Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-04-28

service. FROM the many that offered
chose King, Breckenridge, Creutzieldt, and
the guide, Williams; and placed the party
under the command of King, with direc-
tions to send me an express in case OF the
least delay at the settlements. 1t was the
day after Christmas that this little party set
out for relief. That day, like many Christ
mas days for years past, was spent by me
on the side Of the wintry mountain, my
heart filled with anxious thoughts and
gloomy foreboding. You may be sure we
contrasted it with the Christmas of home,
and made warm wishes for your happiness.
Could you have looked into Agrippa's glass
for few moments only. You remember
the volumes of Blackstone's Commentaries
which l took from your fathers library
when we were overlooking it at our friend
2rant's? They made my Christmas "amuSe-
nents." I read them to pass the time, and
10 kill the consciousness Of my situation.-
Certainly you may suppose that my first
law lessons will be well remembered.
ssThe party for relief being gone, we oil
the camp occupied ourselves in removing
the baggage and equipage down the side of
the mountain to the river in the valley,
which we accomplished in few days.
Now came on the tedium of waiting for
the return of the relief party. Day after
day passed., and no news from them. Snow
fell almost necessarily in the mountains.-
The spirits of the camp grew lower. Life
was losing its charm to those who had not
reasons beyond themselves to live. Proue
laid down in the trail and frozc to DEATH
in sunshine day, and having with him
the means to make a fire, he threw his
blanket down on the trail, laid down upon
it, and laid there till he iroze TO death We
were not then with him.
'Sixteen days passed away, and no IL
dings from the party sent for relief. l be-
came oppressed with anxiety, weary of de-
lay, and determined to 90 myself, both in
search of the absent party, and in search of
relief in the Mexican settlements. | was
aware that our troops in New Mexico had
been engaged in hostiities with the Spanish
Utahs, and with the Apaches, who range
in the valley of the Rio del Norte and the
mountains where we We're, and became
fearful that they king and his party had
been cut off by these Indians. | could iU-
agine no other accident to them. Leaving
the camp employed with The baggage, un.
der the command of Vincenthaer, with in
functions TO follow me in three days, | set
off down the river with small party, con-
sisting of Cooley, his young nephew, Preuss,
and Saunders (colored servant). We car
ripd our arms and provisions for two or
three days. In the camp (leit under the
command of Vincenthalrr) the messes only
had provisions for few meals, and sup
ply of five pounds Of sugar to each man. If
| failed TO meet King, my intention was TO
make the Mexican settlement on the Co.
dorado, little atiiuent Of the Rio del Norte,
about half degree above Taos (you will
see it on my map), and thence send back
the speediest relief possible to the party
under Vincenthaler.
eOn the second day after leaving the
camp we came upon fresh trail of lndi-
ans-two lodges with considerable num-
ber of animals. This did not lessen our
uneasiness for our long absent people,
The Indian trail, where we fell upon it,
turned and went down the river, and we
followed it. On the fifth day latter leaving
the camp) we surprised an Indian on the
ice of the river. He proved to be Utah,
son of a Grand River chief whom we had
formerly known, and he behaved towards
us in friendly manner. We encamped
near them at night. BY a present of a
rifle, my two blankets and other promised
rewards when we should get in, prevail
ed on this Indian to 60 with us as guide
to the Little Rio Colorado settlement, and
to take with him four of his horses to carry
our little baggage. The horses were mis-
erably poor, and could only get along at a
slow walk. On the next day (the sixth OF
our progress) we left the Indian lodges late
and travelled some six or seven miles,
About sunset we discovered little smoke,
in a grove Of timber, off from the river, and,
thinking perhaps it might be our express
party king and his menl on their return,
we went to see. This was the twenty
second day since that party had left us, and
the sixth since we had left the camp under
Vincenthaler. We found them-three o
them Creutzfeldt, Brackenbrdge, anC
W,lliams-the most miserable objects hat
ever beheld. did not recognize Creutz.
feldt's features, when Breckenridge brought
him and told me his name. They had beer
starving! King had starved to death few
days before. His remains were some si'
or eight miles above, near the river. BY
aid of the Indian horses we carried thes'
three with us, down to the valley, to th'
! Pueblo on the Little Colorado, which W.
, reached the fourth day Afterwards, th,
|, tenth after leaving the camp on the noun
| tains,) having travelled through snow, anC
on foot, one hundred and sixty miles.
81 look upon the feeling which induced
me to set out from the camp as an inspra
, tion. Had remained there, waiting tn
: return of poor Kings party every man
, us must have perished.
S ssThe morning after reaching the Littl
e Colorado Pueblo, (horses and supplies nc
2 being ,here,) Cooley and rode on to tn
I, Rio Hondo, and thence to Taos, aho'
: twenty-five miles, where we found wha
e we needed; and the next morning Code,
e with G,ur Mexicans. thirty horses or mule