The northern part of Arizona was crossed by Captain Sitgreaves, in 1851, about on the trail of Garces, reaching the Colorado in the Mohave Valley, and following the river down to Fort Yuma.  In 1854, another government expedition under Lieutenant Whipple, with Lieutenant Ives as chief assistant, explored along the 35th parallel for a railway route, and when they arrived on the Colorado at the mouth of Bill Williams Fork, they followed up the river, through the beautiful Mohave Valley to a point some eight miles above the present railway (A. & P.) bridge, where they crossed.  Their experience was interesting.  Lieutenant Ives directed the operations, using for a ferry-boat a singular combination:  an old rubber pontoon, with the box from a spring waggon attached to the top of it for a receptacle for the goods.  This was arranged at night.  In the morning the pontoon was found in a state of collapse and the waggon-box filled with water, but the concern was resuscitated by the skill of Ives, and soon all was ready for crossing.  Swimmers carried a long rope to an island midway, while another was retained on the shore.  By means of these the boat was pulled back and forth.  The first trip was entirely successful, but on the second attempt the affair was, by the weight of the ropes, upset in midstream.

“During the excitement attending this misfortune, we were advised by an Indian messenger that another great chief was about to pay us a visit.  Turning around, we beheld quite an interesting spectacle.  Approaching was the dignitary referred to, lance in hand, and apparelled in official robes.  The latter consisted of a blanket thrown gracefully around him, and a magnificent head-dress of black plumage covering his head and shoulders, and hanging down his back in a streamer, nearly to the ground.  His pace was slow, his eyes cast downward, and his whole demeanour expressive of formal solemnity.  Upon his right hand was the interpreter, upon his left a boy acting as page, and following was a long procession of his warriors, attended by a crowd of men, women, and children.”

Compliments and presents were exchanged and all was well.  Meanwhile the men who had been capsized with the boat were struggling to disentangle themselves from the waggon-box, and when freed they gained support on the rope till the entire combination was pulled back to the shore.  The whole party were finally on the island and then used the same tactics in crossing the other deeper channel.  Here they upset the ferry three times and two persons came near being drowned.  The Mohaves, who are good swimmers, rendered prompt and efficient assistance in saving the floating wreckage.  They were also supplied with their kind of raft, made of bundles of rushes tied together with willow twigs (see cut on page 30), which they handled dexterously.  Such rafts were and are in use all the way from here to the gulf.  By night the expedition was safe on the western bank, the mules having swum over, and the flock of sheep,