The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-09

FREMONT RIDING DOWN THE KLAMATH WAR
RIOR.
ney by passing southwark and recrossing
the Sierra Nevada above Los Angeles. Great
Salt Lake was again reached in May, after
an absence of eight months. During that
time the expedition had travelled $500
miles, had endured the seventies of winter
in Oregon and northern California and
thoroughly explored the basin between the
Rockies and the Sierras.
In the spring of 1s45 Fremont started
with his third and last government expedi-
tion. Many Of his old companions joined
him, among them Cooley and Carson, the
noted scouts. Carson abandoned his valu-
able ranch on the Arkansas when the col
umn reached there and fell into line, such
was the respect he bore TO the young ten
derfoot" explorer. The party numbered GO
when Il reached Salt Lake. From there il
crossed the desert to the foot Of the Sierras.
1t was the dead of winter, and the men and
animals were too exhausted TO cross the
mountains. Fremont, with Is picked men,
made the trip to Suffers firm in 10 days,
and returned with supplies to succor the
main party, but II had moved south to
warmer region and reached the California
settlements
Fremont Immediately placed himself un-
der the orders Of Commodore Stockton and
engaged In the conquest Of California. He
was court martialed for technical dis
obedience Of orders, and resigned his COM
mission TO engage in a fourth expedition on
his own hook His aim was TO discover a
feasible route TO California for travel all
the year round. The voyageurs numbered
33. They crossed the country from Santa
Fe TO the Sierras through the lands Of the
fiery Comanches and Apaches, but were
stopped by the ofty mountains buried in
snow.
The guide pretended to have lost his way
and conducted the column to the highest
peaks. One-third of the men and horses
perished. and the survivors, reduced to the
extremity OF subsisting on human flesh,
fell back to Santa Fe. Still undaunted,
Fremont gathered up 30 more men, and in
the spring of 1S49 found good pass to
Southern California. Fremont was the
real leader and master of the band, though
he was n boy beside some of them His ca
reer as an explorer ended at the age of 80.
The wild party which rode into Monterey on
his third expedition was described by
British seaman, who chanced 70 be in port,
as follows:
Fremont rode ahcad--a spare, active
looking man. He was dressed in blouse
and leggings and wore felt hat. After
him came five Delaware Indians who were
his bodyguard through all his wsnderings.
The rest, many of them blacker than Indi-
ans, rode two and two, the rifle held by one
hand across the pommel OF the saddle The
dress of these men was principally long,
loose coat OF deerskin tied with thongs in
front; trousers OF the same Of their own
manufacture. They are allowed no liquor,
and the discipline is very strict"
On the march. with scouts ahead and on
the fianks, with an advance and rear guard,
and the noncombatants, pack animals,
baggage and horned cattle in the center,
the column looked rather like wandering
tribe in Asia than scientific expedition
hailing from civilized states.
When 10 came TO battle, Fremont was a
hero. In fight with the Klamaths, Carson's
rifle missed fire just as his Indian opponent
was drawing his bow. Fremont fired. but
missed also. Then he spurred his horse
and jumped him spon the Indian, throw
ing him over and causing the arrow 10
Gy wild. The savage was dispatched with
n war club, and the arrows in his quiver
were found to be steel-tipped and poisoned.
Fremont's quick daring saved Carson from
q terrible death GEORGE l.. KlLMEE.