The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-07-14

We fnd in the Chatfeld Democrat, an in.
teresting letter addressed by JONI W. Josxs,
ESQ, formerly Of Chatfeid, to Col. j. II.
N KrssY, Z. s. land Officer at that place
Mr.. JONES, left this city last July, with the
Faribault party, en- route for Frazer river,
via Pembina and the Saskatchewan
CoLyILLE VALLEY. Washington Teri
March 10th, 1859.
Col. j. H. IfeK.nny, Reeeirsr Of Public Moneys.
Chatfstd, MINI.
DEAR Cart. Don't be surprised at the
post mark, mo doubt you will but when
you open it you will readily discover that it
is "fsGys" handwriting. We have Ia
part Of the company arrived here among
white people at last, and TO say that we've
had cursed hard time of it, would not con-
vey half the meaning. We have been here
about two weeks. When we arrived we
had no provisions, feet s0re--our feet bleed.
Ing from the effects Of walking 90 snow.
shoes over snow three and four feet deep.
and in fact In many places even eight and
ten feet deep.
We have been fooled with our guides be-
yond precedence. The first guide we pro
cured "a bali breed from Fort Edmonton,
remained with US till We arrived in sight
Of the mountains and then left "a, after put.
ting US on wrong trail. Having discov-
cred this, or at least we thought 20, we
struck of in the direction Of Sinclair's gap,
which he showed Us. We now wandered Oh
through brush thickets, swamps, windalls
and plains for over q week, till we arrived
within day and halls march from the
foot OF the mountains, when we again struck
the trail. The same day that we struck the
trail, We came across some Assiniboins !;
sent one of our company to the camps TO
procure guide, and had the good fortune
10 get one TO take us across the mountains
paying him good blanket and some am
munitl0u.
We entered the Sinclair Pass Nov. 2,
came out on the plains about the 10th, when
he informed US that We were then over, and
some OF US thought we were. On the same
day that we came out we saw buffalo, and
having heard that there were no buffalo on
the west side, | was then pretty well con-
vinced that we were still on the east side
The guide now left us according to agree
ment, but returned the next day and came
into camp. We were off the TRAIL and he
still kept with us. We now skirted the
mountain Tor about two weeks, at the end Of
that time he showed us valley in the noun.
tains which we had to 60 through and two
peaks to cross. Entered them again on the
Dist, and on the 22d camped on the summit
Of the first peak. night bitter cold, no feed
for the horses, and IA for sleeping it was ont
of the question. We found the snow on the
summit from , to Is ieet deep, had to shovel
aud beat track for the horses. Next day
We descended into the valley and found feed
for the horses Two or three days after this
the guide got sulky and returned, leaving
us alone in the midst Of the mountains with
short allowance ofprovisons and no knowl
edge a. to where we were. The day after
| be left us we lost the trail in ascending an
other peak, the snow being very deep. On
the summit of this mountain We had view
OF the surrounding country, and saw moth
ing us far as the eye could reach, but high
snow capped mountains, we here expected
that we would be able to see somewhat
level country. Some OF our party were for
turning back and wintering on the other
side. but the majority was Tor going ahead.
We had now TO look for q place to de-
scend which we found IN about half mile.
We commenced descending and soon man
and horse had 10 slide down on their poste-
riors, as it was impossible to keep our feet ;
about hall way down night overlook US, we
here found q lodge about 10 by feet,
where We had to camp, and horses having
10 SHIFT for themselves The remainder OF
the descent was equally as bad, and from
the foot we had 10 cut our way through an
immense thicket. About noon We struck q
well beaten trail when we act up shout OF
joy assure you, such a shout a. these
mountains never echoed before.
Dec. I'd, We arrived at the kcotonuais
Pass. The Indian guide had taken us by
an Indian trail through portion of the
Sinclair Pass, and hal brought, us out on
the east side again. What induced him to
come back again TO us after leaving the first
time. will always remain mystery.
Having procured some provisions from
the kootonnais we started for Fort Col
vile, We Travelled about eleven days and
came to the second crossing OF the kooton-
uais river, where We found the snow about
l. inches deep, and three days travel from
the crossing we found the snow 50 deep Is
to compel Eve Of Us 10 return with the
horses TO the las, crossing Here We built
shan,y and turned the horses loose. AT
the crossing W. found an lpdian camp, from,
them we procured lew dried ninnows an'!
moss. on which We had TO subsis, for about
three weeks. then we procured some large
fine fresh FISH, which had just commenced
running up the river, The sudden change
from dried 10 fresh gave US tendency TO
avoid excitement at q rapid rate which was
anything bat agreeable. We managed To
live pretty well till they qu', running, which
was about three weeks one morning when
We were comparing up What to do to procure
grub. al Indian came in with the inteli-
gence tina, my horse WAS dead, having dici
VI the cholic. We eonclud,d to skin him
and give the Indians hal ior drying the