it was some time before we could get up to them we at length surprised them in a gap in the mountain when we succeeded in taking a number of prisoners among whom were some chiefs we explained our object they then frankly informed us where the village was we all repaired to it and concluded terms of peace our approach greatly alarmed the village at first for they knew that in conjunction with the Apaches they had been guilty of many depredations although it had been their policy to throw all the blame of the mischief upon their allies our mission performed, we returned to Taos I remained some weeks inactive Taos was convulsed with continual alarms from reports that Cortez was approaching against us with a great force the troops were all away at Santa Fe though had he visited us we could have improvised a warm reception we had a small piece of cannon with plenty of grape and canister with which we could have swept the streets we tried its effect one day just to satisfy the curiosity of the Mexicans we put in a heavy charge of grapeshot and discharged it down the street the tawny Mexicans were wonder-stricken they thought an army would stand but a poor chance before such a volcanic belching of iron missiles poultry in the vicinity of Taos became exceeding scarce it was a rare matter to hear a cock crow when we did by chance hear the pleasing sound we would listen for the repetition of it in order to learn from which direction it proceeded we would then visit the telltale's quarters after dark as we could obtain our poultry cheaper at night than in the daytime orders had been issued to take nothing from the enemy without paying for it which orders were evidently based upon the assumption that we had money to pay with those without money did not feel themselves bound by the injunction the authorities that issue similar commands in future would do well to insert some clause binding on the moneyless otherwise these orders are all moonshine from Taos I proceeded to Santa Fe I again started for the last time to Fort Leavenworth McIntosh having safely returned from Chihuahua again accompanying me when we arrived at the wagon mound we heard shots fired and immediately after met a train of mule teams approaching at their quickest pace the drivers advised us to return as they had been attacked by the Apaches and if we proceeded we could not escape being killed I thought that my companion and I knew the Indians better than the mule drivers did and we bade them goodbye and started on we intended to avoid the Indians by making a circuit away from where we expected they would be but in so doing we came directly upon the village we stayed all night with them we were well treated and resumed our journey in the morning we met a party of Americans who had been attacked by the Comanches and lost one horse but we saw no more Indians until we reached the fort many times wonder has been expressed how I could always travel the road in safety while other men were attacked and killed the only way in which I could account for the marvel was that I knew how to act the wolf while the others did not of all the dispatches I ever carried I never lost one while numbers who have undertaken to bear them lost not alone the dispatches but their lives for whenever they fell in with the Indians they were sure to be killed the Indians knew perfectly well what my business was they knew that I was conveying orders backward and forward from the great white chief to his war chiefs in New Mexico they would frequently ask me what the orders were which I had with me sometimes I would tell them that the great chief at Washington was going to send on a great host of warriors to rub them all out they would laugh heartily at this supposition for they conceived that all the American forces combined would hardly be a circumstance before them I promised to apprise them when the white warriors were to advance against them which promised they confidently relied upon I had to say something to keep on good terms with them and answer their inquiries to satisfy them and then proceed with my business the war between the great white chief and the great Mexican chief interested the Indians but little though their conviction was that the Mexican chief would be victorious their sympathy was with the latter from motives of self-interest they were now able to go at any time and drive home all the horses, cattle, and sheep that they wanted together with Mexican children enough to take care of them if the white chief conquered they supposed he would carry all the horses, cattle, and sheep home with him and thus leave none for them the Comanches and the Patches have a great number of Mexicans of both sexes among them whom seldom manifests much desire to return home the women say that the Indians treat them better than they are treated at home I never met but one exception to this rule and that was a young Mexican woman captive among the Comanches she told me that her father was wealthy and would give me $5,000 if I could procure her restoration I bought her of the chief and conveyed her to my fort whence I sent information to her father to acquaint him where he could find his daughter in a few days her father and her husband came to her she refused to have anything to say to her husband for she said he was a coward when the Indians attacked the village he mounted his horse and fled leaving her to their mercy her father proffered me the promised sum I only accepted $1,000 which returned me a very good profit on the cost of the goods I had given to the Indians for her ransom the women returned home with her father her valorous husband following them shortly after this I returned to Santa Fe End of Chapter 34 Chapter 35 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The last dispatches I bore from Fort Leavenworth were addressed to California and I had undertaken to carry them through At Santa Fe I rested a week and then taking an escort of 15 men I started on my errand On our arrival at the Village of Abigail we found a large party of Apaches who were in the midst of a drunken carousel We encamped inside the corral that being a safer place as we could select Little Joe, an Apache Chief inquired of me what I was going to do with these whites I'm going to take them to California, I told him No, said he You shall never take them nearer to California than they are now Well, I shall try, said I He held some farther conversation with me of a denunciatory character and then left me to return to the liquor shop For seeing what was likely to result in more liquor was obtained I visited every place in town where it was kept and informed every seller that if another drop was sold to the Indians I would hang the man that did it without a minute's delay and I would have been as good as my word for they were all Mexicans and I had felt no great liking for them since the awful tragedy at Teos But the priest began one or two in expostulation But I cut them short I'll hang your priest just as soon as any of you, I said if he dares to interfere in the matter I suppose they intended to urge that their priest had authorized them to sell liquors to the Indians My intertick stopped them for there was no more sold while I was there The next day I saw little Joe in one of the low saloons The stimulus of the liquor had left him and he had what toppers call the horrors He begged me to let him have one dram more but I refused Whiskey, I said, puts all kinds of nonsense into your head You get drunk and then you are ripe for any mischief When he had become perfectly sober he came to me and again asked if it were true that I intended taking those whites to California with me I told him that it was perfectly true Well, said Joe, if you attempt it will kill your whole party and you with them You will never listen to us Your ears are stopped We all love you but we have told you many times that we hate the whites and do not want you to lead them through our hunting grounds and show them our paths But you will not listen to us and now if you undertake to pass through that cannon we will, without fail, kill you all Well, I replied, I shall certainly go so you had better get your warriors ready We packed our animals and I directed my men to travel slowly while I went through the cannon If I wished them to advance I would climb up and show myself to them as a signal for them to rush through and reach me as soon as possible I then went on all alone as I knew that if I encountered Indians in the cannon they would not kill me by myself I passed through without meeting any and I signaled to the men to come on They soon joined me and we issued upon the open prairie Here, we discovered 300 Apaches each man leading his war horse We numbered 18, two of whom were Mexicans They did not offer to attack us however and we continued our route unmolested although they kept on our trail for 20 miles A little before dark, we rested to take supper starting again immediately after the meal was finished We saw no more of the Apaches The following afternoon, a Utah came to us I asked him where his village was He did not know, he said, as he had been away some time I was going out to shoot game at the time and I took the Indian with me lending him a gun belonging to one of my men I had killed two or three wild turkeys when my Indian discovering deer some distance off when in pursuit I returned to the camp, but the fellow had not arrived When we started in the morning, he had not shown himself The second day after the disappearance of the Indian with my gun I was some distance in advance of the party Then, on ascending a hill, I saw a large party of Utah's ahead They were looking down and examining the trail very closely to see if we had passed This convinced me that the Indian fugitive had lied to me that he knew well where his village was and had no doubt been sent out from it as a spy We held on our way till we came up with them and it being then about noon, we halted to take a long rest The Indians soon came flocking round us but I gave strict orders to the men to keep a good lookout and upon no account let them touch the firearms They swarmed around the camp, entering it one at a time and I determined to make the first troublesome advance an excuse for getting rid of them We packed up and moved on through the whole mass of Indians but they did not venture an attack although it had been their intention to do so if they could have got any advantage over us through our negligence They were embittered against the whites at that time on account of a severe whipping that had been recently inflicted upon two of their warriors by Chateau who had just passed through them for a theft from his camp To receive a whipping, especially at the hands of a white man is looked upon by them as a lasting infamy and they would prefer death to the disgrace The next morning they overtook us again and the Indian returned me my gun I mullified them with a few trifling presents and they finally left us on apparently good terms The next hostile country that lay upon our road was that of the Navajo tribe They followed us through their whole strip of territory shouting after us and making insulting gestures but they took the precaution to keep out of gunshot range and I did not think it worth my while to chastise them The next tribe on our route was the Pioches which is also the last before you reach Pueblo in California The first Pioches that we came across were an Indian and his squaw engaged in digging roots On seeing us approach the Indian took to his heels leaving the squaw to take care of herself I rode up to her and asked her where her village was She pointed in the direction of it but I could not see it The next one that I saw stooped and concealed himself in the grass immediately he found himself observed but I rode up to him and made him show himself not wishing to have him think that he could escape our notice so easily He accompanied me for a short distance until another of the tribe shouted to him from a hill He then left me We encamped that night upon the prairie At dusk we observed the smoke of campfires in every direction and shortly we were visited by hundreds of Indians who entirely hemmed us in but on their finding that we were not Mexicans they did not offer to molest us They were hostile on account of the continual abductions of their squaws and children whom the Mexicans employ as domestic slaves and treat with the utmost cruelty We reached our destination in safety and I delivered my dispatches I was now inactive for some time again and occupied my leisure in rambling about the environs of Monterey I then engaged in the service of the commissariat in Monterey to carry dispatches from thence to Captain Denny's ranch where I was met by another carrier On my road lay the mission of St. Miguel owned by a Mr. Reed, an Englishman and as his family was a very interesting one I generally made his home my resting place On one of my visits, arriving about dusk I entered the house as usual but was surprised to see no one stirring I walked about a little to attract attention and no one coming to me I stepped into the kitchen to look for some of the inmates On the floor I saw someone lying down asleep as I supposed I attempted to arouse him with my foot but he did not stir This seemed strange and my apprehensions became excited For the Indians were very numerous about and I was afraid some mischief had been done I returned to my horse for my pistols then lighting a candle I commenced a search And going along a passage I stumbled over the body of a woman I entered a room and found another a murdered Indian woman who had been a domestic I was about to enter another room but I was arrested by some sudden thought which urged me to search no farther It was an opportune admonition for that very room contained the murderers of the family who had heard my steps and were sitting at that moment with their pistols pointing to the door ready to shoot the first person that entered This they confessed subsequently thinking to obtain farther assistance I mounted my horse and rode to the nearest ranch a distance of 24 miles where I procured 15 Mexicans and Indians and returned with them the same night to the scene of the tragedy On again entering the house we found 11 bodies all thrown together in one pile for the purpose of consuming them For on searching further we found the murderers had set fire to the dwelling But according to that providence which exposes such wicked deeds the fire had died out Fastening up the house we returned immediately back to the ranch from which I had started with my party making 72 miles I rode that night As soon as I could obtain some rest I started in company with the Alcalde for St. Louis Abispo where it was believed we could get assistance in capturing the murderers 40 men in detached parties moving in different directions went in pursuit It was my fortune to find the trail and with my party of six men I managed to head off the suspected murderers so as to come up with them in the road from directly the opposite direction from Reed's house When I came opposite one of the men sang out Good day Seniors I replied but kept on riding in a lope The bandits thrown entirely off their guard insisted upon entering into conversation So I had a fair opportunity of marking them all and discovering among them a horse belonging to the unfortunate Reed I then rode to Santa Barbara a distance of 40 miles and with a party of 20 men started boldly in pursuit After much hard travel we finally came upon the gang and camped for the night Without a moment's hesitation we charged on them and gave a volley of rifles which killed one and wounded all the others Save an American named Dempsey The villains fought like tigers but were finally mastered and made prisoners Dempsey turned to state's evidence He stated that on the night of the murder his party stopped at Reed's That Reed told them that he had just returned from the mines whereupon it was determined to kill the whole family and take his gold which turned out to be a pitiful sum of $1,000 After the confession of Dempsey we shot the murderers along with the state's evidence and thus ended the lives of two Americans two Englishmen and ten Irishmen They having committed the most diabolical deed that ever disgraced the annals of frontier life I continued in this service of carrying dispatches some four months varying my route with an occasional trip to San Francisco At this time society in California was in the worst condition to be found probably in any part of the world to call it civilized The report of the discovery of gold attracted to their lawless and desperate characters from all parts of the earth and the government constituted for their control was a weaker element than the offenders had had to deal with The rankest excesses were familiar occurrences and men were butchered under the very eyes of the officers of justice and no action was taken in the matter What honest men there were became alarmed and frequently would abandon the richest placers for their mere security of their lives and leave a whole community of rowdies to prey upon each other Disorder attained its limit and some reactionary means would naturally be engendered as a corrective to the existing evils The establishment of village committees among the better order of citizens operated as a thunderbolt upon the conniving civil officers and the rank perpetrators of crime Scores of villains were snatched from the hands of those mock officers and summarily strung up to the limb of the nearest tree Horse and cattle thieves had their necks disjointed so frequently that it soon became safe for a man to leave his horse standing in the street for a few moments while he stepped into a house to call upon his friend and that widely practiced business quickly done away with Such sudden justice overtook murderers, robbers and other criminals that honest people began to breathe more freely and acquired a sense of security while engaged in their ordinary pursuits The material for crime still existed and is yet present in California to an alarming extent but order may be considered as confirmed in the supremacy Though inevitably many social evils still exist which time alone will remedy In the month of April 1849 the steamship California touched at Monterey She being the first steam vessel that had visited there from the states I, with a party of fifteen others stepped on board and proceeded as far as Stockton where we separated into various parties I left with one man to go to Sonora where we erected the first tent and commenced a business in partnership I had carried a small lot of clothing along with me which I disposed of to the miners at what now seems to me fabulous prices Finding the business thus profitable I set my partner back to Stockton for a farther supply and he brought several mules laden with goods This lot was disposed of as readily as the first and at prices equally remunerative This induced us to continue the business keep performing the journeys backward and forward and I remaining behind to dispose of the goods and attend to other affairs Sonora was rapidly growing into a large village and our tent was replaced with a roomy house I had a corps of Indians in my employ to take charge of the horses left in my care by the miners and other persons sometimes to the number of two hundred at once I also employed Indians to work in the mines I furnished them with board and implements to work with and they paying me with one half of their earnings Their general yield was from five to six ounces a day each man a buoyancy of which they faithfully rendered to me Among my earliest visitors was a party of eighteen United States Dragoons who came to me to be fitted out with citizens clothing as they had brought to a sudden period their service to their country It was an impossible thing at that time to retain troops in California For the produce of the mines held out a temptation to desert that none seemed able to resist as more gold could be dug sometimes in one day than would pay a private for a year's service in the army Even officers of considerable rank not infrequently threw aside epulite and sash and shouldered the pick to repair to the diggings While at Sonora I learned that Colonel Fremont was at Mariposa and I made a journey over there for the purpose of seeing him I was disappointed in my expectation and started to return home again while proceeding quietly along having left the main road and taken up a hollow I perceived two men approaching me from the opposite direction running at the top of their speed and a crowd of Indians after them in pursuit When they came up they shouted to me to turn and fly for my life or the Indians would certainly massacre me I bade them stop and quiet their fears Seeing my self-possession notwithstanding the near approach of the Indians they at length halted an approach close to me for protection against their pursuers I then commanded the Indians to stand telling them that they were my men They said they were not aware of that or they should not have chased them The Indians I was acquainted with they had been frequently to my house to invite me to their village They wished to purchase goods of me and had promised me a mule load of gold dust if I would only supply them with what they were in need of I accompanied them to their village but my two rescued companions were not admitted into their lodges They then renewed their promise of the mule load of gold dust if I would bring out the goods they wanted I never went to them although it was remiss in me for they had a great quantity of gold dust I left after a brief visit and rejoined the two men They could not sufficiently express their gratitude to me for their deliverance As they considered my opportune appearance alone saved their lives Becoming tired of my business in Sonora for an activity fatigued me to death I disposed of my interest in it for $6,000 and went on to Sacramento City with the money in my pocket From this place I traveled on to Murderer's Bar which lies on the middle fork of the American River Here I found my old friend Chapinot housekeeping and stayed with him until the rainy season set in Then I proceeded to Greenwood Valley to establish my winter quarters but I was seized with an attack of inflammatory rheumatism and I had a nice time of it that winter Before I was able to get about I was called on by the inhabitants to go several miles to shoot a grizzly bear and as I was unable to walk the distance several of them volunteered to carry me The bear was in the habit of walking past a row of cabins every morning on his return to his den He having issued forth the preceding night to procure his evening meal They had fired several shots at Bruin as he passed but he had never deigned to pay any attention to the molestation I mounted a horse and rode some distance along his customary path until I came to a tree which offered a fair shelter to await his approach I placed my back against it as a support while I awaited his coming The neighbors drawing off to a safe distance to witness the sport By and by grizzly came in sight walking along as independently as an alderman elect I allowed him to approach till he was within twenty paces When I called out to him he stopped suddenly and looked around to ascertain once the sound proceeded As he arrested himself I fired and the ball entered his heart He advanced ten or fifteen paces before he fell The observers shouted to me to run They forgetting in their excitement that I had not strength to move The bear never stirred from where he fell and he expired without a groan When dressed he weighed over fourteen hundred pounds The grizzly bear is a formidable animal and has acted a prominent part among the settlers of California They are seldom known to attack a man and less wounded In that case if a tree is by the hunter had better commence climbing There are very plenty from the Sierra Nevada to the coast range of mountains I have in the course of my sojourn in the country killed a great many of them and met with some singular adventures On one occasion while I was with the Crow Indians there was a man of the name of Co who was trapping in one of the neighboring streams and I became alarmed for his safety as Blackfoot parties were skulking about in all directions and were sure to kill him if they should find his camp I found Co and told him my fears He instantly gathered up his traps and mounting his horse started toward me When within fair gunshot an old bear sprang from a thicket and landed upon the flanks of his horse applying his teeth to the roots of the poor animal's tail and holding him as if in a vice Co leaned over his horse's neck and cried out Shoot Jim! Shoot quick! I could not help laughing to have saved my life as he turned from side to side though his situation was a critical one I soon got in a favorable position and put a ball in the animal's head just behind the ear when he liberated the horse and his rider falling on his back apparently stone dead There is a story remembered by the mountaineers of a person named Kier He was a man who never exceeded 100 pounds in weight but was clear grit what little there was of him He went out one day alone and his horse came back in the evening without his rider and we thought that the Indians had made sure of poor Kier a scalp The next morning a small party of us started on the horse's trail and found Kier laying beside a large dead grizzly bear Kier was horribly mutilated and insensible but still alive and must have soon died if no one had come to his rescue We took him to camp and nursed him with all possible care When he recovered sufficiently to tell his tale his story was received with shouts of laughter and was rehearsed as a wonderful joke from camp to camp Kier stated that when he saw the grizzly he got from his horse to shoot him but unfortunately only wounded the animal The bear, so Kier says caught hold of him and commenced a regular rough and tumble fight Finally, Kier got a good lick at the bear's head knocked him down with his fist and then attempted to run away The bear however was too quick when Kier becoming desperate seized the beast by the tongue drew his knife and stabbed the creature to the heart improbable as is the tale it was a singular fact that when Kier was found his knife was up to the maker's name in the bear's side and the body showed the effects of other severe stabs but whether a man weighing 90 pounds could knock down the best of boxers weighing 1200 the reader could decide but Kier ever told the same tale and became known far and near as the man that whipped the grizzly in a stand-up fight Probably no man ever recovered who received so many wounds as did Kier in this unequal combat End of chapter 35