Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1854-04-26
news From Col. rremont's Parry.

The rumors that Col. Fremont had been SUBJ
jecied TO great privation and suffering and had
lost seven men by starvation and lived for two
months Oh the flesh OF horses without bread
or salt, may be all true. but the accompanies z
letter taken from the National In:eligencer
would not seem to corroborate such painful
conjectures. 1t is addressed to Col Benton,
snl dated February 9th. q, Parawar, Iron
county, Utah.
Ny DEAR Slk
have had the good fortune
10 meet here our friend, Mr.. BApBITr, the Sec.
retary Of the Territory. who is on his way to
Washington. in charge Of the mail and o'her
very interesting dispatches, the importance Of
which 10 urging him forward with extreme ra.
pidity. He passes directly on this morning,
and have barely few moments 10 give you
intelligence OF our safe arrival and Of our gen.
eral good health and reasonable success in the
object of our expedition.
This winter has happened to be one Of ex.
treme and anusual cold. Here.the citizens in.
form me. it has been, altogether. the severest
since the settlement of this valley. Conse.
quently, so far as the SHOWS are-concerned, the
main condition Of our exploration has been ful
filled. We entered the mountain regions on
the Hucrfano river on the Sd Of December, and
issued from it here on the 7th Of thi. month,
arriving here yesterday afternoon. We went
through the Gaechatope Pass o,, .he.l4th De
cemoer, with four inches--not feet, take notice,
but Inches-of snow on tho level among the
pines, and in the shade on the summit OF the
Pass This decides what you consider the
great question. and fulfils the leading condi.
tion 0! my explorati ons and therefore go no
further into detail in this letter
congratulate you on the verifcation Of your
judgement. and the good prospect. it holds out
of hDal success in carrying the road by This
central line. Nature has been bountiful to this
region in accumulatiEg here, within few miles
of where am writing, vast deposits OF iron
aud Coal. and timber all OF the most excellent
quality; and great and powerful interior State
will spring up Immediately in the steps of the
congressional action which should decide to
carry the road through This region. In making
my expedition TO this point save nearly y
parallel OF latitude. shortening the usual dis
tance from Green river to this point by over
hundred miles. In crossing to the Sierra Ne
vada. shall 90 direct by an unexplored route,
aiming to strike directly the Teion Passes at
the head Of the San Joaquin Valley, through
which, in ieoO,l drove from two to three thou.
dian commissioners. shall make what speed
possibly can. going light. aud abandoning
the more elaborated survey ofmy previous line
to gain speed.
Until within about hundred miles Of this
place we had daguerreotyped the country over
which We passed. but were forced to abandon
all our heavy baggage to save the men; and l
shall not stop to send back for il. The Della.
wares all came IN sound, but the whites VI my
party were all exhausted and broken up, and
more or less frost bitten. ] lost one, Mr. Full.
Ter, Of St. Louis. Missouri. who died on enter.
ing this valley. He died like n an, on horse.
back, in his saddle, and viii be buried Lire
soldier, on the spot where he fell
hope soon to SEQ you III Washington. Mr..
Babbitt expects to see you before the end of
March. Among other documents which he
carries with him are the Maps snd Reports Of
Captain Gunnison's Party.
Sincerely and affectionately,
JOHN g. FREMONT.