Colonel Williamson stated in March, 1868, that he could obtain no information of importance with regard to the "Big" canyon except that contained in Dr.Parry's account of White's alleged journey, which journey, as I have pointed out, was a myth.
"If that report be reliable," he says, "it is evident that in the high or middle stage of the river a strongly built boat can come down the canon with safety.

Before reading that report I had an idea that it would be a very dangerous experiment to attempt to go down this canon in a boat of any kind, because I feared there were falls, in going down, in which a boat might be upset or even dashed to pieces.

As it is, now I believe there are no falls, and I am inclined to think the best way is to start above and descend." During these efforts of the regular army officers to secure information as to the possibility of exploring the great canyons, Powell approached the problem from an entirely different direction, and his quick and accurate perception told him that to go down with the tide was the one and only way.

He was not a rich man; and expeditions require funds, but this was no more of a bar to his purpose than the lack of an arm.

His father was a Methodist clergyman of good old stock, vigorous of mind and body, clear-sighted, and never daunted.