The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-11
1ONUMENT TO PATHFINDER" FREMONT AND HIS
== - COMPANIONS MAY BE ERECTED IN DENVE]

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY
Out In Colorado they are talking Of erect
ing monuments to the men who accom-
panied the great Pathfinder" John c. Ere
mont. on his four expeditions into the
Rocky Mountains. One Of the suggestions
IS for monuments In the city park Of Dem
yer to Fremont. Kit Carson. Bill Williams.
Jim Bridser. Jim Baker. Thomas f Breck-
inridee. o. p. Virgins and the other in
domitabls men who found and revealed the
secrets OF the Rockies for the white man
They were deeds worthy Of monuments
those performed by tho companions OF the
pathfinder" Loneliness, cold, hunger.
danger Of death from accident, wild animals
and the weapons OF sulking Indians. these
in all their intricate details and nerve
taxing, strengthening. heart-taxing reali-
~, were the lot OF Fremont and his fell
low explorers. But In none Of the expedi-
lions were hardship and danger and death
more terribly present than on the fourth
one which had its inception and beginning
IN ST. Louis.
That was In 1S4S the year before the
reat gold discoveries In California drew
treasure seeking mankind across the conti-
nent In a wave which overcame the OBJ
stacles OF roadless plains. painless wilder
nssses and trackless mountains.
Early In ls4s st. Louis men became inter
asted In q scheme to construct a railway
along the thirty-elshth parallel, and
through the advice and assistance Of his
father-in-law Thomas H Benton, and
wealthy St. Louis citizens. Fremont. under
took the preliminary location. Tho route
OF the Missouri Pacific. Denver and Rio
Grands and Rio Grands Western roads
leads in the path Fremont should have
pursued 1t Is Q noticeable fact that this
route. cow under control OF the Missouri
Pacific with headquarters In st. Louis. is
an accomplished fact The line between St.
Louis and Salt Lake 10 at last completed
and fifty years after its inception the dream
Of Fremont Is realized.
BY September Fremont had completed all
the preliminary work that could be done in
Ct. Louis, and took the first step on his
memorable journey. With his wife he went
to westport. No.. then the recognized
Western border Of civilization. There were
q few forts and settlements further to the
west: but they were only for traders and
trappers. When Westport was passed. civil
ization was left behind. At Westport FIRE.
mont made his fnal preparations. He was
equipped as thoroughly as the means OF
that time provided. and when finally. late
in October. he babe goodby to his wife and
started for the Rockies he took with him
thirty-thres OF his old companions-among
the best and hardest OF the famous from
tiersmen OF the 40s-an 10 Missouri mules
laden with provisions. company outfits.
ammunition and surgery instruments.
Advised to Turn Back,
but Continued His Journey.
The arst stopping place Of Importance be-
yond westport was old Fort Bent. one
Of tho most interesting gathering places of
early days in the Valley Of the Arkansas
The fort was a private trading post, located
800 miles from Westport on the bank OF the
Arkansas River. This fort was for twenty
years-from 1893 to 1s52-the principal place
on the Upper Arkansas River and many |
st,rr,nx scenes were witnessed around the
old post. Traders sometimes found as many
a. 5000 Indians camped in the neighbor-
hood ana the free trappers of the Rocky
Mountains made the fort their headquarters
when not pursuing their dangerous labors-
The expeditions engaged in the Mexican
War camped at old Fort Bent. and Kit
Carson was for years the principal hunter
Tor the fort
To-day the spot can scarcely be identified. |
as the post was burned in 1852. 1t had been
offered to the Government for $4,000 by
Colonel Bent The representative Of the
Government offered $1,000. Al q pique. the
owner removed the merchandise except
several kegs Of gunpowder. and set fire to
ne buildings An explosion followed and |