Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-02-04

| the ROCKY MOuhtdins III the year lo9~s
and to Oregon and North California in
the years l843 and 1874, by Brvt-Captain
&c. Fremont, of the Corps of Topogra-
phical Engineers. Washington; Print
ed by order Of the Senate Of the United
| States. 1915.
| Extracts from the Journal Of the First Elk
pedition.)
Rock Independence.
This is an isolated granite rock, about
$40 yards long, and 40 in height. Elk
cept in depression Of the summit, where
little soil supports scanty growth Of
shrubs, with a solitary dwarf pine, il is
entirely bare. Every where within six
or eight feet Of the ground, where the sur
face is sufficiently smooth, and IN some
places many feet higher, the rock is in
scribed with the names OF travellers. Ma.
ny a name famous in the history of this
country, and some well known TO history,
are to be found mixed among those of the
traders, and of travellers for pleasure and
curiosity, and OF missionaries among the
savages. Not unmindful of the custom
of early travellers and explorers in our
country, engraved on this rock of the
Far West a symbol of the Christian faith
Among the thickly inscribed names, |
made on the hard granite the impression
of large cross, which covered with
black preparation of India rubber, well
calculated to resist the influence of wind
and rain. II stands amidst the names of
many who have long since found their
way to the grave, and for whom the huge
rock is giant gravestone.
The Voyageurs on another Element.
August 23.--ln obedience to my in
structions to survey the river Platte, If
possible, had determined TO make an at
tempt at this place. The Inda-rubber
boat was filled with air, placed in The wa
ter, and loaded with what was necessary
for our operations; and embarked with
Mr. Preuss and party Of men. When
we had dragged our boat for mile or two
over the sand, abandoned the impossible
undertaking, aud waited for the arrival OF
tho party, when we packed up our boat
and equipage, aud al o'clock were again
moving along on our land journey. We
continued along the valley on the right
bank of the river We passed over a
ridge which borders or constitutes the RI
yer hills of The Platte, consisting of huge
blocks, sixty or eighty feet cube, of de-
composing granite. The cement which
united them was probably of easier do.
composition, and has disappeared and LETT
them isolate, and separated by small spa
ces. Numerous horns OF The mountain
goat were lying among the rocks; and IN
the rayines were cedars, whose trunks
we're of extraordinary size, From TIL,
ridge we descended to small open PLAN
at the mouth of the Sweet Water, which
rushed with rapid current into the Platte
! here flowing along in broad, Tranquil
and apparently deep stream, which seem
ed, from It's turbid appearance, to be con.
sderably swollen. | obtained here some
astronomical observations, and the after
, noon was spent in getting our boat ready
!, for navigation the next day.
), August 24.--We started before sunrise
intending to breakfast at Goat island.
had directed the land party, in charge o
/ Berlier, to proceed TO this place, where
. they were 10 remain, should they find nc
note TO apprlse them Of our having passed
r In the event OF receiving this information
: they were to continue their route, passing
/. by certain places which had been designa
d led. Mr.. Preuss accompanied me, and
E with Us were FIVE Of my best men, viz
r G. Lambert, Basil Lajeunesse, HonorC
e Ayot, Benoist, and Descoteaux. Here ap
/. peared no scarcity of water, aud we took
: on board, with various instruments anc
baggage, provisions for len or twelve days
/ We padded down The river rapidly, loi
/. our little craft was lgnt as duck On tn,
water; and the sun had been some nmC
= risen, when we heard before u a hollow
D roar, which we supposed 10 DC that Of ;
fall, If which we had heard a vague rumor
but whose exact locality no one had beer
;, able 10 describe TO US. We we're approach
/ ing ridge, through which the river pass
es by place called canon,n (pronounc
g ed kanyon,) a Spanish word, sgnifying I
ii piece Of artillery, the barrel Of gun, o
j any kind Of lube; and which in this coun
y try has been adopted to describe the pas
II sage OF river between perpendicula
o rocks of gpea: height, which frequent!
approach each other so closely overhead
as TO form kind Of tunnel over the stream
$ which Coams along below, half choked "
by fallen fragments. Between the momi
y Of the Sweet Water and Goat island, Their
a is probably fall Of 800 feel, and that wa
Is principally made in the canons before Us
:, as. without them, the water was Compare
lively smooth. As we neared the ridge
; the river made sudden torn, and sweep
:, squarel, down against one OF he walls 4
y the canon with great seucit,, aud i
steep 4 descent that il hal, 10 the eve, IN
.I.I -. M4.