Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-23

able to get down from the mountains F" He
made us the sign of precipices, and showed
us how the feet OF the horses would slip,
and throw them from the narrow trails
which led along their sides. Our Chinook,
who comprehended even more readily than
ourselves, and believed our situation hope
less, covered his head with his blanket, and
began to weep and lament. a wanted to
see the whites" said he; :" came away
from my own people to see the whites, and
| wouldn't care to die among them; but
here and he looked around into the cold
night and gloomy forest and, drawing his
blanket over his head, began again To Ia
ment Seated around the tree the fire
Illuminating the rocks and tail pines, and
the old Indian in our midst counselng. we
presented group of very serious faces.
For the next week we trudged through
deep snow, making slow progress, suffering
from the freezing cold, and scanty of food.
BANQUET OF DOG AND HORSE.
On the 18th of February Cooley killed
the little dog klamath, which he prepared
in Indian fashion, scorching off the hair
and washing the skin with soap and snow,
and then, shortly after the faithful dog had
been killed, the supply sleigh arrived with
a supply of horse meat, and that night we
had an extraordinary dinner-pea soup,
mule, horse and dog. On the next day the
summit of the dividing ridge of the Sierra
Nevada was attained. Our animals now
numbered but 81. The great Valley of the
Sacramento was spread out before us like
vast and beautiful panorama, but we had
mountain ridges, snowy plains and rugged
hillsides to yet traverse. We were in sight
of the promised land, but whether we
would succeed in gaining an entrance was
still much mooted question. The times
were severe, when stout men lost their
minds from extremity of suffering, when
horses died, and when mules and horses,
ready to die of starvation, We're killed for
food. Yet there was no murmuring nor
hesitation. Where the party crossed the
summit was point about ten miles south
of 1ank's S, which is at the southern ex-
OF water was known as Mountain Lake.
atterward Bigler and now by its original
Indian name of Tahoe.
INTO THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
After passing through portion of
Strawberry valley they struck the South
Fork of the American river, and, following
its northern banks, came through to Suffers
Fort. Their path lay through FL Dorado
county. The precipitous banks, narrow
gorges and steep hillsides forced the weary
and footsore adventures to most of the
time travel upon the summit of the ridges
! of what is now known as the Georgetown
Divide. The greatest suffering they en-
dured was while passing through this sec
ton to the valley below, which was spread
out before their vision like a broad piano.
rama. The party passed Coloma, the spot
where Marshall, a few years later, made
the discovery that electrified the world.
Here they camped at Il point near where
| cold Il, =
river, where the associated beauties of
scenery made so strong an impression
upon the party that they gaze it the name
/ of Beautiful Camp. The Indian name for
the same place was Culloma, which, in
| their language means Beautiful Vale.'
Mr.. Preuss, who had been lost from the
party, Joined it at Beautiful Camp He
was almost in famished condition For
food he had caught small frogs, which he
had swallowed, not SO much in the gratifi-
cation of hunger as in the hope of obtain
ing strength. He found a nest of ants,
which he let run on his hand and stripped
them OFF into his mouth. These had, to
him, an agreeable acrid taste
Fremont took small party and proceed
ed IN advance in hopes of reaching Suffers
Fort earlier and returning with relief
party. We passed through the same sur
passingly beautiful country, entirely une-
| qualed for the pasturage of stock by any
thing we had ever beheld Our horses had
become so strong that they were able to
carry u.s. and we took turn about in riding.
Every few hundred yards we came upon
small bands of deer, but we were too eager
TO reach the settlement which we momen
tarily expected to discover, to halt for any
other than passing shot. We crossed the
North Fork of the American a few miles
! nnnvp ItS rnnr1th OF, =,
the South Fork, which we had descended
and together they formed a beautiful
stream from 60 to 100 yards in width which
at first, ignorant of the nature of the coun-
try through which that river ran, we took
to be the Sacramento. We continued in 9
westerly course over what is now known as
the San Juan grant, through a wooded up
land, where we had the delight to discover
tracks of cattle. To the southeast was Wis
IDLE black column of smoke, which W.
had frequently noticed in our descent o
the mountain.
SEARCHING FOR Suffers FORT.
From the uplands we descended into
broad groves on the river consisting o
evergreenS anc large white oaks, some o
the latter six feet in diameter Followins
the cattle tracks in search of people, W.
discovered a small village of Indians Some
of these had on shirts of civilized manu-
| facture, but were otherwise naked, and w
could understand nothing from them they
appearing utterly astonlshed at our suddeI
appeara nee.
We made an acorn meal at noon an(
hurried on, the valley being gay with flow
ers, some of the banks being absolutely
golden with the California poppy Here
we found the grass smooth and green, ant
the groves very open. The large, stately
oaks threw broad shade on the sunny
spots. Shortly afterwards we gave shou
at the appearance, on a little bluff, of &
neatly-built adobe house, with glass win
dows. We rode up but, to our disappoint
ment, found only Indians. There was M
evidence of cultivation, we could see NJ
cattle, and We supposed the place had beer
abandoned. We now pressed on NOR,
eagerly than ever. The river swept rount
in a large bend to the right; the hills low
cred down entirely; and, gradually enter
|, ing broad valley, we came unexpected,
into large Indian village, where the PEG
pie looked clean, and wore cotton shirt:
and various other articles of dress. The
Immediately crowded around us, and W.
had the inexpressible delight to find on
who spoke little Indifferent Spanish, bu
who at first confounded US by saying ther,
were no whites in the country. Just then
however, Well-ureSSeU lnQlan came III
and made his salutations in very wei
spoken Spanish. In answer to our in
queries, he informed us that we were upoI
the Rio de Los Americanos, and that i
joined the Sacramento river about tel
miles below. Never did name SCUM,
more sweetly We felt ourselves amon
our countrymen, for the name of American
in those distant parts was only apple,
10 the citizens Of the United States. To on
eager inquiries he answered, ~ am
uaquero (cowherd) in the service of Captain
Suffer, and the people of this rdacheri
, work for him." Our evident satisfaction
made him communicative, and he went oil
to say that Captain Suffer was very ricl
man, and always glad to see his countr
people. We asked for Captain Suffer-
house He answered that it was Just owe
the hills before US, and offered. if we woul,
wait a moment. to take his horse and con
duct us to it. We readily awaited ourselve
of his very civil offer. In short distanc
we came
IN SIGHT OF THE FORT.
Captain Suffer seeing us approach, me
us short distance from the fort He CAV
US most frank and cordial reception--con
Quoted us Immediately to his residence
and, under his hospitable roof, we had
night of rest, enjoyment which none say,