HUMAN TENACITY TO LIFE. 339 



with some curious specimens of ligneous petrifiactions. Ttie only indica- 

 tion of minerals observable, was that of iron and coal. 



The entire section from Beaver to Cherry creek possesses nearly the 

 same geological and mineralological character. Its indigenous produc- 

 tions are such as are common to the mountain prairies, and are found in 

 equal abundance ; — a remark which will also apply to its game. 



As a whole, perhaps two-thirds of it might be cultivated, to some extent, 

 were it not for unseasonable frosts ; and all of it might be turned to good 

 account for stock-raising. 



The next day we bade farewell to our Indian friends, (leaving behind us 

 one of our number, who chose to accompany them to the Fort,) and again 

 launched forth upon the broad expanse. Bearing a course west-northwest, 

 about noon of the second day we struck Cherry creek, some thirty-five or 

 forty miles above its mouth ; — thence, crossing the lofty plateaux, on the 

 west, with two or three intervening creeks, toward evening of the third 

 day we reached the Platte river at its exit from the mountains. 



Our intention was to enter the mountains and spend a few weeks in 

 deer-hunting ; but, the river proving impassable, on account of high water, 

 we were compelled to forego that purpose for tiie present, and accordingly 

 started for Fort Lancaster to procure a re-supply of ammunition. 



Continuing down the Platte, on the third day we reached our destination, 

 and were kindly received, though humorously rallied upon our way-worn 

 and forlorn appearance. Nor were we backward to join the laugh, occa- 

 sionally retorting, when the jocose current set too strong against us, 

 " Well, what do you know about warl — You've never been to Texas !" 



The 6th of July dated our arrival, — the glorious fourth having been spent 

 in plodding over a broad prairie, on foot, with rifles upon our shoulders and 

 packs upon our backs. By comparison, I concluded my fortune had slight- 

 ly improved since July 4th of the preceding year, which found me in a 

 cheerless prairie, on foot, packing my bed, almost naked, without knife or 

 gun, or having had a mouthfuU to eat for two days previous. 



Capt. Fremont, elsewhere spoken of, had just arrived from the States on an 

 expedition to Oregon, ordered by the United States Government, and brouirht 

 intellig:ence of an exL-tino- armistice between Mexico and Texas. Accom- 

 •panying his party was one whom I tecognized as an old acquaintance 

 of other lands, the first and only one I had the pleasure of meeting with 

 during my long sojourn in the country. 



July 11 th, witnessed the death of an old mountaineer at Fort Lancas- 

 ter, who came to his end from the effects of a pistol wound received in a 

 drunken frolic on the 4th. The ball entered the back about two inches 

 below the heart, severely fracturing the vertebrae and nearly severing the 

 spinal marrow. 



He lived just one week succeeding the occurrence, but meanwhile suf- 

 fered more than the agonies of death. His body below the wound was en- 

 tirely devoid of feeling or use from the first, and, as death preyed upon him 

 by piecemeal, he would often implore us vvitli most piteous and heart-melt- 

 ing appeals kindly to ease his miseries by hastening his end. The mur- 

 derer was left at large, and in two or three weeks subsequent accompanievl 

 Capt. Fremont to Oregon. 



