Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-07-09
John Charles Flew0.t.
BORN IN 8. cAnoLrx,, JAN, \. D, 1919.


slopes Of the Rocky Mountains, whose
names are associated forever with those
vast ranges: Humboldt, the Nes,or OF
scientific travellers; Audubon, tie inter-
lre'cr Of Nature, ana Fremont, the Path
fader of empire. Each has done much
to Illustrate the natural history of North
America, and 10 deyelupe lis il,imlable
resources. The youngest OF al is likely
10 become as ii!ustriOUs as either, for Tor
tune has linked his name with scene in
the history OF the Republic, as slattling
10 hc,wotlI as the first announcement Of
its existence. To lis hands was COM
rnitled tie magnificent task of oar open
ing the golden gates Of our Pacific empire.
His -fa!her was an emigrant nan from
France, and his mother lady Of Virgin
il. Although his death lof! his son an
orphan in his fourth year, lie was tho
roughly educated; and when, al the age
ofseycnleeu, he graduated u, Charles on
College, lie contributed to the support OF
his mother and her younger children.
From teaching mathematics be turned
lis attention To civil engineering, inwhlch
t!isplaye,. so much talent, he was rec:
commented by Mr.. poinsetl, Secretary of
War, TO Nicollel, as his assistant in the
survey OF lhe basin Of ibe upper MlSslssip
nj. Two wears he was with that learned
man in his fielu of labors, and he won his
applause ard friendship. On his return
10 Washington he continued his services
10 tie geographer for two years longer, in
drawing up from his Textbook the grea'
map Which unfolded to science the vast
lrac; they had explored. Thirstng for
adventure, he now planned the first ol
those distant and perilous expeditions
which have given lustre to his name.
Having received a lieutenant'S commission
in he corps of Typographical Engineers,
he proposed 10 the Secretary OF War to
penetrate the Rocky Mountains. His
plan was approved, and in 1912, with a
handful Of men gathered on the Missouri
frontier, he reached and explored the South
Pass. lie achieved mere than his in
struc,ions required. He not only fixed
the locality and character of that great
mass, through which myriads 1re now
pressing to California--he defined the as
trnnomy, geography, botany, geology and
me.eofoiogy OF the country, and deSigna
ted The route since followed, and the points
from which tie ha2 of the Union is now
flying from chain OF wilderness fortres-
ses.
His report was printed by the Senate,
translated INTO foreign languages, and The
scientific world looked on Fremont as one
Of lis bencfactors. Impatient However
for broader and more hazardous iirlds, he
planned a new expedition 10 the dlslalt
territory of Oregon. His first had carried
hin to the summils Of the Rocky Noun
tains. Wilkes had surveyed the Ilde-wa.
Ter regions of the ColumbIa nver; be-
tween the two explorers lay tract Of .
thousand miles, which was 4 blank iaI
geography. In May, le43, lie left ihe
frontier OF Missouri, and in November hc
stood on Fort Vancouver, with the Calm
waters of the Poetic at his feet. I!c haG
approached the mountains By new line,
sealed their summijs south Of the South
Pass, DETECTED to the Great Salt Lake,
and pushed examinations right and lei
along his entire course.
He Joined his survey 10 Wilkes eI7lo
ring expedition, and his orders were iuI-
filed. But he had opened cue route to|
the Columbia; and he wished to find an
other. There. was vast region South al
his line, invested with a fabulous interest,
and he longed 10 apply to il the test OF
exact science. II was the beginning OF
Winter. Without resources, adequate
SUPPLIES, or even guide, and onIy Iwen
ty five companions, lie turned his iscr|
once more toward lie Rorky Mountains
Then began that wonderful expedition,
flled with romance, achievement, daring
and suffering, in which he was lost from
lie world nlne months, taycrsirg 35CO
miles, in sighl of eternal SHOWS; in Which
he explored and revealed tie grand tta-
lures Of Alta California, its grcas basin, tie
Sierra Negada, tie valleys Of San Joaquin
and Sacramento, explored the fabulous
Buenayentu7a, revealed the real Fl Dora
DO, and established The geography Of the
Western part Of our Continent. In Au-
gust, 1874, lie was again IN Washington,
after an absence ofsixteen months. His
report put the seal 10 lie fame Of .he young
explorer. -.
lie was planning a ihitI expedition
whi'e writing history Of the second ;
and before lis publication, in lS45, he
was again on his way 'o The Pacific. col-
lcct;ng his moan,sin ccmr@des, 10 exam
iue in detail, the Asia;ic slope Of tie y.
A. Continent, which resulted in giving 81
volume Of new silence 10 the would, anc
California to the Uuilct States. Nccan-
not trace his act,ecemr6's dining ,he wa,
with Mexico, nor will fu,H;c times irqnirc
low many, nor how great la''lfs he fought.
After the cong iestti CaN!onia, Fr,m rHt,