Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/403

 RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD PIONEER. 393 all the animals, including the fat mules sent out by Cap- tain Sutler, and save their flesh for food. This could have readily been done then, and the people could have subsisted until relieved in the spring. But the immi- grants were not in a condition to accept or reject this proposition at once. They were unacquainted with the climate, could not well understand how snow could fall to a depth of twenty or thirty feet, and were so much worn down by the tedium of the long journey, and the absence of fresh meat and vegetables, that they were not prepared to decide wisely or to act promptly. Besides, the idea of living upon the flesh of mules and poor cattle was natu- rally repugnant to them. It is very probable that many of them considered such food unhealthy, and that, crowded as they were into two cabins, the use of such poor food might produce severe sickness among them, and many would die of disease. While they were considering and discussing this prop- osition, a terrible storm came up one evening, and snow fell to the depth of six feet during the night. The poor animals Hed before the driving storm and all perished ; the next morning there was one wide, desolate waste of snow, and not a carcass could be found. The little sup- ply of provisions they had on hand, including that sent by Captain Sutler, they saw could not last them long. They now fully comprehended their dreadful situalion. 1 1 was a lerrible struggle for existence. It was soon decided to start a party across the moun- tains on snowshoes. This party consisted of ten men, including the two Indians, live women, and a boy twelve years old, the brother of Mrs. Foster. I once knew the names of the eighl while men, but at this time I can only remember those of William II. Eddy and William Foster. The women were Mrs. Foster, Mrs. McCutchin, Mrs. , then a widow, bul subsequently Mrs. Nye, Mrs. 1'ilo, a