The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-01
COMMUNICATIONS.
FREMoNr,s EXPEDITIONS.

NH For the Union
FREMoNT'S EXPEDITIONS.
Having completed all his arrangements at the
"Dalles," on the 25th Of November Captain FIRE.
mont commenced his journey home HIS course
was slightly south of east To the "Iaih Pralrie," of
Fall RIVER The weather was cold, with frequent
nurries of snow. He reached the "Taih Prairie"
on the 27th. He finds in his route remarkable
deposle of uviaie infusoria, which afterwards
subjected to mcroscopcal examination by Professor
Bailey of West Point. December the LIST he encouu-
tered thick ice IN warehouses; On the 7th De-
cenlber, the latitude of his camp 4So 80 36''
and its longitude west of Greenwich 1910 So 80"
On The 9th he crossed the branch OF "Fall
river" His route lay through the most splendid
pine forests, filled with trees OF remarkable dlmen-
sons. On the llth he arrived at Klamath Lake
ut is simply shallow basin, which, for short pc
Rod at the time of melting SHOWS, is covered with
water from the neighboring mountains" On visit
ing village of the lake, he says of the party which
came out TO meet HIM;
ave were surprised, on riding up to find one Of
them woman, having never before known squaw
TO take any part in the business of war. They were
the village chief and his wife, who, in excitement
and alarm at the ual event and appearance had
come out TO meet their fate together The chief was
very prepossessing Indian, with very handsome
features, and singuary soft and agreeable voice
so remarkable as to attract general notice.
"From Klamath lake, the further continuation of
our voyage assumed a character of discovery and
exploration, which, from the Indians here, we could
obtain no information to direct, and where the inn
aginary maps of the country, instead of assisting,
exposed MS TO suffering and defeat. In journey
across the desert, Mary's lake, and the famous
Buenaventura river, were two points on which re-
lied TO recruit the ANIMALS, and repose the party.
Forming, agreeably to the best maps in my pos
session, a connected water line from the Rocky
mountains to the Pacific ocean, ! felt no other
anxiety than to pass safely across the intervening
~ - H..
in the softer climate Of more southern latitude
horses might find grass to sustain them, and our
selves be sheltered from the rgors of winter, and
from the inhospitablc desert. The guides who had
conducted us thus far on our journey, were about to
return; and cndeavorcd in vain obtain others to
lead US, for few days. in the direction (east
which wished to 60 The chief to whom | APP
piled, alleged the want of horses, and the snow on
the mountains across which our course would carry
us, and the sickness of his family, for re-
fusing to go with u.s."
From this lake he continued his journey east
wardly. On the 10th December he was travelling
through snow about three feet deep. His journey
continues marked by the singular enterprise and
of his mind, the end Of the month"; which
also closed the year lS43; yet, nothing dauned, he
goes on. We now make the following extract from
his report:
January "a fog, so dense that we could not
sec a hundred yards, covered the country, and the
wildered and lost; and we were consequently de.
tanned at camp until late in the day. Our situation
had now become a serious one. We had reached
and run over the position where, according to the
best maps IN my possession, we should have found
Mary's lake, or river. We were evidently on the
verge OF the desert which had been reported to u.s.
and the appearance of the country was forbid
ding, that was afraid to enter it, and determined TO
bear away to the southwark, keeping close along
the mountains, in the full expectation of reaching
the Buenayentura river. This morning put every
man In the camp on foot--mysef, of course, among
the rest-and in this manner ligh,ened by distrbu-
ton the loads of the animals. We travelled seven
eight miles along the ridge bordering the valley
and encamped where there were few punches Of
grass on the bed of hill torrent, without water.
There were large artemsias; but the principal
plants are chenopodiaceous shrubs The rock COM
posing the mountains is here changed suddenly into
white granite. The fog showed the tops Of the
hills at sunset, and stars enough for observations
in the early evening, and then closed over he
fore. Latitude, by observation, 400 49, 49,.
january 4.-The fog to-day was still more dense,
and the people again were bcwidercd. We travelled
few miles around the western point of the ridge
and encamped where there were few tufts of grass
but no water. Our animals now were in very
alarming state, and there was increased anxiety in
the camp" #s
The 9Th, the fog continues; the 9Th, the same; yet
is he toing on. Directed by column of smoke,
(steam,) he discovered the most remarkable hot
springs Of his route. We subjoin his own de-
scrpton of them, and Of the condition of the party
The latitude Of these springs is 400 39' 46"
Entering the neighborins valley, and crossing
the bed Of another lake, after a hard days travel
over ground of yielding mud and sand, we reached
the springs, where we found an abundance OF grass,
which, though only tocrably good made this place,
with reference to the past, refreshing and ngrcea-
BILE spot.
"This is the most extraordinary locality Of hot
springs we had met during the journey. The basin
OF the largest one has circumference of several
hundred feet; but there is at one extremity crcu.
lar space of about fifteen feet in diameter entirely
occupied by the boiling water. II bos up at rreg-
nar intervals, and with much noise. The water is
clear and the spring decp pole about sixteen feet
long was easily immersed in the CENTRE but we had
no means of forming good idea of the depth. 1t
was surrounded on the margin with border Of
green grass, and near the shore the temperature Of
the water 206o. We had no means of ascer-
tanning that Of the centre, where the heat was
greatest but, by dispensing the water with POLE the
temperature at the margin increased TO 206o and
In the centre il was doubtless higher By driving
the pole towards the bottom, the water was made TO
boil up with increased force and noise. There are
several other interesting places where water and
smoke or gas escape, but they would require long
description. The water is impregnated with COM
mon salt but not much so as to render il unfit for
general cooking; and mixture Of snow made it
pleasant to drink.
in the immediate neighborhood, the valley bot
tom Is covered almost exclusively with chenopodia-
ceous shrubs, of greater luxurance, and larger
growth, than we have seen them in any preceding
part Of the journey.
II obtained this evening some astronomical OBJ
servations.
sour situation now required caution. Including
those which gave out from the injured condition OF
their feet, and those stolen by Indians we had lost
since leaving the Daes of the Columbia, fifteen ami
mails. and of these nine had been left in the last e. NJ
days. therefore determined, uni. we should reach
n country of water and vegetation, to feel our way
ahead, by having the line Of route explored some ff-
teen twenty miles in advance, and only to leave
present encampmcnt when the succeeding ono was
known"
The boiling point Of Fahrenheit is 2l2o, and as
these springs, on being a little stirred. gave heat
at their margin of 2OSo, we have no doubt, at the
centre, that the heat fully equal to boiling wa
ter. We have here, therefore, provided by nature