Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand CanyonDrawing on rarely examined diaries and journals, Down the Great Unknown is the first book to tell the full, dramatic story of the Powell expedition. On May 24, 1869 a one-armed Civil War veteran, John Wesley Powell and a ragtag band of nine mountain men embarked on the last great quest in the American West. The Grand Canyon, not explored before, was as mysterious as Atlantis—and as perilous. The ten men set out from Green River Station, Wyoming Territory down the Colorado in four wooden rowboats. Ninety-nine days later, six half-starved wretches came ashore near Callville, Arizona. Lewis and Clark opened the West in 1803, six decades later Powell and his scruffy band aimed to resolve the West’s last mystery. A brilliant narrative, a thrilling journey, a cast of memorable heroes—all these mark Down the Great Unknown, the true story of the last epic adventure on American soil. |
Contents
| 1 | |
THE LAUNCH | 23 |
ASHLEY FALLS | 37 |
PARADISE | 53 |
SHILOH | 69 |
HELLS HALF MILE | 91 |
FIRE | 105 |
HOAX | 127 |
TO THE TAJ MAHAL | 193 |
TIMES ABYSS | 215 |
SOCKDOLAGER | 239 |
MISERY | 259 |
DELIVERANCE | 275 |
Notes | 293 |
Bibliography | 341 |
Index | 355 |
Other editions - View all
Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and ... Edward Dolnick No preview available - 2003 |
Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and ... Edward Dolnick No preview available - 2002 |
Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and ... Edward Dolnick No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
adventure Andy Hall Ashley Author interview barometer boatmen boulders Bradley wrote Bradley's camp cañon Cataract Civil cliffs climb Colorado River crew danger debris flow desert Disaster Falls downstream drowned Dunn Emma Dean Exploration feet geology Ghiglieri Glen Canyon Glen Canyon Dam gorge Grand Canyon granite Green River Green River Station Hall hard Hawkins hundred Ibid Indians John Wesley Powell journal July July 13 June June 9 Lee's Ferry Little Colorado Little Colorado River look lost Major Powell Manly miles nearly never noted Oramel Howland portage Powell expedition Powell wrote Powell's boats pulled rain rapid Risdon river diary river runner roar rocks rope seemed Shiloh shore side soldiers spot Stanton story stream stretch Sumner wrote sweep oars thousand trip Uinta Uinta River upstream Utah walls Walter Powell waves West whirlpools white-water
Popular passages
Page 16 - The region last explored is, of course, altogether valueless. It can be approached only from the south, and after entering it there is nothing to do but to leave. Ours has been the first, and will doubtless be the last, party of whites to visit this profitless locality.
Page 267 - ... perpendicular cliffs rise, one above another, to the summit. The gorge is black and narrow below, red and gray and flaring above, with crags and angular projections on the walls, which, cut in many places by side canons, seem to be a vast wilderness of rocks.
Page 51 - Singing, or rather shouting, we dashed along; and were, I believe, in the midst of the chorus, when the boat struck a concealed rock immediately at the foot of a fall, which whirled her over in an instant. Three of my men could not swim, and my first feeling was to assist them, and save some of our effects; but a sharp concussion or two convinced me that I had not yet saved myself.
Page 293 - The river rolls by us in silent majesty; the quiet of the camp is sweet; our joy is almost ecstasy. We sit till long after midnight, talking of the Grand Canon, talking of home, but chiefly talking of the three men who left us.
Page 255 - We are three quarters of a mile in the depths of the earth, and the great river shrinks into insignificance as it dashes its angry waves against the walls and cliffs that rise to the world above; the waves are but puny ripples, and we but pigmies, running up and down the sands or lost among the boulders.
Page 293 - How beautiful the sky, how bright the sunshine, what "floods of delirious music" pour from the throats of birds, how sweet the fragrance of earth and tree and blossom! The first hour of convalescent freedom seems rich recompense for all pain and gloom and terror.
Page 236 - One might imagine that this was intended for the library of the gods; and it was. The shelves are not for books, but form the stony leaves of one great book. He who would read the language of the universe may dig out letters here and 25 COL there, and with them spell the words, and read, in a slow and imperfect way, but still so as to understand a little, the story of creation.
Page 282 - What a conflict of water and fire there must have been here! Just imagine a river of molten rock, running down into a river of melted snow. What a seething and boiling of the waters; what clouds of steam rolled into the heavens!
Page 298 - Your talk is good, and we believe what you say. We believe in Jacob, and look upon you as a father. When you are hungry, you may have our game. You may gather our sweet fruits. We will give you food when you come to our land. We will show you the springs, and you may drink; the water is good. We will be friends, and when you come we will be glad. We will tell the Indians who live on the other side of the great river that we have seen Ka'-pu-rats [Arm Off], and he is the Indians
References to this book
Down the Colorado: John Wesley Powell, the One-Armed Explorer Deborah Kogan Ray Limited preview - 2007 |