Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-07-10
rFrOm the New orleans crescent.l

Early Explorers OF Central North America.
While Lewis and Clarke proceeded up the Missouri,
and thence to the Pacific. Mr.. Jefferson entrusted
General Wilkinson the selection oil the officer TO explore
the sources OF the Mississippi Gen. Wilkinson al
that time the Captain General of the territory
known Louisiana. He selected Lieut. Zebulon Pike.
He had under his command Sergeant, Corporal and
seventeen privates, composing the party. He had
subatern officer, and surgeon II paltTy
ht for such important expedition He left ST. Louis,
August 9, 1905, keel boat seventy feet long, and
with four months provisions. Trappers and hunters
doubtless had ascended the river previousy but there
were no accounts published, any chart Of this
known river. He reached the source, he supposed,
on February /, 1906 Thus be performing has
in the depths of winter in latitude oryseven degrees
north. The exposures and hardships suffered by the
party, have been equaed only by the party under Col
Fremont Since that period, perfect exploration
has led to the discovery OF other The head
waters of the river consist of labyrinth Of lakes Ia
these remote regions, he several Indan traders,
belonging the British Companies, from whom be re-
ceived the utmost hospitality. After short stay, be
commenced his journey home and arrived St. Louis
on the Both April, 1906.
So well pleased was General Wilkinson with his
labors, that he Immediately ordered hum another
duous tour. The second expedition embraced the
ploraon of the source of the Great Osage the Arksn
and the Red Rivers He left st. Louis, on July IS
Ihs region at that time little known the inle
ror Of Africa. The only travellers had been French
ders, who carefully kept their information themselves
He traced these different rivers their sources, and
published charts of them and of the Mississippi which
were made from direct observation. He inadvertently
crossed the boundary, and found himself in the Spanish
Territory This originated from his crossing the
Of Red River and taking the Rio Grande for that river
He was Immediately waited by superior body Of
Spanish soldiers and escorted under honorable surve
lance down the Valley of the Rio Granoe Chhuahua
thence by San Antonio TO Natchitoches which place he
reached on July l, 1907 His party consisted Of two
LIeutenants Surgeon two corporals and sixteen pr
Yates. comparison his with the observations
of gentlemen, lately from the Valley Of the Rio Grande
proves that but little change has occurred in the cond
ton Of the country since that time. Pike and his party
encountered difficulties in this expedition for of
food and hardship quite equal those which attended
his first adventure. The publication Of his Journal
at most epportune time Just when the excitement Of
the Burr expedition and trial was at its height.
He promoted to a captaincy in 1909, ard shortly
after made Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Regi-
ment which acquired much glory in the battle of
Tippecanoe, though he had Joined it the time.
AT the approach of the he became Colonel and in
1916, appointed Br:gadier General. He killed
at the taking of Yorktown by the explosion Of maya
zine.
He a man of superior education to either Lewis
or Clarke. In youth his indomtabe perseverance and
capacity Of endurance recalls the character Of Fremont
whose more extensive explorations made with
pie means. His early death doubtless retarded the i'm
mediate continuance Of expeditions to the western
of the continent.