Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-03-28
Q RE CON AND THE ROCKY
MOU MAINS.

Mr.. Farnham's Travels and Observations in the
Far West just issued from the Office ofthe ~ Y.
Tribune, will, it is believed excite a deep interest
in the public mind. The following extract mar.
rates his approach to and sojourn at "Browns
Hole" or Fort David Crocket-an slet of verdure
and genial skies in the midst of the thousand
leagues of bleakness and serility which stretch
from the Kansas almost to the Pacfc-and the
first white settlement west ofthe Rocky Mountains.
DAT about | ! o'clock we came to a stream OF
good water, and halted to Stake our thirst and cook
the remainder of our dog mutton The suffer
ings of our animals had nearly cqualed our own
And while we ate and rested under the shade of a
tree, II added much TO our enjoyment 10 see the
iamlshed beasts regale themselves upon plat OF
short wiry grass beside the stream. Some marks
ofdraggng lodge-poles along the now welldefned
trail indicated to us that portion of the shcnonic
or snake tribe had lately left Browns Hole
From this circumstance we began to fear what
afterwards proved true that our hopes of finding
the Snakes at that pest, and of getting meat from
them, would prove fallacious Our filthy n1enl
being finished, gathered up our little caravan
and moved forward at a round pace for three
hours, when the bluffs opened before US the baau.
tful PLAN Of Browns Hole As we entered it we
crossed two cool streams that tumblcd down from
the stratifed cliffs near at hand on the right and
few rods beyond, the whole area became visible
The fort as is called peereG up in the centre, on
the winding bank Of the Shectskadee The dark
mountains rose around it submelv and the green
fields swept away into the deep precipitous
gorg,s more beautifully than can describe.
How glad Is man to see his home again after a
weary absence Every step becomes quicker as
bp tie !. ;,,I 4.
greet him, and lcaping hearts beat upon his, and
warm lips press his own 1t is the holy sacra.
mont Of friendship. Yet there is another class Of
these emotions that appear to be not less holy
They arise when, after having long been cut of
from evary habit and sympathy of civilized life.
long wandering among the deep and silent tempt S
Of the eternal mountains, hourly exposed to the
scalpng-lnlte OF savages and the agonles ofstrva.
ton one beholds the dwelling Of civilized mcn-
kindred Of the old patriot blood rearing their hos
pitabIe roofs among those heights, inviting the
houscless. Way-wom wandcrer to rest; to relax the
tension Of his energies close his lonc-watchino
eyes and rcpose the heart avhle among generous
spirits Of his own race Is not the hand that grasps
yours, then an honest hand And does it not
dlsl by It's sacred warmth and hearty embrace
some Of the dearest emotions Of which the soul is
capabIel-lrondshp unalloyed, warm, holy, hoo.
venlY Thus It seemed TO me- at all events as wt
rode into the hollow square and received from
s.. Clare the person in charge the hearty wei
come Of an old hunter to Fort David Crockett 81
\ room was Immediately appropriated for our
reception, our horses were given 10 the care Of
/ hIs horse guard, and every other arrangement
within his means, was made, 10 make us feel that
within that little nest Of fertility, amid the barren
ness oflhc great Stony Range; far from the inst
/ tutions Of law and reliriOn far from tho sweet
tics OF the family relations, and all those namcless
cndearing influences that shed theirrich fragrance
over human nature in its cultivated abiding places
that there even could be given US The fruits OF
1 the sinceros friendship. Such kiudnosscs can be
appreciated fully by those only who have enjoyed
/ it in such places, who have seen il manifested in
/ its own way BY those only, who have starved
and thirsted in these deserts and been welcomed
and made thrice welcome after months Of weary
wandering, 10 Font David Crockett
/ After paIakng Of the hospitality Of Nj 81
l Clair strolled out 10 examine more minuely
7 this wonderful lue valley |, is situated in or
abou, latitude ~ degrees north 100 miles south
/ Of Wind River Mountains, OF the Shec,skadee
! (Prairie Cock) River lis elevation il something
more than 900 fect above the level Of the SEA
I Il appeared to be about six miles 10 diameter. shut
in, 10 - directions. iy dark, frownng mountains
1 rising 800 fe, above the plain The Shcclska
dee, or Green River runs through H. sweeping
10 beautiful curve from the northwest 10 ihf
soulb-wtst paTt Of H. where Il breaks rs way ,hro
the cncireling mountains between cliffs 600 foo
/ in hight. broken and hanging as II poised on n,
air The area Of the PLAIN IS ,hickly SCI with tho
! rich mountain grasses, and dotted with he lal,
copses ofeouon wood and widow trees The sol