Show They were talking about the early history of ot the country countr of which Utah is now a part and the question question question ques ques- tion came up as to who were the first white while men to set foot upon Utah soil solI Historians differ ditter some holding that Father lather Silvestre Velez de Escalante with Father FaUrer Francisco Francis Francis- co Antanasio Domingue were the fIrst and that they crossed the White river which was called by them San Clemente and thus en entered entered en- en upon the the section of ot country which is now Utah This was st-as on July 29 1 1776 v. v On the other hand it is held that tire first white men that set foot upon Utah wasa party sent out by Francisco Vasquez de do Coronado who was governor of ot New a northern province In Mexico in-Mexico Mexico In 1540 the party numbering twelve men under command of ot Cardenas According to the story told by Cardenas Cardenas Cardenas Car Car- denas he pursued a northwesterly course ourse to a village of ot Moqui In Indians Indians Indians In- In ft where where here he obtained supplies and guides and then proceeded for tor twenty da days s 's until he came to a river whose banks are of ot such height that It seemed to them that the they were three r e or four tour leagues up in t tire air Historians then point out out S that this description of ot the river and the route to followed lowed by Cardenas from Zuni N N. M M. f. f makes It almost certain I tam tain that he struck the Colorado river ilver near the head of ot the Grand canyon and that for three days he ascended the river In search of ot a crossing This continues an account account ac ac- ac- ac count brought him into what Isnow Isnow is isnow now San Juan Junn count county Utah and so far as known he and his twelve Spaniards were the first white men mento mento mento to set foot upon Utah soil Regarding the account of ot Escalante's Esca- Esca lante's trin trIo to fn what i iq 11 a now known as Utah h it it I Is s said th that t after jt r crossIng crossing cross cross- Ing White river they entered the present state of Utah Two days later according to the account they reached the Green river to they gave the name nahe of ot Rio de San Buenaventura and followed It toward the southwest for a distance distance distance dis dis- tance of ten leagues There Thero they turned westward and nd b bv by a a a- devious course ascended the Uintah river crossed the Duchesne passed through the Wasatch range struck the river called by them now the Provo and on July 23 1776 came within sight of ot Utah lake This part of their trail was afterwards afterwards afterwards after after- wards surveyed and mapped by Captain J. J N. N Macomb of tire th-e United United Unit Unit- ed States topographical engineers as the old Spanish trail from Santa SantaFe Fe Fo to the Great Salt lake On the shores of Utah lake they found a tribe of ot friendly Indians who lived in willow huts and who told them that the name of ot the lake was and that it was connected with a great salt lake furth further r north and to these Indians Escalante gave the name of ot Tim Tim- After Atter obtaining supplies of ot provisions the party resumed its Journey passed over to the SevIer river which they named Santa Isabel descended that stream until It entered Sevier lake lale and came to the desert now Iron count county then went east crossing the Beaver river and in v to the Escalante valley in Carfield Garfield Garfield Gar Gar- field county where they decided to abandon further exploration on ac account account account ac- ac count of ot the hardship and return to Santa Fe which place they reached on January 2 1877 The Escalante river which flows through h Garfield and Kane counties counties counties coun coun- ties bears the name of these ish explorers |