The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-04-21

(PlSses, and wasting Our time IN searching
the way. The I1th Of December ws
found ourselves at the mouth of the Rio
del Norlr canon, where that river issues
from the Sierra San Juan, one Of the
highest. most rugged and impracticablr
0! all the Rocky Mountain ranges, mac
cess'Lle TO trapPers and hunters, even in
sumner. Across the point Of this eleva-
ted range our guide conducted US; and,
having still great confidence in this mans
knowledge, we pressed EDWARDS with
taai resolution. Even along the river
bottoms thes was already breast deep
for the nni-s, and falling frequently in
the valley and almost constantly on the
nou4t~ins. he cold was extraoriina.
ry. AT the warmest hours of the day
between one aud two) the thermometer
(ta!Fenheit) stood, in the shade OF a
tree trunk: a! zero; and that was favor.
able day, the sun shining and a moderate
breeze. Judge of the nights aud the
storms
eve pressed up towards The summit,
the STOW deepening as we arose, and in
four or five days OF this struggling and
climbing, all on foot. we reached the
naked ridges which lie above the i'm.
OF The tlmbcred region, and winch form
the dividing heights between the water,
OF the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A.
long these naked nights il storm. all win
tor; and the raging winds sweep across
them with re morse!ess fury. On our
hrst attempt TO cross we encountered
pos.dsri,-(dry snow driven thick tllrou,h
the air by violent wind, and IN which
objects are visible only at a short dis-
tance)-and were driven back, bavinr
some ten or Twelve men variously frozen
face, hands, or feet. The guide came
near being t.ozen to death here, and
dead mules were already lying about the
camp fires. Meantime It showed stead
lily. The next day (Decenbcr) we renew
Ell the attempt to SCALE the summit, AMI
were more forunai", AS it'len seemed.
Making mules. AID beaiog down road,
Or trench. ,hroug' TIE dep snow, wp tor
cd the ascent in defiance of the driving
popdsrie, crossed The cres', descended li.-
tlF, ant! eucamped Immediately below in
the edge Of the tn berel re Ion The ,rsii
showed as l. defeated party had pa .sa,.
by-pa' ks pack saddles, scattered articles
~ clothing. and deal mules s'r-wrt' along.
We were encamped ahon, IL 900 f. above
the !evc! OF the sea. Westward tho com.
try was buried in snow. Tho s,o,n conIin
urd. All movement was ptraiyzrd. To
advance with The expedition WAS imposes
ble-'o 90 back impossible Our fae
stood revealed We were overtak en- hya
sudden aud inevitable ruin. The poor ami
mails were TO 90 frs. The only places
where grass could be had were hc extreme
slmmils oftne Sierra, where the sweep-
inn winds kept The rocky ground bare, and
where the men could lot live. Below, in
ihe 'inbered 'esion, the poor animals could
mol gel about, the snow being deep enough
10 bury them alive. twas Instantly appa-
rent that we sh' nd lose every one. TOOK
my resolution Immediately and determine
ed 10 fecToss, the monn'ain back to tho val
ley OF the Rio del Nore dra g.ng our PACK
ilg the ba -gase y men. With great labor
the baggage was transported across lls
Crest to the head sp,ings GA It'll, s,r,aln
ac"'iH- ~ NV Ihtls lew UaSH
were sufficient to destroy thai fine band of
mules which y'u saw me purchase last
fail ON The frontier OF Missouri They gen
rraIIy kept hnilrd ltg tier, and, as they
troze. one would BE- seen 10 tumble down,
aud d'Sapprar under he driving s., ow.
Sometimes they would break off, and rush
down towards the timber ill stopped By
the deep SNOW, where they We're soon
hidden by the To1de,ie. The courage Of
o ne :fthe men began to fail.
Sin this situation determined to senl
ina parry to the Spanish settlements of
New Aey;co for provisions and for mules
to an,poi our baggage. With economy
al not Two weeks provisinns in Tho camp:
ard '!ese consisted of reserve of maccaro
nj, haron, sugar. &c, intended for the las,
extremity. II was INDISPENSABLE TO send
TO- relief. asked for Volunteers for the
service. From the many that ofsrelI
those King, Breckenridge, Crenzfellt, and
he guide Williams; and placed the party
under the command of King, with Arec-
lions 10 send mo an express in case ofihe
least delay a, tho settlements 1t was tho
day after Christmas tina, this little party set
on, for relief Tha, day, like many Chris,
mas days for years past, was spent BY me
on the side of tho winry mourtan, my
heart filed with anxious thoughts aud gl,o.
my forebodings. You may be sure we con
,rased it with the. Christmas Of home, AMI
made warin wishes for your happiness.
Could You have looked inlo Agrirpa's
glass Tor few moments oily. Yon re-.
membe, the volumes of Rlackstone's Com
men,aties which | took from your fathers
library when we were overlooking il at
orr friend Bran',! They made my christ
mas 'dmusemcnts' read them % pass tho