Democratic banner., 1849-04-30
'UNlTED We SrAND-DIv1DED We dFALL"

'hG OOON 1, !:
Meantime it showed steadily. The next
day December y we renewed the at
tempt to scale the summit, and were more
fortunate, as it then seemed. Making
mauls, and beating down a road, or trench,
through the deep snow, we forced the as
cent in defiance Of the driving f6ttderie,
crossed the crest, descended a little, and en-.
camped Immediately below in tie edge Of
the timbered region. The rail..showed ss
If adefeated party had passed ty.-paoks,
pack saddles, scattered articles Of clothing,
and dead .muAes 4stsewsdaloasssIHe ewefe
encamped about twelve thousand feet above
the level Of the sea. Westward the coun-
try was buried in snow. The storm con-
tinued. All movement was paralyzed.-
To advance with the expedition was impos-
sible /: to get back, impossible. Oar fate
stood revealed. We were overtaken by
sudden and inevitable ruin. The poor ami
mails were to 60 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 MOI live. Below, in
the timbered region, the poor animals could
not get about, the snow being deep enough
to bury them alive. II was instantly appa-
rent that we should lose every one. took
my resolution Immediately, end determined
to recross the mountain back to the ,yslley
of the Rio del Norte, dragging or packing
the baggage by men. With greatlabor the
baggage was transported across the crest
to the head springs of a little stream LEAD
ing to the main river. A few days were
Sufficient to 6estroy,that fine band of mulel
which you saw me purchase last fall on the
frontier Of Missouri. They generally KEEP
huddled together; and, as they froze, one
would be seen to tumble down, and dissp.
pear under the driving snow. Sometimes
they would break off, and rush down to.
wards the timber till stopped by the deeg
snow, where they were soon hidden BY The
pOader,e. The courage Of some Of The
men began 10 fail. 'l'
in this situation I determined to send II
a party to the Spanish settlements Of New
Mexico for provisions, and for muies L
transport our baggage. With economy
and after we should leave the mules, we hat
not two weeks provisions in the camp; ant
these consisted Of areserve Of maccaroni
becon, sugar, &c, intended for the last ex
tremity. 1t was indispensable to send To-
relief. I asked for volunteers for the ser
%vire. From the many that offered l chos'
King, Breckenridge, CreutzfeIdt, and thu
;lguide, Williams, and placed the party unde
the command Of King, with directions t.
send me an express in case Of the least de
lay at the settlements. II was the day al
ter Christmas that this little party set GU
for relief. That day, ike many Christina
days for years past, was spent BY me on tn
side Of the wiptry mountain, my heart file
with anxious thoughts and gloomy forebod
ings. You may be sure we contrasted j
with the Christmas Of home, and mad
warm wishes for your happiness. Coul'
,lyou have looked into A~grippa's glass for
few moments only! You remember til
volumes Of Blackstone's Commemorate
which l took from your fathers library
when We were overlooking it at our frien,
|, Brant's? They made my Christmas 'annuse
flments.' ! read them to pass the time, an
to kill the consciousness Of my situation
Certainly you msy suppose that my frs
lessons will be well remembered.
.Tlle party for relief being gone, we Q
the camp occupied ourselves in removin
the baggage and equiPsge down the side Q
= the mountain 10, the river in the valley
which we accomplished in q few days.
: Now came on the tedium of visiting for tn
: return of the relief party. Day after da
tlpassed, and no news from them. Snow fe
almost necessarily in the mountains. TIL
! spirits of the camp grew lower. Life wa
5 losing its charm to those who had not res
: sons beyond themselves to live. Proue lai
j down in the trail and froze to death. l
a sunshine day, and having with him I'll
means to make q fire, he threw bis blanks
r down on the trail, laid down upon it, an
, laid there till he froze to death! We wer
5 mot then with him. ,,i .u
Sixteen days passed away, and no tidine
s from the party sent for relief. BEGAN
depressed with anxiety, weary Of decay, an
I l~determinsd to 20 myself, both in search
81 tha ohseDk narfv- and in search of relief