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

above inc sea, d, IOU teet /,
February 3.-Could make only miles; snow ana
ice impeding progress at every step. The road had
to be opened, and the snow so deep IN the mol
lows, that he was obliged TO keep on the mountain
side. 1--WE cut footing as we advanced, ana roau
through for the animals; but occasionally one plunged
out Of the ta and sided along the field TO the bottom,
hundred yards below" Towards apass which the
guide had indicated, endeavors we're made TO force
way; but after great Efforts had 10 be abandoned
The animals had not sufficient strength 10 get on,
even without load, and the road was strewed with
camp stores and horses houndering in the snow.
That night the party had no shelter. Some Indians
| Joined them, and one gave them talk
''He spoke in very loud voice, and there was a
singular repetition of phrases and arrangement Of
words, which rendered his speech striking, and not
| unnusical.
1--WE had now begun to understand SOME words,
and, with the aid of signs easily tomprehended the
| old mans simple ideas. Rock upon rock-rock
upon ruck--snow upon snow-snow upon snow"
said he; even if you get the snow, you will
not be able TO get down from the n,onnsains.' He
made us the sign of preclpioer, and showed US how
the feet Of this horses would slip, and throw them
\ of from the narrow trails which led along their
sides. Our Chinook, who comprehendcd even more
readily than ourselves, and believed our situation
hopeless, covered his head with his blanket, and be-
gan to weep and lament. Il wanted to see the
! whites, said he; Il came away from my own people
4 TO see the whites and wouldn't care TO die among
them; but here'-and he looked around into the cold
] night and gloomy forest, and, drawing his blanket
over his head began again TO lament.
"Seated around the tree, the fire illuminating the
rocks and the tall bols Of tho pines round about,
and the old Indian harangung, we presented group
| of very serious faces.
february 5.--The night had been too cold to sleep,
and we were up very early, Our guide was stand
ing by the fire with all his hnery on; and seeing him
shiver in the cold, threw on his shoulders one of
my blankets. We missed him few minutes after
L utar adj l. L. .I .tcl
His bad faith and treachery in perfect keeping
with the estimate of Indian character, which long
intercourse with this people had gradually forced
l upon my mind.
/ "While portion Of the camp were occupied in
bringing up the baggage to this point the remainder
were busted in making sledgeS and snow-shoes. l
had determined to explore the mountain ahead and
the sedges were to be used in transporting the bag
gage.
1.-THE mountains here consisted wholly of q white
| mcaceous granite.
! "The day was perfectly clear, and, while the sun
was in the sky, warm and pleasant.
SPY observation, our latitude was $50 AZ 26" I;
| and elevation, by the boiling point, 7,400 feet.
February 6-Accompanied by Mr. Fitzpatrick,
set out to-day with recommending party, snow
shoes. We marched all in single file, trampling the
snow heavily could. Crossing the open
basin, in march Of about ten miles we reached the
top Of one of the peaks, to the left of the pass nd
Gated by our guide. Far below us, dimmed by the
distance, was a large snowless valley, bounded on
the western side at the distance Of about hundred
| miles, by low range of mountains, which Carson
recognised with delight the mountains bordering
the coast There said he lis the little mountain
! 1t is Is years ago since saw it but | just
sure as if had seen it yesterday Between us,
them and this low coast range, was the valley of the
| Sacramento; and no one who had not accompanied
through the incidents of our life for the last few
MONTHS could realize the delight with which at last
| we looked down upon it, At the distance Of appa-
rently 80 miles beyond us were distinguished spots
| of prairie; and dark line, which could be traced
with the glass, was imagined to be the course Of the
river; but were evidently at great height above
the valley, and between us and the plains extended
miles of snowy fields, and broken ridges of pine
covered mountains.
1 at was late in the day when we turned towards
the camp; and it grew rapidly cold as it drew to-
wards night. One of the men became fatigued and
his feet began to freeze, and, building fire in the
trunk of dry old cedar, Mr.. Fitzpatrick remained
| with him until his clothes could be dried, and he
was in condition to come on. Aftera days march
of 20 cs, VIC struggled into camp one after an
other, at nightfall the greater number excessively
faugued, only two of the party having ever travelled
on snow-shoes before
Gall our energies were directed to getting our
animals across the snow; and it was supposed that,
after all the baggage had been drawn with the
sleighs the trail we had made, it would be suf
| fcently hard TO bear our animals. At several
places, between this point and the ridge, had dis
| covered some grassy spots where the wind and sun
| had dispersed the from the sides of the hills
and these were to form restingpaces to support the
animals for night in their passage across. On our
way across, had set fire several broken
stumps, and dried trees, to melt holes in the snow
| for the camps Its general depth was S feet; but
we passed over places where it was 20 feet deep,
shown by the trees.
"Wth party drawing sleghs loaded with
baggage, advanced to-day about four miles along
hat ohattb o ,hara
we expected to bring our horses. Mr.. Fitzpatrick,
with another party, remained behind, to form an
intermediate station between us and the animals.
february S.--The night has been extremely
cold; but perfectly still, and beautifully clear. Be-
fore the sun appeared this morning, the thermome-
ter was 80 below zero; 10 higher, when his rays
struck the lofty peaks; and 90 when he reached our
| camp"
| february "a severe storm--the trail covered
with snow; had to remain in camp that day, men
becoming weak from insufficient food. The cleva-
ton Of the camp "by the boiling point, is 1890
feet"
february 1O.--The wind kept the air filled with
| snow. The elevation ofthe camp by the same "pont"
this day, 1850 feet-l000 feet above the "South
pass of the Rocky mountains, and still we are not
done ascending" Went out exploring on snow
shoes. "The glare of the snow, combined with
great fatigue, had rendered many of the people
ly blind.'
february 1.-THE high wind continued. Al
work in beating a road. Feb. 12--made ''mauls"
| and worked hard upon the road. l3th--continued
| the labor upon the road. 1--WE had tonight
extraordinary meal--pea-soup, mule, and dog.n
| 14th 18th, 16th--stil toing and working on. Had
become satisfied, from his numerous rcconnoitrings
that he had found the stream upon which Mr.. SUIT
ter lived, and then returned to his camp. But we
will again use the words of Capt. Fremont:
81 was now perfectly satisfied that we had struck
the stream on which Mr.. Suffer lived; and turning
about, made hard push, and reached the camp
at dark. Here we had the pleasure to find all the
remaining animals, 81 in number, safely arrived at
the grassy hill near the camP and here, Also we
agrceably surprised with the sight of an abund
ance ofsalt. Some Of the horse guard had gone to
neighborng hut for pine nuts, and discovered UNI
salt, which the Indians told them they had brought
from the other side of the mountain; they used it
TO eat with their pine nuts, and readily sold it for
| goods.