Evening journal., 1890-07-14


P-s.ftHs9.l< e@sr parently good
GEN rorN r rpp,,ovr health. His son,
who lives at Sing
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, "a at Fort Smelling,
MINI. At the house last night were Col.
Porter and Mrs. Porter, who was the gen
erals adopted daughter. Gen. Fremont
was q years and months old yesterday.
sketch Of Ills Life
Gen. John c. Fremont, ethe Pathfinder"
was born Jan. q, 1918. In Savannah,
Ga, HIS father being Frenchmau who
came 10 this country and taught his native
language as a means Of support.
When only IS years OF age young Ere
mont entered the junior class OF Charles
ton college, where he made great progress
in mathematics. In 1898 he accepted the
position OF teacher OF mathematics on
board the sloop Of war Natchez. and went
on cruise 10 the coast OF South America.
After his return, two years later, he passed
an examination az 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 a surveyor,
and in 1887 Joined Capt Williams Of the
army In military reconnaissance Of the
Cherokee country In Georgia, North CarO-
lima and Tennessee In 1888 and 1889 he
explored with Capt Nieoilct The ooun-
try between Missouri and the British line.
Ills Marriage 20 Jessie BENTON.
In ls3s President Van Buren, commits
stoned him second lieutenant ia the corps
OF typographical engineers In 1870, while
in Washington. he met Miss Jessie, daugh-
ter of Col. Thomas H. Benton, then a sem
ator from Missouri. The lady's parents
liected 20 the match, and young Fremont
was suddenly ordered ~ make an exami-
nation of the Dies Moiues river. on tie
western frontier. He returned In 1871 aud
secretly married Miss Benton
His Surveying Foats in the West
Ia the following year he projected a sur
vey Of the whole United States west Of the
Missouri river. Then he received Instruo-
tions from the government to explore the
Rocky mountains particularly the South
Pass. He examined the Wind River
mountains and assembled TO their highest
point, since known as Fremont's peak
His report was considered by congress In
1913 and created wide comment
In May, 1913, he began second Journey
70 explore the unknown region beyond the
Rocky mountains to the Pacific slope. In
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 a southeast route
70 upper Colorado. He became stranded
in midwinter in a 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 a guide He
crossed them in forty days, reaching Sut-
ler's Fort, on the Sacramento, in March.
his men aud himself reduced almost 70
starvation.
Trouble with ATexicans
On March "a he resumed his tourney.
crossing the Sierra Nevadas, visited the
Salt lake again, and returned to Kansas
in July, 1874 He was brevetted captain
in January, 1s45, and began a third expedi-
tion 10 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 30 procure provisions. He left
his men in the San joaquin valley and pro
ceeded 30 Monterey to obtain from the
Mexican authorities permission to proceed
with hts expedition.
This was granted, bat revoked later. and
Fremont was ordered 10 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 Klamath lake, on May o. 1916, he
met with dispatches from Washington or
dering him to guard the interests Of the
United States in California, il being sus-
pected that Gen. Castro intended to destroy
American settlements on the Sacramento
Fremont went back to California, the set
tiers fiocked to his standard, and in less
than month northern California was free
from Mexican rule. On July 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
and civil governor OF the territory, war
having broken out between the United
States and Mexico. In 1S47 he concluded
articles Of capitulation, which terminated
the war, leaving the country in possession
Of the United States. About this time
Gen. kearny arrived from the west.
Fremont was under command Of Com
mender Stockton and kearny required him
TO disobey his orders He declined 20 do |
80 until the government directed Stockton |
to relinquish command to Kearny.
His Trouble with Kearny.
Fremont then gave his allegiance TO the |
latter, bat was treated disresnectfullv. and l
when the marty reached Fort LeaYenWorth /