Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-11-19
EFFECTS OF COLD AND HUNGER
ON A HARDY TRAVELLER.

| Inc day was nearly gone, we had haG
hard days march, aud found no grass
Charles Towns became light.headed
wandering off into the woOds without
Knowing where he was going, and Jacob
brought him back. Near nighltall we
descended into the steep ravine of hand
some creek. thirty feet wide, and / was
engaged tx getting the horses up the op-
posite hill, when l heard IL shout from
Carson, who had gone ahead few bur
bred yards, "Lfe yet" said he as he came
up, 81 have found hill side sprinklcd
nh grass enough for the night" We
drove along our horses, and encamped IL,
the place about dark, and there was just
room enough 10 make II place for shelter
on the edge OF the stream. Three horses
were lost today, Provenu and fine
young horse from the Columbia belong
ing 10 George Towns, and another Indian
horse which carried our cooking utensils.
The two former gave out, and the latter
strayed off in the woods as we reached
the caHp. On the 29lh of February we
lay shut mp in u narrow ravine, and gave
the animals necessary day, and men
were sent back after the others. Dero-
s'er volunteered 10 bring up Proveau, to
whom he: knew l was greatly attached,
as he h"d been my favoritc on both expo
dIt!ons. Carson and climbed one Of the
nearest mountains. The forest land still
extended ahead. and the valley appeared
as far lis ever. The pack horse was found
near the camp, but Derosier did not get
in. On the LIST of March, Derosier did not
get in during the night, and leaving him
TO follow, as no grass remained here, we
continued on over the uplands, crossing
MANY small streams, aud camping again
on the river, having made six miles
Here we found the hill side covered, al
though lightly, with fresh green grass,
and from this time forward we found il
always improving and abundant. We
made pleasant camp on the river hill,
where were some beautiful specimens of
chocolate colored shrubs, which were n
foot in diameter near the ground, and fit
teen to twenty fee, high. The opposite
ridge runs continuously along, unbroken
by streams. We are rapidly descending
INTO the spring, and leaving our snowy
region far behind; every thing is getting
green, butterflies are swarming, numer-
OuS uuSS NiS N'OVPlbS ou'S WohCUcu IIOiN
their winters sleep. and the forest flowers
are coming into bloom. Among those
which appeared most numcrously today
was dodecatheon dentatum. We began to
be uneasy at Dorosier's absence. fearing
he might have been bewildered i'll the
woods. Charles Towns, who had not yet
recovered his mind, went to swim in The
river, rs il it were summer and the stream
placid, when it was cold mountain tor
rent foaming among rocks. We were
happy to see Derosier appear in the eve
nlng. He came in, and, sitting down by
the fire began to tell us where he had
been. He imagined he had been gone
several days and though. we were sill
at the camp where he had left US, and we
were panied 10 see that his mind WAS de-
ranged. Ii appears that he had heen los,
in the mountains, and hunger and fatigue,
joined TO WEAKNESS Of bod and tear Of
perishing in the mountains, had crazed
hun. Tho times were severe when stout
men los, their minds from extremity OF
suffering. when horses died, and wher
mules and horses, ready TO die OF s,arva
ton, were killed for food. Yet there VIA:
no murmuring or observation-disclosures
Exploring Tour to The Rocky Mountains.