The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-11
Fremont's Life.

,ham's Life Of Fremont, 20 be Issued thi
week by Tic!snor & Fields, is the charming
picture of domestic life every where nbun
dantin this biography. Here is part of Q
letter to Mrs. Fremont (thc whole is given
in the book) from her brave husband, writ
ton after one oehis most perilous advcn'
tures.-Bosion Transcript. 3 o. a,l.
Taos, Nav Mexico, january q, 1919.
My Yay Dear IVJei rroGi n4'. ..l
Iwrite TO you from the house Of our good
friend Carson. = -s
l have now the unpleasant task of telling
you how came here. 1 had much rather
write you somc rambling letters in unison
with the rcposs in which | feel inclined to
indulge, and talk to you about the future
with which am already busily occupied ;
about my arrangements for getting speedily
down into the more pleasant climate OF the
lower Del Nortc and rapidly through into
California; and my plans when get there.
| have m almost invincible rcpugnanco to
going back among scenes whore have en-
dured much suffering, and for all the Incl
dents and circumstances Of which | fell u
strong aversion. But Us clear information
is absolutely necessary to you, and to your
father moro particularly still, | will give
YOU the story now instead Of waiting to tell
it to you in California. But writc in the
great hope that you will not receive this
letter. When it reaches Washington you
may be on your way to California.
Former letters have made you acquainted
with our journey so far as Bcnt's Fort, and
from report you will haychcard the circum-
stances Of our departure from the Upper
Pueblo of the Arkansas. We left that place
about the 25th of November, with upwards
OF hundred good nhIes and ono hundred
and thirty bushels Of shclled corn, intended
to support our animals across the snow OF
the high mountains, and down to the lower
parts of the Grand River tributaries, where
usually the snow forms no obstacle to win
ter travelling. At the Pueblo, l had en-
gagged as guide an old tnppcr well known
as Bill Williams, and who had spent some
twenty-five years of his life in trapping va
rious parts Of the Rocky Mountains. The
error of our journey was committed in en-
gaging this man. He proved never to have
in the least known, or entirely to have for
gotten, the whole region Of country through
which we were to pass. We occupied more
than half month in making the journey
Of few days, blundering tortuous way
through deep snow which already began to
choke up the passes, for which we were
Obliged to waste time in searching. About
the llth December we found ourselves Mt
the north OF Del Norto Canon, where that
river issues from St. Johns Mountain, one
Of the highest, most rugged and impracti-
cable of all the Rocky Mountain ranges, in
accessible to traprers and hunters even in
the summer time. Across the point Of this
elevated range our guide conducted us, and
having still great confidence in his knowl-
edge, we pressed Onwards with fatal reSolu-
ton. Even along tho river bottoms the
snow was already belly deep for the mules,
frequently showing in the valley and almost
constantly in the mountains. The cold was
extraordinary; at the warmest hours of the
day (botween one and two) the thermometer
(FahrenhciD standing in the shade Of only
a tree trunk at zero (; the day sunshiny, with
a moderate breeze. We pressed up towards
the summit, the snow deepening; and in
four or five days reached the naked ridges
which lie above the timbcrcd country, and
which form tho dividing grounds between
the waters Of the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans. Along these nakc,l ridges itstorms
nearly all winter, and the windsSwecp across
them with remorsOless fury. On our first
attempt to cross we encountered pOudtric,
(dry snow driven thick through the air by
violent wind, and in which obiectsarc visible
only at q short distancc,) and were driven
back, having some 10 or IL men variorsly
frozen, face, hands, or feet. Tho guide cama
nigh being frozen to death here, and dead
mules were already lying about the iircs.-
Meantime, it showed steadily. The next
day we made mauls, and beating road or
trench through the snow crossed the crest
in defiance of the pouderie, and cncampcd
Immediately below in the edge of the tim
bcr. The triil showed as if defeated par
ty had passed by; pack-saddlcs and packs,
strcwcd articles of clothing, and dead mules
scattered along. A continuance OF story
weather panlyzcd all movement. We were
cncampcd somewhere about 10000 feet
above tire sea. Westward, the country was
buried in deep snow. IL was impossible to
aud to tuin back was equally i'm
practicable. We were oyertakon by sudden
and inevitable ruin. 1t 50 happened that
the only places where any grass could be
had were the extreme summit of the ridges
where the sweeping winds kept the rocky
ground, bare and the snow could not lie
Below these animals could not got about,
the snow being deep enough to bury them.
Here, therefore, in the full violence of the
storms wc were obliged to keep our animals.
They could not be moved either way. It
was instantly apparent that We should loss
every animal. -..f ~ 4
determined to rccross the mountain moro
towards the open country, and haul, or pack
the baggage, (by mcn) down to the Del
Norte. With great labor the baggage was
transported across the crest to the head
springs OF a little stroam leading to the main
river. \ few days wercsuiicicnt to destroy
,ur fas 4hand of nul.s Thsv ,,spuyalI,,