Part 4 of Benton Canons’s story
by Carolyn Newman
HUERFANO — Benton Canon continues his 1866 true story. He made it back to his hunting camp, and then to his ranch after accidentally shooting himself in the chest. A Pueblo doctor came to him ($300 a visit) and now he faces Indian trouble while still in critical condition..
“In the beginning of October Kanyatche, with his band of Utes, raided the upper Huerfano country where Gardner is now located. A horseman, Joseph Golden, notified all the settlers of the valley, telling them that the Utes had broken out and were on the way down the creek to kill and scalp everyone they met. He informed us also that William Cook, a good citizen of the upper district, had been killed, together with a German, Fred Sachs, and a whole family by the name of McClure.
“This news, of course, set the neighborhood wild with fear and excitement. A council was hurriedly called by the neighbors who lived near the ranch. I advised building breast works on top of those houses saving no parapets, for I was sure the Indians would NOT attack strong fortifications. But it was decided otherwise. Wagons were hitched up, the women and children placed therein and, I among them, laid flat in the bottom of a lumber wagon.
“We were bound to make it for Pueblo and Joseph Hendricks, my true friend, was to drive the team which bore me, still in a critical condition. We took along blankets and provisions. My companions in this wild ride towards Pueblo were Mrs. Minerva Patterson, wife of Kate (Decatur), Mrs. Sally Golden and three small children, Melissa, Melinda and Matilda Potts.
“The other men remained behind to gather what stock they could find, and drive the animals into the hills for safety.
“We pulled slowly up the long hill out of the valley but when we reached top and on level ground, Joe put the whip to the horses, and we went flying over the prairie. It was a terrible ride for me, lying as I did in the bottom of the wagon, the joints of my limbs almost shaken assunder. My wound began to ache and again I thought I could not possibly survive the ordeal.
“We had started at about three o’clock and made Zan Hicklin’s ranch before the darkness of night had set in. Mr. Hicklin’s place was called the Greenhorn Ranch and managed after the style of an old Mexico Hacienda He had about two hundred Mexican people on the plantation and at once armed them and put out a strong guard for the night. Mrs. Hicklin (Dona Estefana Bent-Hicklin, later in her life a resident of Walsenburg) took keen interest in me and my condition, seeing to it that I was placed in a comfortable bed, while the rest of our people slept on the floor.
“The next morning we resumed our journey on the last lap of the drive to Pueblo. In the meantime runners were flying through the country to give alarm. When we reached Greenhorn Creek, we saw a cloud of dust in the road back of us and imagined, of course – Indians! All a mistake for it proved to be only Kentuck, who came with the message that Golden and Patterson had seen a band of Indians on the Huerfano coming our way, and for ‘God’s sake, travel quickly’ in order to save our lives. The women and children began to cry again and Joe Hendricks stood up and lashed the horses for all he was worth.”
This tale continues next week.
The History Detective is a service of the Huerfano County Historical Society huerfanoheritagecenter@outlook.com.
The Heritage Center has Huerfano archives, 114 W. Sixth, Walsenburg, CO 81089. 719-738-2346. This account of Benton Canon’s is among the Sporleder papers in the archives. The Walsenburg newspapers of 1890 to 1920 are online at coloradohistoricnewspapers.org.
