Demoine courier., 1856-07-03
ssJOHN CHARLES FREMONT,

PORN IN SOUTH CAROLINA, JAN. 1918.
s.The feet of three mon have pressed
the slopes Of the Rocky Mountains.
whose names are associated forever with
those vac, ranges : Tumboldt, The Mes.
TOR OF scientific travellers; Audubon, the
interpreter Of Nature, and Fremont, the
Pathfinder Of Empire. Each has done
much to illustrate the Natural History
OF North America, and 10 dc velope ils
iIlimi.abla resources. The youngest OF
all is likely TO become as i~ilustrlous 90
either, for fortune has linked bis name
with a scene in the history Of the Re-
public. ~ startling 10 the world 40 the
irss announcement, OF lie existence
TO his hands was commined the mag.
nihceu, task OF opening The golden gates
Of our Pacific Empire. His father was
an emigrant gentleman from France. and
his mother a lady Of Virginia. Although
bis death lief, his son an orphan in his
fourth year. he was thoroughly educat.
ed; and when at the age Of seventeen,
lie graduated at Charleston College. he
contributed TO the support Of his mother
and her younger children. from teach
ing mathematics he turned his attention
to civil engineering, in which he Gis-
played so much talent that he was re-
commended by Mr.. Ponset, Secretary
Of War. I Nicolle, as his assistant, in
the survey of the basin Of The upper
Mississippi. Two .ears he was with
tina, learned man in his field labors, and
he won hiA applause aid friendship.-
On his return L Washington he contin-
ued his services to the Geographer for
two years longer, in drawing up from
his Textbook, The great map which IN.
folded to science the vast tract they had
explored. Thirs,ing for adventure, he
now planned the firsl of those distant and
perilous Expeditions which have given
Iusne TO his name. Having received .
Lieuienant's commission in the corps Of
Typographical Engineers, he proposed
TO the Secretary Of War TO penetrate the
Rocky Mountains. His plan was APP
proved, and in 1912, with a handful Of
men gathered on the Missouri frontier,
he reached aud explored the South Pass.
He achieved more than his instructions
required. He not only fixed the local..
~ and character Of that great pass.
through which myriais are now press
ing 10 California-he defined the astron.
omy. geography. botany, geology and
m%eleorology of the country, and desig-
mated the route since FOLLOWED. and The
points from which the Flag Of the IN
ion m now flying from q chain Of will
derness fortressss. His report was
printed by the Senate, translated into
foreign languages. and tho scientific
world looked on Fremon. ~ one Of its
beneiac,ors. Impatient, however, for
broader and more hazardous fields, he
planned ; new expedition TO the die.
sant Territory Of Oregon. HIS fret had
carried him TO the summit Of the Rocky
Mountains. Wilkes has surveyed the
tide water regions Of the Columbia nv
er; SstweeL the " explorers lay q tract
Of q thousand miles. which was a blank
in geography. In May, l643. he left
The frontier Of Missouri, aud in Noyem-
Der he stood on For. Vancouver. with
the calm waters Of the Pacific at bis
ieet. lie had approached the noun
ta.Ds by q new line, scaled their sum
mi.s South Of The South Pass, DETECTED
to The Great Sal, Lake, and pushed ex.
amlnalions right and LEI, along his entire
course. He joined his survey 10 Mr..
Wilkes exploring expedition. and his
orders were fulfilled. Bus he had OPEN
ed one route 10 the Columbia, and wish.
ed to find another. There was Q vest
region south Of his line. invested with .
fabulous interest," and be longed TO apply
10 il the test Of exact science. IL wss
the beginning Of winter. Without re-
lourees, adequate supplies. or syeu .
guide, snd with only twenty-five com.