The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-22

graph ciyee The point Of view Of the biog-
raphcr. writing In lSi5. and the point nj
view Of the student Of 1885 is vastly differ
ent from that OF 1865.
It will be recalled that. at lie time of
Pixies expeditions. nearly Il hundred years
ago. this West Mississippi Valley of ours
WAS a rev territory. a recent purchase. in
! deed. 4. short time before IL had been 4
| Spanish province. and the Latin peoples ia
! the southwest were not well pleased with
| the change that brought an immense ter
| Titory under the control Of the Anglo
/ saxons. Lieutenant Pike was to go to the
edge Of the Louisiana Purchase. and YET
prevent alarms CT otfense."
On this Journey Lieutenant Pike WIS ac-
| conparie1 by L professional gentleman,
Doctor Robinson. who had volunteered his
services. Embracing at St Louis July 10.
iSoS. Lieutenant Pike proceeded up the Mis-
souri,. his party travelling in two large
heats. About the middle Of August they
reached the Usage country. where the re-
deemed captives were restored 10 their rel
atives and friends.
He came to the Pawnee towns about the
1st of October. and found the Indians rath-
er uuf-ien6ly. Spanish influence vas strong
with them. It was at these towns that he
found indisputable evidence of a recent
visit II Spanish or Mexican troops amount
ing to about 100. After passing the Arkan-
sas. Lieutenant Pike first noticed wild
horses. animals which probably descended
from CorteZ's -ATdalusians.
on November II the blue peaks Of the
Mexican Mountains were deserted. He was
now ascending the branches of the Arkan-
sas, IND near the heads OF them. he threw
~ a small bre2stwork for the protection
of his men and then proceeded. with Doctor
Robinson and two privates. toward the
mountains which had been so long in view.
in order To ascertain more truly their char
acter and position. During this excursion
he endured much suffering from cold and
exhaustion. Snow and ice ~cortinually inn
Deded his progress, and one Of his men be-
came frost-bitten. lie ascended nne of the
peaks with great toll. whence he mad 4
view Of the Grand Peak, some fifteen miles
distant.
Here. then. is the account Of the discov-
cry of Pixies Peak in 1Smi. In 1919 the
Grand Peak was not 50 familiar to .Amcri-
cans as it ms now. The Mexican Noun
tains'' are no longer Mexican. but the
American Rockies.
The story OF the adventures of the party
from hcnccforward is one Of wanderinSs,
hardships and romance, looking back
through tho vista of years. At that time,
however, 1t WAS IA dangerous affair. and the
romance was not apparent. Food gave out.
they were in a country covered with snow
and ice and their clothing was insufficient.
After a time the party reached n stream
which was supposed to be the Red River
and where they cncamlcd and built a small
fort.
Several days were consumed in finishing
this work. when Doctor Robinson. in pur-
Susnce of a previously coucoctcd scheme,
set out alone for Santa Fe. This extraor-
binary journey. Undertaken in such an I'M
protected manner and without any distinct
idea of the bearing and distance Of the
place from Lieutenant Pixies. present en-
Campment. showed :. spirit Of enterprise
ana hardinoOd that rendered Doctor Robin
son a worthy coadjutpr OF his principal in
this periiris expedition. Il appears by Il
note Of explanation by Lieutenant Pike in
his journal that a claim on some merchant
of Santa Fe had been put into his hands TO
collect, should a fitting opportunity occur.
1t was transferred to Doctor Robinson, who
was to make ii Il rreteXt for "A visit to the
place and "a cover for observing its trade
and resources for the benefit of his country
men. He regarded the excursion as Il ro-
mantle adventure, and in that mood de-
tached himself from the protection of his
friend and commanding officer.
1T was to this little fort that Spanish Off
GERS came. lieutenant Pike was Informed
that the Governor Of Santa Fe, hearing
that he had lost his rocte, had sent 10 him
to offer such assistance as might be ne.,es-
sary TO enable him to reach the Red River,
the nayigable parts of which were eight
days journey from Santa Re. This was tho
first intirnation that the party was not al
ready on that river. and Lieutenant Pix
was surprised TO learn that his little fort
was upon the Rio del Norte. within the
hounds OF Mexico. This explanation was
followed by a polite hint that the Governor
wished to see him at Santa fe in order to
understand the cause OF his having taken
military possession Of Spanish ground.
Lieutenant Pike saw the advisability OF
receiving this show OF courtesy with all
politeDess, and went with The Spaniards to
Santa Fe. He found that city to have 2
population of about 4.Sp. The Governor was
suspicious. because Of ,he news Of the