New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-01
THE FLIGHT OF THE ANTELOPE.
An EPISODE IN THB LIFE OF KIT CARSON.


Twill pass very briefly over the remainder o.
the hunt in which few additional incidents occur
red Of any grea, importance % the present nara
tive. and merely state. that after a rapid journey
across the mountains into Pierre's Hole. IN which
beautiful and romantic valley We fingered for g
few days. 20 recruit our animals on the excellent
pasturage which i, afforded. We crossed the grea;
chain in the close vicinity Of the Three Tetons
whose gigantic and perpendicular Pinnaoes, cloud
and snow capped. shoot up 70 the altitude Of ten
thousand feet above the level Of tie ocean. After
descending into the Territory Of the Oregon. We
eucamped upon Levis's Fork, one Of the main
streams-Clark's Fork CT Flat Head River being
the other 49, whose junction near Fort Wala
Wsua forms the magnificent Columbia. Thence,
after a few days farther stay. We crossed by
swimming the nver asst mentioned. Continuing
south. parallel to the Teton range OF mountains,
Tor about a hundred miles, we entered the west
ern termination Of Snake Valley. Thence We
passed over the southern spur Of Wind River
Mountain, leaving what has since been termed
Frem0nts Peak few miles to our right. and de
scended to the great Eastern slope, and encamped
on the Popiasia, a small and beautiful. aiilent Of
the Missouri, which rises in the mountain just
mentioned, and after running about fifty miles in 4
Northeastern direction mingles its pelucd waters
with the broad current OF that noble river.
This was the termination Of our journey for the
present. being the point designated twelve months
before Tor the general Rendezvous OF the Company.
which had been distributed, In parties OF from
thirty 10 a hundred men, over the vast regions
lying between the Russian Possessions and Cali
orna. 4 few days after our arrival, the diiieren,
parties began 10 lock in. aud sIl was hurry hustle
aud excitement. All Of these had traversed vast
tracts OF mountain and wilderness. the haunts OF
savage beasts, and Of men more savage still, ex
posed to these and to every vicissituie of chance
accident and the elements bronzed and harden
ed by exposure aud privstion and yet with hard
" a noticeable exception, the men OF which they
were composed presented to the eye degree OF
physical health reckessness, good nature and
animal courage, such as ! suppose it would be vain
to look for in any other class OF on the face OF
the globe.
The arrival OF the St Louis party, bringing with
them the annual supply OF goods for the trappers'
formed the great event Of the Rendezvous Pure
alcohol, OF which poisonous trash they had brought
along with them n large quantity. was here dealt
out TO the men at the very reasonable rate OF Tour
dollars pint. and the same amount OF sugar at
the equally moderate charge oft'r doiiars' Here
n series Of ora1es commenced that were kept up
until either the re-water the credit Gifts con
sumers was exhausted that set description At
defiance Horser racing, gambling aud fighting
naturally and consistently completed the rum that
the liquid poison had begun. leaving the poor
hunter. who had by constant peril OF lie and lmb
MANAGED 70 save perhaps few hundred dollars
with which to buy himself farm snd retire from
his hazardous life 10 the abodes of his youth and oil
civilization, stripped Of everything IN the world
and in most pitiable state OF mental snd physi
cal prostraton. Thus the poor fellow, instead o
returning 70 the settlements, as n mountaineei
terms the United states-gay Visions OF which
with its comfort aud security, had cheered aud
nerved his heart Ia many an hour oi dependency
and peril-hnds himself compelled to hire tor am
other twelve months 10 the Fur Company and
so on, from year 10 year, tall accident, or the say
aee. has bereit him Of bis adventurous hie. And
who was 10 blame for this state OF things I'm
phaticaUy the Fur Company. What right had
they to send ardent spirits into the mountains to
madden aud demoralize their men The only
answer 10 this is 10 be found in that accursed and
unprincip.ed cupidity which made this gigantic
but rotten monopoly consult its own sordid sell
interest, at the expense OF everything held honor
able or sacred among men. The day for writing
the history of the North American Fur Company
IS near nj hand. when the world will be startled
nj the sic kenin details Of loathsome and heartes'
depravi4y which such narrative will OF necessity
unfold
The length Of time appointed for the hendez
vous was drawing to a close, when was informed
by Mr. Andrew Drps, the principal agent at thai
time Of the Fur Company IN the mountains tha'
my services were required to proceed to Fort nan
a trading post belonging to the Hudson Bay Com
pauy. situated on Snake River-there 10 transact
some business the precise nature Of which II Il
unnecessary to state. Suffice 1t to say that alter
tourney through a wild and barren, and In many
instances highly picturesque country on the 'eh'i
day after my departure | arrived at my place
destination. / had dsmounted from my horse an'
was Lending him through the principal gate" ay
into the quadrangular court in the interior Of th'
Fort when the first person met, to my utter sur
prise and astonishment was Julien FontaineHe
observed that he was slightly lame, and uPoi
inquring the cause, he tod me that he would an
swer none OF my questions until such time a.
had had some refreshments and been introduced
to An old acquaintance. Giving my horse IN charge
Of servant OF the establishment, he led the wa,
% a part Of the boilding which appeared II som'
respects to be superior to the rest in finish an'
neatuess, snd. pushing aside white muslin cur
tain that hung scross an open doorway inyise'
me 70 enter.
Ii had be en- surprised on first beholding Fon
tainelle. " as doubly 50 when on stepping icros
the threshold the irs, object my eyes encountered
was Cstha. inc Coquin, the lost showenai Ashsh
but spppre ssed exclamation OF delighted surpris
II she from a cOuc