Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-23
PIONEER "REMINISCENCES.
ACROSS THE PLAINS WITH FIRE.
MONT In 1913.
Interesting Interview with One of
the Survivors of that Memo
rable Expedition.

exploring the then unknown country
which row is embraced in the States of
California, Oregon and Nevada, anterior TO
the gold discovery. their history and per-
sonal experience in those " far away DAYS
is doubly interesting. Tyrie Wright, of
Sacramento, a gentleman well-known
throughout the State, "A years of age, who
was one of the members of the celebrated
Fremont expedition to Oregon and north
ern California in 1843, is well preserved,
has vivid recollection OF the hardship and
trials of that memorable expedition, and in
conversation with a representative of the
RECORD UNION detailed the following facts
In his younger days being of an adyentu-
rous spirit, he crossed the plains and Rocky
Mountains several times at a period when
that great region was occupied by wild In
dams and savage beasts, endured hardships
and suffered privatiOns unknown to men
of the present day. His experience on
those many expeditions would fll an inn
mense volume OF thrilling interest and
covering so vast territory then unknown
except to the adventurous explorer, that il
would equal that of Daniel Boone or any
of his compeers. He trayersed the country
between the great valley of the Mississippi
and the Pacific coast, when a white man
was curiosity to the native red man, long
years before it was traversed by railroads
and blessed with the advancing tide of
civilization.
JOINED THE FREMONT PARTY
Inthe spring of 1913 he joined Colonel
J. c. Fremont on his second exploring ex-
petition to Oregon and northern California,
and was with the great Pathfinder the sue
ceeding winter, when trying to find path
-. ~ l.
owing to the great depth Of snow was be-
wildered. ON the verge of starvation, and
forced to eat mule and dog meat TO prolong
life. This memorable expedition, sent out
under the orders of Colonel j. j. Albert
chief Of the Typographical Bureau, left the
little town of Kansas (now Kansas City)
on the Missouri frontier, about the end Of
May, with force amounting to thirty-nine
men, generally armed with Halls carbines
and a underground howitzer from the
United States Arsenal at st. Louis The
party consisted principally of Creoles, Ca
madam French and Americans. The camp
equipage and provisions were transported
in twelve carts drawn each by two mules.
A light covered wagon, mounted on springs.
was provided for the safer carriage of the
instruments, which consisted oftelescopes,
rejecting circles, sextants, thermometers,
bsrometers, thermometers aud compasses.
The story of that memorable expedition,
It's march through trackiess and treeless
plains, over and through a country never
rod by white man, has been published in
he Governmental reports, and for the pur-
pose of this narrative only the general
course will be but briefly referred to.
STARTING FOR THE PACIFIC COAST.
Mr.. Wright says the expedition went up
the Smoky Hill fork of the Kansas or
Kaw river to tne head of the Arkansas,
passing over the spot where now is located
the great city of Denver, Colorado. The
expedition arrived Mt ST. Vrain's Fort on
the 4th of July, where they were Joined by
the famous scout and frontiersman Kit
Carson, who was an intimate personal
fhend of Fremonts. The two Delaware
1ndians that had been engaged as game
hunters for the expedition determined to
r,turn home at this point, and it became
necessary to provide the party with good
hunter. Accordingly Fremont engaged in
that capacity. at Fort Severance Aiexan-
der Cooley, young man about % years of
age, who had been in that country for six
Oh seven years, all of which time be had
been actively employed in hunting for the
posts or in solitary trading expeditions
among the Indians. In courage and pro-
feSional skill he was q formidable rival to
Carson, and constantly. afterwards, was
among the best and most efficient of the
caleulable value.
Mr.. Wright, continuing, said Il will
remark here that Alexander Cooley is the
only survivor of that party, besides myself
now living upon the coast. If there are
others am not aware of it. Mr. Cooley
was not only dashing hunter, an intrepid
and brave man, but also gentleman of
superior talent and business tact. and To-
eating at San Jose, grew up with the coup-
try and became a millionaire and a leading
spirit in political affairs. lie now, think,
resides in Kern countv.n
At Lupton's Fort one OF the French vol
unteers was shot in the back, from the
effects of which he soon afterwards died
The wife of the murdered man, an Indian
woman of the Snake nation, DESTROYS, like
Naomi of old, to return to her people re-
quested and obtained permission to travel
with the party to the neighborhood of Bear
river, where she expected to meet with
some of her tribe. Happier than the Jew
lsh widow, she carried with her two chill
dren, pretty little half breeds, who added
much to the liveliness of the camp.
Moving forward, the expedition divided,
Fremont leading portion of the party in
an attempt to find pass through a spur of
the mountains made by the Cache Ia
Poudre river. The other portion of the
party, going via Fort Laramie, followed
the old emigFant trail TO Oregon, and re-
Joined Fremonts party at Fort Hall, on
the Snake river, a post then belonging to
the Hudson Bay Company. Fremont had
attempted to make the pass through which
the Union Pacific now goes but did not
succeed. His course led him along the
Great Salt Lake and the Green River val
ley, then into the territory of Mexico.
From Fort Hall the expedition followed
the emigrant trail to the Walla Walla river.
at its Junction with the Columbia river, and
from there went down to the Dalles.
From here Fremont with a selected party
went down in a canoe to Fort Vancouver
TO obtain provisions and supplies for the
winter journey. The canoe was hired
from the Indians, and three of the latter
were engaged TO assist in managing it. Kit
Carson was left in charge OF the party.
with instructions to occupy the people in
making pack saddles and reftting their
equipage, it having been determined to
abandon the carts and wagons at this point
Fremont returned after an absence OF
twenty days, with q full line of supplies
purchased of the Hudson Bay Company al
Fort Vancouver. From this point
THE HoMEwARD JOURNEY
Was to be taken up in a southeastern
direction. Ii was serious enterprise. nj
the commencement of winter, to under
take the traverse of such g region, and with
party consisting only of % persons. and
they of many nationS-American French
German, Canadian, Indian and African
and most of them young. several being
boys under p years Of age All knew that
a strange country was to be explored, dan
gers and hardships encountered; but nc
one blanched at the prospect. On the con-
trary, courage and confidence animated the
whole party. Cheerfulness, readiness
subordination. prompt Obedience character
lied all; nor did any extremity of peril and
privation to which they afterwards were ex-
posed ever belle or derogate from the fine
spirit OF this brave and generous COM
mencement
Bright and early on the morning Of No
vember 18th the camp was astir, and prep
arauons completed for the homeward
march. The stars were brilliant. the morn
ing cold, the thermometer at daylight go.
The supply of provisions was intended for
three months. consisting principally OF
flour, peas and tallow. the latter being used
IN cooking, and few beef cattle. They had
loi head OF mules and horses, for the sus-
tenanee of which they relied upon the
grass they should find and soft porops