600 TRANS. OF THE ACAD. OF SCIENCE, 



statement in answer to direct questions noted down at the 

 time. 



NARRATIVE. 



James White, now living at Callville, on the Colorado 

 River, formerly a resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in- 

 duced to join a small party for the San Juan region, west of 

 the Rocky Mountains, in search of placer gold diggings. 

 The original party was composed of four men, under the 

 command of a Capt. Baker. 



The party left Fort Dodge on the 13th of last April, and 

 after crossing the plains, completed their outfit for the San 

 Juan country in Colorado City, leaving that place on the 20th 

 of May. Proceeding by way of South Park and the Upper Ar- 

 kansas, they crossed the Rocky Mountains, passing round the 

 head waters of the Rio Grande, till they reached the Animas 

 branch of the San Juan River. Here their prospecting for 

 gold commenced, and being only partially successful, they 

 continued still farther to the west, passing the Dolores and 

 reaching the Mancas, which latter stream was followed down 

 to the main valley of the San Juan. Crossing the San Juan 

 at this point, they continued down the valley in a westerly 

 direction for about 200 miles, when the river entered a 

 canon. Here they again crossed to the north bank, and 

 leaving the river passed across a mountain ridge aiming to 

 reach the Colorado River. In a distance of 50 miles over a 

 very rugged country, they reached this latter stream, or rather 

 its main eastern tributary, Grand River. At the point where 

 they first struck the river it was inaccessible on account of 

 its steep rocky banks; they accordingly followed up the 

 stream in search of a place where water couFd be procured. 

 At an estimated distance of 12 miles they came upon a side 

 canon down which they succeeded in descending with their 

 animals, and procuring a supply of water. They camped at 

 the bottom of this ravine on the night of the 23d of August, 

 and on the morning of the 24th, started to ascend the right 

 bank to the table land. In making this ascent they were 

 attacked by Indians, and Capt. Baker, being in advance, was 

 killed at the first fire. The two remaining men, James 

 White and Henry Strole, after ascertaining the fate of their 

 comrade, fought their way back into the callon, and getting 

 beyond the reach of the Indians, hastily unpacked their ani- 

 mals, securing their arms and a small supply of provisions, 

 and proceeded on foot down to the banks of Grand River. 

 Here they constructed a raft of dry cottonwood, composed 

 of three sticks, 10 feet in length and 8 inches in diameter, se- 

 curely tied together by lariat ropes, and having stored away 

 their arms and provisions, they embarked at midnight on their 

 ail venturous voyage. 



