Sound or on to the Chehaly[1] River, or as it is on the maps Chickeeles River. This River runs into Grays Harbor about 40 miles north of the mouth of the Columbia. But before I go any farther I would say that I have not yet been to look at the country. I have not had the means to pay expences, it has been very wet ever since we have been here. The rivers have been so high that it was a most impossible to get about, the Willamette has been clear up so that it has done some damage in its course, then two weeks ago yesterday it commenced snowing and it has snowed every day but one since, and the snow was from two or three feet deep all through the country, and last night it began to rain, so the snow is now fast going off, and we expect it will rais the streams wors than ever. A great many cattle have died and no doubt there will many more die before spring, unless the snow goes off and stays off.[2]
If you hear any statements, or see any, about the mild winter this winter you can just tell them for me that they are infernal liars. Everybody says that this winter is an exception for the oldest settlers say that they never see so hard a winter before. The cold came on very gradual and appears to be going off the same way, we have no heavy winds here or at least have not had since we have been here, and it has not been cold enough to freeze the Willamette over above Portland yet, but the Columbia is frozen over (I have been told) six inches thick. We have felt the cold as much this winter as we used to in the Houses in Illinois, but the reason is, there is but a very few houses that are even sealed on the inside, and the wind can blow through anywhere...
I have made up the cloth that you were kind enough to give us, for the boys & me, and have done a little work besides, and have a Coat and Vest now to make. I have done a little out door work but it has been so wet that we could do but little at it. I am now engaged to teach singing in this place at $5 pr evening.
- ↑ Chehalis River.
- ↑ "The storm has prevented the arrival of the mail from Salem, and consequently we are without the proceedings of the legislature this week. 'Our sufferings is intolerable'."
"The Columbia river is so much blocked with ice that navigation is almost entirely prevented;" Oregonian, December 25, 1852.
