42 ELDORADO 



they diverged, the Oregon route going to the right and 

 that to Salt Lake and CaHfornia to the left. 



Gen. John C. Fremont, one of the most heroic figures 

 in the past generation in the history of frontier life 

 and in the field of explorations, had some of his most 

 notable experiences in this locality, while in the employ 

 of the government as topographical engineer and bot- 

 anist, in the year 1843-4. He ascended the highest 

 peak of the Rocky Mountains visible from this point, 

 13,570 feet above the waters of the Gulf of Mexico 

 and since known as Fremont's Peak, on the highest 

 point of which the bee was caught and pressed be- 

 tween the leaves of his journal. Rock Independence is 

 isolated and of granite formation, 500 or 600 yards in 

 length and 40 in height. Everywhere within six or 

 eight feet of the ground, where the surface is sufficient- 

 ly smooth, and in some places 60 or 80 feet above, the 

 rock is inscribed with the names of travelers. Many 

 of these are famous in the history of this country, and 

 some are well known to science. Names of traders, 

 missionaries among the savages, and emigrants, in- 

 cluding those of our own party, can be seen there, some 

 partially obliterated, but the greater portion impervious 

 to the storms that beat against them. That of General 

 Fremont and the large cross he imprinted upon the 

 smooth surface of this remarkable rock were written 

 with tar and melted rubber. 



The surrounding country was bare of vegetation, not 

 a tree was in sight except in the distance along the 

 slopes or in the canyons of the mountains.. 



The great evaporation on the sandy soil of this ele- 

 vated plain and the alkali or saline efflorescences which 

 whitened the ground and shone like lakes glistening 



