The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-09

Twelve miles below the mouth of the CHA,
-Af@at July 3, 1850
EmigraSts-D Dangerous 4dvemfwe-The CHA RI
ca-A Desert. &c. &c.
just as had finished my last letter, there APP
peazed on the opposite shore niuacho hombres,"
(niany men). A glance showed them to be emi-
grants, and closer view through glass proved
them to be Mexicans. As soon as they detected
that they were observed, they gave indications OF
a wish to be passed This was an under
taking for which we were mot prepared but an
anxiety hear of the state of the road or the In
dians had been telling us that the Gila was over
flowed, and that the emigration would be stopped
for several weeks thereby) overbalanced all other
considerations II was the work of less than an
hour to take the body from one of our wagons, and
pass over it the canvas top of the same, in such
way as to render the whole impenetrabe to water,
and launch it into the stream. After having lowed
il up about half mile, TO get out of the influence
of the rapids opposite our camp, three men jumped
into it, and pulled for the opposite shore but TO
our horror and astonishment, II was coon that
from The clumsy character OF the beat, Ut being
but about twice as long il was broad,) and from
the fact thatthe attempt to made too near
the influence of the rapids, when they got within
the full force OF the current the boat became COM
pletely under Its influence, and was hurled down
stream at rapid rate. On, on il went, till within
few rods Of where the danger was most imminent,
when divergence In the course OF the current,
aided by the strenuous exertlons of the boatmen,
threw it into an eddy, and they were saved. Thus,
by the merest accident, were The lives OF three
valuable men, heads Of families, preserved from
sudden death.
The party of Mexicans proved to be from the
city of Cuacan, in the State Of Sinaloa and within
about 25O miles of Magellan. AS is usual in these
companies, there are few proprietOrs, with
large number of poems. They came by the route
not often travelled at this of the year, via
Alter. This is the most northern and western
town in Sonora, and lies nearest the head Of the
Gulf, of any settlement in it, Beyond il, north
wardly to the ella and westwardly to the Gulf, is
an unbroken desert, never explored by the foot OF
q white man, and supposed To be almost wholly
destitute Of wood. water and grass. Within few
years has been discovered a road that is passable
in the rainy season, direct to the ella, distant
about go miles, and striking it about deg from
its mouth. II is by this road that our friends had
travelled. They say their animals had no grass
from the time they lett Alter Till the time they
struck the ella; and thet for four days at time
they were without water
t MOUNT DEFIANCE, ON THE COLORADO,
IL MILES BELOW THE MOUTH OF ,
TIE GILA, July l, 1880.
The Intercourse wih the Indians-Present Posi-
neutrality-suspicious. for Defence-India~s-IH-
sects- Fih-The R,ver Gita, &C., &c.
When wrote you last week, our relations with
the Indians were of an apparently friendly charac-
ter. The next day, however, our interpreter took
upon himself to lecture the old chief upon the
outrages his tribe had committed against emigrants
in times past, and to threaten him with the chas-
tisements of the American government This very
unwise course at once excited his antipathes, and
he departed in high dudgeon. The next day there
was but very little trade, and but very few
Indians appeared at all around the camp. II so
happened that just at this time got into general
row with our men. These were mostly old soldiers
and other worthless Characters, impossible TO con-
troll, and We determined to discharge them, which
we did, and they left the next day. From causes
not necessary to explain, two of my partners de-
termned also to leave at this time, aud they went
OH with the men. THIS left tue company, includ-
ing three hired men, just seven strong. Our posi-
tlon was very insecure one, and IL was obvious
that our lives were every moment in danger
upon the separation of our company. II was at
hrst supposed indispensable that we should relin-
quish the objects of expedition altogether, and
return 10 the settlements. But this was thought
too great sacrifice, and We haally determined to
fall back 10 the first d-feAsible point fortify our
selves as well as we could, and hold on till, by the
arrival ofemgrants, we could get the power to
turn and take possession of the terry. So here we
are.
II there ever was place where a small number
Of men could defend themselves against greatly
superior Indian force, this is one II is precipi-
tous bluff upon the margin OF the river, Of about
two hundred feet high and commands good view
of the surrounding country for several miles At
its topmost point, Is an open spsce OF about forty
feet square. This we have stock aded with a
breastwork Of logs, and have mounted thereon our
little brass cannon, and which we are careful 10
discharge every evening-a display which, we
already perceive, has a powerful EFFECT on the
nerves OF our copper-colofed neighbors Directly
at the base of the bluff upon which fort is stu
ated, the liver takes turn and forms complete
elbow, so as To encircle VI on two sides, and, yet
more important, exactly where IL makes the turn
there occurs in the nver powerful rapid, there
being fall, should Judge, In a hundred yards, of
some sixty feet, so as 10 render the river on our
side perfectly impossible tor beats On the other
side of the rIver, which is here about quarter of
mile wide, occurs a wide eddy, - that the navi-
cation Of the river by this rapid is not erialy
impeded, and this, by the by, is the only one be-
tween the mouth Of the ella and the Gulf
There Is, below us about ten miles, larger
settlement OF the Indians than either Of those
above us. Here resides the chef, who claims ab.
sollte control over the whole Tribe, He honorcd
with visit the next day alter taking up our sta
ton in his neighborhood, and told us NJ we would
act as friends TO him he would be so TO Us. He
said he was the same king IN this quarter, that
all the land was hi-, &c. Since we have been
here the Indians have been very neghborly,
and have purchased freely. They are in COM
munication with the Indians on the coast, and are
fully apprsed sf the intention OF the troops TO come
out here. Ii Is from the influence Of this latter
fact, take II, that causes them jus, at this time,
10 he 50 very civil to us Yesterday we were
somewat excited, from the fact that large num-
Der ofrahs passed down the river, and IN one in
stance dead horse. We supposed, at first, II
might be indicative Of train OF emigrsnts thai had
been passing over, above us. Then, ar ain, 10 was
suggested that the Indians were moving their
wives and children away, preparatory to war.
This idea had some plausibiy, from the fact, that
night before last, about two hundred Indians,
chiefly families, passed Bp by cur camp, late at
night. Our apprehensions have been quoted, this
morning, by learning that the Indi aus have been
passing over into the forks Of the ella ans the Co
dorado, with view u make their gardens.
This you will think late in the season, but up
TO this period Of the year the lands m the yici-
nifty are all overlooked The weather IL At
this time very warm, although by no means
averages In the middle 81 the dsy, Jos in the shade
Dnt it Is from the influence Of a wind that occurs
occasionally from the soaih and west that our
most disagreeable sensations arise This wind
passes for hundreds OF miles over = desert Of sand
and volcanic remains, and IN which there is little
-. 10 t..t "A