<P> On September 11, 1845 James Field wrote in his diary: </P> <P> It was his intention to follow down Crooked river to the Deschutes and down it to the old road, but when he came to the marshy lake spoken of last Sunday, the company refused to follow him if he made the circuit necessary to get around it upon Crooked river again so he struck off in a westerly direction in order to get upon the main Deschutes River . He well knew that there was a scarcity of grass and water across here and so informed them, but it was nearer and they would have him go it, and now blame him for coming the route they obliged him to . </P> <P> The train continued to Wagontire Mountain, a name it later received when early settlers found a wagon tire there . Here the emigrants camped in and around what they called the "Lost Hollow ." There was water and grass but not an ample supply for the emigrants and all their livestock . As emigrants further back in the train continued to arrive, circumstances in the camp became desperate . Water quickly became scarce and many ran out of their staple supplies . In a weakened condition, more travelers became sick . Camp fever and other ailments began to overcome large numbers, especially the children and elders . </P> <P> On September 13, Field again wrote: </P>

What was wrong with the water in meeks cutoff