2012 Issue

64 atmosphere was filled with a thick a haze that our hopes were wholly disappointed. After resting under the shadow of some wide spreading cedar trees the first shade we had enjoyed for months the summit of the peak was cleared and a circular wall built five feet high of stone upon the top of which was erected a triangulation station of wood covered with cloth. An attempt was made to take some observations here with the theodolite but the atmosphere was so filled with vapour that they were not at all satisfactory. In finalizing this immense survey in the Salt Lake Valley, Stansbury and Gunnison com- piled the details of their survey: • The selection and measurement of a base line, six miles in length. • The erection of twenty-four principal triangulation stations • The survey of the Great Salt Lake, the shore line of which, exclusive of offsets, extends to 291 miles • The survey of the islands in the lake, 96 miles • The survey of Utah lake, 76 miles • The survey of the River Jordan connect- ing the two lakes and some tributaries, 50 miles • The observations from different tri- angular stations, extending from the northern extremity of the Salt Lake to the southern boundary of the valley of Lake Utah, comprising an area of more than five thousand square miles, and involving the necessity of traversing a large extent of country, both by land and by water. Before leaving the Salt Lake Valley and heading back to Fort Leavenworth, Captain Stansbury paints yet another remarkable picture about Salt Lake City and the Mor- mon people: Before taking leave of the Mormon community whose history had been the subject of no little interest in the country, I cannot avail myself of the opportunity again to acknowledge the kindness and generous hospitality which was ever extended to the party during a sojourn of rather more than a year among them. The most disinterested efforts were made to afford us both, personally and officially, all the aids and facilities within the power of the people, as well to forward our labours as to contribute our comfort and enjoyment. Official invitations were sent by authorities to the officers of the party while engaged in duty on the lake to participate in the celebration of their jubilee, on the 24th of July, and an honourable position assigned them in the procession on that occasion. Upon our final departure, we were followed with the kindest expressions of regard, and of anxious hopes for the safety and welfare of the party upon its homeward journey. The Death of Captain John Williams Gunnison Now acting as Captain, Gunnison’s next sur- vey expedition proves to be a tragicmission that is still clouded in mystery to this day. He received orders on May 20, 1853 from Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War. Those orders were to survey lands between the 38 th and 39 th parallels of north latitude from Kansas to California for railway expansion. This would be Gunnison’s first, and sadly, last expedition as a Captain in the United States Army. Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith’s Account On October 25, 1853, Captain Gunnison split off the main camp with a few men and an armed escort to survey along the Sevier River. Gunnison’s second in command, First Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, was left in charge of the rest of the camp that stayed behind. News made it back to Lieutenant Beckwith of an Indian massacre the following morn- ing in Gunnison’s camp approximately 18 miles away fromBeckwith’s camp. What fol- lows is Lieutenant Beckwith’s understanding of the events on themorning of October 26, 1853 in Gunnison’s camp: The sun had not yet risen, most of the party being at breakfast, when the surrounding quietness and silence of this vast plain was broken by the discharge of a volley of rifles and a shower of arrows through that devoted camp, mingled with the savage yells of a large band of Pah-Utah Indians almost in the midst of the camp; for, under cover of the thick bushes, they had approached undiscovered to within twenty-five yards of the camp-fires. The surprise was complete. At the first discharge, the call to ‘seize your arms’ had little effect. All was confusion. Captain Gunnison, stepping from his tent, called to his savage murderers that he was their friend; but this had no effect. They rushed into camp, and only those escaped who succeeded in mounting on horseback, and even then they were pursued for many miles. The horse of one fell near camp, tumbling his rider under a bush, where he lay for six or seven hours, while the Indians were passing himon every side, until finally he could no longer hear them near him or in the camp, when he left, and was met soon afterwards by Capt. Morris’ party, which reached the fatal spot just before night. Two Indians were seen a mile or two from camp by Lieutenant Baker and Mr. Potter, brother of the guide, but they were not able to come up with them before night enabled them to escape. The bodies of the slain were not all found at dark, and hope still lingered as a bright fire was built to assure any survivor of safety. But the long weary night, rendered hideous by the howling of wolves, wore away, as this little band of armed men, barely larger than that JOHN WILLIAMS | continued from page 63