EIvDORADO 49 



of astronomical and barometrical observations had been 

 lost in a moment." 



A part of the articles mentioned above were recov- 

 ered, but the greater portion were not. General Fre- 

 mont had on his expeditions, a mountain howitzer and 

 from forty to fifty men well armed, as a defense against 

 the Indians. In crossing the Sierra Nevada in '44 

 he was compelled to leave the howitzer in the snow, 

 where one-half of his stock and a number of his men 

 lost their lives. The last food eaten before reaching 

 Sutter's fort on that occasion was pea soup, dog and 

 mule meat. 



I had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with 

 General Fremont, who was familiarly known as the 

 "Great Path-finder;" also with some of his most noted 

 mountaineer guides, of whom I shall speak later on. 



It may not be generally known that Mrs. Fremont 

 and daughter are at present residing in Los Angeles 

 In 1856. when her husband ran for president of the 

 United States, her name was familiar in every home 

 in the land as "our Jessie Benton Fremont." She is a 

 woman greatly beloved by all who have the pleasure of 

 her acquaintance. She wrote the life of her distin- 

 guished husband and has done riiuch other literary 

 work. Her father, the Hon. Thornas H. Benton of 

 Missouri, was for thirty years a leading member of 

 the United States Senate and at one time was urged 

 for the Democratic presidential nomination. Mrs 

 Fremont, in her quiet home, is alwavs glad to welcome 

 anv of the old friends of the General. 



Our first dav at packing was one not easilv for- 

 gotten. Tt proved interesting and tried the patience of 

 hnth man and beast. Our girths, or cinches, were of 



