Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-05-02

Me ntl ne 1t showed Stea1ily. The next
day December- we renewed the attempt
to scale the summit and were more fortu-
nate, as it then seemed. Making ma auls,
and beating down a road or trench, through
the deep snow, we forced the assent in de-
6aace Of the diving pouae1e, crossed the
crest, descended a little, and encamped I'M
mediately below in the edge of the timbered
region The trial showed as if defeated
party had passed by packs, pack saddles
scattered articles of clothing, and dead
mules strewed along. We were eRcamped
about twelve thousand feet above the level
of the sea. Westward the country was bu-
ried in snow. The Storm continued. All
movement was paralyzed. 10 advance
with the expedition was impossible; to get
back, impossible. Our fate stood revealed.
We were overtaken by sudden and in
evitable ruin The animals were to 90
first. The only places where grass could
be had were the extreme SUBMITS of the
Sierra, where the sweeping winds kept
the rocky ground bare, and where the men
could not live Below, in the timbered re-
gion, the poor animals could not get about,
the snow being deep enough to bury then,
alive. 1t was instantly apparent that we
should lose every one. I took my resolu-
ton Immediately, and determined to recross
the mountain back to the valley of the
Rio Del Norte, dragging or packing the
baggage by the men. With great labor the
baggage was transported across the crest to
the head springs ola little stream leading to
the main river A few days were sufficient
to destroy that fine band of mules which
you saw me purchase last fall on the from
tier of Missouri. They generally kept hud-
died together; and, as they froze, one
would be seen to tumble down, and disap-
pear under the driving snow. Sometimes
they would break of, and rush down to-
wards the timber till stopped by the deep
snow, where they were soon hidden by the
pouderie. The courage of some of the men
began to fail.
an this situation ! determined to send
in party to the Spanish settlements of
New Mexico for provisions, and for mules
to transport our baggage. With economy,
and after we should leave the mules, we
had not two weeks provisions in the camp;
and these consisted ofa reserve of maccaro-
nj, bacon, sugar, &c, intended for the last
extremity. 1t was indispensable to send
for relief. I asked for volunteers for the
service. From the many that offered I
chose King, Breckenridge, Cieutzfeldt, and
the guide Williams; and placed the party
under the command Of King, with direc-
tions to send me an express in the case Of
the least delay at lhe settlements. It was
the dav after Christmas that this little par
ty set out for relief. That day, like many
Christmas days foryea past, was spent by
me on the side of the wintsy mountain, my
heart filled with anxious thoughts and
gloomy forebodings. 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 re-
member the volumes of Blackstone's Com
mentaries which I took from your fathers
library when we were overlooking in at our
friend Brant's? They made my Christmas
sane4sements." l read them to pass the
time, and to kill the consciousness Of my
situation. Certainly you may suppose that
my first law lessons will be well remember
ed.
The party for relief being gone, we of
the camp occupied ourselves in removing
the baggage and equiopage down the side
of the mountain to the river in the valley,
which we accomplished in few days.
Now came on the tecl1,u1a 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 lis charm TO those who had not rea-
sons beyond themselves to live. Proue laid
down in the trail and frozc to death. In
a sunshine day, and having with him the
means to make fire, be threw his blanket
down upon on the trail, laid down upon il,
and laid there till he froze to death! We
were not then with him.
Sixteen days passed away, and no ii
dings from the party sent for relief l
became oppressed with anxiety, weary Of
delay, and determined to 60 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 hostilities with the Span
ish Utabs, and with the Apachs, who range
iii the valley of the Rio del Norte and the
mountains where we were, and became
fearful that they (king and his party had
been cut of: by these Indians. l could
imagine no other accident. to them. Leav
ing the camp employed bv the baggage,
under the command of Fircenthaler, with
injunctions to follow me in three days. l
set off down the river with small party,
consisting Of Cooley, his young nephew,
Preuss, and Saunders, (colored seryant.)
We carried our arms aud provisions for two
Or three days. In the camp (!eft under
the command Of Vincent!rale,) the messes
only had provisions for a few meals and a
supply of FIVE pounds of sugar to each man..
If fMled to meet King my intention was
to make the Mexican settlement on the
Colorado, little aff1uent of the Rio del
Norte, about half degree above Taos, you
will see it on the map,) and thence send
back the speediest relief possible..to the par
ty under Vincenthaler.
"On the second day after leaving the
camp we came upon fresh trail Of Indi-
ans-two lodges with considerable num-
Der of animals. This did not lessen our
uneasiness for our long absent people.
The Indian trail, where, we fell upon it,