The morning call., 1890-07-14

graphical survey of the entire territory of
the United States from the Missouri River
to the Pacific Ocean, the feasibility of an
overland communication between the two
sides of the continent being leading idea
in the scheme of explorations. He accord
iDgly applied TO the War Department Tor
employment in this service, and having re-
celved, at his own suggestion, instructions
to explore the Rocky Noun tains, and par
ticularly to examine the South Pass, ne
left Washington May ., 1912, and on June
10th began his expedition from point near
the mouth of the Kansas River, lew niles
beyond the Missouri border, whence he
proceeded up the Platte River, through
bands of hostile Indians, to the South Pass,
which he carefully examined. He next eX-
plored the Wind River Mountains, the
loftiest peak of which, Is, $50 feet above the
sea. he assembled August 10Th. accompanied
by four men. This mountain is now called
FTemOnt's Peak.
he left August 18th, Fremont returned to
his starting place by nearly the same route
that he had followed going out lie reached
the mouth of the Kansas October 10, 1912,
after an absence of four months. lie had
encountered much hardship and many
perilS and had successfully accomplished all
the objects of the expedition. Over the
whole course of his extended route he had
made barometrical observations to aseer-
tain the elevations both of the plains and OF
the mountains and astronomical observa-
tions for latitudes and longitudes. The
face of the country was noted as fertile or
sterile, the pTacticablity of routes was
settled, military positions indicated and
large contributions made to geology ana
botany. His report of the expedition was
laid before Congress in the winter OF l642-43.
1t attracted great attention both ut home
and abroad. 1t was praised by humboldt
i'll his "a ASpeets of Nature" and the Lon
don "Athen 8um' pronounced 1t to be one
OF the most perfect productions Of its kind.
HIS SECOND EXPEDITION.
Immediately after the publication of his
report, Fremont planned second expedl-
tiOn of Il much more comprehensive char
acter than the first He determined to
extend his explorations across the con-
tinent, and to survey the then unknown
region lying between the Rocky Mountains
and the Pacific Ocean. In May, 1913, he
commenced his Journey with tnirty-nine
men, and, in pursuance OF his Instructions,
proceeded up the Kansas River, far enough
| to ascertain its character, aud then crossed
over to the Platte, which he aScended 10 its
source in the mountains, where The Sweet
water, one of its tributaries, springs from
the neighbOrhOOd of the South Pass. He
! reached the pass August Sth, went through
il, and saw the head waters OF tile Colorado
flowing toward the Gulf of California. On
September 9th, after travelling over 100
miles, he came in sight cf the Great Salt
Lake, of which no accurate account had
ever yet been given, and OF which very
vague and erroneous notions were enter
| tanned.
His investigations effected important rec
| tihcatiuns in our geographical knowledge
| Of this portion of the continent, and had
| subsequently powerful influence In pro-
| noting the settlement Of Utah and the Pa
cifc States. From the Salt Lake be pro-
| Ceedei 10 the upper tributaries of the Co
| lumbia River, whose valley lie descended,
! Till on November 4th he reached Fort ' an
| cOuver, near tie mouth Of the Columbia.
| On November 10th lie set out on his return
to the States He selected a southeast
| route leading from the lower part of the
| Columbia to the upper Colorado, through
| an almost unknown region crossed by high
and rugged mountain chains. lie soon en-
| cOunteTed deep SHOWS which mpeded his
| progress and forced him TO descend into the
| great basin. and presently he found himself
| in the depth If winter i'll desert, with the
prospect before him of death to his whole
party from cold and hunger. BY aStrOnOm-
ical observation he found that he was in the
latitude of the bay OF san Francisco, but
between him and the valley OF California
was a range of mountains covered with
SHOWS which the Indians declared no man
could cross and over which no reward could
induce them to guide him.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Fremont boldly undertook the passage
forty days, reaching Suffers Fort, Oh the
Sacramento, early in March, with his men
reduced almost to skeletons, and with only
80 out of 81 horses aud mules remaining,
and those that survived so weak and thin
that they could barely walk while led along.
He resumed his journey March 9th, and
proceeding southwark. skirted the western
base of the Sierra Nevada, crossed that
| range thr ugh gap, entered the great
basin ami again visited the Salt Lake, from
which, through the South Pass, he re-
| turned to Kansas iu July, 1874, after an ab-
sence of fourteen months, during the
greater part Of which he was never out OF
| sight Of snow. Fremont was breyeted Cap
tain in January, 1915, aud IN the spring Of
that year he set out on third expedition to
explore the great basin and the maritime
ie.ion Of California and Oregon. The sum-
mer and until October was spent in eXan-
ining the headwaters of the rivers. whose
source was the dividing ridge between the
Pacific and the Mississippi Valley.
Leaving the shores of Salt Lake in Octo-
bsr he proceeded to explore the Sierra Ne
| vada, and in the dead OF winter again
! crossed the range into California for sup
plies. He made his way into San Joaquin
| Valley. where, leaving his men to recruit.
he went himself to Monterey to obtain from
| the Mexican authorities permission to pro-
! ceed with his exploration. Permission was
| first granted and then revoked, and lie was
| ordered to leave the country without delay.
He refused to go. His men were worn out
with hardship, and were in no condition to
undertake journey across mountains and
deserts. The Mexican Governor, Castro,
prepared to attack the Americans, who
were only sixty-two in number. Fremont
took up strong position at Hawks Peak,
thirty miles from Monterey, and built
rude fort; and having hoisted the Ameri-
can flag he wrote to the American Consul
at Monterey that he had done no wrong,
either to the people or the authorities, and
that if they were attacked every man would
die under the flag OF our country.
CALIFORNIA ACQUIRED.
General Castro formed q camp with
large force of artillery, cavalry and infan-
try on the plain immediately below the
Americans fort and made continuous
threats to attack, which. however. he failed
to fulfill On the evening oil the fourth day,
Fremont tired of lnactiUn, Withdrew bis
party and started for tine San Joaquin.
While the fires were still burning in the de-
serted camp, General Castro sent messen-
ger proposing a cessation of hostilIties.
Fremont proceeded northward through the
valley of the Sacramento into Oregon, and
on the 9Th of May he met party near
Klamath Lake in search of him, with dis
patches from Washington, directing him to
watch over the interests of the United
States in California, there being reason to
apprehend that the province would be trans
ferred to Great Britain. General Castro
was also suspected OF an intention to des-
troy the American settlements on the Sac
ramentO Fremont promptly returned to
California anu found Castro already march,
ing against the settlements. The settlers
flocked, to Eremont's camp, and in less
than a month Northern California was
freed from Mexican authority and Castro
had fed.
The British party in California having
been cOunteracted and all the schemes
broken up, the American settlers on July
4th elected Fremont Governor of California,
and on the 10th of the same month Com
modOre Sloat, who commanded the United
States squadron on the Coast. took posses
sion OF Monterey. Fremont joined the naval
forces, reaching Monterey on the 18th with
100 mounted rfemen. About this time Com
modore Stockton arrived at Monterey with
the frigate Congress with orders from
Washington to take possession Of Califor-
MIA. At his request Fremont now Lieu
tenant-Colonel, on May q, 1916, organized
the California Batallion," mounted
force, of which he was appointed Major.
He was also appointed by Commodore
SrOaktnn hiiffarv Enn,ptanIant aud civil