Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-07-15
NO. 81

] PtISNu w lhinlleN, hHu hNlHb WI IOols' III
sects, worms, reptiles, fish and the rabbit,
tho largest animal known in that region.
The wild sage, which is there a tree of
ten a foot in diameter and or s feet high
is their only timber.
On tho 9Th of May Capt. +. turned
eastward, proceeding up the Spanish fork,
river which emptes into the Utah Lake.
! They continued, during two dnysto ascend
this river among very rugged mountains.
They soon crossed the ridge or eastern brim
of the Grea, Basin, and found themselves
on the waters flowing eastward into White
river which takes Tvs rise near Fremonts
Pass, and flows southwest into the Colo
RADIO. The ridge passed over had an elc-
walton of 5000 feet The road was quite
difficult and quite improcticablo for 10
CONS. This pass is about lat 40 deg ID
min. and long. liz deg aud ls min. w.
They traversed a very rugged, broken
country, the higher parts timbered with &C.
dar, and the lower part covered with grass
in their route TO White river, They pas
sed Fort Uintah, trading establishment
on one Of the branches of the Uintoh RI
yer, tributary of the White, and crossed
this river, in lat, 40 deg and 16 min. with
an elevation oil $3.50 ieet above the sea.
The river here was several hundred yards
wide. Their route now lay up Vermllion
river, brackish stream. They were now
IN sight of the Rocky mountains, and in a
country occupied by the warlike Sioux and
other Indians. and on st. Vrain's fork, a
branch Of the Vermilion, they once more
found buffalo, to the great JOY of all.
Onthe 18Th of June they were at tho
dividing ridge, of the Rocky Mountains
5000 feet above the sea, and saw the
streams running eastward into the Platte.
This was two degrees south of Fremonts
pass. Wishing to explore the head waters
of the Platte, the Arkansas and the Grand
River Fork of the Rio Colorado of the
Gulf of California, and also the passes at
the heads Of these rivers, together with
what are called the Three Parks, Capt. +.
now turned south, proceeding up the head
branches of the Platte. The country now
became very beautiful, rich in water grass
and game. The Platte river is here about
seventy yards wide, and quito deep
They soon came TO point where the RI
yer, by the projections Of the mountains,
passes through narrow gorge, as through
gate. Passing through this gorge the
party found themselves in what is called
on Capt. Fremonl's Map, the New Park
--"a beautiful circular valley of 30 miles
diameter walled in all around with snowy
mountains, rich with water and grass,
ftinged with pines on mountains sides be-
low the snow line, and paradise to all
grazing animals. The Indian name for it
signifies "coD lodge" II has an eleva-
ton Of 1870 feet in lat. 40 deg. and So
min. Ii is here in this beautiful valley,
the Platte takes its rise. Trayersing this
park they crossed the Rocky Mountains,
5000 feet high, and descended. along a
stream into the Old Park, where they
found The head waters OF the Grande Rl-
yer, flowing southwest into the Colorado.
This park was more or less broken into
hills, but beautiful. Here they met party
of 200 Arapahoe Indians. The Grand
River is so yards wide, where il leaves
the park, at which il receives u southern
branch. Up this branch the party pro-
ceejed Ii was from 70 10 80 yards broad.
The valley was narrow, and the mountains
densely covered with pines. The coun-
try was literally alive with buffalo.
At the southern extremity of this park
they crossed a ridge 200 feet high, and
descended into the South Park upon the
waters Of the Arkansas, In lat 80 deg 20
min Passing through this park, consist
ing Of pretty little praries, lying between
low spurs Of the mountains, the route lay
along the head streams Of the Arkansas.
The road was difficult in the extreme
While passing through This park, battle
was raging near them, between tho Utah
and Arapahoe Indians. There we're about
500 hundred warriors armed with rifles,
engaged in the fight After several days
of laOorous travel among the mountains,
Capt. F. at last arrived at their fort, on
the 2Slh Of June, and found himself on a
handsome tributary Of the Arkansas river.
The next day they arrived at the Pueblo,
at the junction of The Foataine qai 6ouet
and Arkansas where thGy found a number
Of their old acquaintance. On the LIST
of July continuing down the Arkansas,
they arrived at BenPs fort. The ins,ruc-
tons Of Capt. F. requiring him TO explore,
as amply as possible, the tributaries Of the
Kansas, he passed down the Arkansas
short distance further, aud then, leaving
that stream, turned northeast, passing over
the elevated country between the Kansas
and Arkansas rivers.
The country, before reaching the Kan
sas, becomes an elevated level prairie,
where the bois de roche again, was their
only fuel, and water standing in holes
their only ddnk. Aflera journey Of three
davs lhev nrrIYed on The hnnka Of The