Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-05-19

- 'Ao0iou ioSlon' ne trail showed as II q
defeated party had passed by-packs, pack saddles,
sca"emd articles of clothing, and dead mules,
s!rewn along. We were encamped about twelve
thousand feet above the level of the sea. West
ward the country was buried in snow. The storm
confined. All movement was paralvzed. To
advance with the expedition was impossible: (: to
get back, impossible. Our fate stood revealed
we were overtaken by sudden and inevitable ruin.
Inc poor animals were to 60 first. The onlv
places where grass could be had were the extreme
summit OF the Sierra, where the sweeping winds
kept The rocky ground bare, and where the men
couio rot live. Below, in the timbered region. the
poor ANIMALS could not get about, the snow being
deep enough to bury them alive. 1t was nstantly
apparent that we should lose every one. took
my resolution Immediately, and determined to re-
cross the mountain back to the valley Of the Rio
deI Norts, dragging packing the ba ggage by
men. with great labor the baggage was tran
sported across the crest to the head sprin, of
little stream leading TO the main river. A few
Gays were sufficient 10 destroy that fine band of
mules which you saw me purchase last fall on the
frontier of Missouri. They generally kept hud.
died together; and, as they froze, one would be
seen toturnbe down, and disappear under the driv-
ing snow. Sometimes they would break off and
rush down towards the timber till stopped by the
deep snow; where they were soon hidden bv the
ponderie. The courage of some of the men began
to fail.
{. In this situation determined to send in a partv
10 the Spanish settlement of New Mexico for bro.
visions, and for mules to transport our 5a goa ge.
With economy, and after we should leave the
mules, we had not two weeks provisions in the
camp; and hese consisted of reserve Of macca.
ROM, bacon sugar, &C., intended for the last ex.
tremity. 1t was impossible 10 send for relief.
asked for volunteers for the service From the
| cho
Creutzteldt, and the guide, Williams; and placed
the party under The command of King, with direc.
lions to send me an express in case Of the least
delay at The settlements. It was the dav after
Christmas that this little party sci out for relief
That day, like many Christmas davs for wears
past, was spent by me on the side of the wintrv
mountain, my heart filled with anxious thoughts
and gloomy forebodings. You NAV be sure we
contfased 1t with Christmas at home, and made
warm wishes for your happiness. Could you have
looked in:o Agrippa's glass for a few moments
oniyl lou remember the volumes of Backs,one's
Commentaries which | took from your fathers
library when we were overlooking it at our friend
Brant's! They made my Christmas 'a,nusements ~
| read them TO pass the time, and to kill the con-
seriousness OF my situation. Certainly you NAV
suppose that my first law lesson will be we'll re-
membsred.
1.-The party for relief being gone, we Of the
camp occupied ourselves in removing the baggage
and equIPage down the side Of the mountain TO the
river IN the valley, which we accomplished in a
few days. Now oame on the tsdiunn of waiting
for the return of the relief party Dav after dav
passed, and no news from them. Snow fell almost
ineessantly IN the mountains. The spiri. of the
camp grew lower: Life was losing lis charm to
those who had not reasons beyond themselves to
live. proue laid down in the trail and froze 10
death. In a sunshine day, and having with him
the means TO make fire, he threw his blanket
down on the trail, laid down upon it, and laid there
till he froze to death! We were not then with
hin.
Sixteen days passed way, and no tidhgs from
lhe party sent tor relief. became oppressed with
ANXIETY, weary of delay, and determined TO 90
myself, both in search Of the absent arty, and in
search of relief in the Mexican settlements.
was aware that our troops in New Mexico had
been engaged In hostiies with he Spanish Utahs.
ana with the Apaches, who range in the valley of
the Hto det Norte and the mountains where we
were, and became fearful that they (Kng and his
party had been cut off by these Indians. / could
imagine no other accident to them. Leaving the
camp employed with the baggage, under the COM
mand of Vincent Haler, with injunctions to follow
me III three days. ! set off down the river with a
small party, consisting Of Cooley, his young me-
phew, Preuss, and Saunders, (colored servant y
three days. In the camp Qeft under the COM
mand of Vincent Haler,) the messes only had pro-
visions for few meals, and supply of five
pounds OF sugar to each man. If failed to meet
King my Intention was to make the Mexican
settlement on the Colorado, little affiuent Of the
Rao del NOrte, about half degree above Taos,
(you will see it on my map,) and thence send
back the speediest relief possible TO the party
under Vincent Halet.
"On the second day after leaving the Camp
we came upon fresh traiI of Indians-two ges
with considerable number of animals. This
did not lessen our uneasiness for our long-absent
people, The Indian trail, where we fell upon it.
turned and went down the river, and we followed
r: On the fifth day (after leaving the camp, J
we surprised an Indian ON the ice of the river.
he proved to be Utah, son of Grand river
chief whom we had formerly known, and he be.
haved towards us in frierdly manner. We en-
camped near them at night. BY present of IA
rIffe, my two blankets, and other promised re.
wards when we should get IN, prevailed on this
lnolan TO 60 with us guide 10 the Little Rio
Colorado settlement, and to take with him four of
MS horses to carry our little baggage. The horses
were mlserabiy poor, and could only get along
at slow walk. On the next day (the sixth Of
our progress,) We 'eft the Indian lodges late and
travelled Onlv siv or