Maybe you've heard of the Colorado River: it is born in the Rocky Mountains, and flows south east, then bends southwest and makes it all the way to the Pacific Ocean by way of the Gulf of California. The mighty river carved a most famous landscape: the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in the states of Utah and Arizona and parts of Nevada. While well known to native Americans who were aware of its presence, Spaniards had been guides to its rim in the 1500's but scoffed at its importance, relegating the river to just another feature of a desert wasteland. By the Civil War period of the 19th century, the river well known as part of the great unknown West: that mythical place beyond the Mississippi River where dreams came true and adventures awaited those who dared. Mostly those who dared were that breed of men called 'Mountain Men': self sufficient, independent, tough, skilled men who possessed all the necessary tools of survival in a wild, untamed place. They could ride, hunt, shoot, and befriend members of tribes who had little knowledge of Europeans and almost no contact with them at all.
Enter this mix is a Union army war veteran, a survivor of the horrific Battle of Shiloh which provided both sides in the conflict with over 20 thousand casualties. John Wesley Powell was one of these casualties, losing his right arm at the battle. He was well enough after his recovery to return to duty for about another year of active combat. After the war ended, Powell decided he wanted to explore out West and the Colorado River had a certain attraction for an adventurous soul: no one had descended its length nor had anyone mapped its course from beginning to end. Its place on various maps always included the words "Unknown Territory".
Author Edward Dolnick does an excellent job in piecing together a fact-filled narrative that follows the 10 members of his crew on their 4 boats specially built for the river run. The boats were made of oak in the design of the classic Whitehall row boat. It had a round bottom and a prominent keel that extended its entire length. The boat was built for speed: it was a fast design. Made of oak, it was sturdy and durable. The trade off is that this design is tippy and cannot be turned quickly. There is no storage space excepting on the floor. Another choice could have been a new England fishing dory, a design used on the open Atlantic Ocean to great effect by generations of new England fishermen. It had a flat bottom, a high bow and a slender stern. It is highly manuverable. But nobody had ever run whitewater with either boat.
Two of Powell's crewmen turned out to be excellent diarists. Unbeknownst to Powell, they kept very accurate diaries throughout the trip and were able to save most off their efforts from the raging waters and the many soakings. The author had access to all three versions of the exploration and was able to fact check each of the writers. Powell himself did not write his version until a few years later when he could sit down and review his "notes" prior to writing the definitive account for publication.
The publication of his story carried the man to international stardom for the rest of his life. His scientific background in geology, his military service, and subsequent Federal government service enhanced his reputation as a modern era explorer.
This story is well known among most Westerners; but few know its harrowing details and how fortunate the crew lived to tell the tale.
Five Stars *****
Published by Harper, 2001
avail. in paperback
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