Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-11
From the Quincy Illinois Guard.
The Path Finder.

Many Of the Fremont papers bosstingly call their
leader the Path Finder. We should can him ths
great Path-loser. When Fremont first attempted 10
cross me mountains his way TO California he se
cured the services of old experienced and reliable
mounaineer guide who familiar with every trail
and by-path Of the mountain glens TO pilot him
through After Journeying until he arrived with his
party IN the eternal SHOWS OF winter he then refused
70 be piloted further by his experienced gride and
beng sewilled, obstinate and head strong be struck
on through the snow mountains his own deter
mined course regardless of the entreates Of his men,
and warning admonitions of his old mountain guide,
that TO go beyond certain ridge would result In al
most inevitable death And what was the resnltf
Why al large number Of his faithful party psrished
with hunger and cold, there in those mountains Of
eternal snow, while John Charles Fremont made good
his escape.
Wilhelm Cafornia, we became intiunstely acquaint.
ed with several OF those brave men, who survived
those perllous hardships in the mountain paAs and
from their own lips we have heard their tale of suffer
ingr and heard them heap loud and deep curses upon
the head of Col Fremont They blamed him for il
all, and said that If he had followed the guide there
was no doubt but what they would have got safe
through without the loss of single man and with
but little suffering
We also, while in California, stood by the death
bedside of young man from Baltimore by the name
of Dn Caelle, who was diving from the effects Of tho
hardships he endured while In Fremonts party
ing the mountains. Du Catelle was of Frrnch de-
scent was Catholic. His mother, who was
widow, resided in Baltimore, and was of a very
wealthy family, 80 the young man informed us. but
his father had filled and died after and left bis
mother In reduced circumstances Col Fremont be-
ing intimately acquainted in the family, and be ng
about TO start on the Journey the Plains pro-
posed TO young Catelles mother to take him along
with him, promising at the same time 10 do good
part by him.
Of course the fond mother was reluctant give up
her beloved boy; but he being youth, had bis
head filled with romance and love of adventure final
ly prevailed over his mother to give her consent and
let him go She being good Catholic her elf and
btheving Mr.. Fremont TO be one had every conf
dence in him. and believed that he would faithfully
keep all promises made by him in regard TO her be-
loved son. But did he keep them? Mol We had
from D4 Cdtehes os0n dying Tips that he treated
him than dog toouLd hare been treated. And
Du Catelles statements confirmed to Us by Cap
tain Vincenth Ter, Cooley Martin and others, who
were in Fremonts party. The only thing in the way
OF an act of kindness Fremont done for this young
man, was that when be left him in the mountains to
perish, as he supposed, he presented him with Ca
uoIic Prayer B0okI And from that very prayer
book, aCith John O. Frtn1onfs ranae IN IL, sat by
The bedside Of hat dying young man, and pray
ostt If 1t to him Now these things are true and
we prepared to go before any magistrate and
make solemn oath to the facts.
1t has been denied that Mr.. Fremont ever was
Catholic. If he was not why would he be packing q
Catholic prayerbook away across the plains and over
the mountains of snowa Do Protestants generally
carry along with them upon such journeys as this
Catholic prayerbooksp We think mott And do
Protestants generally the emblem of the
upon the rocks as they go along? We think notI
Ia California Mr.. Fremont is looked upon as being
Catholic 1t was never doubted there by any one.