Washington sentinel., 1853-10-18
Masbington sentinfl.
from the San Francisco Herald Of September g.
Particulars of Lieut.. BeaIe's Trip.


We rejoice to announce the safe arrival of
Lieutenant BEALE and his party, after most
eventful and adventurous trip across the conti-
nent They reached Los Angeles on the 22d
of August, in fine health and spirits, without
having met with any irreparable loss. They
made the trip across, from Westport, in Missouri,
to Los Angeles, in the remarkably short time
of forty-nine travelling days, a large portion of
the way through country never before ex-
plored, and without a guide. The account of
the superintendent adventures will be found
highly interesting. His conduct of so perilous
an expedition furnishes another proof of his
daring spirit his great powers of endurance, and
his admirable tact in managing the wild Indians.
The governmentprobablyc could not have picked
out of the whole Union a man more thoroughly
fitted for the post of Superintendent of Indian
Affairs than Mr., BEALE.
We are indebted to the kindness of a friend
for the following interesting account OF Lieut.
BEALEs adventurous trip:
Los ANGELES, august 81, 1853
EDWARD F. BEALE, Esq, Superintendent of
Indian Affairs in California, reached this city
on the 22d instant via the Cajou Pass. His
arrival has been anxiously expected, and not
only on account of this, but because his route
has been through section of country hitherto
very little known, have taken some pains to
obtain information concerning his trip.
| Mr.. Beale left Westport, on the frontier of
Missouri May l7th with party Of fifteen men,
| Gncluding Messrs. Riggs and Rodgers, of Wash
ington, d. c., gentlemen who were travelling
| for health and recreation.) Having crossed the
Arkansas, the expedition followed up the HUI
| erfano to its source, and crossed the Rocky
Mountains by the Sangre de Cristo Pass, enter
ing the valley of the Del Norte, and reaching
Fort Massachusetts, in twenty days from West
port, travelling without guide, and most OF the
distance by compass. The actual travelling time
between Westport and Fort Massachusetts was
seventeen DAYS; but delay of three days oc-
Cured at Fort Atkinson, on the Arkansas in
consequence ofthe sickness of Mr.. Leroux, who
was expected to accompany the expedition in
the capacity of guide. Mr.. Leroux was too i'll
to proceed, and was left at Fort Atkinson in
charge of the physician attached to that post.
At Fort Massachusetts, further delay of ten
DAYS was occasioned by the endeavors to obtain
guide. At the end of that period one was
obtained but, as his knowledge of the country
extended only to ten days travel from the fort,
his services did not promise to be OF any great
avail. Crossing the mountains at the Coucha-
tope Pass, Mr.. Beale proceeded towards Grand
| river, fording several large streams, none OF
which are mapped. One of these streams, the
/ Rio de la Laguna, was perfect mountain tor
rent, and for some time batf1ed the superintend-
ent in his efforts to cross the equipage. At
last he bethought himself of the mode adopted
by the Peruvians III crossing similar streams,
and put it in operation. Attaching a string to
stone-the string being fastened to one still
larger, and that to a substantial rope-the
stone was thrown across the rapid, and the end
of the rope drawn over and made fast to the
butt of tree. Mr.. Beale then fastened the
other end of the rope to a tree on the opposite
side, this end having an elevation OF twenty-five
!, or thirty feet. An iron ring was placed upon
the rope, and to this ring was attached the varl
Gus articles which were to be transported across
} the river The ring would slide along the rope
to the opposite side and when relieved of its
burden would be drawn back; and so on, back
and forth, until everything was passed over.
The expedition then proceeded to the Uncom-
pagre, a tributary of Grand river, in crossing
which one of the pack mules was drowned.
| This was the first animal lost. The country
abounded in game, and they were never day
without deer, elk, or antelope.
Mr.. Beale and his party pushed on as far as
/ Grand river, which was found to be swollen by
the melted SHOWS from the mountains, and run
ming with such rapidity that it could not be
RATED. There was no resource left but to con.
i struct a canoe. Cutting down the largest cot
tonwood tree that could be found, the men set
to work, and in three days the canoe was com
pleted. In this the baggage was safely passed
over the river with the exception of one load
The firearms and provisions were reserved for
the last trip of the canoe; and, unfortunately
when near its destination, in consequence OF one
of the men becoming frightened and attempt
ing to jump out the canoe was capsized, and
its contents irretrievably lost. Here was pre-
dicament. They were in the heart of the Indian
81, Ii IF
river and half on the other; and all the fire.
arms and provisions, excepting a small quantity
of pamela, were at the bottom of the river. AT.
ter celebrating some time, it was determined
to send Mr.. Heap and others of the party to
Taos (the nearest settlement) for provisions and
arms, Mr. Beale remaining near the river with
the men. Messrs. Riggs and Rodgers accom-
panied Mr. Heap to New Mexico, and most
probably returned to the United States. The
SUPERINTENDENT soon found it necessary to re-
move from the river a short distance to the
mountains where the game was more abund-
ant, and on the third day after Mr.. Heaps de-
parture about twenty Utahs came into camp.
They were somewhat impudent at hrst but
Mr.. Beale put on bold face, ana, know
ing that he was wholly in their power, upon
their invitation accompanied them to their
LODGES. These Indians were all well armed and
well mounted, and the valley iu which they
lived was found to be full of horses, undoubt-
edly stolen from California and New Mexico.
Having gained the friendship of these Indians,
Mr.. Beale lived with them upon the most
amicablc terms hunting with them and sharing
whatever game was obtained, until the return
of Mr. Heap from Taos.
| In seventeen days after the accident at the
river Mr. Heap returned, and the march of the
expedition was resumed. Grand river was
crossed, and here the Indians for the first time
exhibited any evidences of hostility. A large
band of Utahs, returning from buffalo hunt
had encamped near the river, and their lodges
dotted the valley for great distance. When the
superintendent came up the Indians drew their
bows and demanded powder, balls, and tobacco.
There were at least three hundred warriors,
armed with rifles and bows and arrows. Mr..
1 Beale told them that he had nothing to give
| thn,, nnd that nlthnnnh the Indians wore strong