Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-11-14
Name of the Humboldt Riycr-ni.tory.

A correspondent Of the Providence
(R. ~ Journal, over tho signature Of
w. W. B., writes to that paper from
Camp II of tho U. 8. Scientific Survey,
Oreana, Nevada. He gives n dolcful
description Of the country, and COM
plains bitterly Of its desolation, the sick
ening and repulsive taste of the waters,
etc., leading onc to presume that he is
out on his first trip from home and very
anxious to return. Among his details
of heavy rains, yenemous mosquitoes,
lack of hay and wood, and the general
discomfort with which he was afflicted,
he manages to make n mistake which
it is our province to correct. He says:
" The Humboldt was formerly called
Rio Santa Marin, but Fremont with APP
parent disrespect for the Virgin, re-
christened it by the name Of the distin-
guished traveller" This is altogether
q mistake, as tho river was never called
Santa Maria, but was known, from 1925
to ls45, rs Mary's river. Not the Holy
Mother nor Saint Mary, but Mary, the
Indian wife Of Capt. Jedediah S. Smith.
Capt. Smith, as We learn from j.. Ross
Brownies report on the Mineral rcsour.
ces, was a chief trader in the employ Of
the American Fur Company, and from
their rendezvous on Green River near
tho South Pass, was directed, with forty
men, to penetrate the country west OF
Salt Lake. He discovered the river,
and named it Mary's river in honor Of
his dusky companion. After following
the river to its sink, no crossed the
Sierra Nevada into California, and
passed southcrly through San Jose rs
r as San Diego. He there rehtted,
purchased provisions and horscs, and
returheSthrough Walkers Pass, thonce
northsrly to near Mono Lake, thence
east by north to Salt Lake and the camp
on Green river. On this part Of his
route he discovered gold, and carried a
considerable quantity to the cncsmp-
ment.
The account he gave Of his trip, the
gold, the furs, and the beauty Of tho
country beyond the mountains, so in
famed the agent of the company, that
he ordered Smith the following year to
again make the trip, and particularly to
take the gold fields on his return. That
no did 50, We have the evidence Of q
voucher now existing, signed by VIM.
G. Dana, captain of schooner Wavcrly,
VIM. H. Cunningham, captain of ship
Courier VIM. Henderson, captain Of
schooner Olive Branch James Scott,
Thomas N. Robbins and Thomas Shaw,
testifying to his peaceful character, and
given to him at San Diego, December
goth, 1926. On tho 10th Of May, 1927,
he addressed q letter to Father Duran,
of the Mission San Jose, explaining his
presence and peaceful intent. This let
ter is still in existence. He was, while
an his return, attacked by Indians and
Some of the party, however,
escaped and returned to Green River.
This is all we positively know Of Jede-
diah S. Smith, but the remains Of min
ing works, cuts, and a tunnel, with the
earth overgrown with heavy sage brush,
and evidently mads-the miners say
twenty years ago or more, found this
summon, north Of the Humboldt, makes
reasonably probable that the Tusca-
rora district is tho identical placer
where Captain Smith dug the first gold
the Great Basin, and lost his life,
forty ear ago. An examination Of the
archives of the American Fur Company,
would doubtless throw furtherlight upon
the affair. The historical account given
in the Austin Directory, fixes the time
at which this country was first crossed
by emigrants as 1924. We havealluded
more to the history Of the country IN
this article, than was necessary to Vin-
dictate Colonel Fremont from the charge
OF sacrilege, but tho early history OF
our country is interesting to us all, and
care should be taken to make it, when
written, truthful. It is to be hoped that
since September, tho correspondent
above mentioned has become Injured to
the rigors of our climate, and that his
party a learned to utilize grass and
sage brush in the absence Of hay and
Goa yards. If not, q short year only
will be required for the railroad and
locomotive to haul white shirts md ma.
per collars to his Camp No. l7.-Ree.e
River Reueiile.