The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-02
A BAD SIGN,

Two married women, Mrs. John Spence,
and Mrs. Gadsden both died at the settle
ment ?" within short time of each other,
of intoxication and exposure-so the Cor
oner's jury found.
OVERLAND TO THE GOLD FIELDS.
Some of our easy-going people took alarm
last summer at the appearance in the Settle
ment of band of about two score Ameri~
cans. Visions of famine at once rose
before them, and every eye was turned to
the steam grist mill which, happily, at that
time was not stopped for the want OF water,
as it was few days ago; or the consequent
ces might have been serious. There were,
however, no real grounds for uneasiness.
Our enterprising friends had not come hith-
er to eat us up. They were on their way
to more auriferous region on the other
side of the Rocky Mountains, and stopped
here for brief season to obtain that rest
and repose of which in the prosecution of
so long and perilous journey they had sore
need. Recruited by the generous cheer of
Red River, they continued their pilgrimage
on the Goth of June. Their expedition was
| successful one. The last mail brought a
letter from James Whitford, the guide,
dated British Columbia, September IT,,
announcing the safe arrival there of the
whole party, in the best of health and spir-
its and highly delighted with their trip.
AN ADVENTUROUS HUNTER.
The Earl of SOuthesk, q Scottish noble
man, passed through this city, few days
since, on his way East. This gentleman lis
it proper to style an Earl gentleman9 has
been spending the past seven or eight
months in hunting in British America.
The Nor Wester, published at Red River,
gives the following account of his adven.
| lures
The Earl of Southesk arrived at Fort
Garry on the 9th inst, having been absent
during the past seven months on trip to
the Rocky Mountains. Following in the
wake of the many other noblemen who have
of late years traversed the far West, COM
bining the exciting chase of the buffalo with
| pleasure travel amidst the most magnificent
scenery, his lordship left the Settlement on
the 18th of June last, with a party of hun.
tiers. Proceeding by Fort Ellice and Qu>
Appella Fort, they crossed the south branch
of the Saskatchewan, and, going westward
into the Plains some thirty miles, camped a
couple days on Bad Hill. Here they had
rare opportunities of enjoying the sports of
which they we're in quest, the adjacent coun-
cry, as far as the eye could reach, being
black with herds of buffalo. From hence
| the party passed, via Carlton and Fort
Pitt, on the north branch of the Saskatche-
wan, to Edmonton, about 200 miles from
the base of the Rocky Mountains, where
they left their carts, using instead pack
saddles on the horses.
Diverging from the Saskatchewan at this
point, they pursued northwesterly course
until within about days march Of Jasper
House, where they struck the Medicine
Tent River, 1.-THE principal tributary to the
Athabasca,) and went up some fifty miles
to its source in the mountains. Camping
in beautiful valley here, they spent the
greater portion Of a week in stalking or
hunting species of wild mountain sheep
living in the rocks. The scenery in this
portion of the mountains was of the grand
south, masses of rock of enormous weight
towering over it on either side. And as it
was situated at least 5000 feet above the
level of the sea, with view almost unob-
structed, a charming prospect of the country
was obtained. From the absence of axe
marks, or other indications of the presence of
travellers, it is supposed that this valley has
not been before explored.
Having spent thirty days travelling in the
mountains-and exceedingly slow and las
borious progress it was, immense quantities of
fallen timber blocking up the woods in every
direction-his lordship's party arrived at
Old Bow Fort, on the 4th of October. A
party of Americans from st. Paul, bound
for Frazer River, got to the Fort about
the same time. Among them were Mr.
Caldwell, brother to Sheriff Caldwell of St.
Paul, Mr.. Dickman, Mr.. Reid, and Mr..
Hind. who had been winteriDg at one of
the Company's posts and joined the party
at Carlton. They were we'll and expected
to reach Fort Colville, on the Columbia, in
a few days. On leaving the Fort, his lord.
ships party travelled northward, crossing
the Red Deer and Battle Rivers, and arriv:
ing at Edmonton in eight days.
Two men belonging to Capt. Palliser's
exploring expedition, who reached the Fort
during his lordship's stay, reported having
left the Captain and tie remainder of his
party at Fort Colville, en- route for Van
couver's Island. The Black Feet Indians
had, it appears, been unusually hostile to-
wards the exploring party, and had it not
been for the great exertions of the interpre
ter, Mr.. Munroe, they could never have sue
ceeded in passing through the mountains,
without being attacked.
His Lordship returned by way of Fort
Pitt, Carlton, the Touchwood Hills, and
Lake Winnipeg and Manitoba to Fort
Garry. During the latter part of his jour-
ney, from about the LIST of November, the
cold was intense-the thermometer indicat-
ing between 80 and 40 degrees below zero,
most of the time.
The Supreme Court of the United States
will either sit continuously until May, or
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