The New York herald., 1869-07-06
T8E PGWEaE EXPEDITION IS TEE FAR
WEsT.
Al Lost, with Gne observation-disclosures of
tile sole SurvivOr--Fhe Boat and T. Party
Swallowed Up in Whirlpool

the sole SurviyOr--Fhe Boat and Party
Swallowed Up in a Whirlpool.
from the Springfield tn) state Register July 81
John A. Rlsdon applied at the Executive ONCE
this morning for transportation 10 La Sale. lie
states that he Is the only survivor OF the Powell eX
p10rng expedition which iei this State in 1867, and
spent the winter III the inouh:Sns and which, beng
reltted started to explore the greiis canon Ok we
Color 40 IJYer.
He saws ,,@at on May the party consisting of
twentv-one persons STas on the bank OF the Colo
rado and that MAJOR p0wetS Wlth all the party but
himself started across the river to explore the Big
Black river The place OF crossing was about nfy
yards above rapid, and he was left on the shore
with the teams TO 20 below the rapids and examine
tributary falling ~ below, Tor the purpose OF nd-
ing out whether 4 boat could ascend it, The boat
HAD proceeded but II short distance nom the shore
when she was seized III Whirlpool and sucked
under bow first The stern rose high la the air, and
Major Powell was seen cnngiDg TO tins part VI the
boat before he went down,
Tue place where this happened IL stated to be 100
or no miles from Leroy, military post situated at
the Junction Of the Colorado and Red rivers, ana
nfty miles above the canon.
Upon seeing the fate Of the party Mr.. Risdon went
below the aplds to recover, II possible, any bodies
or anything which miaht hoat down. He said
nothing could be discovered except the carpet bag
or wTitlng vase or MaJor Powell. Ihis hoated down.
and he went into the water and drew II out.
His theory Is that there was "a hole under the rap.
IDS, through which portion OF the water ran, and
that the boat and men clinglng to ii were sucked
down into TINS hole, and there Jammed iirmiy among
the rocks.
All the baggage and personal effects of the party,
together with MAJOR PoWeli's notes ana maps, were
in the wagons and upon seeing the fate Of the party
Kisdou took the teams 10 Leroy ,wnence the baggage
was forwarded by express to Kansas City ana ST.
Louis, which latter place lett last night fUr La SALE
Mr. RlsdGn says the party intended to return to
the states TINS al and 70 go out again in the spriog
AMI explore the canon
me names OF the party as given by Risdon be-
sldes nirnself and Major Powell are:-William Dur
of Hennepni William sherman, OF Bureau juno ion;
Dan Sellers, Thomas Murray Charles sullivan,
Fred Buckingham, Fred Myers Charles Sanborn
william scott, William Anderson George Stevens
OF La SaIle three men, names unknown, from near
Bloomington; Thomas StocAlln, OF Normal half
breed guide.
such Is the story told by Mr.. Risdon. and it Is
given with every clrcumstantial detail. The Cover
nor supplied hin wth money, and ne left for La
Sale where he formerly resided, on the noon train.
He further states that after his arrival at Leroy he
took steamboat Tor Kansas POST winch he also
called Kansas City, and this Is the only portion Of
the story Which seems TO us improbable.
The Colorado river IS formed by the junction OF
the Green and Grand rivers, about $50 miles west
and 100 miles south ot Denver. The course OF the
river Is southwest Now, Mr.. Rsdon is understood
10 say he took steamboat at Leroy the junction of
the Colorado and Red rivers OH wnch he travelled
to Kansas City. We cannot hnd that these rivers
form junction anywhere; on the contrary, they
small stream called the Red river winch Is not laid
down on the maps the great rivers penetrati ng
the mountain regions from the east are the Red, the
Arkansas the Kansas and the Platte. 1t was
not the hrst OF these rivers on which Mr.
Rlsdon returned, or II SO he would not
have arrived at Kansas City. Along the last TWO the
Pacihc railroads run, ana &c seems strange steam
boats should be running on these rivers alongside Of
the road.
IL is of course possible we may have misunder-
stood Mr.. Rsdon In relation TO tue localities and his
route from the scene OF the catastrophe, but are
quite confident he described to MS the Colorado aa
moving east, which must mistake; also that the
accident happened llty miles or thereabouts aboyo
the canon. Now II this be the great canon inc
mouth of 1t is at Colve, and 1t stretches at least
200 miles above the Little Coiorado rseNlng its en-
tire length not less than 500 nlIso; put mere is no
eastward noWmg stream la1 a' uoWm Un 'le maps lor
We have, boyer, gwen the story Just as we
haor n - ia
Nf. Msdon, who has the appearance Of truthful
man, should have fabricated ANY part OF sucn
story.