The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-08-22
THE PATHFINDER" !"
GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT TALKS OF
HIS PAST ADVENTURES.
The Once Famous Leader Speaks of the
Days Gone by-Jessie Benton Fre-
mont California Saved from
British Capture.


One Of the most interesting figures In our
New York life is that of Gen. John G. Fre-
mont, the man whose nam, and romantic
personality drew reluctant FREQ Soilsrs to-
gether twenty five years ago and cemented
them into tho c,mpact Republican party
He Is one OF tho be t defined OF our historic
landmarks. A few days ago met him on
Broadway. swinging along uptown like a
man OF -. Tho Illusion Of youth was
further encouraged by the close-cropped
hair. the form still trim, tn, elastic step,
the rosy face, the CHEEKY, buoyant manner
whom he spoke, an 4 the business suit of light
colorel plaid Timo and trial have not
soured him l coull MT make 1t seem pos
sibls that this clear eyei and agile man
could have been that stalwart pathfinder"
whose footsteps million Of men followed
with enthusiasm so long ago
called up TO Sixty fourth street ono even
ing and fouui the general and Js',ie Benton
the twin romance OF twenty-five years ago
this m nth -locat,d@in comfortable and
plea SAINT brown stone house four blocks from
Gen. Grant Mrs Fremont Is q staid-look-
ing matronly woman OF mildle life with q
remarkably strong face, re smbling the por.
trait OF hsr distin yuished father, an the
only daughter has cornbin,a In herself ths
Il3ufup'tb, VI pVbi uSE psT:ukA
Con, eni Mr., Fremont hal such IA
nous youth that IL Is not surprising that
they now find much Of their pleasure in rae
elections of those early days. But there Is
by no means monotony OF remin-
iscence. For life about th,m 1, very
active They 20 into society
good deal They havs two stout boys grown
up and married, with chillren Of their own
~. lot nd iG 4. a
and one In ths navy" said Mrs. Fremont;
$50 my feelings ara completely tria,gulatcd'
--and she DEITY drew on the paper trian-
gle with its apex in New York, ami one log
in Montana AM tho other ON tho southern
seas.
aslsoi the general about his travels He
said: at sometimes seems like q dresrn.
When take an atlas an pass my finger
over the states and great citiss of the west.
it seems impossible that l have travsle
over their sites before they had any popula-
ton-and such little Will, ago. / campsf
where Chicago Is; where st. Paul Is; where
Minneapolis is; WAR, Silt Ltks City IL. In
fact. suppose it IL not generally known
that ] am responsible for the Mormons 60
ing 10 Utah"
joined in the laugh and asked him how
IL was.
ain my second report OF my explorations
he said, IL called the attention OF the gov
ernm,nt to tho beautiful valley OF Salt
Lake. its fertility AMI its general attrlctive-
ness, and l recommen lad that n station b.
made there. A few years Afterwards. while
passing again through that region. Brigham
Youa, Told mo that he had been led TO select
tho plar3 4, the seat Of his hierarchy by my
report.
In reply to my remark that the psopls Of
California seemed, ju ulging from somethin 3
l had recently seen, to be forgetting
his services i'm conqueriny California
from the Mexicans In 1916, he laughed
and sail: "There 1, no danger OF
my not getting the crsdit that be-
longs to me. People like to do justice. ami
In the end they generally decide right. es-
pecially about their own affairs or course,
as nineteen -twentieth' Of tho present p,pu-
lation OF California was born after l was
elected senator from that state, they cannot
te ex rooted to have a vivid recollection Of
pioneer days, but my takicg posses ton NJ
Ca ifornia In lS46 II matter OF history.
Tho English admiral was standing OH AMI
off for weeks awaiting orders from home.
AMI he after wards declared that he should
have landed and seized Monterey that day,
IL had not marched in and raf-ed the stars
and stripes That settled the status Of tina
coast"
asked the general IL hs was fond OF
hunting His eyes kindled as he replied.
40, yes! 1t was always a delight To me if !
could get large game. There is high excite
mont In buffalo huut. The young fellow,
who now o. out on tho plains seem TO think
that the great prizs !, buffalo bull; but
we used to ride straight through the bulls.
which were heavy and loyy AMI kept bshtnd
in the chase, AMI 60 for a COW or young
buffalo in front The buffalo bull IL tough
ami un savory; ii Is only the COW or calf that
is tender.
"s,oms day, II ever get time. mean 10
write up an account Of a rare and most en-
joyabls week OF deer hunting In southern
Minnesota. was guest Of Governor Sib-
ley, and the motel chief, Faribault, went
with US from St Paul in command OF loo
Indians I should think our best huntine..
was somewhere nsar Spirit lake. shot my
first deer while exploring northern Minnc-
sofa with Nicollet, as early as iSs&"
told the general that II he were TO ask
the average Minnesotian who Nicollet wa
he would get for hi, answer: "A French
Jesuit who discovered tho upper Missi sippi
in the middle OF tho last century"
aMr. Fremont Is q dreadfully old man.
said Mrs Fremont gaily: though he really
doesn't look it. l ASSURE you he didn't know
me then; l was mere chih.n