and overpower the men that they fell upon their knees and prayed. they spent three days on the rim without finding any way down into the canyon with their water and provisions running out they returned baffled and disappointed the quest for the cities of gold had failed and from that time on the grand canyon was forgotten by the white men for centuries. then in eight hundred fifty eight the paddle steamer explora struck concealed rock. joseph five sent his crew were bound operative from the mouth of the colorado in the gulf of california to establish how far it was navigable but they were forced to turn back. not till eight hundred sixty nine did major john wesley powell take a boat up the river that expedition marked the start of serious attention to the.