The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-07-04

We take the subioined sketch of the life
OF CO.. Fremont from ssThe Men of tho
Time, book published by Red6eld. New
York, In 1852, when the great explorer OF
the " est had not been thought of ms n presi-
DENTAL candidate. la the same work. Mr..
Bachanan's life is disposed of in about a
quarter OF the space devoted to Col. Free
mont. Nothing is said Of the ssSage Of
Nheailand,' except that he was born on
such day, and on such other DAYS was
elected to certain Offices. Not the slightest
allnslon IS made to anything he ever did or
said Tor the benefit of the country. This i
IL significant fact, and indicates tho relative
value Of the two men. We do not know who
edited the American edition Of this book.
but it is not probable that he had any preiu-
dices which would make him deal unfairly
with either OF these gentlemen. Here is the
sketch
John Charles Fremont, the Pathfinder
OF the Rocky Mountains man who has
opene to America the gates Of her Pacific
empire, was born in South Carolina, Janu-
nry, sl4. His father was an emigrant gen.
tlemaa from France, his mother a lady Of
Virginia. lie received good education,
though left an orphan Mt four years OF age ;
and when at the age of seventeen he gradu-
ated 1T Charleston college, he still contribu-
led - the support Of his mother and her
children. From teaching mathematics he
turnc his attention to civil engineering, in
Which he made 50 great proficiency, that he
was recommended to the government for
employment in the Mississippi survey. He
was afterwards employed at Washington in
constructing maps Of that region. Having
received the commission Of q lieutenant OF
engineers, he proposed to the secretary of
war, 70 penetrate the Rock Mountains. His
pan vas approved, and in 1912, with a
vhand Il oil men, he reached and explored the
SoAtn Pass. liz not only fixed the locality
oil thtt great pass through which myriads
now press tier wayto California, but he de.
hhea ne astronomy, geography, botany, ge-
o.o~v ana meteorology Of the country. and
aescri ed the route since followed. and the
points from which tho flag Of the Union is
now Aying from chain Of wilderness for
1fesses. Ills report was printed bs the Sem
ate' translated into foreign languages, and
| fremont was looked to rs one Of the bene-
factors OF his country. Impatient Of other
ana broader fields, he planned new expedi-
llnn Ia tia distant territory of trppuu. ffE
approached the Rocky Mountains by a new
line, scaled the SUBMITS South of the South
Pass, detected to the Great Salt Lake. and
pushed examinations right and left along his
entire course. He connected his survey with
that Of Wilkes exploring expedition, and
his orders were fulfilled. But he had omen
ed one route to Columbia, and he wished to
lind another. There was a vast region South
OF this line invested with fabulous interest
to which he longed to apply the test Of exact
science. 1t was the beginning Of winter.
Without resources, adequate supplies, and so
much rs guide, and with only twenty five
companions, he turned his face and made to-
ward the Rocky Mountains. Then began
that wonderful expedition, filed with ro-
nance, daring and suffering, in which be was
lost to the woEld nine months, traversinp