Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-05-03

BURLI
en- back, having some ten or twelve men
frozen-face, hands, or feet
The guide came near being frozen to death
here, and dead mules were already lying
about the camp fires. Meantime il snow
ed steadily. Thenext day December-)
we fenewed the attempt to scale the sum-
nit, and were more fortunate, as it then
seemed. Making maul., and beating down
a road, or trench, through the deep snow,.
we forced the ascent in defiance Of the
driving posderie, crossed the crest, de-
scended little, and encamped immediate,
II below the edge Of the tinbsred region.
The trail showed as ifa defeated party had
passed y--packs, pack-saddles. scattered
articles Of clothing, and dead mules strew-
ed along. We were encamped abeut
twelve thousand feet above the level ofthe
sea. Westward the country was buried
in snow. The storm continued. All
movement was paralyzed. To advance
with the expedition was impossible to get
back, impossible. Our fate stood reveal.
ed. We were overtaken by s,idden and
inevitable ruin. The poor animals were
to 60 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 timber
cd region, the poor animals could not get
about, the snow being deep enough 10 bury
them alive. 1t was Instantly apparent that
we should lose every one. Itook my res-
olution immediately, and determined TO re-
cross the mountain back to the valley Of
the Rio del Norie, dragging or packing the
baggage by men. With great labor the
baggage was transported across the crest
to the head springs Of little stream lead
ING 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 frontier Of Missouri. They generally
kept hnddled together, and, as thet frozei
one would be seen to tumble down and
disappear under the drivingsnow. Some
times they would break OF, and rush down
towards the timber till stopped by the
deep snow, where they were soon hidden
by the pouderis. The courage Of some Of
the men began to fail.
ain this situation determined to send
in party to the Spanish settlements Of
New Mexico for provisions, and for mules
totranxport our baggage. With economy,
and sfter we should leave the mules, we
had not two week s provisions in the camp;
and these consisted Of reserve osmacca-
roni, bacon, sugar, &C., intended for the
last extremity. 1t was indispensable 10
send for relief, asked for volunteers for
the service. From the many that offered
I chose King, Breckenridge, Creutzfeldt,
and the guide, Williams and placed the
party under the command Of King, with
directions to send me an express in case
of,thc least delay at the settlements. II
was the day after Christmas that this little
party set out for relief. That day, like
many Christmas days for years past, was
spent by me on the side Of the wintry
mountain, my heart filled with anxious
Thoughts and gloomy lorebodings. You
may be sure we contrasted il with the
Christmas Of home, and made warm wishes
for your happiness. Could you have
looked into Agrippa's glass a few moments
only! You remember the volumes Of
Blackstone's Commentaries which took
from your fathers library when we were
overlooking il nj our friend Brant's p
They made my Christmas, "Amussments. .
| read them 10 pass the time, and 10 kill
the consciousness Of my situation. Ger
tainly you may suppose that my first law
lessons will be well remembered.
"The party for relief being gone, we o:
the camp occupied ourselves In removing
the baggage and equipage down the side
Of the mountain 10 the river in the valley,
which We accomplished in few days.
Now came or 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 noun
tains. The spirits olthe campgrew lower.
Life was losing its charm to those who
had not reasons beyond themselves 10 live.
Proue laid down in the trail and lroze ia
death. In a sunshine day, and having
with him the means 10 make FIRE. he
threw his blanket down on the trail, laid
down upon it, and laid there till he froze
10 death! We were not then with him.
Sixteen days passed away, and no tidings
from the party sent for relief. became
oppressed with anxiety, weary Of delay,
aud determined to go 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 l,ostilities with the Span
ish Utah., and with the Apsches, who
range in the valley Of the Rio del Mort.
and the mountains where we were, and
became fearful that they King and his
party J had been cut off by these Indians,
could imagine no other accident to them
Leaving The camp employed with the bag
gage, under the command Of Vincenthaler.
with injnnctions 10 follow me in three
days, set off down the river with small
party, consisting Of Cooley, his young!
nephew, Prenss and Saunders, fcolored
servant, We carried our arms and pro-
visions Cor two or three days. IN the
camp (left under the command Of Vim.
| censhaler the messes only had provisions