ELDORADO 47 



little of which to complain. Probably no part of the 

 journey presented a more discouraging aspect than 

 around Independence Rock, where many were com- 

 pelled to leave both animals and wagons, and travel 

 with what they could carry upon their backs. I have 

 referred to Gen. J. C. Fremont's explorations as United 

 States topographical engineer in the years 1843-4 in 

 this region. The following incident not only illus- 

 trates the indiflference to danger in the discharge of 

 duty that characterized frontier men, but shows some- 

 what the character of the high altitudes as one ap- 

 proaches the head waters of the streams that take their 

 rise in the Rocky Mountains. 



At the junction of the Sweetwater and North Platte 

 the waters pass between perpendicular rocks from 300 

 to 500 feet high, forming a narrow' dark canyon seven 

 or eight miles long, with numerous falls and danger- 

 ous rapids. 



In pursuance of his instructions to make a thorough 

 survey of the Platte river, General Fremont entered the 

 canyon with a rubber boat with five men, his instru- 

 ments for taking observations, blankets, books, papers 

 and journal of his expedition, etc. After passing several 

 dangerous falls in safety, he writes in his narrative : 



'"To go back was impossible. Before us the cataract 

 was a sheet of foam and shut up in the chasm of the 

 rocks, which in some places seemed to meet overhead. 

 The roar of the waters was deafening. We pushed 

 off again, but after making a little distance the force 

 of the current became too great for the men on shore 

 and two of them let go of the rope attached to the 

 stern of the boat. Lajeunesse, the third man. hung on 

 and was jerked head foremost into the river from a 



