Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/186

 168 P. V. CRAWFORD li good grass, but the most terrrible mud we had yet met with during the whole two thousand miles travel. The weather is most beautiful, but the roads most desperate. September 15. — This day we traveled five miles only. The swamps here along the base of Mt. Hood are des- perate. We had to assist our poor teams in getting through by wading and pushing the wagons after them, and on some occasions had to pry up and pull the cattle out of the mud. During the day we met with two men from Yamhill, who had brought out fresh cattle and pro- visions for the relief of emigrants, which they dispensed with equal freedom to those not able to pay. All fared alike. The names of these men were Benjamin Stuart and Chandler Cooper, both well known citizens of north Yamhill. Sept. 16. — This day we remained in camp for the pur- pose of letting our cattle rest and graze, and to hunt some loose cattle which had strayed off yesterday. Some frost this morning, weather very fine. September 17. —This day we traveled twelve miles, including several hills, among which was Laurel hill. We strike a small creek, which we drove down and encamped among the tall firs, many of which would measure three hundred feet. September 18. — This day we traveled nine miles. Three miles down the creek brought us to Little Sandy, down which we traveled six miles, through thickets and over stones or boulders of all sizes. We camped this night among dead timber. Poor grass. September 19. —This day we traveled nine miles, the most of the way over heavy sand and boulders. At the end of six miles we crossed Big Sandy. After crossing we traveled over two stout hills and encamped on a bench land at the foot of a ridge, known here by the name of Back Bone; here we found poor feed for our cattle. September 29. — This day we traveled ten miles. First we ascended a long hill onto a long ridge, which we fol- lowed several miles, at the end of which we descended a m