Connecticut western news., 1890-07-16

 Sing, N. Y., was notified of his fathers illness, but was unable to reach New York before death occurred.
 Mrs. Fremont and her daughter Eliza beth are in Los Angeles, Cal, and another son, Capt. Fremont, is at Fort Smelling, Minn. At the house last night were Col. Porter and Mrs. Porter, who was the gen. erals adopted daughter. Gen. Fremont was 77 years and 6 months old yesterday.
 Sketch of His Life.
 Gen. John c. Fremont, "the Pathfinder" l" was born Jan. 21, 1913, in Savannah, Ga, his father being Frenchman who came to this country and taught his native language as means of support.
 When only 15 years of age young Ere mont entered the junior class of Charles ton college, where he made great progress in mathematics. In 1888 he accepted the position of teacher of mathematics on board the sloop of war Natchez, and went on cruise to the coast of South America After his return, two years later, he passed an examination at Baltimore and secured the position of professor of mathematics in the navy. He was appointed to the frigate Independence, but soon determined to leave the sea. He became surveyor,
 
 army in military reconnaissance of the Cherokee country in Georgia, North Caro- lima and Tennessee In 1888 and 1889 he explored with Capt. Nioollet the coun- try between Missouri and the British line.
 His Marriage to Jessie Benton.
 In 1858 President Van Buren commis- stoned him second lieutenant in the corps of typographical engineers. In 1840, while in Washington. he met Miss Jessie, daugh. ter of Col. Thomas H. Benton, then sen ator from Missouri. The lady's parents objected to the match, and young Fremont was suddenly ordered to make an exami- nation of the Des Moines river, on the western frontier He returned in 1S41 and secretly married Miss Benton.
 His Surveying Feats in the West.
 In the following year he projected sur vey of the whole United States west of the Missouri river Then he received instruc- tions from the government to explore the Rocky mountains particularly the South Pass He examined the Wind River mountains and ascended to their highest point, since known as Fremont's peak. His report was considered by congress in 1843 and created wide comment. In May, 1S43, he began second journey to explore the unknown region beyond the A September he and his men reached the Great Salt Lake, and his report was largely instrumental in populating Utah and the Pacific states. From these regions he pro ceeded to the upper tributaries of the Columbia, then descended to Fort Van couver. He set out to return to 'the States" Nov. 10, choosing southeast route to upper Colorado. He became stranded in midwinter in 8 vast desert. Around him were snow covered mountains which the Indians declared that no man could cross. They refused to guide him, and Fremont went on without guide He crossed them in forty days, reaching Sut- ler's Fort, on the Sacramento, in March, starvation.
 Trouble with Mexlcans.
 On March 24 he resumed his journey, crossing the Sierra Nevadas, visited the Salt lake again, and returned to Kansas in July, 1844. He was brevetted captain in January, 1845, and began 8 third expedi. tion to explore the great basin and mari time regions of Oregon and California. In October he encamped on Great Salt Lake. Thence he again crossed the Sierra Nevadas in the dead of winter with only a few men to procure provisions. He left his men in the San Joaquin valley and pro. ceeded to Monterey to obtain from the Mexican authorities permission to proceed with his expedition.
 This was granted, but revoked later and Fremont was ordered to leave the country at once, which he refused to do. The Mexi- cans mustered under Gen. de Castro, and Fremont took up position on mountain thirty miles from Monterey. But on the fourth day he withdrew in the face of vastly superior numbers and went north, through the Sacramento valley, into Oregon.
 The War with Mexico. ,
 Near Tiamath lake, on May g, 1846, he met with dispatches from Washington or. dering him to guard the interests of the United States in California, it being sus- pected that Gen. Castro intended to destroy American settlements on the Sacramento. Fremont went back to California, the set- tiers f1ocked to his standard, and in less than month northern California was free from Mexican rule On July 4 he was elected governor of California by the set tiers. On the 10th of that month he learned that Commodore Sloat, commanding the United States squadron, had captured Mon- terey, and he then joined the naval force.
 Then the congress, commanded by Com mander Stockton, arrived at Monterey, and Fremont agreed to take the charge of a body of mounted men. Commander Stock ton appointed him military commandant