Washington telegraph., 1849-05-02

llnlodid tely, anu uete[Illneu 10 fec[OSS
the mountain back to the valley Of the
Rio del Noyse, dragging or packing the
baggage by men. With great labor the
baggage was transported across the crest
to the head spring of a little stream lead
ing to the MAN river, A few days were
sufficient to destroy that fine band of
mules which you saw me purchase last
fall on the froutier of Missouri. They
generally kept huddled together and, as
! they froze, one would be seen to tumble
down, and disappear under the driving
snow Sometimes they would break off,
and rush down towards the timber till
stopped by the deep snow, where they
were soon hidden by the powderae. The
courage of some of the men began to fail.
in this situation determined to send
in a party to the Spanish settlement of
New Mexico for provisions, and for mules
to transport our baggage. With econo-
INV, and after we should leave the mules,
we had not two weeks provisions in
the camp; and these consisted of re-
serve of maccafoni, bacon, sugar, &C., in
tended for the last extremity. 1t was
impossible to send for relief. [ asked for
volunteers for the service. From the
many that offered chose King, Bracken-
ridge, Crutz6eld, and the guide, Williams;
and placed the party under command of
King with directions to send me an ex-
press in case of the least delay at the set
Elements. 1t was the day after Christmas
that this little party set out for relief
That day, like many Christmas days fot
years past was spent by me on the side
of the wintry mountain, my heart filled
with anxious thoughts and gloomy fore
bodings. You may be sure we contrast
ed it with winter at home, and made
warm wishes for your happiness. Could
you have looked into Agrippa's glass for
a few moments only. You remember the
volumes of Backst0ne's Commentaries
which took from your fathers library
when we were overlooking it at our friend
Brant's? They made nay Christmas
san1uSezucnts. | read them to pass the
time and to kill the consciousness of my
situation Certainly you may suppose
that my first law lesson will be remem-
bered.
The party for relief being gone, we of
the camp occupied ourselves ia removing
the baggage and equippage down the side
of the mountain to the river in the valley,
which we accomplished in few days.
Now came on the tediuns of waiting for
the return of the relief party. Day after
dav passed and nc news from them
Snow fell almost necessarily in the noun
tains, The spirit OF the camp grew low
er Life was losing its charm to those
who had not reasons beyond themselves
to live. Proue laid down in the trail and
froze to 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
ne froze to death! We were not then
with him.
Sixteen days passed away, and no It'd
ings from the party sent for relief. be-
came oppressed with anxiety, weary of de-
lay, and determined to go myself, both in
search of the absent party, and in search
of relief in the Mexican settlements. l
was aware that our troops in New Mexi-
co had been engaged in hostllltles with
the Spanish Utahs, and with the Apaches,
who range in the valley OF the R10 del
N0rte and the mountains where we were,
and became fearful that they (king and
his party had been cut off by these Indi-
ans. [ could imagine no other accident
to them Leaving the camp employed
with the baggage, under the command of
Vincenthaler, with injunctions to follow
me in three days, set off down the river
with small party, consisting of Cooley,
his young nephew Preuss, and Saundres,
(colored servant.) We carried our arms
and provisions for two or three days. In
the camp Qeit under the command of Vim
centhaler) the messes only had provisions
for few meals, and supply of five
pounds of sugar to each man. Ii failed
to meet King my intention was to make
the Mexican settlement on the COlaradO,
little atfluent of the Rio 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 Vincenthaler.
On the second day after leaving the
camp we came upon fresh trail of lndl-
ans-two lodges with a considerable
number of animals. This did not lessen
our uneasness for our long-absent people.
The Indian trail where we fell upon it,
turned and W ent down the river, and we
followed it. On the fifth day (after leav-
ing the camp we surprised an Indian on
the ice of the river. He proved to be a
Utah, son of Grand river chief whom
we had formerly known, and lie behaved
towards us in a friendly manner. We
encamped near them at night. BY a
present Of my rifle, my two blankets, and
other promised rewards when we should
get in, l prevailed on this Indian to go
with us as guide to the Little Rio Col
arado settlement, and to take with him