Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-06-28

oe9uiiiul valley of the Sacramento with " hich
they were familiar from the descriptions Of Car
son, who had been there some fifteen years ago
and who, 10 our late privaiions, had delighted
Us 10 speaking Of is rich pastures and abound
ing game, and drew 4 vivid contrast between
is summer climate, less than hundred miles
distant, and the falling snow around Us. | in
formed them land long experience had given
them confidence in my observations and good
insirumenis) that almost directly west, and on
ly about seventy miles distant, was the great
farmng establishment Of Captain Suiier-a gen
ileman Who had formerly lived 10 Missouri, and
einigrating 20 this country. had become the pos
SCISSOR Of a princiPality. assured them uiai,
from the heights Of the mountains before IS, We
should doubtless see the valley Of the Sacra-
menio river. and with one effort place ourselves
again in the midst Of plenty. The people re-
ceived this decision with the cheerful obedience
which had always characterized Them and the
day was Immediately devoted 10 the prepara.
iinns necessary 10 enable Us to carry il into ef-
feet. Leggins. nocczsins, cloihing-all were
put into the best stale TO resist the cold. Our
guide was not neglected. Extremity Of suffer
ing might make him desert; We therefore did
the best we enuld for him. Leggins, moccasins,
some articles Of clothing, and q large green
blankets, 10 addition 10 the blue and scarlet cloth
were lavished upon him. and 10 his great and
evident conieniment. lie arrayed himself in
all his cnlors and. clad in green, blue and
se5riei, he made gay looking Indian and,
with his various presents, was probably richer
and better clothed than any Of his tribe had ev-
or been before.
Il have already said tia, our provisions were
very low; we had neither talow nor grease Of
any kind remaining and the want Of salt be-
came one ofoar greatest pTiYniions. The poor
dog which had beea fou ld in the Bear River
Valley. and which had been oonpagnoE De
rgysge ever since, had now becorns fat. and the
mess to which it belonged requested permission
to kill il. Leave was granted. Spread Out on
the snow, the meat looked very good and il,
made strengthening meal for the greater part
Of the camp. Indians brought in two three
rabbits during the day which were purchased
from them.
February l.-Iweni ahead early with two
or three men. each with led horse, to break
the road. We were obliged TO abandon the
hollow entirely, and work along the moantsin
side. which was very steep. and the snow COW
cred with an icy crust. We cut footing as
we advanced. and trampled road through for
the animals; bat occasionally one plunged out
side the trail, and sided along the field to the
bottom. hundred yards below.
Towards pass which the guide indicated
here, we attempted in the afternoon 10 force
road bot after a laborious planging through
two or three hundred yards, our best horses
gave out, entirely refosiug TO make further ef-
fort and, for the time, we were brought 10
stand. The guide informed Us that we were
entering the deep snow and here began the DIFF
hculiies Of the mountain; aud 10 him, and al
most to all, our enterprise seemed hopeless.-
] returned a short distance back, 10 the break
in the hollow, where I met Mr. Fiizpairick
"The camp had been all the day occupied
in endeavoring to ascend the hill, bat only the
best horses had succeeded the animals, gener-
ally no; having sufferer; strength 10 bring ihem-
selves up without the packs and all the line
Of road between This and the springs was s,rew-
ed with camp stores and equiPage, and horses
Honndering in snow.
Tonight we had no shelter. but We made
large ERE around the trunk OF one Of The huge
pines; and covering the snow with small boughs,
on which We spread our blankets, soon made
ourselves comfortable. The night was very
bright and clear, though the Thermometer was
only at 10 deg. A strong wind, which sprang
up At sun-down, made il Intensely cold, and
this was one Of the bineres, nights during the
journey
"Two Indians joihed our parry here and
+ one or them old ru.n o,
haransUs US. saying that ourselves and animals
would perish in the snow and that if we wo'd
go hack, he would show US another and bet
ter way across the mountain. lie spoke in
very loud voice, and there was singular re-
petition Of phrases and arrangement of words,
which rendered his speech striking, and not un-
musical
1--WE had now begun to understand some
words, and, with the aid Of signs, easily com
pretended the old mans simple idea. Rock
upon rOck-roek upon rock--snow upon snow
SNOW upon snow, said he 'esen if you get
over the snow, you will not be able 10 get down
from the mountains He made US the sign of
precipiees, and showed Us how tho feet Of the
horses would slip, and throw them of from the
narrow trails which led along their sides. Our
chinook, who comprehended even more read
lily than ourselves, and believed our situation
hopeless, covered his head with his blanket.
and began to weep and lament. 4 wanted TO
see the whites, said he; 4 came away from
my own people 10 see the whites, and wouldn't
care 10 die among them hut heIe''-and he
looked around into the cold night aud gloomy
forest, aud, drawing his blanket over his head,
began again 10 lament.
''Seaied around the Tree, the ERE illuminai-
ing the rocks and the tall bolls Of the pines
round about, and the old Indian haranguing, We
presented group Of very serious faces
February 5.-rhe night bad been too cold
TO sleep, and we were up very early. Our
guide was standing by the FIRE with all his hne-
ry On; and seeing him shiver in the cold
threw on his shoulders one Of my blankets
We missed him few minutes afterwards, aud
never saw him again. lie bad deserted. His
k.l r - L.,