98 
HORSE-HEAD CROSSING 
attempted to pass us, the driver thinking the other 
mules would follow his team ; but in the attempt, the 
current swept his wagon, which was half buried in the 
water, against ours. This brought his mules nearly 
abreast of mine, and led to greater confusion and 
alarm. Every moment we expected to be swept away ; 
in which case our lives would have been in great 
danger, as it would have been no easy matter to extri- 
cate ourselves from the close wagon. I could do 
nothing but call for assistance from the party on the 
opposite bank, who stood watching our progress and 
critical situation with breathless suspense. Mr. Cle- 
ment Young, seizing the end of a picket rope which lay 
on the bank, sprang into the river without stopping to 
divest himself of his clothing, and came to our relief 
With great difficulty he succeeded in attaching the 
rope to the leading mules. Several other gentlemen 
mounted their horses and sprang into the water at the 
same time, some to urge the mules towards the shore, 
and others to extricate the two wagons. The picket 
rope was now seized by those on the bank, who, pulling 
with all their strength, brought the heads of the leading 
mules towards it. The teamsters then putting on the 
lash, and the horsemen in the water urging our animals 
forward, they relieved us from our perilous situation, 
and we gained the bank in safety. 
My carriage was now brought over by lashing 
beneath it a few empty kegs, with two men in the water 
to keep it steady. A rope was taken ahead, by means 
of which the men on the opposite bank drew it safely 
across. We now pitched our tents, corralled the wagons, 
and, after a hearty supper, turned in for the night. 
