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

day since that party had left the camp un-
der Vincenthaler. We found them-three
of them; Creutzfeldt, Breckenridge, and
Wil!iams-th most miserable objects had
ever beheld. l did not recognize Creutz--
feldts features, when Breckenridge brought
him up and told me his name. They had
been starving!. King had starved to death
few days before. His remains were some
six or eight miles above, near the river.
By aid of the Indian horses we carried these
three with us, down to the valley, to the
Pueblo on the Little Colorado, which we
reached the 4th day afterwards, (the tenth
after leaving the camp on the mounta!ns)
having travelled through snow, and on foot,
one hundred and sixty miles.
81 look upon the feeling which induced
me to set out from the camp as an inspira-
ton. Had 1 remained there, waiting the
return of poor Kings party, every man of
us must have perished.
sThe morning after reaching the Little
Colorado Pueblo, (horses and supplies not
being there,) Cooley and rode on to the
Rio Hondo, and thence to Taos, about
twenty-five miles, where we found what we
needed; and the next morning, Cooley, with
four Mexicans thirty horses or mules, and
provisions sat out on his return to the relief
Of Vincenthaler's party l heard from him
at the Little Colorado Pueblo, which he
reached the same day he left me, and pres
sed on the next morning. On the way he
received an accession Of eight Or ten horses,
turned over to him by the orders of
Major Beale, of the army, commanding Off
Ger of this northern district Of New Mexico.
From him l received the offer of every aid
in his power and such actual assistance as
he was able to render. Some horses,
which he had just recovered from the Ut
ans, were loaned to me, and he supplied
me from the commissarys department with
provisions which could have had nowhere
else
I find myself in the midst of fiiends-
With Carson is living Owens. Maxwell is
at his father-in-law's, doing prosperous
business as a merchant and contractor for
the troops I remain here with these old
comrades, while Cooley goes back; because
it was not necessary for me TO go with him,
and it was necessary for me to remain, and
prepare the means of resuming the expedi
ton to California, as soon as he returns with
the men left behind. I expect him on Wedn-
esday, the 31st inst, this being the l7th.
"Say to your father that these are my
plans for the future:
"AJ the beginning of FEBRUARY, Cooley
having got back at that time I shall set
out for California, taking the southern route
the old route-by the Rio A6aio, the
Paso del Norie, the south side of the Gila,
entering California by the-44gua Cahente,
thence to Los 41ageles, and Immediately to
San Francisco, expecting to get there in
March, and hoping for your arrival in April
1t is the first time have explored an old
road, but cannot help it now. ! shall move
rapidly, taking with me but part of my
party. The survey has been interrupted
up to this point, and shall carry il on con-
secutively. As soon as possible after reach
ing California, shall 60 on with it.
shall then be able to draw up a map and
report OF the whole country, agreeably to
our original plan. Your father knows that
this is an OBJECT OF great desire with me-
All my other plans remain entirely unalter
ed. A home i'll California is the first point,
and that will be ready for you in April.
ssEvEN1NG.-Mr. St. Vrain and Aubrey, who
nave just arrived from Santa Fe, called TO me;
l have the qualification 10 learn thai St. Vlan
ses out from Santa Fe on the 18th Of February
for ST. Louis; so that by him | shall have an ear
ly and sure opportunity of sending you my letters
the one now wIiie. and others after the return
Of Cooley, and up 10 our departure for California.
Ii Beale left Santa Fc on his way to California on
the 9th of this month. He probably carried OIL
with him any letters that might have been in his
care. Or at Santa Fe, for me.
"MoNDAY, JANUARY 29.-My letter assumes
journal form. No news from Cooley. A great
deal of falling weather-rain and sleet here-snow
in the mountains. This is to be considered poor
country, mountainous, with but little table land,
and infested with hostile Indians.
81 am anxiously waiting to hear from my party,
and in much uneasiness as to their fate. My
presence kept them together and quiet: my absence
may have had bad effect. When we overlook
Kings famishing party, Breckenridge said to me
He felt himself safe.'
So far the extracts from the first letter. and they
are mournful enough. The next, written after
the return of Cooley, with the Survivors of the
party, will be sill more so. Through written with
rapidity, and confined to events-the mind recoil-
ing from the description of scenes and the details of
it is still too much for this nights paper, and
must be deferred till our next.