New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-21
LETTERS FROM UoL. POWELL.

HE Is IN THE GREEN RIVER, JUNE 7-ACCoUNI
OF THE DEscENT-Eo ACCIDENTS YET.
The Chicago Tribune publishes a letter from
Col Powell dated June T. with others dated June aud
G. He was still descending Green River passing through
one canyon after another but he gives his localities so
indefinitely that they hardly be understood. He
writes from Flaming Gorge, on tho Green River, June 2
as follows; - ~, y 1rSrT - 20
On the aith OF Nav. at 100 we started from Green
River City The rations Instruments &c, were so di-
yded among the boats as 10 have far proportion OF he
several articles on each This precauton taken that
we might not be seriously crippled by the loss Of boat
We dropped down the river ABOUT seven mlIes,
and not overloaded. had feared they
would be. on the goth we ran down TO point
FopE where a cache OF rations and instru-
ments had been made last spring. We found every,
Henrys Fork brilliant red gorge is seen. This where
the river enters the mountain rangethe Introductory
canyon series made by the river through the range
We have named It Flaming Gorge The ellis or walls we
have found to be 200 feet high You must not think OF
the plains but as broad platform so or 60 miles wide from
which mountains have been carved by the waters This
plateau has been by guches raynes ana canyons
nm multitude OF directions, and beautiful valleys are
scattered about AZ varying attitudes mountain range
series of CANYONS we are about explore river chan
mel cut through such range of mountains
We left camp Flaming Gorge on the soth Of May and
quickly through the gorge then wheeled TO the left
on the swiftly gliding current into another canyon with
direct run OF nearly mile then the river turned sharply
around the point Of elm 10 the right, about
500 high and rolled in great waves back again TO
the west ford another milo; then became quiet stream
In little valley. AS this was our nrst experience with
canyon rapids caedt Canyon OF the Rapids Soon We
entered another canyon IN the gray rocks, and made
ride 10 whore the river makes It's grand turn 10
the east and camped FOR the night.
The next day started down through what we called
Red Canon. and came 10 rapids, which were made
dangerous by huge rocks lying In the channel so we ran
ashore and let our boats down with lines In the after
noon to more dangerous rapids ana stopped 70
examine them and found that had TO let down with
lines and the wrong side or the river but must
first No very easy matter IN s1ch current WIN
the pioneer boat. Emma Dean over to unload on the OPP
poste then she returned 10 get another Load and
running back and forth sns soon had nearly nan the
and taken but carried down almost to the rocks IN
spite hard rowing The other boats soon followed ana
THE day following had exciting ride. The river
plided and rolled down the canyon at wonderful rate
No rocks in the 10 stop made almost railroad
gorge rocks at the side rolling 10 the centre IN great
waves and the boats would go leaping ana 0oundlng
over these like things OF life. We ran twelve miles IN one
hour soppages included The distance WAS Thought 10
he much by others OF the party. AT last turning
point. to calm water but with threatnlnR roar
came 10 falls aud tied up Just above them on TIE
lett bank, Here we had To make portage we
unoaded the boats, then fastening long line 70
the bow and another 10 the stern Of one we moored
ID close 10 the edge OF the falls. inc stern uhe
was taken below the falls and made last the DOW ne
was taken by hve six men and the boat let upNn
as long they could hold it, then, letting 60 o DOas
ran over and caught by the lower rope oetnk po
boat that night, we rested untli morninh, ~ n
made a trail among the rocks, packed inc CHleOe "a
point below the falls, over the remaining @ SSbcb
were ready 20 start before noon on IOoA' ~ nna
trail ran, written Ashley; Win ,sas 'ts5S
figure of which was obseure-some thinking u was go
others 1858. l had been told by ola 49, 80
party Of men starting down the river t - iot WIS
mentioned ns one: aud the story runs tis wy poa
sWamped aud of the party drowhtu III ~, - va
below. This word Ashley 10 warning " u'' N w