The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-12-24
MisfelIaneous.
From the National Lntelgeneer.
The Great Fremont Ride.---The
Californian Horse.

I
Californian Horse.
RrDE OF LIEUT.. COLONEL FRgMoNT,His
FRIEND Don JESUS, pronounced Hal.
sooS) PICo, AND HIS SERVANT JACOB DoD-
SON, FRoM Los ANGELES 70 MONTEREY
AND BACK, IN MARCH, 1S47.-This extra
ordinary ride of eight hundred miles, in
eight days, including all stoppages and
near two days detention-a whole day
and night at Monterey, and near two half
days at San Luis Obspo-having been
brought into evidence before the Army
Court Martial, now in session in this city,
and great desire being expressed by some
friends to know how the ride was made,
| herewith send you the particulars, that
you may publish them if you please in
the National lnteligencer, as an incident
connected with the times and affairs un-
der review in trial. of which you give so
full report. The circumstances we're
first go; from Jacob, afterward revised
by Col. Fremont, and | draw them up
from this joint statement. The publica-
ton will show, besides the horsemanship
of the riders, the power of the Californian
horse. especially as one of the horses
was subjected. in the course of the ride,
to an extraordinary tiial in order to ex-
hibt the capacity of his race.
1t was at daybreak on the morning Of
the 22d of March that the party set out
from la Cindad de los Angeles (tbe city
of the Angels, in the southern part Of
Upper California, to proceed in the short
est time TO Monterey, on the Pacific O.
cean, distant full four hundred miles,
The way is over mountainous country,
much of it uninhabited, with no other
road than trace, and many de6les to
pass, particularly the maritime defile of
el Rincon, or Punto Gordo, fifteen miles
in extent, made by a jutting of precipi-
tous mountain into the sea, which can
Only be passed when the tide is out and
the sea calm, and even then in many pla-
ces through the waves. The towns Of
Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo and
occasional ranches, are the principal
Inhabited places on the route. Each of
the party had three horses, nine in all, to
take their turns uRder the saddle. The
six loose horses ran ahead, without bride
or halter, and required some attention to
kept the track.
When wanted for change. say at the
distances of 20 miles, they were caugh:
by the lasso, thrown either by Don Jesus
or the servant Jacob, who, though born
and raised in Washington, in his long ex.
peditions with Col. Fremont had become
as expert as a Mexican with the lasso,
as sure as mountaineer with the rifle,
equal TO either on horse or foot, and al
ways lad of courage and fidelity None
of the horses were shod, that being
practice unknown to the Califormans.-
The most usual gait was sweeping gal
lop. The first day they ran one hundred
and twenty-five miles, passing the San
Fernando mountain, the de6le of the Rin-
con. several other mountains, and slept at
the hospiiabie rancho of Don Tomas Rob
beris, beyond the town of Santa Barba.
ra. The only fatigue complained Of in
this days ride was in Jacobs right arm,
made tired by throwing the lasso and
using it as a whip to keep the .loose hor.
ses to the track.
The next day they made another one
hundred and twenty-five miles, passing
the formidable mountain of Santa Barba-
ra, and counting upon it the skeletons Of
some fifty horses, part of near double that
number which persisted in the crossing
Of tina; terrible mountain by the Califor-
mia battalion on Christmas day, 1916, a
midst raging tempest, aud a deluge of
rain and cold more killing than that of
the Sierra Nevada-the day of severest
suffering, say Fremont and his men, that
they have ever passed. At sunset the
party stopped to sup with the friendly
Capt. Dana, and at nine San Luis Obispo
was reached, the home of Don Jesus,
where an effecting reception awaited 1t.
Col. Fremont, in consequence of an in
cident which occurred there, that history
will one day yrecord;" and he was detained
till IL o'clock in the morning receiving
the visits of the inhabitants. (mothers and
children included,) taking breakfast
of honor, and waiting for relief of fresh
horses TO be brought in from the surroun-
ding country.
Here the nine horses from los Angel
es we're left and eight others taken in
their place, and Spanish boy added 10
the partyto assist in managing the loose
horses. Proceeding at the usual gaittill
s at night, and having made some seven
ty miles, Don Jesus, who had spent the
night before with his family and friends.
and probably with little sleep, became
fatigued, and proposed a halt for few
hours. It was in the valley of the Sail
mas; (Salt river, called Bpena Pentsra in