Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-03

over Just before dark Dick the Delaware, made his
appearance in camp and reported that he had
with some Of the mules; that after getting nI
into the water most of them turned back while three
mules and horse having reached the right bank
into the mud from which he had been unable to relieve
them. We Immediately went down to the waters edge
with ropes and with great dcu.got the horse out Of
his bed Of mud but found it impossible extrcate the
mules. ."
June 27.-Our first business this morning was TO get
the mules out their dangerous predcamen by cutting
bushes and spreading them around the mred animals,
thus rendering the ground sufficiently firm support their
weight. We had them on their feet on dry land
AT early hour signal made to from the other
side that the about starting We there
fore went down the river side receive the goods In
few minutes the canoe made its appearance, driving
rapidly down the stream Ii heavily loaded barely
four inches of its gHnwale being above the waters edge
Fpe Archilete strong and active fellow padding
whilst George Sims crouched in the bows Of the boat
They could not reach the point where they had Effected
previous landings and shut out from sight by
some trees AMI tangled bushes growing close the
Ina few seconds we heard the most alarming cries fox
hep and upon rushing to the spot from which these
proceeded found Archette and George just cmerg
Ang from the water nenry exhausted wi tn their strnggies
ing small limbs Of trsss ana grSsp
gave way whereupon Of the .s "a
attempted to jump from the boat the shore causing it
Immediately upset They were both thrown into the
stream, which here with strong current and with
difficulty reached the shore Immediately called to one
OF the men VINO was standing the horse to galop
down the rivers edge, and by swimming him into tho
middle Of the stream to endeavor reach the should
1t make its appearance. But it again,
nor did any of the articles with which it was
loaded We lost by this accident rifles nearly Az
our ammunition, pistols, saddlcs cornmea coffee sugar.
blankets SC.
With broken axes and dull hatchets it would have been
diincuit II not impossible to have constructed another
noe anu, bcsides the much dispirited by
this loss to undertake the labor with the spirit
10 carry 1t through Our party equally divided
an pnr ein of fha rantlarn
on the left bank anxious New Mex
leo to proceed to California by some other route bnt
Beale would not listen to such proposition He hailed
me from Iris side at eight o'clock, and told me that
as he could construct raft and get the few remain
ing things and the animals would push for the
Mormon settlements at the Vegas de Santa Clara. Ex-
pediton was necessary for had provisions for only
four FIVE days.
The Delaware swan back to Beae's side. He was
splendid swimmer, and went through the water like
otter He and Beale commenced the construction OF
another canoe, but had relinquish the task
hopeless.
We made an inventory Of provisions, and found
that we had twenty-five pounds of biscuit mostly in DUST
twenty-five pounds of dried beef and pounds Of bacon
Although this but slender provision for fourteen hum
cry men, we had fear Of starvation of suffer
ing long had the mules also discovered in an
OLD bag small supply Of powder and lead, and sone
chocolate and tobacco.
June 2s.--At early hour in the morning we saw
flying from tree the left bank the rreconcerted sig
nal to come dorm for ta;' and Immediately obeyed
it. To reach the river had wade for half mile
through deep marsh into which we sank to our knees
and the air was thick with mosquitoes.
Beale informed me that it had been decided to return
to Taos for supplies, and inquired whether could get
back to the left bank. Two Of the my side stated
that they could not SWIM whereupon decided that
we should make raft to the articles had
with us. Before this determined upon however,
Beae ordered Archilee swim to his side which
he did once taking his timber leg with him under his
arm, and in the afternoon made another Intellectual at
tempt TO get the animals to There bat
point where they able to drive them into the river
and here they crowded in each other until those
dcrneath we're near drowning Beae and of the men,
who were riding went into the river to lead the band
across. The mules fell on them from the bank which
was at this place about three feet high and tor mo-
ment they were in imminent danger Of being cr9sh he'd.
Only old horse struck boldly but none Of the
other animals followed his example They oil got
the same side and could not be again driven into the
water.
Beale desired to make arrangements to return
to him. and sent Archette and the Delaware with ropes
tied to log, to assist in building a raft They came
over at dusk and having landed underneath high bluff
some distance above our camp hauled them up by
means of ropes which we let down TO them The Della
ware brought some coffee tied in handkerchief his
head and 1t required good fire and something stimsat
ing to restore circulation their limbs benumbed by the
icy-coldness of the water Although we had no sugar
the coffee cheered the men, and passed good night
happy in any rest after such a day.
Jne29.-At an early hour in the morning commenc-
ed throwing into the river every thing that could pos
sbly dispense WITH such clothing &C. allowed each
to select sufficient clothes from the general stock to
make up suit and it singular how soon their
wants increased Some Of the Mexcans who heretofore
had been satisfied with shirt and pair pants now
arrayed themselves in many breeches drawers shirts
and stockings they could force themselves into.
cached d. G. hid from the French verb coeher, hide)
under thick bush Indian goods that had brought
with TO trade for horses
The three mules and two horses passed over to
the left shore without much difficulty by pushing them
into the water from bank, whence the eddy immediate
carried them into the middle of the stream They got
out safely the other side, and once commenced
constructing the raft.
II was completed at p. NJ and although IL was
twelve feet length by eight in BREADTH the weight ef
seven men, with the saddles, arms and provisions had
saved caused it to sink eighteen inches under water IL
drifted about mile down the The men whooped
and yelled until struck up the old song of Oh S-
sdHnsh when the rest sang the chorus In this style
we fell down the river, propeing ourselves with rough
paddles Beale and others Of the party stood hin
on the opposite side cheering and waving their hats
Having approached within yards of the left bank our
trons, Dick and Archette sprang into with
ropes IN their teeth and reaching the shore dragged
the raft to the bank upon which the remainder Of tho
crew landed.
Mr. Riggs anxious for the safety Of his servant
free man) that he offered Spaniard, Filpe Archie
ette, one hundred dollars bring him back the
river which was done and the reward paid.
TO coNrNUED.