Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-23

the Colorado than otneI VI
that stream to which the Snakes accustomed
every year TO procure supply Of their iavonte plant they
have bestowed the of Yapah river Among the trap
pers il is generally known as Little Snake river"
In the afternoon took directly the spurs
from the point Of the mountain, where had several ridges
and although the road rendered bad by the
nature of the ground was made extremely rough by the
stiff tough bushes of Geniisia tdenata in this country
commonly called sage
This shrub began make its appearance compact
fields and about quit for long time this country
Of excellent pasturage and brilliant flowers Ten twelve
buffalo bulls during the afternoon and
surprised by the appearance ola large red We gathered
around him if he had been old acquaintance, with all
domestic feelings much awakened had In
sight of old farm house. He had probably made his
from party Of emgrans Green river and, with a
vivid remembrance Of some old green field he pursuing
the saghest for the frontier that the country admitted
We carried him along with prize and when 1t was
found in the morning that he had wandered off, would not let
him be pursued for would rather have through starving
time three entire days. than let him be killed after he had
cessfuIy the gauntlet far among the Indians have
been told by Mr. Bents people Of born and raised al
St Vnins fort, which made his escape from them at Elm
grove, the frontier having come IN that year with Inc
wagons They their way out and saw occasionally
places where had and lain down to but did not
him for about 700 miles, when they overlook him on the
road, travelling along the fort having unaccountaby es-
capped Indians and every other mschance
On the north fork of the Platte:
Sin the precpitous bluffs displayed succession Of
containing fossil vegetable remains and several beds OF
coal In of the beds the coal did not appear to be per-
fecty mneraized and in of the compact
and remarkably lsrous In these latter places there
also thin layers of very fine white salts, In powder.
g On the 9Th of August the expedition took its way along
the upland towards the dividing ridge which separates the
Atlantic from the Pacific waters and crossed It by road
miles further south than the had followed
turn ls42 We crossed very the table mountain at
the southern extremity of the South Pass which is near
twenty miles in width, and already travesed by several
different roads, Selecting as well as could in the scarcely
he
ridge in this remarkable depression the mountain, took
barometca observation which gave 400 feet for the eeva
ton above the Gulf of Mexico You will remember that in
my report Of 1912 estimated the eevaon Of this pass
about 1000 feet observation with good barometer
enables give il with precision Its importance,
the great gate through which and travelling may
hereafter pass between the valley of the Mississippi and the
north Pacific ustIes precise notice OF its locality and dis
from leading points, addition this statement Of its
elevation As stated in the report of lS42 its latitude the
point where crossed is 42o "a 32 its longitude 1899 49,
00 its distance from the mouth of the Kansas by the com
travelling route, 962 miles from the mouth of the Great
Pae along the valley Of that river according survey
of 1912, Ss2 miles and its distance from ST. Louis about
400 miles by the Kansas and about 700 by the Great
Platte routes these additions being steamboat conveyance in
both instances From this to the mouth of the Oregon
about 400 miles by the travelling route that
under general point Of view may be assumed be about
half between the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean, the
common travelling Following a hollow Of slight and
easy descent in which very formed little tributary
the Gulf OF California, (for the which flow from
the South Pass go this gulf made usual halt four
miles from the pass in latitude by observation 42o y So"
Entering here the valley of Green rverhe great Colorado
Of the Weand ncning very much the southwark along
the streams which form the Sandy river the road led for
several days dry and level embarrassing plains; which
low, scrubby growth Of gave uniform dull eraysh
color and the evening Of the 18th encamped in the
Mexican territory, the left bank Of Green river miles
from the South Pass in longitude ll0o 05 05 and latitude
40 So 54 distant 1901 miles from the mouth Of the
Kansas This is the emigant road Oregon which bears
much the southwark avoid the mountains the
western heads Of Green rverhe Rio Verde Of the Spanars
The proximity of Capt. FREMONT to the g Great
Salt Lake." on August 81, suggested the following
observations:
"We were entering region which for possessed
strange and extraordinary interest We upon the
markabe geographical features of the country, and around
which the vague and supersious of the trappes
had thrown delightful obscury, which anticipated pleas
ure IN dspelng but which, in the time, left crowded
field for the exercise Of our imagination.
In occasional conversations with the few old hunters
who had visited that region had been subject of frequent
specuaon and the wonders which they related the
less agreeaby because they highly exaggerated and
possible
Hitherto this lake had only by trappers who were
wandering through the country in search Of beaver
streams caring little for geography; its islands had
been vsted and to be found who had entirely
made the circuit Of its shores and instrumental OBSERVE
tons geographical survey of any description had
made any where in the neghbong region II generally
visible outlet among uappers,
including those in my camp, many who believed
that somewhere surface terrible whirlpool through
which found their the subter
All these things had made frequent
subject Of discussion in desuoy around the
fires at night and my mind had become toeraby well
filled with their indefinite pictures and nscnsbly colored
with their romantic descriptions which, in the pleasure Of
etement well disposed to believe, and half expected
realize"
Here, too, we meet with the following interest
ing passages
eve continued road down the river and at night en-
camped with family Of emigrants-two men, women and
several chdrenwho appeared to be bringing up the Of
the great struck with the fine appearance of
their CATTLE eight yoke Of oxen which really look
ed as well if they had been all the
good farm 1t strange TO small family travelling
along through such country remote from civilization.
Some nine since, such security might have been ia
tai but since their disastrous defeats in The country
little NORTH the Blaceet have ceased visit waters
the friendly feelings, also, Of those inhabitng may be
changed"
Crossing, in the afternoon the point OF narrow spur
descended into beautiful bottom formed by lateral val
ley, which presented picture Of home beauty that went d.
recy to hearts, The edge Of the wood several miles
along the river, dotted with the white Of emgran
wagons, collected in groups at different camps where the
smokes rising azy from the fires around which the wo
men were occupied IN preparing the evening meal and the
children playing in the grass and herds cattle grazing
about in The bottom had air OF quiet security and civilized
comfort that made sight for the traveller in such re-
mote wilderness.
sIn common with all the emigration they had been
ing for several days this delightful valley in order TO re-
cru their animals its luxusnt pasturage after their long
journey, and prepare them for the hard travel along the
psrativey stenl banks Of the Upper Columbia"
ON the Odd We had approached within something more