TRAGIC FATE OF IMMIGRANTS.



overcome, they felt no hesitation in recommending the
new road to the emigrants whom they met at Fort Hall.
  Being aware of the hardships which the immigrants of
the previous years had undergone on the Snake River
plains, at the crossing of Snake River, the John Day, and
Des Chutes Rivers, and the passage of the Columbia, the
travelers gladly accepted the tidings of a safer route to
the Wallamet. A portion of the immigration had already
gone on by the road to the Dalles; the remainder turned
off by the southern route.
  Of those who took the new route, a part were destined
for California. All, however, after passing through the
sage deserts, committed the error of stopping to recruit
their cattle and horses in the fresh green valleys among
the foot-hills of the mountains.  It did not occur to
them that they were wasting precious time in this way;
but to this indulgence was owing an incredible amount of
suffering.  The California-bound travelers encountered
the season of snow on the Sierras, and such horrors are
recorded of their sufferings as it is seldom the task of ears
to hear or pen to record. Snow-bound, without food,
those who died of starvation were consumed by the liv-
ing; even children were eaten by their once fond parents,
with an indifference horrible to think on: so does the
mind become degraded by great physical suffering.
  The Oregon immigrants had not to cross the lofty Sier-
ras; but they still found mountains before them which, in
the dry season, would have been formidable enough. In-
stead, however, of the dry weather continuing, very heavy
rains set in. The streams became swollen, the mountain
sides heavy and slippery with the wet earth. Where the
road led through canyons, men and women were some-
times forced to stem a torrent, breast high, and cold
enough to chill the life in their veins. The cattle gave



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