The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-01
From ono OF Col Fremont's Men.


To Mr.. A.. Robidoux, of this place, we are IN
dcbted for the following letter from Mr. Kern, who
was with Colonel Fremont, on his way to Cali,
fomia. The letter contains many facts connected
with their suffering, that we have not yet seenpub-
TAOS New Mexico), Feb. IL, 1910.
Ny DEAR RoBIDoUx,- arrived In this place last
evening" from Rio Colorado, from about as hard a
trip, and as total destruction OF expedition, as
possible AS rumors will reach you, thought It
would be as well to give you some little correct
information on the subject, though my time VIII
scarcely allow Of anything like detail.
AS far as Bents, met with no obstacles or
loss, and everything babe fair to give a tolera-
bly, pleasant trip, considering the season. Our
animals were in good condition. and, procuring
corn at Hard Scrabble for the worst part of the
road, we calculated passing the mountains with
success. Old Bill was with us as guide, and
that of course, gave confidence, supposing none
so capable as he to carry us through. Leaving
Hard Scrabble, we continued up its creek into the
mountains. As advanced, the snow increased.
Crossing the first range, we fell upon the waters
| of the Wappanah, passing through the mountains
| to the Del Nore by your old wagon road-the snow
We continued a couple of days on the Del Norte,
and then turned up what Williams called your pass,
| on TO the Compadnc. In this he was evidently mis-
| taken for worse road never saw. If you ever
got over it with wagons, should like to have
| the operation. We went up on the Canon-our
animals falling, and the snow deepening every step
| we took, bidding far Gas 1t subsequently turned
| OUT to defeat our crossing. On the 18th of De-
cembc we attempted to cross what we supposed to
| be the dividing ridge between the ST ohns and the
! waters of the Del Norte but were driven back by
the storm. The next day we returned to it again,
and were successful enough to get on the other
| side, TO small clump Of pines. We unpacked our
| animals on bare point, and drove them to the bill
| a day, as the snow had dritted from il in places.
| From this hill they never came agaln--the storm
continuing, and having no shelter, they per shed.
Camp then commenced making portages, in the
| pE Tho nov cnp-
pose, was a severe undertaking IN the cold, and
no positive hopes ahead OF reaching any place. even
| should we have been able to get out effects
| BY hard laborwe worked our way gradually down.
| On the 10Th King was sent ahead with old Bill to
Abaque to bring us relief, while we were to continue
| down. On the 18th of January, he not arriving,
| the Colonel became anxious, and started with his
| mess and Cooley, IN hopes OF meeting the rehef
| party. Our provisions had given out, and we We're
| living on pare -feshes and tug-ropes. Already
Proulx had persisted from hunger and exposure.
On the 10Th, all having reached the river, we
made our little packs, of bedding, and, with our
rifles, started forced only knew where Here
commenced our greatest suffering. The company
had for its head Vincent IIaler. His own lack of
courage quickly dflused itself among the men; so
you may suppose how things went on. Probably
up to the 9Th we had lost nine men. Our mess
and another had made our inal camp. We were
blind from the snow and unable to see the sig hts
of our rifles. A dead wolf was all we had to sus-
tain life among nine men, / had closed all my at
fairs, and felt that day or two more would end
my troubles, Wnen, ABOUT noon on tne ZStn, we
heard shout and Cooley entered camp Here
ended our troubles. From him we learned the
fate of Kng's party, who had been found by him on
his way down on the 10Th. Poor King had died
from exhaustion, somewhere about the 9th. The
rest were in miserable condition frozen, and
partly crazed. They had given up all hopes of re-
turning to us with relief.
Thus has ended the xpedition--commenced so
far as outfit concerned, under as tlattering
prospects as ever started. The loss in dollars
has amounted to over l0,000-in life, TO-. My bro
theirs and myself will winter somewhere in this vi
cinity, and return home early in the spring. when
shall pay you visit at your pleasant town of San
Jose