Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-04-26

that river issues from the Sierra San Juan-on
of the highest, most rugged and most inIpract
cable of all the Rocky Mountain ranges, mac
cessbe to trappers and hunters, even in Sum
mer. Across the point Of this elevated rang
our guide conducted us and having still greb
confidence in this mans knowledge, we presse
onward with fatal resolution. Even along til
river bottoms the snow was already breast dee
for the mules, and falling frequently in the valley
and almost constantly on the mountains. Tn
cold was extraordinary. At the warmest hours
of the day between one and two) the thermom
eter (Fdhrenheit stood in the shade of a tire,
trunk, at zero; and that was favorable day, tn
sun shining and moderate breeze Judge
the nights and the storms
We pressed up toward the summit, the snow
deepening as we rose, and in four or five days O.
this struggling and climbing, all on foot, we
reached the naked ridges which lie above the
line Of the timbered region, and which form the
dividing heights between the waters of the At
antic and Pacific oceans. Along these naked
heights it storms all winter, and the raging winds
sweep across them with remorseless fury. On
our first attempt to cross we encountered pOu"
dcre-- (dry snow driven thick through the air by
violent wind, and in which objects are visible
only at u short distance land were driven back,
having some ten or twelve men varously frozen
face, hands or feet. The guide came near
being frozen to death here, and dead myl
ulroNdy lying about the caup fires. 4
it showed steadily The next day (Decefm1e d
we renewed the attempt to scale the summit, and
were more fortunate, as it then seemed. Making
mauls and beating down a road, or trench, thr0
the deep snow, we forced the ascent in defiance
of the driving pOude1e crossed the crest, descen-
ded a little, and encampcd Immediately below in
} the edge of the timbered region. The trail
showed as if a defeated party had passed by
packs, pack saddles, scattered articles clothing
and dead mules strewed along. We were en-.
} camped about twelve thousand feet above the
level of the 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, inlpossi-
ble Our fate stood revealed. We were over
taken by sudden and inevitable ruin. The poor
animals were to go 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 tmbered region, the poor
animals could not get about, the snow being
deep enough TO bury them alive. 1t was instant
I ly apparent that we should lose every one. |
took my resolution Immediately, and determined
to recross the mountain back to the valley of the
Rio del Nortc, dragging or packing the baggage
by men. With great labor the baggage was
transported across the crest 10 the head springs
OF 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 frontiers Of Missouri. They generally
kept huddled together and as they froze, one
would be seen to tumble down, and disappear
under the driving snow. Sometimes they would
break off, and rush down toward 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.
In this situation determined to send in party
to the Spanish settlements of New Mexico for
PROVISIONS and for mules to transport our bag
gage. With economy, and after we should leave
the mules, we had not two weeks provisions in
the camp; and these consisted Of q reserve of
maccaroni, bacon, sugar, NC. intended for the
last extremity. 1t was indispensable to send for
relief. ! asked for volunteers for the SERVICE
/, From the many that offered, chose King, Brack-
enridge, Creutzledt, and the guide, Williams;
) and placed the party under the command Of
King, with directions to send me an express in
: case IF the least delay at the settlements v
was the day after Christmas, that this little party
set out for relief That day, like many Christ
: mas days for years past, was spent by me on the
t side of the wiRtry mountain, my heart filled with
a anxious thoughts and gloomy foreboungs. You
. may be sure we contrasted it with the Christ
mas of home, and made warm wishes for your
= happiness. Could you have looked into Agrp.
e pas glass for few moments only You re.
, member the volumes of Blackstone Conmcnh-
d ries which took from your fathers library when
o we were overlooking it at our friend Brants:-
They made my Christmas amusemcnts."
e read them to pass the time, and to kill the CON
g seriousness Of my situation. Certainly you may
+ suppose that my first law lessons will be well
t, remembered
Il The party for relief being gone, we of the
$ camp occupied ourselves ip removing the bag.
= gage and equipments down the side of the noun
1t tain to the river in the valley, which we accom-
5. plished in a few days. Now came on the tedi.
C nm 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 its charm to those who had no reasons be-
You'd themselves to live. Proue laid down in
the trail and froze to death. In sunshiny day,
and having with him the means to make fire,
he threw his blanket on the trail, laid down upon
it, and laid there till he troze to death We
,t were not then with him.
Sixteen days passed away, and 10 tidings
> from the party sent for relief. l became oppres.
I'd sed with anxiety, weary of delay and determin-
- ed to 90 myself, both in search of the absent
w party, and in search Of relief in the Mexican
=. settlements. | was dware that our troops in
~ New Mexico had been engaged in hostilities
as with the Spanish Utalls, and with the Apaches
to who range in the valley of the Rio del Norte
TO and the mountains where we were, and became
fearful that they king and his party had beer
III cut off by these Indians. could imagine ne
st. other accident to them. Leaving the camp EN-
lat ployed with the baggage, under the command o
IT, Vincenthaler, with injunctions to follow me il
oil three days, SET Off down the river with small
~ party, csnsistng of Cooley, his young nephew
ITS Preuss, and Saunders, (colored servaut) w
We carried our arms and provisions for two or tire
X days. In the camp, (lelt under the command Q
30 Vincenthaer, the messes only had provisions fo
a few meals, and supply Of five pounds of 81
gar to each man. If failed to meet King m
intention was to make the Mexican settlemer
cd on tho Colorado little affluent of the Rio &c
lte Norte, about half degree above Taor, y0u wi
or see it en- my map) and thence send back tn
ell speedest relief possible to the party under Vii
in centhaler.
not On the second day after leaving the camp W
came upon fresh trail of Indians--two lodge
ou with a considerable number of animals. Tbi
oil did not lessen our uneasiness for our long abseI
dy people. The Indian trail, where We fell upon
turned and went down the river, and we foowe
en- 1t. On the fifth day after leaving the camp. W
on, surprised an Indian on the ice of the river. Fl
the proved to be Utah, son Of Grand River chi
III whom we had formerly known, and he behave
'ou towards us in friendly manner. We encaml
hes ed near them at night. By present of riff
Tor my two blankets and other promised reward
when we should get in, prevailed on this i
ted dian to 60 with us as guide to the Little r.
ON Colardo settlement, and to take with him four