Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/25

THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL the ruins of wagons left behind because they could be drawn no further. It was in the vicinity of Fort Laramie that the death of stock, the abandonment of property and the destruc- tion of wagons began to ocur on a large scale. After the major portion of the emigration of 1849 had passed the fort all the camp grounds in the neighborhood were strewn with clothing, bacon, pork, beans, provision of almost all kinds, and iron, the remains of wagons which had been burned. 60 Beyond the upper crossing of the Platte and the Sweetwater Major Cross observed at least fifty in a distance of twenty-two miles. 66 Along the Sweet- water many wagons were broken up and the supplies, such as were not thrown away, packed on the animals. Fine trunks, boxes and barrels fed the flames. Property valued.at $100—in the States—was none too good to warm the chilly owner in the evening. Dead stock was common. 67 About South Pass the number of dead cattle increased, due probably to the high altitude, lack of grass in the immediate vicinity and hard work. An emigrant of 1850 estimated that there were a hundred carcasses within a mile surrounding Pacific Springs. 68 Beyond the pass such death and destruction continued on all the various branches of the trail. Oregon emigrants had to throw away all superfluous articles, cut off part of their wagon bed to make it lighter and to leave some of their faithful oxen lying along the road to die, when they could go no further. 69 Along Goose Creek and thence along the road to Humboldt were abandoned wagons, log chains, iron bars, and other property. 70 On Hastings , 58. 65 Webster, op cit., p. «o. 66 Report of Major Cross, op. 67 Langworthy, of. cit.,- p. 71. 68 Harlan, op. cit., p. 48. 69 Prosch, op cit., pp. 57 -58. 70 Delano, op. cit., p. 152. cit., pp. 167-1