Page:Route of Meek Cut-off, 1845.djvu/2

2 est, and yet are so little known as to facts that legend seems to predominate.

Jesse Harritt, then a man near 30 years of age, and cattle driver in the company of which James McNary was captain, kept a record of the daily advance from the Missouri River to The Dalles. This diary was published in the Transactions of the Oregon Pioneer Association of 1910 and 1911, under the trustful attention of George H. Himes, venerable secretary of the association, but from the many fragmentary accounts and stories of the particular route of the 200 wagons in question, it seems that the information contained in the Harritt record has been singularly overlooked. It is thought that that part of the diary having to do with the way across the state of Oregon from the Snake River to the Columbia, will make clear to the present generation and those to come some of the uncertainties thus long prevailing. Commencing with the crossing of the Snake River it is given, and with the distances and landmarks mentioned there can be little doubt where the immigrants were from day to day. Beginning with August 23 and ending with October 7, 1845, the Harritt diary says:

23. Four miles brought us down to Fort Boise. This fort is situated on the north bank of Lewis or Snake River and is owned by the Hudson Bay Company; crossed over to the south side where we encamped.

24. Leaving the river we traveled a southwest course over a good road; made an advance of 12 miles and encamped on a stream affording grass and willows.

25. Here we left the former route; bearing a little south of west we steered our course over a tolerable good road 13 miles and encamped on the same stream; found grass and a few willows.

26. Proceeded 10 miles further up the creek and encamped; found grass and a few willows; had about four miles of very bad road; balance good.

27. Commenced winding our way through the Blue Mountains; at noon we left this pleasant stream to the left, turning gradually to the northwest; traveled over a tolerable bad road, reached the head of a small sinking rivulet affording excellent water and timber, cottonwood, willow and alder, the latter being the principal part, of which there is some of the largest I ever saw, measuring from 12 to 14 inches in diameter; traveled 12 miles.