The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-03

the proprietors of the road, Messrs. Pow
ers and Renfrew, with their families,
make their homes here.
Peal after peal of reverberating thun-
der made our ears ring while we ate our
luncheon, and soon the clouds began to
discharge in copious sh overs their wa
terry contents. We thought it was only
thunder-shower, and as our wagon had
a cover on it, we started on again in the
belief that it would soon be over. But
the farther we went the harder it rained,
and the roads got so muddy and our
wagon-cover began to leak so that at
last we were forced to stop by the side
of the road and try to make the best of
things under the circumstances. By
the time the horses were taken care of,
the rain had slackened little, so that
we was enabled to get fire kindled;
but in attempting this we discovered
that our matches were nearly all damp,
to reach the next house. We put blan-
kets over the top of our wagon-cover
and made our beds inside, and, although
the rain descended all night, we were
very comfortable. The next morning
we felt gloomy enough, 1 assure you, as
we started on, and the boughs of the
trees were all dripping wet, and the
least touch was sufficient to send a
shower all over us. We crossed Lost
Creek on very primitive bridge early
in the morning. This stream derives
its name from the fact that few miles
above here it tumbles down of of
mountain and forms little lake and
there sinks into the ground and runs
underneath for several miles before it
again rises. Lost Creek falls are plainly
visible from the road, and, although
several miles distant, the roar of its
waters is very distinct. The timber
here has all been destroyed by fire long
ago, and a profuse growth of myrtle is
the only vegetation. This was the first
time we began to realize that we were
going up, and although the ascent is
very gradual, still it is a steady pull
and very rocky. A little after noon one
of our horses, thinking he had had
enough of it, came to a dead halt on a
steep little hill, and no amount of per-
suasion could influence him to move
another step. What should we do? 1t
was at least fifteen miles back to the
bridge and not far from thirty miles on
ahead to where we could procure assist
ance, and the nearest water that we had
any knowledge of was about three miles
back on the road, and, besides, we had
only two or three good matches. Some
thing must be done, however; so we
proceeded to unload and carry up the
hill our camping outfit, boxes of canned
fruit, etc., and, with our assistance, our
trusty animal took the empty wagon to
the top and we loaded up and again
moved on. But not for far; for at the
first steep incline the balky horse again
halted, and thinking that perhaps be
was only fatigued, we concluded to re-
main there that night and perhaps we
could get on in the morning without
difficulty. After a vain search in the
vicinity of the camp for water, my hus-
band mounted one of the horses, and al
on the road to the last water we had
passed, and after the animals had
quenched their thirst, be brought up
: Sufficient water in a jug which he had
taken with him to do for culinary pur-
poses that evening. The next morning
we again carried our load to the top oI
the hill, and after we had got the wagon
up and reloaded, we started on without
our breakfast, hoping soon to reach wa
ter that we might have a cup of coffee
5 But at the first little hill the proceed.
e ings of the day before were gone through
a with on the part of our refractory horse
e We concluded that it was useless t.
e make any further attempt to reach the
s summit without assistance. So VIZ
> turned around and drove back to the
j. water mentioned above, when, after de
d spatching a hastily prepared breakfast
o husband took one of the horses, and
& leaving the children and l camped OF
y the bank of the rushing waters of Whit,
e Branch, started back to the bridge t.
= procure assistance. But when he go
g there he learned that the teams were al
s gone. One was in the valley, and on,
: Mr.. Powers had up to the summit fixinj
n some cabins for the.use of the mail car
Is riers this winter, for he is the contracto
IS for this route. But while he was at tn
e bridge a man who was moving Il
.r LaGrande came up, and learning tha
2. he expected to go about as far as ou
e, camp that evening, he engaged him t.
Ie assist us all he could, although he him
1t self was heavily loaded. But that even
,r ing, after husband had returned, to ou
p great joy Mr.. Powers came along will
n bis span of mules, and we were not lon
g in making a bargain with him to re
Is turn the next day and take us on owe
p all the bad road. That night we reste
n very comfortably. The next day abou
n noon the team. arrived and that nigh
ID wecamped on Summit Prairie, one of tn