Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-19
GENERAL FREMONT DEAD.

Somewhat sudden Death of tho "Path-
finder"-A brief Sketch OF His Llfe-His
ExplOratlonsint the Great West and North
west.
New York, July 14.-General John
c Fremont died at his home in this city
at four o'clock yesterday afternoon.
His death was very sudden and was
caused by peritohitis. General Fremont
was out on Friday and appeared to be
in good health. His son was notified
by telegraph OF his fathers death.
Those present at the time OF the death
were his son, LieutenantF. C Fremont
u. S. n, and Dr.. Morton. Mrs. General
Fremont and daughter are in Los An
geles, Cal, and another son, Captain
Fremont, is at Fort Smelling. MINI. At
the house last night were Colonel Por-
ter and Mrs. Porter, who was the Gen.
erals adopted daughter. General Free
mont was seventy-seven years and SIX
months old yesterday.
John Charles fremont was one OF the
noted characters In later American history.
He was born at Savannah, Ga. January II,
1919 He graduated at Charleston College
and entcrsd the army as Second Lieutenant.
For two years he taught mathematics on
board the sloop. of war Natchcz, received
his degree In 1885 and 5000 after passed q
rigorous examination for the post OF pro.
I ssor OF mathematics In the navy, and was
fsso Wing to qalt ihsS sea, he turned his at.
tcrtiop 70 ciyu engineering, and was en-.
rloyed 10 the Mississippi sui. Icy and simlisf
Undertakings. In 1870 he received from
President Van Buren, q commission as
Second Lieutenant In the corps OF topo-
graphical engineers, and was ordered to
make an examination of the river Des
Molnes upon the Western frontier.
He now proposed to penetrate the Rocky
mountains, and his plans being approved
OF, he reach and explored the South pass
In 1912, and he discovered the route to Cali
fornia, since followed by thousands. A
lofty peak which he assembled, 10. $50 feet
above the sea, Is now called Fremont's
Peak. His report of the expedition WIS
laid before Congress in the winter OF 1928,
and attracted great attention both ut home
and abroad. He Immediately planned u sec.
end expedition and determined to survey
the then unknown region lying between the
Rocky mountains and the Pacific ocean.
He commenced his journey in May. 1913. |
explored the Kansas river, crossed the |
South pass, and after LOO miles of travel.
ing, came, on September 6, In sight OF the
great Salt lake. OF which very vague and err. |
roneous notions were entertained. He pc.
lected a route leading to the upper Col.
orado, through an almost unknown region,
crc ssed by rugged mountain ridges. After
suffering the greatest hardships he deter
mined TO make Tor San Francisco instead OF
the United States, and when he could get no
Indian to guide him across the snow.cov-
cred mountains which lay between him and
the valleys OF California, he boldly under
took the passage without a guide He &c.
It In forty days, reaching SUIT
ter's Fort on the Sacramento early In March,
with his men almost reduced to skeletons.
In consideration OF his valuable services
Fremont was brevetted Captain In January,
;S45, and In the spring OF the same year set
nut on q third expedition TO explore the
great basin and the maritime region OF Cal.
fornia He took part In the war with Mexl.
20, and cleared the north part of California
rom Mexican troops. In 16i6 lie STATED
IN a fourth expedition, at his own expense,
rying to rind practicable passage 20 Cali
ornia along the upper waters OF the Rio
irande. In attempting to cross the great
sierra covered with snow, his guide lost his
way, and Fremont's party encoun cred hOr.
'ible suffering, being even driven to canni.
)alism to support lie, and losing one third
# their numbers. In 1919 he settled In Cali.
ornia.
He received In 1856 the first nomination
yer made by the Republican party for
resident In 1861 he was made Major.
General, and In 1861 was in action In Ken.
ucky and Virginia. In 1878 he was appointed
Governor OF Arizona. He held the position
ntll 1851.
His later years have been spent In quiet
etirement during which he devoted his
re to preparing memoirs OF his life.