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Frederick S. Dellenbaugh - The Romance of the Colorado River
Approaching was the dignitary referred to, lance in hand, and apparelled in official robes. The latter
consisted of a blanket thrown gracefully around him, and a magnificent head-dress of black plumage
covering his head and shoulders, and hanging down his back in a streamer, nearly to the ground. His pace
was slow, his eyes cast downward, and his whole demeanour expressive of formal solemnity. Upon his
right hand was the interpreter, upon his left a boy acting as page, and following was a long procession of
his warriors, attended by a crowd of men, women, and children."
Compliments and presents were exchanged and all was well. Meanwhile the men who had been capsized
with the boat were struggling to disentangle themselves from the waggon-box, and when freed they
gained support on the rope till the entire combination was pulled back to the shore. The whole party were
finally on the island and then used the same tactics in crossing the other deeper channel. Here they upset
the ferry three times and two persons came near being drowned. The Mohaves, who are good swimmers,
rendered prompt and efficient assistance in saving the floating wreckage. They were also supplied with
their kind of raft, made of bundles of rushes tied together with willow twigs (see cut on page 30), which
they handled dexterously. Such rafts were and are in use all the way from here to the gulf. By night the
expedition was safe on the western bank, the mules having swum over, and the flock of sheep, being
ferried in the boat. Several sheep were drowned, and these, with two live ones and a couple of blankets,
were conferred on those Mohaves who had helped in the crossing. The landing-place was a field of young
wheat, which was much damaged. The lieutenant willingly paid the moderate charge the owner made for
this, and there was no trouble; all the intercourse was perfectly amicable. But had he been imbued with
the trapper spirit he would probably have answered the request for payment with a fatal bullet, and then
would have followed a stampede of the stock, ambush, and all the rest which embroiders the history of the
trappers with such violently romantic colour.
Two or three years after the Whipple expedition, a waggon-road was surveyed (1837) along the 35th
parallel by E. F. Beale. He returned to the Colorado January 23, l858, about twelve miles north of
Whipple's Crossing. He had camped, several miles back from the Colorado, and starting early met his
clerk F. E. Kerlin returning from the river whither he had been sent to prepare the boat. The clerk had a
"joyful surprise" in news that the steamboat General Jesup, Captain George A. Johnson, was at the
crossing and waiting to convey the party across. Soon after the arrival of Beale's party the steamboat came
up to the bank, and taking on the men, baggage, and camels landed them on the opposite or eastern side.*
The mules were compelled to swim over. Then the General Jesup continued down stream "towards Fort
Yuma, 350 miles below." Johnson had with him Lieut. James White, 3d U. S. Artillery, fifteen soldiers
and "as many rugged mountain men" as escort. He had succeeded in navigating with the General Jesup as
far up the river as El Dorado Canyon, about sixty-eight miles below the mouth of the Virgin - that is, he
had gone clear through Black Canyon and thus holds the record for the first ascent of the Colorado with a
steamboat to the limit of steamboat navigation. This feat he executed with the avowed purpose of "getting
ahead" of Lieutenant Ives who had arrived December 1, 1857, at Robinson's Landing at the mouth of the
river, bringing an iron steamboat (as described in the next chapter) under orders from the War Department
to explore the Colorado as far as possible.
* Beale used camels on this expedition and considered them a success.
Johnson had been aware of his presence and intentions having been sent down from Fort Yuma with two
steamboats to transport certain supplies from the vessel which brought Lieutenant Ives. He had reached
the schooner December l7th. On January 2, 1858, he left Fort Yuma on his northward run knowing that
Ives could not follow him until the steamboat brought in sections could be completed.
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