THORNTON VERSUS APPLEGATE. 565

About a dozen families were detained until Janu- ary in the TJinpqua Valley, a part of whom were unable to get out before February, when their cattle having recruited on the excellent grass of that region, they were able to resume travel with their wagons and^tock. These last found refuge at Port ^Umpqua on Elk River through the few cold weeks of mid- winter, except three or four men who guarded the property left in camp on that stream by those who escaped to the settlements.

The discussion of the events connected with the open- ing of the northern and southern roads into the Wil- lamette Valley bade fair to overshadow the political questions which had led, among other causes, to the Sablishment of the southern route Two _ par ies were formed over the discussions of the latter . one which favored the Barlow road, because it brought travellers directly to Oregon City, and promoted the

Christmas °day the snow was a foot deep, and -»»J«*» - ™» Ri where

day they travelled one and a half mile s to the north ^torfe ot ill ^ ^

the families of Kennedy Hal I, and others were e ncampe a 1

ilies had heen without food lor fo « ^'^^2, e oxen driven fro.n

water, and Holt proposed to Baker, who had ■?»«*"*? b ° ui him the people

the settlements, to let the starving people have *'^ *f ™| or n ain iy s f a ugh-

of the Willamette would make good h» loss. J^^Zllwho had

tered and divided between Kennedy, Ha 1, ■ Crmzen ana ^ ^ B&rI0WS

joined this camp; Win having been ^ken to tte WUga ^ y

of Owens party. This, the iotli ol lreeunuei, stolen, the lean

the 3d of the month. So many horses 1 lavi g A ed o r » , ^

oxen in Holt's company had ^ ^ wd^Ttototot Ja y

three feet deep in places on the Ca apooya Mo inta ™ the most south

cold. The 5th, Holt arrived at the house of »JB££g™££ rf

ern settlement in the Willamette Valley P"snma Diy w ch adren

Eugene now stands. So frosty was it on the 8th, thattoe worn

who heeame wet in crossing streams were almost f™ 6 - tl b ' sv/in t

high from the recent rains, were . too de«p *o tadj, and w^^ ^ ^

ming the horses and oxen On the 1-tli tue n™> compan y was compelled

amnte River in Polk County was read, e. where the ^comi y ^ Jan

to remain four days on account of cold and storms. «<««

nary, 1847, did these Btorm-beaten pilgrim ' ™acbthe taenoig » Holt an(l

settlors' homes in the central portion of the WiUainette /a y

the others who went to their rescue were absent hfty days, an ^ k

hardships in their service, besides ^Pf^er companies Hofc', Journal in jver and above the assistance rendered by other companies, no

(Jr. Spectator, March 4, 1847.