Page:Oregon Geographic Names, third edition.djvu/78



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BLUE MOUNTAINS. The Blue Mountains constitute one of the largest uplifts in the state and the main range together with its spurs and offshoots extends into several counties. The backbone of the Blue Mountains begins in Grant County and runs northward through Baker, Union, Umatilla and Wallowa counties in Oregon and into Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties in Washington. The Blue Mountains are separated from the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon by Powder River and Grande Ronde River. The highest point in the Blue Mountains is Rock Creek Butte, a peak on Elkhorn Ridge a few miles west of Baker. Rock Creek Butte has an elevation of 9097 feet. Strawberry Mountain near Prairie City is the highest peak in the southwest part of the Blue Mountains. It has an elevation of 9052 feet. One of the first references to these mountains is by Gabriel Franchere, one of the Astorians. On arriving at the Walla Walla River, he wrote: "A range of mountains was visible to the S. E., about fifty or sixty miles off." He does not give the mountains a name. On July 9, 1811, David Thompson of the North West Company of Montreal, refers to them as Shawpatin Mountains, but in his entry for August 8, 1811, he says: "Beginning of course to see the Blue Mountains between the Shawpatin and the Snake Indians." In a footnote, T. C. Elliott, editor of the Thompson Journal, says: "Apparently the first record of this name Blue as applied to these mountains." (OHQ, volume XV, pages 57 and 121.) Alexander Ross, J. K. Townsend, David Douglas, Peter Skene Ogden, John Work and other early travelers continued to use the name Blue Mountains. One of the early references is by the Rev. Gustavus Hines (Oregon: Its History, Condition and Prospects, 1851, page 323): "As you approach the Blue Mountains on the south, particularly on the Umatilla and Walla Walla rivers, the hills disappear, and you find yourself passing over a beautiful and level country, about twentyfive or thirty miles broad, on the farther borders of which rise with indescribable beauty and grandeur, that range which, from its azurelike appearance, has been called the 'Blue Mountains.'"

BLUE RIVER, Lane County. Blue River is remarkable in color, and is well named. The Blue River mines were discovered in 1863, and the stream was doubtless named about that time. Large stamp-mills were installed, but the ore was low grade, and the mills have not been operated for some years. See the Oregonian, December 8, 1863; November 2 and December 17, 1889, and July 3, 1897. Blue River post office is near the mouth of Blue River where that stream flows into the McKenzie. It was established January 18, 1886, with J. M. Davis first postmaster.

BLUEBUCKET CREEK, Grant and Harney counties. This stream rises just west of Antelope Mountain in the southeastern part of Grant County, and after flowing through Antelope Swale in Harney County, joins a tributary of Malheur River. The name has been applied in recent years to preserve an interesting Oregon romance. The mystery of the location of the real Bluebucket Creek will probably never be solved. Members of the Meek party of 1845 picked up yellow pebbles and hung them under a wagon in a blue wooden bucket. The bucket was either lost or abandoned later, and it was not until some time had elapsed that the emigrants realized that they had possibly found gold. An interesting discussion of the episode and possible locations of Bluebucket babait

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