Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-26


full belief of the old hunters and traders at
the Pueblos, the guide inclusive whom he
there engaged, that he would 90 through
He was provided with every thing to carry
the men to California, and with grain to
carry all the animals across all the noun
tains into the valleys of the tributaries of
the great Colorado of the West, where the
SHOWS would be light, wood and grass suffi-
cent, game abundant, and the hardships of
the expedition all surmounted and left be-
hind. In two weeks he expected to be in
these mild valleys. Unhappily, the guide
consumed these two weeks in getting to the
head of the Del Norte--a distance which
only required four or five days to travel, as
Col Fremont showed in coming back
This was the cause of the first calamity
the loss of the horses and mules. The same
guide consumed twenty-five days, when
sent with the party for relief, in making the
distance which Col. Fremont, with Cooley,
Preuss and servant,) without guide, on
foot, in colder weather, deeper SHOWS, and
half furnished made in six. That was the
cause of the second and irreparable calami-
ty--the Heath of the men.
The immediate scene of suffering in this
great disaster, where the ascent of the great
mountain was forced and its summit scaled,
must have been about north latitude 80 l-2
and west longitude from London l07, the
elevation about twelve thousand feet, and
the time that of dead winter-Christma
From this point the noted objects, Pixies
Peak and the Three Parks, would bear a.
bout E N L and the Spanish Peaks about
L S L.
With this notice of localities, to which a
mournful interest must long attach, we pro-
coed to give extracts from the remaining
and final letters of Col. Fremont The first
of these is dated
Taos, New Mexico, Feb. 6, lS49.
After long delay, which had wearied
me to the point of resolving to set out again
myself, tidings have at last reached me from
my Inflated party.
MIR. Vincent Haler came in last night,
having the night before reached the Little
Colorado settlement, with three or four 9TH
ers. Including Mr.. King and Mr.. Proulx
this name was printed PrOue in our last
it is written both ways, we have lost eleven
Of our party.
Occurrences, since left them, are brief
ly these, so far as they came within the
knowledge of Mr. Haer: say briefly, be-
cause | am now unwilling to force my mind
to dwell upon the details of what has been
suffered. need repreve from terrible con-
temptations. | am absolutely astonshed at
this persistence of misiortune-this success
sion OF calamlties which no care or vigilance
OF mind could toresee or prevent.
You will remember that 1 had left the
camp (twenty-three menu when | set of
,,,,tI a
of King and succor, with directions abou,
the baggage, and with occupation suflicien,
about it to employ them for three or four
days; after which they were to follow me
to the river. Within that time expected
relief from Kings party, if it came at all
They remained seven days and then started
their scant provisions about exhausted, anc
the dead mules on the western side of the
great Sierra buried under snow.
Manuel-you will remember Manuel-a
Christian Indian of the Costume tribe, il
the valley of the San Joaqun) way tc
feeling of despair after they had moved a
bout two miles, and begged Vincent Haler
whom had left in command, to shoot him
Failing to fad death in that form, he turn
ed and made his way back to the camp, in
tending to die there, which he doubtless
soon did.
The party moved on, and at ten miles
Wise gave out--threw away his gun ant
blanket-and, few hundred yards farther
fell over into the snow, and died. Two In
dian boys-countrymen Of Manuel-wer'
behind. They came upon him-roled hin
> up in his blanket, and buried him in The
snow on the bank of the river.
No other died that day. None the next.
, Carver raved during the night-his ina
: gination wholly occupied with images O
f many things which he fancied himself to b.
eating. In the morning he wandered off
and probably soon died. He was not seel
l again.
, Sore on this day 0he fourth from tn
} camp) laid down to die. They built him
S fire, and MORN, who was in dying condi
/ ton, and snow-blind, remained with him
These two did not probably live till the mex
r morning. That evening Il think 1t was
= Hubbard killed dear
S They travelled on, getting here AM
I there a grouse, but nothing else, the dee
= snow in the valley having driven off tn
h game.
: The state of the party became desperate
u anu W tHC
7 breaking it up, in order to prevent Their
i from living upon each other. He told ther
i that he had done all he could for them-tho
i they had no other hope remaining than tn
n expected relief---and that the best plan wa
:, to scatter and make the best of their wa
e down the river-that, for himself, if he wa
e to be eaten, he would at all events. be foun
= travelling when he did die. This addres
e had its effect They accordingly separated
Il With Haler continued five others-Scot
= Hubbard, Martin, Bauon, one other, an
l. two Costume Indian boys.
!, Rohrer now became respondent, an
n stopped Haler reminded him of his fam
e ly, and urged him to try and hold out i'
re their sake. Reused by this appeal to h
Of tenderest affections, the unfortunate ma
., moved forward, but feebly, and soon b.
n gan to fall behind On farther appe
~ he promised to follow and to overtake the
I'd at evening.
er Haler, Scott, Hubbard, and Martin no
r agreed that if any one OF them should civ
he out the others were not to wait for him
er die, but to push on and try and save then