Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-16

Here the walls about five hundred feet high and the
fragments Of rocks from above had choked the ho
low pass. but two feet above the surface Through
this and the nersces OF the rock the found its way
Favored beyond expectations all Of our registers had
recovered with the exception Of of my journals which
the notes and incidents OF travel and topographca
descriptions number OF scattered astronomical observations
principally meridian attitudes of the sun and baromeca
register west of Laramie. Fortunately, our other journal
duplicates OF the most important baromelca
vatons which had been taken in the mountains These will
few scattered notes, all that had been preserved Of
meteorological observations. In addition 10 these,
the circle and these, with few Blankets constituted ever,
thing that had been rescued from the waters
"The day running rapidly away, and il
TO reach Goat Island whittier the party had preceded
before night In this uncertain country the traveller is
much in the power Of chance that became somewhat
regard to them Should any thing have occurred
the brief interval OF our separaon to prevent reonnl
them situation would be rather desperate We ha,
not morsel OF provsons-our arms and ammunition wer
gone-and entirely at the mercy of any sragglnl
party of savages and not little in danger Of starvation W.
therefore set out at in two parties Mr. Peuss and my
self on the left and the the opposite side Of the river
Climbing out OF the CANON found ourselves in very bro
ken country, where not yet able recognise any 10
caty In the Of descent through the canon, the
rock which at the upper end of the decomposng granite
changed into varied sandstone formation. The hills
points OF the ridges covered with fragments of yellow
sandstone of which the sometimes displayed in the
broken ravnes which interrupted course, and made
walk extremely fagung At point Of the the
mounted by stratum of white sandstone and in opposite
ravne column of red sandstone rose in form like stceple
about one hundred and fifty feet high The scenery
emey picturesque, and, Notwithstanding foon cond
ton, frequently obliged stop and admire it. Ou
progress not very rapid We had emerged from the
ter half Naked and, arriving the top of the pecice
found myself with only moccasn The fragments of rock
made walking PAINFUL and frequently obliged to stop
and pull out the thons Of the cac here the prevailing plant
and with which few minutes walk covered the bottom my
feet From this ridge the river emerged into smiling pra
and descending the bank for water Joined by
Benoist The rest Of the party out Of sight, having
ken inland route. We crossed the river repeatedly
sometimes able to ford it, and sometimes swimmng-clmbed
over the ridges of two canons and towards evening reach
ed the cut which here named the Hot Spring gate On
our previous visit in July had entered this pass
serving for descent in the boa and when entered
this evening, Mr.. Preuss few hundred feet in advance
Heated with the long march, he suddenly upon fine
bold spring gushing from the rock about feet above the
river Eager to enjoy the crystal water he threw himself
down for hasty draugh and took mouthul Of water al
most boiling hot He said nothing Benoist who laid him
self down TO drink but the steam from the arrested his
eageess and he escaped the hot draugh We had Their
mometer TO ascertain the temperature but could hold my
hand in the water just long enough count seconds
There eight ten Of these springs dschargng themselves
by streams large enough to be called runs. Loud hollow
noise heard from the rock, which supposed to be pro-
duced by the fall of the The Immediately where
Aey fine white and calcareous sandstone, covered
with incrusation Of common salt
''Leavng this Thermopyn Of the West, in short walk
reached the red ridge which has been described lying
just above Goat Island. Ascending this, found some
fresh tracks and button, which showed that the other
had already arrived shout from the who first reached
the top Of the ridge, responded from below informed
that friends all the island and soon
among them. We found pieces of buffalo standing
around the fire for us and managed get dry clothes
among the people sudden storm of rain drove into the
best shelter could nd where slept soundy, after
of the most fatiguing days have experienced"
Son the morning of the Sd of September babe adeu to
kind friends the fort and continued homeward jour
ney down the Platte, which glorious with the autumna
spendor of innumerabe flowers in full and brilliant bloom
On the sands among the heai, of the charac-
tersc plants great numbers Of atesnakes of which
five six killed in the mornings ride. We occupied
ourselves in improving previous survey of the and
the weather fine, astronomical observations gene
rally made at night and at noon.'
We must refer the botanical reader TO Professor
TUrrey's Catalogue Of tho Pants collected by Capt.
Fremont
This is, we are afraid, but very meager account
of this interesting and valuable document. Ourob-
iect has been TO give such extracts as most
likely to interest the general reader. The man of
science and the statesman will turn to II for more
important objects than amusement and their refer
ence to it will, we think, be satisfactory.
We purpose giving sketch of the Second Expe-
dtion in subsequent paper.