Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09


GUS but interesting labors OF the field, collect
ing Information, making surveys, observations,
&c., and during the last hair in digesting and
arranging the matter collected, and in prepar.
ing an accurate and valuable map Of the ceun-
try. H. had now added practice to theory,
and experience TO enthusiasm and love of ad-
venture. lie had prepared himself for those
great and wonderful expeditions aud scientific
researches by which he has since acquired i'm
perishable renown.
The first of these expeditions he made in
ls4s, under the authority of the United States,
At the head Of 4 small party of frontiersmen,
he entered the wilds west of MISSOURI and
Iowa, and pursued his course to the Rocky
Mountains. The main object Of his expcdi-
ton was to discover aud explore a more prac-
ticable route over them than was then known.
In this he was completely successful and the
comparative ease with which thousands of
pilgrims 10 the golden shrine of California
have passed in safety through the mountain
barrier, ,testiies to the correctness Of his judg-
ment In pointing out the South Pass as the
proper place, and to the care and skill with
which he explored and laid down the route
Upon his return, he prepared report replete
with the most valuable information, not only
respecting the geography of the country thro'
which he had passed, but also in relation to its
climate, TO its geological characteristics, to
the principle points of its military susceptible
tiles, locations for forts, &C., to its mineral
wealth, 10 its rich grasses and its beautiful
nowers--contribution in short new and valua-
bic to almost every department Of science
This report was printed by the Senate of the
United States, and has since been translated
into various foreign languages, attracting at
tention and admiration from the learned in ey-
cry quarter of the globe.
With men of Fremont's energy and enthu-
siasm, success acts merely as stimulant to
further exertion. AS soon therefore one
expedition is concluded, we find him planning
another more extensive and more hazardous.
In the spring Of l843, he started upon his
grand expedition, which has gained for him
self the gratitude of the yotaries of science
everywhere, and for his country the great
gold bearing region of the west. His orders
directed him to cooperate with the naval ex-
ploring expedition under Wilkes, in making
scientific examination of the basin of the Co.
lumbia River, the upper districts being allot-
ted 10 him. and the tide-water regions to
Wilkes. Ia May he left the frontiers of Mis-
souri,, and sealing the monnte- rs south of the
South Pass, followed the wirdings of Bear
River, until, in September, he arrived at the
Great Salt Lake. Despite the warnings OF the
! indians, Iho iznsgined, that as the lake had no
outlet for its waters. a great whirlpool must
exist in the centre, he aud his companions
| trusted themselves upon its waters in a frail
boat of India-rubber cloth, and spent night
Epea one of its islands, where, doubtless, foot
! al man had never troa before. Upon the
shores of this inland sea, the poor deluded
Mormons, driven by violence from their hard
earned possessions in Illinois, established their
city of refuge, about four years after the visit
of the gallant Fremont. After occupying a.
bout q week in making ssich partial explora-
tion of this strange and interesting region as
the lateness of the season would permit, our
explorers pursued their course through Ore
! gon, making the observations directed by the
government orders, and inNovember arrived at
Fort Vancouver, the goal of their journey
The active mind of Fremont could not endure
the thought of returning upon the same track.
He determined te seek new scenes and
discoveries through the vest region to the
south of him, of which fable had told such
wonders, but where civilized man had never
penetrated, and of which the only sources of
knowledge heretofore had been the wild and
romantic but ofte n contradictory stories OF the
Utah and his kindred races, and of the halt
blood hunters who frequented Fort Hail.
Our adventurers, twenty five in number, ac-
| cordingly plunged without hesitation into the
wilderness. They feared not. The men had
confidence in Fremont, and he, under God,
had confidence in himself Nothing, perhaps,
shows more clearly the varied powers of his
mind, and his fertility in resources, than the
! success of this expedition, undertaken at the
approach, and executed in the depth of win
ter OF the sway which he exercised over the
minds of his men, we need no better evidence
than the fact that they bore all ihe trials, the
sufferings, and the hazards of this winter jour-
ney, almost without murmur- For nine
months the little band and its noble leader
were unheard of by their friends. Many q
hear. ached with doubt, and many lip paied
witt. apprehension for the fate of husband, a
brother, or son, thus daring unknown perils.
At length the news of their safety, and of
their glorious achievements, sent thrill of
| JOY through the hearts, not only OF their i'm
mediate relatives, but also of the whole ma
| ton. Three thousand FIVE hundred miles had
the weary wayfarers travelled. They had eros
sed the mighty, snowy Sierra, they had ex-
plored the wonderful valley through which roll