Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-14
GEN. JOHN c. FREMONT.
Death Of the Noted Pathfinder in Rev
York.
EXPLORER, STATESMAN, SOLDIER.
Biographical Sketch of His Re-
markabie Career-His Early
Visit to California.
EXPLORER, STATESMAN, SOLDIER.
Ts,rcIAI DISPATCH TO THE RECORD usros.l

-kSlAL OlofAICh THE RECOHO-UNION.I
New York, July 13.h.-General John
Charles Fremont, first candidate of the
Republican party for President, died at the
home of his adopted daughter, the wife of
Colonel II. NJ. Porter, at 40 West Twenty
fifth street, at $40 o'clock this afternoon.
His death was due to inflammation of the
bowels. There were present at the bed
side at his demise his son Lieutenant J. G..
Fremont of the navy and his physician,
DR.. VIM. ]. Morton.
His sickness was of comparatively brief
duration, and dated in its first stages from
the excessive heat of last Tuesday. The
following day Wednesday, he experienced
some pain, and Thursday was worse, but
did not complain. Matters assumed so
much worse turn on Friday that he sent
for physician. The doctor advised the
sick man to take sail and get little fresh
air. While he was out on the water he
got bad chill. Friday night he sent for
DR.. Morton again.
On the following morning Saturday the
disease developed enough to show its true
character (peritonitis), but even then the
case was not considered dangerous, and a
dispatch to that effect was sent to Sea
Bright. The final dissolution was sudden.
General Fremont was II years and six
months old (to-day) at the time of his
death.
Mrs. Fremont and daughter Elizabeth
are at Los Angeles.
General John Charles Fremont was born in
Savannah, Georgia, January q, 1918. He gradu-
ated at Charleston College in 1880. He was SUBJ
sequently appointed a teacher of mathematics
on the sloop-of-war Natchez. In 1885 he became
an assistant engineer in the United States Topo-
graphical Corps he was engaged in exploring
IN North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia from
1886 to 1885, and in the later year was commits
stoned Second Lieutenant of the Topographi cal
Engineers, and in 1910 he received orders to ex.
plore the Des Moines river In 1911 he eloped
with and married Miss Jessie Benton, daughter
OF United States Senator Thomas q. Benton In
1S42 he took charge of an expedition to exam
Inc the Rocky Mountain region, explored South
Pess and Wind River Mountains, snd on August
15th reached the summit SO feetl of Wind
River Peak. since called Fremont Peak, which
SO far as is known had never been trod before
by man. He spent four months on this trip. He
then returned to Washington and prepared for
praise in that body and among scientific men in
the United States and Europe.
In the following year he received instructions
to explore the unknown region between the
ROCKY Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and
connect his explorations with the SURVEYS of
Captain Wilkes, q. s. N, SO as to secure an un-
interrupted survey of that vast region. His
party numbered thirty-nine, ana left the town
of Kansas, May 29th.
After travelling more than LOO miles he
reached the Indian Sea- (Salt Lake,, Septem-
Der 9th. and Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia
river, the appointed terminus of the Journey
November 4th. On November 10th he started
on his return journey, proposing circuit to the
south and southeast and an exploration of the
great basin, which he concluded was an un.
known body, and named it Pyramid Lake. on
January 10, 1913.
On February 9Th he struck the valley of the
sacramento, encamped on the summit of the
pass on the dividing ridge (2,000 feet higher
than South Pass, which the Indians told him
no man could cross. But he made the passage
without a guide in forty days He reached
Suffers Fort, on the Sacramento on March 9Th.
Resumed his journey on March oath, and arrived
at st. Louis on August 9th, with vast stores of
geographical knowledge of the region trayersed.
In lSi5 he started on his third expedition, de-
signed for the survey of Oregon and California
cades, where the Columbia river traverses the
northern extremity CT the Sierra Nevada ex-
plored that chain southwark in the depth Of
winter, and descended to the valley of the San
Joaquin.
Early in 1916 he started alone for Monterey.
then the Capital OF Upper California, and when
near the city he was ordered by Mexican troops
TO quit the country Immediately. Fremont
sought his men, erected a fort on the summit of
Hawks Peak, and raised the first United States
flag on the territory of California. Soon after
ward he continued his journey up the sacra-
mento valley into Oregon and there received a
secret dispatch from the Secretary of War in
him to watch the Governments inter-
ests in California, IN view of pending trouble
with Mexico He returned to California in
June, aroused the American settlers in the vi
cinity OF San Francisco bay, captured Mexican
tort, garrison, nine cannons and $50 muskets at
oonoma Pass June 18th. Then he advanced to
Sonoma, defeated the Mexicsn General De Cas-
tro on July 5th, and was elected Governor of the
province by the American Californians, who de.
clared themselves independent of Mexico few
days aiterward. He joined Commodore Sloat.
VINO had bombarded and captured Monterey
July 7th, and on the arrival of Commodore
stockton with orders to conquer California
Fremont was APP ointed military Commander
and Civil Governor of the Territory. He assisted
In the capture OF Los Angeles, and in 1S47 con-
cluded articles Of capitulation with the Mexicans
which gave California to the United States After
these brilliant exploits he was doomed to be the
victim OF an unfortunate clashing of authority.
Commodore stockton and General Kearny mad
received identical orders to conquer California
OI the arrival OF Kearny he issued orders to
fremont, who had co-operated with Stockton
IN the early movements. Fremont disobeyed
kearny was Courtmartialed ani dismissed from
the service. President Pok reinstated him,
but he resigned again early in 1918.
In October of that year he started out on an
other exploring expedition on his own hook,
ms purpose being TO survey road from the
mississippi to San Francisco. After many hard
ships this was accomplished, he arriving at the
sacramento early in 1919.
He was appointed by President Taylor to
establish the boundary between Mexico and
the United States, and while thus engaged he
was elected United States Senator from the
new State of California
A couple of years later he went to Europe and
was cordially received by scientists and men of
letters He came home TO take hold of the sur
veys from the Mississippi to the Pacific, ordered
by Congress, IN 1883.
In 1856 he received the Presidential nomina-
tlon of the first National Republican Conyen-
ton, and a few days later the Domination of
the National American Convention, He an
slave labor and in favor of free labor James
Buchanan defeated him for the office
In 1851 he wasappointed Major-General in the
regular army, purchased arms for the Federal
government in Europe, made his headquarters
in st. Louis, fortified the city and occupied
Cairo. He assumed the Governorship of Mis-.
souri,, proclaimed martial law, suspended dis.
loyal publications and announced that he
would hoarate the slaves OF all persons in arms
against the Federal Government President
Lincoln objected to the emancipation scheme
and reques ed Fremont to withdraw it. Fre-
mont refused, and it was snnulled by an ex-
ecutiye order.
In september of that year he started in pur-
suit of the Confederate army under Sterling
Price with force of more than 20,000 men, in
cluding 500 cavalry and Sc heavy guns He
had just overtaken the enemy at Springfield
when he was relieved of his command Next
year he was recalled TO duty and placed in COM
napd of the new Mountain District, which
included parts of Virginia, Kentucky and Tenn
essee. be engaged the Confederates uuder
Jackson frequently and pursued them eight
days. Then his corps was consolidated with
the main army OF Virginia, under General Pope,
but Fremont, unwilling to serve under an of
ficer whom he ranked, was relieved at his own
request.
THESE events closed his military career.
In 1864 he was again nominated by the Re-
publicans for the Presidency. but withdrew
DE engaged in railroad building alter the war,
and got into some trouble with the French
through the floating of land grant
bonds in Paris.
In 1878 Frement was appointed Governor of
and served until 1882. In 1875 be was
placed on the retired list, with the rank of
Major General OF the army.
He received gold medal for his discoveries
from the King OF Prussia in 1850, was voted the
Founders medal of the Royal Geographical So
ciety of London, was elected an honorary men,
Der of the Geographical Society of Berlin, was
nobly commended by Baron Humboldt and