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EXPEDITION
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NEW TRAIL TO COSO AND MONO MINES "Captain Joseph R. Walker was one of the bravest and most skilled of the mountain men," was the quote most often used by publisher and reporter of his day. Hubert Bancroft, added, "none was better acquainted than he with the geography or the native tribes of the Great Basin." Simply to say you knew him, caused folks to want to talk with you. Walker was so well known, that when he showed up in town the newspaper would usually print a story saying Walker arrived in town today on his return from New Mexico territory or where ever he had been. Yet when you read the many books about Walker's life, you notice that there are large gaps in the history known about him. An example, would be the years between 1854-1860. During these years, there were two stories about Walker. The first, was he explored the Mono Lake region about 1855. The second, was Walker had been hired by the Army to guide a expedition against the Mohave Indians. Little was known about either episode. Even the most complete and thorough biographies were silent. For the past few years while gathering materials about Joseph R. Walker, I have been working with various Historical Societies, along with Libraries, Universities, and Research Associations. It was during a visit to the Historical Society at Ridgecrest, California and while sharing information about the Mono Lake expedition with the Director for Collections, Lou Pracchia. I learned about a paper written by Bill Horst, concerning an article published in the Visalia Weekly Delta. Lou allowed me to read Bill's paper and put me in contact with him. Bill Horst, has been interested in Joseph Walker and his travels for over thirty years. We shared many interesting facts about the famous frontiersman. Bill had found the Mono Lake Story in 1974, and had been researching various materials, looking for supporting evidence. Both of us were surprised that no one has ever made a reference to the contents of the article, which included an interview with Joseph Walker. The Colonel, as the editor of the paper called him, wrote, "The intention of Col. Walker is to leave the road a short distance south of Tule river and cross the heads of the Southern branches of that river, striking Kern river . . ." 
SunEagle1 |
