The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-09-10
Literary Notices ,

REPORT OF AN EXPLORATION or TnI COUNTRY LYING
BETWEEN THE Missouri RIVER AND THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS, IN THE LINE OF THE KANzAs AND GREAT
Platte RVERs-By Lieut.. J. G. Fremont, of the
Corps of Typographical Engineers Washington.
Printed by order of the United States Senate
This is a comprehensive scientific report, with a
splendid illustrative map of the interesting region
explored, and several engravings of the sublime
scenes of the Wind River chain Of the Rocky noun
tans, which resemble, 0rom the descriptions of
both) in their fearful magnitude, wdness and ster-
riity, the parched and casellated rocks of Arabia
Petr@a. Like that Of every traveller to the Rocky
Mountains, the Journal of Lieut. Fremont abounds
IN those romantic and thrilling scenes of life in the
wilderness, as fascinating to the reader. as they are
irresistible the prejudices of the white man to
the savage state. We cannot forego an extract or
two Here is description of buffalo chase, which,
il will be seen, differs materially from the hoax of
Hoboken =
July l-Along road to-day the prairie bottom was
elevated and dry and the hills which border the
right side Of the river higher and more broken and pic
turesque in the outline The country, too better
timbered. As riding quietly along the bank
grand herd of buffalo, some seven eight hundred in
number crowding up from the river, where they
had been to drink, and Commenced crossing the plain
slowly, eating as they went. The wind favorable,
the GOODNESS Of the morning the
apparently good and the distance prairie
three miles, gave us hne opportunity to charge
them before they could get among the river hills was
too ne prospect for Chase to be lost and hating for
few moments the hunters brought up and saddlei
and Kit Carson Maxwell, and started together They
somewhat less than half mile distant and we
rode easily along until within about three hundred yards
when sudden agitation, wavering in the band, and
galoping and fro of which scattered aong
the skirts, gave the intimation that disco
vered. We started together at hand gallon riding
chase became engrossngy intense that we were sem
sible nothing else We were now closing upon them
motion for the hills, and in few seconds tho movement
had communicated itself to the whole herd.
crowd of bulls, as usual brought up the rear, and
every and then OF them faced about and then
dashed after the band short distance, and turned
and looked again, as more than half inclined to stand
and fight. In few moments, however, during which
had been quckening pace, the rout univer.
SAL and we were going over the ground like hurricane
aps Ssrd
in their needless course Many Of the bulls less active
ground and occupied solely with the hunter were pre-
cpitated to the earth with great force, rolling and
with the violence of the shock and hardly dstn
gushable in the dust. We separated on entering each
singing out his game.
MY horse was trained hunter famous in the west un-
der the of Proveau and with his eyes flashing and
the foam flying from his mouth sprang after the
like tiger In few moments he brought alongside
OF her. and rising in the strrups fired the dssnce Of
yard the ball entering at the termination of the long
hair and passing the heart She fell headlong at
the report OF the gun, and checking my horse looked
round for my companions At little distance Kit
the ground engaged in tying his horse TO the horns Of
scattered bands at some distance below, / caught
glimpse Of MAXWELL; and while looking, light
wreath of white smoke cured away from his gun, of
which was too far to hear the report Nearer and be-
tween me and the hills towards which they direct
ing their course the body ofthe herd and giving my
horse the rein, dashe after them. thick cloud Of
dust hung upon their rear, which filed my mouth and
eyes, and nearly smothered me. In the midst Of this
could nothing end the buffalo not distinguish
able until within thirty feet They crowded together
densely still came upon them and rushed along
hprs almost eannr mon t sem n an EN-
moments the divided to the right and left the horns
gathering with noise heard above everything else, and
my horse darted into the opening. Five six bulls
charged dashed along the line but left
far behind and singing out COW gave her my fire, but
struck too high She gave leap and secured
swer than before. refined up my horse, and the
band swept like torrent and left the place quie and
clear. Our chase had led into dangerous ground
prairie dog village thckly settled that there
four holes in every twenty yards square, occupied the
whole bottom nearly two miles in length. Looking
around | only one of the hunters nearly, out Of
sight, and the long dark line Of crawling
slong three or four miles distant After march Of
twenty'fo miles, we encamped at nightfal mile
aud half sbsve the lower end Of Brady's Island. The
breadth CT this OF the river eight hundred and
The island bears the name Of killed this spot
some years ago His party had encamped here three in
company and one Of the number went off to hunt leav
ing Brady and his companion together. These lad
frequently quarreed and on the hunters return, he
found Brady Dead and told that he had shot himself
accidentally. He buried here on the bank bat as
| usual the wolves had torn him out, and some human
homes that were ly the ground supposed
his Troops of wolves that hanging the skirts of
the buffalo, kept an uninterrupted bowling during the
night venturing almost INTO camp In the morning they
sitting at short distance barking and impatienty
waiting our departure to fall upon the hones"pp Ills
At page 81, discoursng of the decentralization of
the Indians Of the far west through their intercourse
with the white traders, Lieut.. Fremont, after exon
Grating the American Fur Company, says:-
But in the present of things, when the country
il supplied with alcohol, when keg of will purchase
from an Indian everything he posseseshis furs, his
lodge, his horses and his wife and children-and
when any vagabond who has money enough purchase
mule, can into village and trade against them
cessfullywithout withdrawing entirely the trade
il impossible for them to discontinue In their
opposition to this practice the company is sustained not
only by their obligation to the laws Of the country and
welfare of the Indians but clearly also on grounds
OF policy; for, with heavy and expensive outfits they
merous Independent and unlicensed traders who enter
the country from various avenues from the United States
and from Mexico having other stock in trade than
some kegs OF liquor which they sell at the modest price
oil thirty six dollars per gallon"
Here is fine opening for the philanthropy of the
Rechabites. We surrender these red people TO their
paternal consideration.
Lieut.. Fremont is son-in-law, we believe, of
Colonel Benton-and Randolph, lively boy of
twelve, son of the Colonel, accompanied the ex-
petition, "for the development Of mind and body
which such an expedition would give" Sir VIM.
Stewart and his party have joined the company OF
the Lieutenant. They will all return by December.
WYANDoTTE, or THE HUrrED KNoLL--A Tale--By
Cooper.-Philadelpha Lea IL Banchard--New
York: Burgess & Stringer.
The scene of this tale is laid in the neiRhborhoOd
of Utica, New York-time, the.opening of the Rev.
oIution. The plot is series of confused and irrsgu
lar scenes of frontier warfare The hero is loaf
ing" Indian, unfortunately known as Nick, alias
Nicholas, alias Wyandotte; the sub hero is young
Englishman Of the regular army" of King George,
iamliarly called Bob, afterwards Sir Robert VIII
loushby; the heroine is fine young English dam
sci, OF the unassuming name of Maud ultimately, as
matter of course, the Lady Wllloughby the other