New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-06-01
Lient. BcaIe'- Overland Journey-Terri5le
~uieringS of his Party the ella and
the Central Desert.

Frn 40 u ...- R-sa--r NJ o.
We had 'he pleasure 81 ~ interview. veste~-
day. with Lieut. LiWard B,aie. of she United -tsfes
service. who ls ou ni- return bearer rs f-pache-
from California o. Warrington Civ This gallant and
energetic young officer D. wei known for fae sun
c-nst services he rendered ~ PIPER California. ~
t1e campaign % Gen. Kesucy and tho expeditions Of
Col Fremont
Though attached % the Navy BE- d. one Of ;ho.e al
vrufurous -prt- whose felents and enrr-f-- tlf me-
cc.siiics Of our frontier dificutie- with Mexico and
the explorations of fhe Wet have developed ani WHICH
have been Of ucalculale bfneht 70 our country BILE
indoinita De- rc.o.1flr. fertile IN All conceivable eNpe
dients di-payed the disastrous fnea-t ent- oi Fan
pa-0ual and San Bsuard0 have entered INTO tho per
fnaent history - country and were narrated 10
most graphic .fe by COL Benton ID BIZ celebrated Ten
DAYS speech iu thc In.te1 -tates senate
The services of Lielf beae have been ~ such jar
fcuar and invaluable character. that fhe G0verrnanf
dotaching him from hs position ~ the Navy have gwen
him specie If 0nphi52ns employment ~ the ~lds nj
the West amid fnc oi'e-t snO" clad mDunfan- almost
lmua--aIe flFsr-. and 0ouudc-s sterile desserts This
ha- been hi- situation for fhe a-t four year. tue
midst ot fne most rugged hardship. during (Which
period be- himself remarked "if would not tc
difficult for any one 20 deiray h- bills win ihe tailor
Lieut. Bcae sent early 10 November last. a- a
bearer o. Dispatches, from our Government to rho
uited states ofc'rs in California end upon the Pacific
he entrusted with communication IT, Col Wash
iug'On % santa e. Col Mason IN California. and Gen
Lime iu Oregon and was required ~ pass through the
extensive regions beyond the Mis-sppi % reach Boz
destinations lie left Fort Iearenworth on the Ms
souri,, the 30fh 81 November, with command Of J.
mounted men. al raw recruits, and few sdVcniurcr-
After tedious aud iaiIgung journey, ihoy rNaclfd
Bout orr and learned that Col frtmou. and h- party
had passed about ten day. before. ln crossing h" aD-
Rafons mountains they encountered all fhe seventies
of Winter IN those difficult and gigantic passes covered
with the shows of an unusually cold and nremrnt -a
son Many ~ their mules pori-hed from The ugor7 ~
the weather and march. and number 81 hc men were
fr0stiitfen and disabled from farther service.
Upon arriving At santa ft, winch be- reached on th'
18th of December LIEUT. Bealo gave permission 10 such
seven did so he was unwilling % Dee acc0mphin1 %
the danger. and trials before him by any upon "hon
he could not Re- 'y with implicit confidence 10 supply
the deficiency Col Mason allowed hun 10 fn4i-t "i-ht
additional mounted who were DESTROYS Of engaging
in the expedition.
with ths force Lieut. Bcale started from Santa 70 on
the mn Of January. and was soon destined 10 encuun
ter the most trying dcutos The Sierra d. los Nom
bres vast range ri lofty mountains, were 'nVcppcl
in snow storms and the route was most hazardous ana
Oppressive 20 intense was tho cold, that several
mules were frozen death, az night. even under tents
and covered with blankets. The Orttude Of number
Of the men failed. and sergeant and SIX pufar- de-
serted OF those well AZ Of the seven who hah pre-
yiousv left no subsequent information has been re-
cciycd They no doubt pcrshod under the violence oi
the weather or a.sassinaed by the Indians VINO
inie-t those regions.
Lieut. Beac pressed on with indomii able fcsou'
'ion through ndcscrhabc difficulties. ~ the mead Wa
fcr of the river of ella Passing 20 the southern side
be followed the trail which winds IN iR,0g manner
along the preciptDus side OF me loiy mountains l"r'
prevail in Tins region. This section OF country h"- D'h
falsely said 20 furnish opportunities for good road or
roads 10 California. From Lieut. Bcacs description, ~
j. a continuance Of the most rugged and inaccessible
mountains with vast gorges peaks and dech'uc- Gov
cred rpciuay with snow, and presenting barriers To
be- pssscd only by incredible eXcrfions
40 track for q wagon any wheel vehicle can ever
boz made along this route The men could only press
along the asccnt- by the aid of their hands well A.
feet and the tenacious mountain mules were often pre-
ciptsted from the dcclvies and rolling down the eX-
cnsiye slopes were crushed % pieces with every bone
broken, aud even their saddles 80 destroyed that cy
could not be farther used
This route crosses the head waters of the ella fire.
qucutv 20 As 10 avoid the barriers which constantly
ut upon and ovcrhang the stream. That river IN ih-
portion of It's extent. not susceptible OF even canoe
navigation lie current j. of arIOWy sWlitnrss shoot
ing over rocky and irregular falls with short scrpcnunc
windncs through narrow and dangerous ca1HOnt' that
produce whirpoo- and cascades which would ongui
any wutcr.craft entrusted 10 its control
After descending the ella TO it, confluence with the
Colorado. and the latter stream 10 within 10 miles OF
the Gut Of California Lieut. Bcslc and his little party
struck out norhward across the intervening desert
for san Francisco. This desert IL very extensive ana
more barren than that of Sahara. The weather here
was Intensely hot and greatly afflicted the men, who had
been suffering amid the frosty rgors OF the mountains,
but found Themselves IN an arid sandy region de-
prvcd of water. except such as they bore WIN theu
travel of one hundred and twenty miles brought
them however on the Isl OF April, in sight Of the wei
come dwellings Of san Francisco and in the vicinity OF
those gold regions that surpass in prolific wealth the
Ilespcran Gardens OF antiquity
1.-THE latter part Of the route taken by Lieut. beae Is
entirely new. we believe. We hope he will furnish
some detailed account Of his experience for publiea-
tOn.-Ed Iiib.