Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-29
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, VA.
Thursday Morning, January 20, 1916.

Thursday Morning, January 20, 1916.
Carr. FRgMoSr.-A correspondent OF The N.
York Mirror furnishes the following authentic
ar carefully prepared account Of Capt. Fremont,
Of the u. S. Army, The celebrated explorer Of
Oregon and California:
Cart. Fremont, whose celebrated explorations
in The iar,hes, West are now The theme Of uni
versal apnause, is d native OF South Carolina.
The son OF a widow, ani,hc architect OF mis- own
fortunes Left an orphan al lour yeas of age.
with a brother and sister younger than himself
his mother, until be was seventeen, provided Tor
his support aud edncaiion; al that age he began
10 provide for himself, and for those connected
with him. For three years he taught mathema-
lies. perlec,ing his own education, and giving all
his earnings, beyond his necessary support, 10
his mother and The Two younger children. Al
the age Of twenty, his skill in mathematics pro-
cured him employment on the railroad eYplora-
lons undertaken by the Stale OF South Carolina,
10 connect The Atlantic ocean and the Ohio river,
a! the Two points of Charleston and Cincinnati,
and Ibis gave him occupation in The mountainous
region Of North Carolina and Tennessee and
first Injured him 10 mountain life, and led him 10
commence the scientific observations CT The hca-
yens and earih, that he has since extended over 50
vast field. While engaged in this business, IN
increase was made by Congress 10 some branch
es OF The regular army. General jackson was
then President oil the United States, and directed
oEe.hai oi The new appointments 10 be taken
from the class Of citizens; and on, OF this class
the young Fremont obtained place among the
Junior officers OF The ioposra phical Engineers
The wise and patriotic decision of Gen. Jackson
opened lhs door for this appointment, but il re.
quircd The merit ol The applicant TO obtain it,
The Typographical corps is etainently scientific:
and the young Fremont, never having been al
The national Military Academy, had 10 stand an
examination before be could be appointed A
bcaId oil eminent officers examined HIM Re
stood he leSi oil this severe ordeal. He hi.
umphed IN his examination: and thus won his
way 10 4 place which The enlightened patriotism
OF Jackson had laid oTen 10 The competition Of
tfend'ess merit. This was first iru-a rich
one-ol having been teacher Of mathematics.
What an encouragement 10 young men who
have 10 advance themselves by their own cxer-
tionsi
No sooner was he appointed, than he went in
10 active service in The field, and spent The first
year in the Cherokee country, in The lopogra phi
cal snrve:s, (under Captain Wiiams,D which
the unprecedented hoslilies CT the southern Indians
rendered necessary 10 the expected military ope-
raIions. The next year he was sent 5 an assis.
tanl lolhc celebrated astronomer. Mr.. NcolIel, 10
the valley Of The upper Mississippi, and was en-
gagged two years in that remote region, in aiding
that eminent sayan in collecting the materials, ve-
riiyns the facts, and INSULTING the seventy hon-
sand meteorological observations upon which the
great photographic and topographic map of Nj
colct aud Fremont was constructed, and from
which SO many publishers OF maps have levied
contributions, without acknowledging the source
from which they came. In 1912, Lieutenant FIRE.
mont FIST became commander OF separate ex-
petition and explored The country between the
Mississippi river and The Rocky mountains, 10
the Soulh Pass and FIemonl's Peak; and The
brief, modest, military and scientific report which
he made OF This exploration, Immediately made
his name known in Europe and America as one
of The distinguished explorers OF The age. In
1924, he went upon his great expedition 10
Oregon and North California; the report OF which,
published hy order ui Congress, is now attracting
universal attention Ia 1915 he las gone upon
his lhinI expedition, determined upon a complete
military and scientific exploration of ali The vas!
and almcst unknown regions between The Rocky
mountains and the Pacific ocean, and between
the Oregon river and the Gull Of California
This expedition is expected 10 continue near two
years. and It's successful result is looked 10 with
the highest degree ofinierest hy all The friends OF
science in America and in Europe.
Perhaps man Of his aso, !" any COUNTY, mas
gone through such an amount ci LABOR ana exer-
lin Of body and mind as Captain Fremont =
From the age Of ,weEiy the canopy Of Heaven
has been his covefins-lhe mountains ana plans
The lakes end rivers, from the Atlantic Ia lite Pa
cifc, from The Gulf oil Mexico 10 the head Of lhe
Mississippi, have been his home. His military
reconnaissance in which he was engaged, became
also scientific explanations; and geography, DO
,any, geology, astronomy, meieoFolosy, receive
each "a much attention from him as il each had
800 10 fha f,t;ge Of a
searches are recorded in journals daily written in
the field Materials for maps and drawings are
daily collected; few months of office labor pre-
pares all for publication and without waiting
10 see any thing published, the impatient gentle
mar Immediately sets of upon new expeditions.
Mathematics are The favorite study of Capt.
Fremont, botany his favori;e recreation; but all
the sister sciences come in for share of his at
iention, and the languages both ancient and mo-
dern, are moi neglected. Greek and Latin came
with his school education. French aud Spanish
have heen added; German is in course oil &C.
ouisi.ion and his whole life is divided be;veen
Fl Id lahors and literary studies. His Lille IS a
pa'iprr and his SUCCESS an encouragement 10
all the noble minded young men OF America, who,
despising life Of sloh and case, aspire 10 homo
rabe distinction by their own meri'orioas exer-
lions He is married 10 daughter OF Senator
Benton buI looks TO his own exerlions, not 10 Sc
aaioYiaL in fucncc, for advancement and promo
ton. His widowed mother lives to see the fame,
and TO receive the support, Of son, efl an or
phan at four years Of age, and beginning at sew.
enleen 10 provide for himself, for her, and Tor
Younger brother and sister.
Capt Fremont is light and slender in his
person. very youthful in appearance as well Is
in fact cate in his features, and wholly dilicr-
ent from what would be looked Tor in The lea
Ter Of such extended and adventurous expedi-
tons Mr.. Wilkins, he Secretary Of War, could
hardly believe his own eyes wnen, IN The IAN OF
1874, modest locking youth, almost feminine IN
The decacy Of his person and features appeared
before him, and re ported himself as Lieutenant
fremont, Just returned from The expedition 10
Oregon and North California. Tosee The leader
Of such an expedition, in The person OF snch
s,rinDlina was sunrise from which The honor
abe Secretary could not recover himself, until
after repeated in'errosaiores. q. X. Y.
Washington, Nov. 20. 1873.
m