AND

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES,

OR,

LIFE IN THE WEST.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

A VIEW OF THE STATES AND TERRITORIAL REGIONS

OF OUR

WESTERN EMPIRE:

EMBRACING

HISTORY, STATISTICS AND GEOGRAPHY,

AND DESCRIPTIONS OF

THE CHIEF CITIES OF THE WEST.

BY JOHN C. VAN TRAMP.

COLUMBUS, O.:

PUBLISHED BY SEGNER & CONDIT.
1870.

Bentley Historical
Library
University of Michigan

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by

1. F. SEGNER,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of Ohio.

STEREOTYPED AT THE FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, CINCINNATI

CONTENTS.

PART J.

INTRODUCTORY,

....

HISTORICAL SKETCH.-Discovery of the Mississippi, 1541-Spanish Posses-

sions in North America-French Possessions-Missions established-La

Salle's explorations, 1682-Jesuit College at Kaskaskia, 1721-Detroit

founded, 1701, by the French-French Military Posts-The Ohio explored,

1721-Laramie's Creek, the first English settlement in the West, 1749—

French War-English possess the country east of the Mississippi, 1763—

Louisiana settlements-Mississippi Company, 1718-Emigration-New Or-

leans founded-Louisiana ceded to Spain-Settlement of Kentucky-Navi-

gation of the Mississippi-Western Lands ceded-Ohio settled-Indian

Wars-Tennessee settled-Spain cedes to United States the right of Navi-

gation of the Mississippi, 1795-Louisiana ceded to France, 1800-Ceded

by France to United States, 1803—Territories organized-States admitted,. 15

PERILS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.-French Heroism-Indian Depredations-In-
cidents of Frontier Life,

........

EARLY HISTORY OF OHIO.-Settlement at Marietta-Character of the Early

Settlers-The Miami Country-French Settlement of Gallipolis-Other Set-

tlements-Adventures-Voyaging-Wild Scenery,....

85

...

43

PIONEERS OF TENNESSEE.-Settlements on the Holsten-Attacks of the Indians

-Military Expeditions-Treaties—Incidents, . . .

INDIAN ANTIQUITIES.--Mounds of Mississippi-Explorations-Mounds of Illi-

nois,......

THE MISSISSIPPI.-Schoolcraft's Discovery of its Source-Lake Pepin-The

Maiden's Rock, a Legend-St. Peters-Falls of St. Anthony-Brown's Falls

-Scenery of the Mississippi-Squatter Life-Commerce of the River-

Navigation, Floods, Floating Timber, Snags, Sawyers-Keelboats, Flatboats,

Rafts Characteristics of the Boatmen-Incidents-Robber Bands-Earth-

quakes-First Steamboat-Floating Palaces-Cosmopolitanism of the Pas-

sengers,

MISSOURI.-Early History-Settled by the French-St. Louis founded, 1764—

Attacked by the British and Indians, 1778-Cession of the Territory-Rapid

Increase-Natural Resources-Mineral Wealth-Lead Mines-Iron Moun-

tain-Soil and Productions,.

WESTERN SCENERY.-Forests-Prairie Landscape, its Verdure, Flowers, Pio-

turesque Groves-Prairie on Fire Winter Scene-Oak-openings--Rolling

Prairie-Table Lands-Flint Knobs-Salt Plains-Perpendicular Rocks-

Region of the Buffalo-Salt Licks-Habits of the Bison-Hunting-Indian

Method-Hunting Wild Horses-The Prairie Dog-Indian Village,..

THE OREGON REGION.-Discovery of the Columbia-Government Expedition-
Astoria and the Fur Trade-Fur-bearing Animals-The Pacific Fur Compa-
ny, its History-Fate of the Settlement-Missionaries' journey to Oregon-

........

Description of the Route-Sufferings and Perils

ucidents-Natural Curl-
osities-Great Soda Fountain-Deserts-Travels in Oregon-Otter Hunt-
ing-Elk Hunting-Personal Adventures,..

.......

The American Desert.—A Journey—Kit Carson—A Caravan-Equipments-

Incidents of Travel-Lost in the Desert-The Great Jornada-Sterile Re-

gion-Hostile Indians—A Tragedy-The Archilette Crossing Rivers-The

Wahsatch Mountains-Camping in the Snow-Scene of a Massacre-Taos-

Santa Fe Travels in New Mexico,...

184

172

PRAIRIE HUNTING.-The Buffalo-The Elk, or Wapiti-Methods of Hunting

Deer-The Panther-The Lynx-The Black Bear-Grizzly Bear-The Badger

-The Wolf-Hunting Adventures of John Palliser-A Hunter's Dog,..... 236

RED RIVER OF THE NORTH.-The Earl of Selkirk's Colony-The Rival Fur

Companies-Sufferings of the Settlers-The Plain Hunters,..

CALIFORNIA AND THE MINES.-Gold Discovered-Emigration-General Descrip-

tion of California-The Gold Region,....

......

REGION BETWEEN MISSOURI AND CALIFORNIA.-Kansas Territory-Western Kan-

sas-Rocky Mountain Region-Valley of the Upper Colorado-Utah Terri-

tory-Sierra Nevada-Mountain Passes-Advantages of this Route for a

Pacific Railroad,...

........

258

268

276

305

THE MORMONS.-Joe Smith-Discovery of the Golden Book-The New Revela-

tion-Real Origin of the Mormon Bible Church Organized-Emigrate to

Ohio-Remove to Jackson County, Missouri-Smith Tarred and Feathered

-The Mormons remove to Clay County-Troubles with the Missiourians-

Driven by a Mob across the Mississippi--Their Sufferings-They establish

themselves in Illinois-Build the City of Nauvoo-The Temple-Nauvoo

Legion-Internal Troubles-Civil War-Joe Smith Killed by a Mob-Brig-

ham Young appointed Head of the Church-Mobs-Another Mormon Exo-

dus to the Missouri-Description of the Dedication of the Temple at Nau-

voo-The Tabernacle Camps in the Wilderness-Arrive at the Great Salt

Lake, 1847-Government Established-The Country Described,...

PRAIRIE AND MOUNTAIN REGIONS EXPLORED.-Expedition of Fremont-The

Route-Adventures on the Prairies-Kit Carson-Hunting Buffalo-Indian

Village-St. Vrain's Fort-Dry Deserts-Fort Laramie-Hostile Indians-

Council-An Alarm - Independence Rock - The South Pass-Mountain

Lakes-Ascent of the Mountains-Perils-The Flag unfolded on the Sum-

mit-Descent-The Caverns-Perilous Navigation-Homeward Adventures, 322

JOURNEY FROM MISSOURI TO OREGON.-Preparations-The Start-The Route-
Incidents-Appearance of the Country-Boiling Springs-Bear River-The
Indians-Great Salt Lake-The Three Buttes-Fort Hall-Snake River-
The Columbia-Arrival at Fort Vancouver-Reception,....

THE PACIFIC REGION EXPLORED.-The Tlamath Lake-Indian Villages-Great

Basin-Hot Springs-Adventures-A Council-Deep Snows-Perilous Pas-

sage of the Mountains-Suffering from Cold and Hunger- Basch the Valley

of the Sacramento-Relief-Captain Sutter,....

875

418