310 REVEREND EZRA FISHER
in American history, and I fear it will be read to the preju- dice of future emigration. I believe all the emigrants who followed the usual roads to Oregon and California ar- rived in good season and with good health and no serious loss. It was only those companies who were either desirous of finding a new and better route, or were induced to follow imprudent and self-interested guides, who reaped so bitterly disappointment and disaster and even starvation. The great- est sufferers were probably a party who, before crossing the Sierra Nevada range of mountains, left Mr. Hastings who was conducting a part of the California emigration. After travelling till all hopes of reaching the lower company failed, a party of fifteen of the strongest, in attempting to cross the snowy mountains, were compelled to leave their animals and travel on foot almost destitute of clothing and food. Such was their extremity before reaching the San Francisco Bay that eight perished, and the survivors subsisted on the flesh and blood of those that perished, some upon their own relatives. Five of the seven who reached the settlements were women, and when they arrived they were reduced to a perfect state of nudity. May these sufferings prove an effectual warning to all successive emigrations to follow none but explored and opened roads. 125 A practicable wagon road is now opened from the States to the settlements on the Willamette River, terminating at Oregon City, where plenty of provisions can always be had at the ordinary prices of the country. We trust we shall soon have regular mails at least quarterly from this to the States; and then we can rely with some certainty on our packages being safely carried to the place of destina- tion. I have written you every opportunity since I arrived in the Territory, but as yet have had no letter from you. You may judge by this that we are greatly discouraged,
125 There is also probably a reference here to the party which in 1846 came to Oregon via the southern route from Ft. Hall. This party suffered great hard- ships while getting into the Willamette Valley from the Rogue and the Umpqua Valleys. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:556-565.
For the hardships of the California party, which are here not exaggerated, see Bancroft, Hist, of Calif. V .-529-542. The author mentions only the party called the "forlorn hope," but a much larger party suffered somewhat similarly.
