The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-05-04

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Letters have been received from Col.
Fremont covering the two months (ifom
the last Of November to the I'd oil Febru'
ary) that no was not heard Of, and giving
terrible events Of that time. They are
written from Taos aud Santa Fr, New
Mex,co. and addressed To Mrs. F'em1n,,
Q, Washington aud, IN her absence, t'or
it was deemed probable that she might
have set of TO California by sea before
they could arrive, ITO Senator Benton, and
in his absence 10 William B. Jones, Esq
The letters came from 81. Louis last night,
having been brought TO that place by Mr..
ST. Vrain. Mrs. Fremont, fortunately was
gone: Senator Ben on had delayed his de-
parlure for Missouri, confident that letters
were on the way AID in his hands We
have seen the originals. aud We propose to
give extracts in the order OF the dates.
The first is dated Nat. if
"TAos, NEw Mexico, Jan. 81, ls43.
:" write TO you from the house OF our
good friend Carson. This morning cop
of chocolate was brought TO ne while 10
bed. To an over.worn. overwofked, la.
,igued, and starving traveller, these liule
Injuries of the world ofisr an interest
which, in your comfortable home, j. is moi
possible for you TO conceive.
=" have now The unpeasan, task OF tell
,ng you how | came here. | had much
rather speak Of the future, with plans for
which am already occupied,) for the
mind turns from the scenes | have witness.
ed and the sufIerIngs No have endured
but as clear information is due TO you, and
to your father slill more, | will give YOU
the story now, instead of waiting 10 tell il
to you in California but | wtiio ia lhs
great hope that you viii not receive this
leter. When il reaches Washington you
NAV he on your way to CaliiornI,.
"Fofner letters viii have made you
acquainted with our progress us lar as
Beui's Fort, and from report, you viii
have heard the circumstances Of our de-
parture from The Upper Pueblo, near the
head of the Arkansas. We IL, tina, place
on the 25ih of November, with upwards OF
one hundred good mules and one hundred
ard thirty bushels OF sheiled corn, intend.
ed 10 support our animals IN Tho deep
SHOWS Of the high mountains and down TO
the lover parts OF the Gfsud river ifibu-
iaries. where usually the SNOW forms no
obstacle 10 winter travelling. Al Pueblo
| had engaged rs a guide al old tiapper,
well known as " BiH Williams and Who
had spen, snme twenty five years Of his
life III trapping IN various part, OF The
Rocky Mountains.
The error OF our expedition Was com.
mi,led IN engaging this man. lie proved
never TO have known, or entirely Ia have
forgotten, tho whole country through which
We are 10 pass. We occupied (iiier pass
ing the mountainl more than half month
10 making the progress OF few days
laundering along 'ortuous course, through
deep snow, which already began TO choke
up the passes, and wasting our time II
searching the way. The llih Of Deem
Der we found ourselves al the mouth Of ih'
Rio del Norie canon, where the liver Is
sues from the Sierra San Jaan--one n
the highest. most rugged. and lmpraclIcl .
bic of all Inc Rocky Maintain ranges. tn
accessible to ifsppers and hunters, even u
summer. Across the point Of this rle'a
ted range cur guide conducted u'; ans
having siIil great confidence IN thI' man'
knowledge, We pressed EDWARDS With faia
resolution. Even along the rivor hoIton'
the snow was already bfeas, deep Tor The
mules, and falling frequently IN Ihe valley
and elmot constantly on the mountains
The cold vas extraordinary. Atthc warm
est hours Of The dss lbetwccn ono and two
the thef momeler (Fahrenheit) stood, il
the shade IL tree trunk, a, zero a0c
tina, was favorable day, the sun shining
and a moderate 5reeze. Judge Of ih'
uIghts and tho storms
We pressed up ,owards th" summit
the snow deepening as we rose, and IA iOu
or five days Of this struggling and climb
ing all on foot, we reached the npkei
ridges which lie above tbs line Of the tin
bered region, and which form the dividing
heights between the water Of the Atlantic
oceans. Along these naked heights i
storms oil winter, and the raging wind
sweep across them with temorseIess fury
Ga our frat attempt TO cross we encounter
ed a poaierie. dry snow driven ,hrougI
the air by yiolen, wind. aad IN which oh
Iects are visible only a, a shor, dislanccl--
and were driven back. having some ten o
twelve men varlousiy fEzen--iacc, hand.
or feet. The guide came near being fro
zen 10 death here, and dead mules were al
ready lying about the camp ftcs. Tn
next day (Dseember--) We renewed III
attemp. to tcale tho summit, and wer
more fortunate, as IL then seemed. Ma
king mauls, and beating down road 0
ireucb, through the deep snow, we force
the ascent 10 defiance OF the driving poud,
rie, crossed the crest, descended a Iiill,
and encamped Immediately below in til
edge Of the llnbersd region. The ira
showed as # defeated party had passe
by--Daeks oack.saddIes scattetpd att,rl,