The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-06
TELLS WHEN PRIEST
EXPLORED STATE
Chaplain Harris Says EscaIante
Made Trip Through Utah
in 1776.

The Rev. w. r. Harris, chaplain OF the
Kearns-St. AIMS orphanage, read an In
teresting paper before the Utah Archaeo-
logical society at the Y. NJ G. A. rooms
Thursday evening on when the Span
iards Came TO Utah.
The Rev. Mr.. Harris described minute
ly the area of the great basin and con-
tiguous territory as an Introduction TO
his proof that Escalante, Catholic
priest, in 17I6 explored Utah. In sub
stance he said:
THE occasion for the exploration OF
Utah by Father Escalante was the find
ing of a route from Sonora. Mexico. to
Monterey. Why he Travelled far north
is explained on the ground that, having
become interested In this territory and
it's Indians. he decided to explore it..
Expeditions had shortly before been made
along the Colorado river and the desire
was kindled to know more of the coun-
try farther north
Leaves on Mission
Father Silvestre Valez Escalante con-
tended that the desired road should be
sought through the country Of the Yutas.
were we'll intrenched in southern Cali
fornia- and II WAS desired 10 find a route
from the ella river to Monterey to save
expenses In carrying supplies from the
central west. June 20, 1776. Escalante
left for his long. journey and soon ar
rived at Santa Fe. and after month
spent In planning the trip he departed
on the wonderful mission.
III Is a noteworthy fact that four Ian
guages have contributed to the names OF
the rivers. valleys and mountains OF
Utah. namely. Spanish, French Canadian.
English and Indian
Coming back to the journey begun in
the summer OF lT76, II is interesting to
trace the steps of Escalante from Santa
Fe into Colorado to Durango thence to
Green river points. along the route of
the Denver Rio Grande railway Fol-
lowing Green river the expedition sIeirtcd
the southern portion Of Uncompahgre res
ervstion
and: August 25. 1776. he arrived al the
town Of Green River From Green River
he followed the Duchesne river. finally
reaching Strawberry creek. Then he
climbed the mountains separating Utah
lake and Green river drainage. The party
went down Spanish Fork canyon and then
followed Utah lake; along the west side.
TO point from which Jordan river as
1t cuts through the mountain. could be
seen"
Corrects General Impression.
The Rev. Mr.. Harris In thus having
Escalante enter Utah valley by way OF
Spanish Fork canyon, corrects the gem
eral impression that his entrance was
down Provo canyon September 25. 1916,
thsn seaante ne LEI. the trne Of the hugunas
Inferior to the real Yutas and lived
mainly on fish from the lake. These are
the Piute Indians. whom Escalante de-
scribed as mthy and as eating 9rasshop-
pers and snakes.
The Rev Mr.. Harris also corrected the
often-quuted statement concerning Baron
Lahontans discovery OF Great Salt lake
and gave facts to prove that the salt
lake which the baron discovered was an
entirely different lake.
The Rev Mr. Harris has spent con-
siderable labor in ferreting out from old
diaries and other Spanish data. an en-
crossing array of historical facts which
tenn 10 establish that TO Padre Esca lantc
belongs the distinction Of being the frs,
white man to see Utah lake and ada
cent territory.