Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-06

then falling into the Pacific Monterey. There is
opening the bay OF San Francisco the interior thu
continent The two rivers which flow into are compare
lively short and not perpendicular 10 the coast but lateral
IT, and having their heads towards Oregon and southern Cali
tonia They open lines OF communication north and SOUTH
and not easwardy and thus this want OF interior commun
cation from the San Francisco bay fully asceraned
gives great additional value 70 the Columbia which stands
alone the only great the Pacific slope OF CONT
which leads from the TO the Rocky Mountains
opens line of communication from the to the valley
Mississippi"
Our cavacale made strange and grotesque appearance
and impossible avoid rejecting upon position and
composition in this solitude. Within two degrees of
the Pacific ocean, already far south of the latitude of Monte
reg, and still forced south by desert on one hand and
mountain range the other guided by civilized Indian, at
tended by two wild from the Sierra, Chinook from the
Columbia and our own mixture of American French, Ger
manal armed four five languages heard at once above
hundred horses and mules half wild American, Spanish,
and Indian dresses and equipments nermngledsuch was
our composition Our march sort OF procession Scouts
ahead and the TANKS front and division the pack
animals baggage and horned cattle in the centre and the
whole stretching quarter of mile along dreary path
In this form ourneyed looking if belonged to
Asia than TO the United States of America.
We continued in southery direction across the plain
to which, well TO all the country far could
the yucca trees gave strange and singular character.
We rode rapidly during the day. and in the afternoon
emerged from the yucca forest the foot of CUTLER of the
Sierra before and among the fields of flowers had
the morning. which consisted principally of the rich
orange coloed Californian poppy, mingled with other flowers
covered with fine bunch grass and where the hills very
green, guide pointed small hollow in the
before saying, este pera hay aqua He appeared to
know every nook in the country We continued beau
u road and reached spring in the slope at the foot of the
ridge, running green rayine among granite bouders
here nghtshade and borders of buckwhea with their white
blossoms around the granite rocks attracted notice ia
mlllar plants Several anteopes among the hills
and large hares Men sent back this evening in
search of wild mule with valuable pack which had man
aged Gas they frequently do to hide itself along the road
by observation Tire latitude of the camp is 340 4V 42 and
longitude 1852 20 The day the returned with the
mule"
The Indian guide left the party the 18th ''he bore of
south, and in days ride would arrive at San Fernando one
of several missions in this part of California where the
try beautiful that is considered paradise, and the
name Of its principal town (uebia de los Anges) would
make it angelic. We continued through succession of
valleys, and into most beautiful spot of flower fields
instead of green the hills purple and orange with
broken BEDS into which each color separately gathered
pale straw color with bright yellow, the rich red orange
OF the poppy mingled with fields of purple covered the spot
with floral beauty, and the border of the sandy deserts
seemed 10 invite the traveller GO further Riding along
through the perfumed air. after entered defe
grown with the ominous drtesia rdetaa which conduct
ed US into sandy plain covered more less densey with TO
rests of yucca
Our road on the 10TH still in eastey direction
aong the RIDGE very bad travelling ground broken and
COMPOUNDED with crippled and shrubs and, after diff
cult march of Is miles, general shout announced that
had struck the great object of searchrHE SPANISH
rRAIL-whch here running directly north The road
ITSELF and It's equally happy discoveries to
Since the middle of December had continually been forced
south by mountains and by deserts and would have
make six degrees of n0yhing regain the latitude which
wished the Rocky Mountains. The of the
road, therefore, what wanted and more,
felt like going homewards road TO travel and the right
course go, joyful consultations to and animals
enjoyed the beaten track like ourselves Relieved from the
rocks and BRUSH wild mules started off at rapid rate and
IN 10 miles reached considerable river, tmbered with
cottonwood and willow where found bottom OF toera
bic grass As the animals had suffered great deal in the
sst few days. remained here all next day. to allow them the
necessary repose and necessary, every avor
BILE place, TO make little halt Between and the Colorado
river that the country extremely poor in
and for water there being many journddas,
days 6umey) long stretches of 40 to so miles, without
water where the road marked by bones Of animals.
although in California had met with people who had
passed this al had been able obtain
information about it and the greater part of what he had
heard found 10 be only tissue Of asehoods The rivers
that we found on IL mentioned, and Others par
cnary described in and locality subsequently
~ another part OF the country. Ii described toera
bly, good sandy road with little rock scarcely require
the animals TO be shod and found il the toughest and
focklest road we had IN the country, and which
nearly destroyed band Of fine mules and horses. Many
animals destroyed every by disease called the
foot evil and traveller should venture without
having his animals well shod and also carrying Shoes
In the afternoon Of the 2ih, surprised by the
sudden appearance in the camp Of two Msxcansa and
| hoy. The Of the Aadreas Fueates, and
that Of the boy, "a handsome lad, II years old Pablo Her
he remaining four being the wife Of Fuenes the father and
mother Of Pablo and Santiago Giacomc resident Of New
Mexico. With cayacade Of about thirty horses, they had
come out from Pueba de los Angeles, the coast under
the guidance Of Ciacome advance Of the great in
order 10 travel more leisure and obtain better Hav
advanced far into the desert considered
tent with their safety, they halted the Arctf Of the
customary camping grounds so miles from encamp
men where there spring Of good water with sufficient
and concluded to await there the arrival of the great
Several Indians discovered lurking about
the camp who, in day after, in, and after be-
having in very friendly manner, took their leave, without
awakening any suspicious Their department begat secu-
y which proved fatal In few days Afterwards suddenly
party Of about bundled Indians appeared in sight, ad-
vancing towards the camp Il late, they seemed
TO have presence Of mind take proper OF safe
~ and the Indians charged down their camp shouting
they advanced, and dschargng flights Of Pablo
and Fuenes horseguard al the time, and mounted
according the custom Of the country One Of the principal
objects Of the Indians get possession Of the horses and
part Of them Immediately surrounded the band but in obe-
ence the shouts Of Giacome, Fuentes drove the animals
over and through the assaants in spite q their and
abandoning the rest 10 their fate carried them of at speed
across the plain Knowing that they would be pursued by
The Indians without making any halt except shift their sad
dies other horses they drove them for about sixty miles,
and this morning left them a watering place the trail
called Aqua de Tomaso. Without giving themselves any
time for rest they hurried on hoping the Spanish
4 'ayan, when they discovered my camp. received them
kindly, taking them into my mess and promised them
such aid circumstances might put in my power 10 give
Upon reaching the spring where the Mexicans
had left their horses il was discovered, as antci-
paed that they had been carried of by the Indians.
Carson and Cooley, two Of Capt. Fremonts men,