Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-02

AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.
From tie Missouri Gazette.

place We now lay it before our readers
as collected from the gentlemen them
selves.
On the 2eth June, 1919, Mr., r. Sten-
art, one of the partners OF the Pacltia
Fur Company, with two Frenchmcn,
Messrs. Ramsey Crooks and Robert NJ
Clellan, left the Pacific Ocean with des-
patches Tor New York.
After sscending tho Columbia river
90 miles, John Day, one OF the hunters
became perfectly insane and was sent
back to the main establishment, under
the charge of some Indians; the remain
ing six pursued their voyage upwards Of
900 miles. when they happily met with
Mr.. Joseph Miller on his way to the
mouth of the Columbia he had been
considerably to the south and east among
the nations called Bl.ckarms and Arap.
ahays, by the latter of whom he was
ROBBED in consequence Of which he
suffered almost every privation human
nature is capable of, and wa. In a state
of starvation and almost nudity when
the party met him.
They now had fifteen horses, and pur-
sued thei: Journey for 'he Atlantic world
without any uncommon acCid2u. until
within about 900 miles of the r OK,
mautains, where they unfortunately me
with party OF tse Gro" Indians, who
behaved with the most ubb ,uaded inso.
lence, and we're solely prevented from
emitting Oh the party ny observing them
well armed s Constantly on their gGarJ.
They however pursued on their track
six days, and finally stole every hsr.e
belonging to the party.
Some idea OF the Situation Of those
men may be conceived, when we take
into consideration that they were now
on foot and had Journey of 1000 miles
before them 1900 Of which entirely
unknown, as they intended and prosecut-
ed it considerably south of Messrs. Lew
is and Clark's route the impossi0iiity
of carrying any quantity Of provisions
on their backs, in addition to their am
munition and bedding, will occur at first
view. The danger to be apprehended
from starvation was imminent
They however put the best face upon
their prospects, and pursued their route
towards the Rocky mountains at the
head wa;ers of the Colorado ct Spanish
river, and stood their course E. S. E.
until they struck the head waters of the
great river Platte, which they undeviat-
inely followed to its mouth. 1t may
here be observed, that this river for a.
bout 500 miles is navigable for barge;
from thence to the Ol,o village, within
As miles of its entrance into the Mis-.
souri,, it is a mere bed Of sand, without
water sufficient to f7at a skin canoe.
From the Otto village to Saint Louis
the party performed their voyage in
canoe furnished them by the natives and
arrived here in perfect health OIL ;he
3Oth of last month. Our travellers did
not hear of the war with England until
they came to the Otlos. these people
told them that the Snawanoe Prophet
had sent them a wampum, inviting them
to Join in the war against the Americans
that they answered the messeng"r
that they could make more by trapping
beaver than making war against the a
mericsns.
After crossing the hills (Rocky noun
tains) they happily fell IN with SMALL
party OF Snake Indians, from whom they
purchased horse, who relieved them
from anv further carriage of food, and
this faithful four-tsoted companion per-
formed tina, service to the Olto village.
They wintered on the river Platte about
600 miles from its mouth.
By Information received from these
gentlemen, it appears that journey a
cross the continent of North America,
might be performed with a Wagon,
there being no obstruction in the whole
route that any person would care to
call a mountain, in addition to Its being
much the most direct and short one to
90 from this place to the mouth OF Co
lumbia river. Any future party who
NAV undertake this journey, and are to.
lerably acquainted with the different
piaces where it would be necessary to
Law up small stock Of provisions, would
not be impedsd, as in all probability
they would not meet with an Indian 10
interrupt their progress although on
the other route, more north, there are
almost insurmountable batteries.
Messrs Hunt, Crooks, Miller, M
Clellan, M'Kenzie, and about so men.
who left Saint Louis in the beginning OF
March, 1911, for the Pacific Ocean,
reached the Aricoras village on the 18th
dap of June, where meeting with some
American hunters, who had been the
preceding year on the waters OF the Co
lumbia with Mr. Henry, and who giyins
such an account of the route BY which
they passed, as being far preferable IN
point of procuring with facility an abun
dant supply of food at all times, as well
as avoiding even tho probability OF see
L. la