RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN IN
“DREAM WEST”
© 2002. Okihei Enterprise, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Tribute to Richard Chamberlain

 
Throughout the reports of John Charles Frémont's first and second expeditions, 
elevations are given for points reached on the routes, 
of passes through the mountains, and of mountain peaks. 

The measurement of heights, with reference to sea- level, is called hypsometry. 
In becoming a topographical engineer, Frémont had received training under 
Joseph Nicholet in this science. 

In order to trace the route of the expedition it is necessary to understand what 
was involved in making altitude determinations, and how much importance 
they must be given in deciding on a locality that is identified as being of 
some particular elevation.

In Frémont's time, a series of tables in booklet form, or a dedicated slide rule 
provided by the instrument maker, would ordinarily have been used to compute 
the altitude from the barometrical observation, but, even when using tables, 
many calculations must be made to interpolate between the given points.


 Gold Medal personally presented to Frémont by Baron von Humboldt.

 

 

 
More information about Fremont's instruments!

 

 

 
As the men move westward they meet up with 
a group of trappers who warn Frémont and 
Carson that their expedition is headed 
into Sioux Indian territory. 

The Sioux are on the warpath and 
ready to scalp any white men they come across. 
Nonetheless Frémont makes the 
decision to move forward.

 

 

 

 
After a heated discussion with Kit Carson, 
Frémont decides to ride out to the Sioux camp and explain to them that his group is simply a mapping expedition intent on causing the Indians no harm. 

The Sioux Chief, after seeing that there are 
only seventeen men in Frémont's group, 
realizes that Frémont's men can't possibly cause
the Sioux any trouble.

He welcomes them to the Sioux campsite.


 

 

 

 

 
After a wrestling, as well as, a bow and arrow exhibition by Indians,
Frémont puts on his own pistol-shooting exhibition. Following Frémont's 
display of his shooting skills, the Sioux Chief declares him a blood brother.

Meanwhile back in Washington D.C. Jessie meets briefly with her father
and informs him that she has going to have a baby.
The news doesn't change Senator Benton's angry feelings 
towards his daughter and son-in-law. 

High in the mountains outside of South Pass, Frémont explains to Kit Carson
the deep satisfaction he derives from charting the stars and he explains 
his dreams for future expeditions.

 

After a heavy struggle with snow and ice they reach "Frémont's peak" 

 

 

 

 
Then they decide to go by boat........
The boat is racing downstream toward the rapids. 
Miraculously it is coming over the falls without
capsizing. Finally they are making it to the shore.

Kit Carson finds the important documents after 
their raft had overturned it in the rapids.

At the Frémont house in Washington D.C. , 
Charles receives a warm welcome home from 
Jessie who is enormously pregnant. 
Jessie tells Charles that her father, 
Senator Benton is still not talking to her even 
though he knows she's about to have a baby.


Jessie gives birth to a baby girl called Lily and 
Charles presents Jessie the Expedition flag 
she had made for his journey, because she 
climbed the highest mountain of them all.

 

 

 
You gave us the most beautiful baby in the world

NEXT PART FOUR DREAM WEST