The Colorado River 
150 
In 1852 the steamer Uncle Sam was brought out on a 
schooner from San Francisco and put together at the mouth 
of the river, but after a few months she struck a snag and went 
to the bottom, while her owner, Turnbull, was on the way 
from San Francisco with new machinery for her. Turnbull 
came in the schooner Genei'al Patterson^ which was bearing 
stores for the fort. When the Patterson arrived at the mouth 
of the Colorado, she was able to sail easily up the river for 
thirty-three miles because Turnbull was met by some of his 
men who had been left here to take soundings, and for the 
One of the Parks on the Kaibab. 
Photograph by T. Mitchell Prudden. 
first time a vessel was sailing with some knowledge of the 
channel. The river, however, was unusually high, which was 
an advantage. The wide flatlands on both sides were inun¬ 
dated to a distance of fifteen miles. The current ran at a 
seven- or eight-mile rate and was loaded with floating snags and 
tree-trunks to repel the invader. In proceeding in a small boat 
to the fort, Turnbull, in a distance of 120 miles, found but two 
dry spots on the bank where he could camp. 
A new steamer was soon afloat on this fickle and impetuous 
tide, the General Jesiip, owned by Captain Johnson, who had 
now had three or four years’ experience in this navigation and 
