The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-11-12
FREMoNT's CARAVAN pRo.Ecr.
Across the American Desert Before the
Iron Track Was Thought OF.

Across the American Desert Before the
Iron Track Was Thought OF.
Ms. II. A. Bingham, widow of the
late Gen. Bingham, met Gen. John G.
Fremont In Kansas City Ia the days
before the war, and has many incidents
TO relate of the Pathfinder. One of
the most interesting refers TO the meet
ing of Senator Benton and Gen. Ere
mont in this city forty years ago to
discuss the establishment of caravan
route to California.
II met Gen. Fremont along in the
fifties. /" remarked Mrs. Bingham. .sHe
came here and stopped several days at
the famous Gillis house. remember
taking dinner with him. He was re-
garded as a brave, adventurous, daring
sPFato aop.%s %5sla9ksg s. d RRap g bI@ ho Sssz mHsh
AT the time Gen. Fremont was in Kan
sas City planning for caravan to travel
across the great American desert. His
right hand man in this project was
Lieut.. Beale, a civil engineer, educated
at West Point. The father-in-law of
Gen, Fremont, Senator Benton. was
also here, and regarded the caravan
scheme with favor. They proposed to inn
port camels from Africa and use them in
transporting goods overland along the
route known as the Santa Fe trail. The
camels were imported at a considerable
expense, but the trip was found i'm
practicable. The camels could not
stand the climate. 1t was proposed to
winter them In Texas or Southern Cali
fornia, but the project fell through,
and the promoters of the scheme lost
considerable money.
II shall never forget" continued
Mrs. Bingham, how one bright sunny
morning Gen. Fremont rode away from
Kansas City ON his way to California.
looking every inch soldier in his
handsome uniform and military trap
pings. Refining his steed to one side, he
said iaughingly to me; When 1 come
back, get your saddle ready and I will
give you a ride on one of my camels. >
I never had the privilege of taking that
ride. Gen. Fremont soon forgot the
camel scheme, and went off to new
fields. The camel idea seemed perfect
ly feasible and practicable, but the idea
OF a Pacific railroad seemed preposter-
GUS. While discussing the caravan pro-
tect Senator Benton said to me: You
are young. but you will live to see the
Iron cars start from Kansas City and
cross the mountains to the Pacific slope.
l am old. I shall never live to see ii.
But i have confidence in the country.
and believe In the future of the rail-
road. This little town of 800 inhab-
itants win yet become one of the great
cities of the world
II could not comprehend such a
project 1 was surprised at It's magni-
tude. Visions of my school days of
the great American desert, second only
to Sahara in size, the Biographies said.
came fitting through my brain, and /
remarked:
But, senator, how about the great
American deserti How can they ever
cross itF
That is nothing he replied.
Standing in the moonlight on the por-
tico of the famous old GiIlis house.
impressive and majestic In manner, the
aged senator has seemed to me ever
since prophet. The caravan, which
seemed so plausible, a failure-the Pa
cific road, which seemed so far away. a
success. Who can tell what to expect r.
Kansas City Times.