Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-09


literally and without distinction YET their efforts evident
y directed against huge gaunt old bull very lean,
while his adversares all fat and in good order He APP
pearcd very weak had already received wounds
and, while looking several times knocked
down and badly hurt, and very few minutes would have
put end TO him. Of course took the side OF the weaker
party, and attacked the herd but they blind with rage
that they fought on, utterly regardless OF presence, al
though foot and horseback firing open
within twenty yards Of them But this did last long In
very few seconds created commoton among them.
One two which knocked by the balls jumped up
and off into the hills and they began to retreat slowly
along broad ravine the river fighting fuousy they
By the time they had reached the bottom we had pretty
well dispersed Them and the old bull hobbed off Lie down
somewhere"
The great beauty, prolusion, and variety of the
flowers in the wilderness is often noted. On the
18th July our road lay down the valley Of the
Platte, which resembled garden in the spendor Of
fields of varied flowers, which filled the air with
fragrance. The only timber noticed consisted Of
poplar, birch, cottonwood, and willow"
On the 18th, when in longitude lO4 deg 80 min.
81 Sec and latitude Al deg. min. 81 ses., and at
an elevation Of $40 feet above the sea, Captain
Fremont SAYS:
1T will be seen, by occasional remarks on the geographical
ormaon that the constituents of the soil in these regions
good, and every day served strengthen the impression in
my mind confirmed by subsequent observation that the bar
appearance of the country is due almost entirely to the
extreme dryness of the climate"
On the 18th the following curious geological
scene is noticed:
The winds and rains work this formation into a variety of
singular forms The pass into Goshen about two miles
wie and the hill the western side initiates
binary manner massive fortified place. with remarkable
fulness OF detail The rock mari and earthly limestone
white, without the least appearance Of vegetation and much
resembles masonry at little distance and here sweeps
around level two three hundred yards in dame
ter and in the form Of half moon terminating ether
in hacn Alor,s ba .aft bnl
parapets appear domes and slender mnare forty fifty feet
hgh giving every appearance Of an old fortified town. On
the waters OF White river where this formation exists great
extent presents appearances which excite the admton of
the solitary yoyageur and form frequent theme Of thr
yersaon when speaking of the wonders of the cunry
Sometimes it offers perfectly Elusive appearance of large
CITY, with numerous streets and magnificent buildings among
which the Canadians never fail to their cabre; and
sometimes 1t takes the form of solitary house, with many
large chambers into which they drive their horses right
and sleep in these natural defences perfectly from any
attack OF prowlng savages Before reaching camp
Goshens hole in crossing the immense detrtus the foot Of
the Castle rock, involved amidst winding passages
cut by the waters of the hill and where with breath
scarcely large enough for the passage of horse the walls
thirty and forty feet pependcuary. This formation supplies
the discoloraton of the Platte.
On the 9Th July the party reached Fort John or
Laramie, post OF the American Fur Company,
situated near the junction Of the Laramie withthe
Platte. Respecting this post Capt. F. says:
bisment is trade with the neighborng tribes Who in the
Of the year, generally make two or three visits to the
Tort In addition to this traders with small outfit are
constantly kept amongst them The articles of trade conist
the sde almost entirely of buffalo robes and on the
other, Of blankets cacoes guns POWDER and lead with slch
cheap ornaments glass beads looking glasses rings,
million for painting, tobacco, and principally and spit Of
the prohibition OF Spirits brought into the country in the fern
OF alcohol and diluted with water before Sold While
tonng this fact it is but justice the American Fur Coua
ny to ate that throughout the country have always
them senuousy opposed 10 the introduction of spuous
liquors But in the present state of things, when the
try is supplied with alcohol when keg Of it will purchase
from Indian every thing he urs his lodge
his horses, and even his wife and chldren-and when any
vagabond who has money enough purchase mule go
into village and trade against them successfully without
withdrawing entirely from the trade is impossible for them
to discontinue its In their opposont this practice the
company sustained not only by their obligation the laws
Of the country and the welfare of the Indians but clearly Also
grounds Of policy for with heavy and expensive outfits
they contend maniesy great disadvantage against the
independent and unlicensed traders who the
country from various avenues from the United States and
from Mexico having other stock in trade than kegs
liquor which they sell at the modest price OF thirty six dollars
per gallon The difference between the regular trader and the
DIES bos the French call the tneant peddng
traders with respect to the sale Of spirits here, always
has been fixed and permanent and growing the
Of their trade The regular trader looks ahead and has
interest in the preservation of the Indians and in the regular
pursuit Of their business and the preservation of their arms
horses and every thing necessary their future and perma
nen success hunting the c0ureur des b0ts has
nen interest," and gets what he and for what he can
from every Indian he meets at the risk of disabling him
from doing any thing more at hunting
"The fort had very cool and clean appearance The
great entrance, in which found the gentlemen assembled
and which foored, and about fifteen feet long, made
pleasant shaded seat through which the breeze swept
santly for this country is famous for high wirsls"
The unfavorabe information received from the
gentlemen of the fort, respecting the temper and
position Of the Indians, led to much consultation
and deliberations
1t appeared that the country swarmng with scattered
parties and when heard during the day, the various
contradictory and exaggerated which necessarily
repeated to them surprised that much alarm pre-
vailed among Carson ofthe best and most cxpe
enced mountaneers fully supported the opinion given by
Bdger Of the dangerous of the country and openly
pressed his conviction that could escape without some
sharp with the Indians In addition this he
made his will and among the circumstances which con-
stanty occurring TO increase their alarm, this the most
unfortunate and found that number Of my party had be-
much inmdaed that they had requested to be dis
charged at this place"
All things, however, being prepared for continuing
the ROUTE on the evening of the 9th Capt F. saws
81 gathered my around me- and told them that
81 had determined TO proceed the day. They were
all well armed had engaged the services Of Mr. Bissonee
interpreter and had taken In the
possible means to safety In the had
heard believed there much exaggeaon and then they
accustomed this kind Of life and the country
and that these the dangers every day occurrence and
to be expected in the ordinary of their They
had heard Of the unsettled condition Of the country before
leaving ST. Louis and therefore could make for
breaking their engagements still, was unwilling take
with me- service of certain danger, men on whom
could not rely; and had understood that there were
among them who disposed cowardce anxious
TO return, they had but 10 forward once and