This tragedy was the worst disaster in the history of western overland travel. Utah History Encyclopedia

By the mid-1850s LDS Church leaders needed less expensive ways to move poor immigrants to Utah. The Perpetual Emigrating Fund that loaned to the needy was depleted, and costs for wagons and ox-teams were high. Therefore, Brigham Young announced on 29 October 1855 a handcart system by which the church would provide carts to be pulled by hand across the Mormon Trail. As a result, between 1856 and 1860 nearly 3,000 Latter-day Saint emigrants joined ten handcart companies--about 650 handcarts total--and walked to Utah from Iowa City, Iowa, (a distance of 1,300 miles) or from Florence, Nebraska (1,030 miles). This was, according to historian LeRoy Hafen, "the most remarkable travel experiment in the history of Western America."

Handcarts, assembled at outfitting points in Iowa City, and then Florence after 1857, resembled carts pulled by porters in large cities. The carts had hickory or oak wagon beds and hickory shafts, side pieces, and axles. Wheels were as far apart as normal wagon wheels. Each cart carried 400 to 500 pounds of foodstuffs, bedding, clothing, and cooking utensils, and needed two able-bodied people to pull it. Five people were assigned to each cart. Adults could take only seventeen pounds of baggage, children ten pounds. Families with small children traveled in covered or family carts which had stronger axles made of iron.

Handcart company captains were men with leadership and trail experience. Each company included a few ox-drawn commissary and baggage wagons, at least one per twenty carts. Wagons or carts carried large public tents, one for every twenty people. A "Captain of Hundred" had charge of five tent groups. Five companies in 1856 and two in 1857 outfitted in Iowa City and needed a month to move 275 miles on existing roads over rolling prairie to Florence, averaging eight to nine miles per day. Passing through partly settled areas, they obtained some supplies along the way. After resting at Florence, these seven companies followed the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake City. (www/Utah History Encyclopedia)

Sarah West

At 24 Sarah West left her native England to pull a handcart across the plains of Nebraska, and the mountains of Wyoming, to get to an uncertain future in primative and frontier Utah.

She was poor, or she would not have been part of a handcart company. She was likely no stranger to hardship. Whatever life was like in England, it had to be weighed against the prospect of having to walk a third of the way across the American Continent, a desolate part still inhabited by Indians and buffalo. No doubt she was inspired by her faith, and the zeal of the missionarries preaching the glorious gathering of Zion, and down playing the grinding drudgery that lay ahead.

Sarah West left Liverpool, England, on May 3, 1856 with 764 fellow Mormons, bound for New York on the ship Thornton. The group was put on trains in New York and arrived at Iowa City, Iowa on June 26. In Iowa City Sarah West and part of another group were formed into the Willie handcart company. She began the journey across the plains on July 15 much later in the season than any handcart company had set out before. The Willey and following Martin companies were caught in blizzards while crossing the rocky Mountains in Wyoming. The Willie company numbering about 400 persons lost 67 or about one sixth of their number.

James A Ivie was a part of the rescue effort, and he and Sarah West were married a few days after the Willie party was brought into Salt Lake City. It was probably not the courtship she had anticipated. Sarah was James' second wife.

From the Thorton passengers the Fourth Handcart Company was organized. These Saints, who had reached Iowa City June 26, set out on their trek July 15.. James G. Willie, returning missionatry who had been president of the Saints on the Thornton's voyage, became Captain of the Fourth Handcart Company... Willie's company comprised 500 persons. They had 120 handcarts, 5 wagons, 24 oxen, and 45 beef cattle and cows... the company was divided into groups of 100 persons each, with a sub-captain over each of these.

John Chislett, one of the sub-captains...writes: "The third Hundred were principally Scotch; the fifth, Scandinavians. The other hundreds were mostly English. To each hundred there were five round tents, with twenty persons to a tent; twenty hand-carts, or one to every five persons; and one Chicago Wagon, drawn by three yoke of oxen, to haul provisions and tents. Each person was limited to seventeen pounds of of clothing and bedding...

"The strength of the company was equalized as much as possible by distributing the young mem among the different families to help them. Several carts were drawn by young girls exclusively; and two tents were occupied by them and such females as had no male companions"

The road across Iowa was good; and the journey, though made through heat and dust, was accomplihed without unusual difficulties. A few dropped out en route, to await more propitious traveling, or to forsake the project entirely.

The Martin Company was similarly organized. The journey to Florence, 277 miles, was made made in a little less than four weeks, Willie's Company reaching there August 11, and Martin's on the twenty-second. Here each company was delayed for repairs.

J. H. Latey, writing from Florence, August 14, and reporting the arrival ofWillie's Company, says: "The companies stay here longer than they otherwise would in consequence of their carts being unfit for their journey across the Plains; some requiring new axles, and the whole of them having to have a piece of iron screwed on to prevent the wheel from wearing away the wood."

Chislett continues

"The elders seemed to be divided in their judgement as to the practicability of our reaching Utah in safety at so late a season of the year, and the idea was entertained for a day or two of making our winter quarters on the Elkhorn, Wood River, or some eligible location in Nebraska; but it did not meet with general approval. A monster meeting was called to consult the people about it.

"The emigrants were entirely ignorant of the country and climate simple, honest, eager to go to 'Zion' at once... Under these circumstances it was natural that they should leave their destination in the hands of the elders. There were but four men in our company who had been to the Valley, viz.; Willie, Atwood, Savage, and Woodward; but there were several at Florence superintending the emigration, among whom elders G. D. Grant and W. H. Kimball occupied the most prominent position. These men all talked at the meeting just mentioned, and all, with one exception, favoured going on." Levi Savage declared that they "could not cross the mountains with a mixed company of aged people, women and little children, so late in the season without much suffering, sickness, and death. He therefore advised going into winter quarters without delay. Savage was voted down, the majority being against him. He then added: "Brethem and sisters, wliat I have said I know to be true; but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you; but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with you, will rest with you, will suffer with you, and, ifneccessary, I will die with you. May God in his mercy bless and preserve us."

"We started from Florence about the 18th of August, and travelled in the same way as through Iowa, except that our carts were more heavily laden, as our teams could not haul sufficient flour to last us to Utah; it was therefore decided to put one sack (ninety-eight pounds) on each cart in addition to the regular bagage. Some of the people grumbled at this, the majority bore it without a murmur. Our flour ration was increased to a pound per day; fresh beef was issued occassionally, and each "hundred' had three or four mich cows. The flour on the carts was used first, the weakest parties being the first relieved of their burdens.

"Everything seemed to be propitious, and we moved gaily forward full of hope and faith. At our camp each evening could be heard songs of joy, merry peals of laughter, and bon mots on our condition and prospects. Brother Savage's warning was forgotten in the mirthful ease of the hour. The only drawbacks to this part of our journey were the constant breaking down of carts and the delays caused by repairing them. The axles and boxes being of wood, and being ground out by the dust that found its way there in spite of our efforts to keep it out, together with the extra weight put on the carts, had the effect of breaking the axles at the shoulder. All kinds of expedients were resorted to as remedies for the growing evil, but with variable success. Some wrapped their axles with leather obtained from bootlegs; others with tin, obtained by sacrificing tin-plates, kettles, or buckets from their mess outfit. Besides these inconveniences, there was felt a great lack of a proper lubricator. Of anything suitable for this purpose we had none at all. The poor folks had to use their bacon (already totally insufficient for their wants) to grease their axles, and some even used their soap, of which they had very little, to make their carts trundle somewhat easier. In about twenty days however, the flour being consumed, breakdowns became less frequent, and we jogged along finely. We traveled from ten to twenty miles per day, averaging fifteen miles. The people felt well, so did our cattle, and our immdediate prospects of a prosperous journey were good. But the fates seemed to be against us.

"About this time we reached Wood River (a few miles above Grand Island, Nebraska). The whole country was alive with buffaloes, and one night or, rather, evening - our cattle stampeded. Men went in pursuit and collected what they supposed to be the herd; but, on corralling them for yoldng next morning, thirty head were missing. We hunted for them three days in every direction, but did not find them. We at last reluctantly gave up the searcli, and prepared to travel without them as best we could. We had only about enough oxen left to put one yoke to each wagon; but as they were each loaded with about three thousand pounds of flour, the teams could not of course move them. We then yoked up our beef cattle, milch cows, and, in fact, everything that could bear a yoke - even two-year-old heifers. The stock was wild and could pull but little, and we were unable, with all our stock, to move our loads. As a last resort, we again loaded a sack of flour on each cart...

"It was really hard for the folks to lose the use of their milch cows, have beef rations stopped, and haul one hundred pounds more on their carts. Every man and woman, however, worked to their utmost to put forward towards the goal of their hopes."

While trudging up the Platte the Fourth Handcart Company was overtaken by President Richards and the party of missionaries who had left Florence after seeing the last of the season's emigrants leave that point. They were traveling in carriages and light wagons pulled by horses and mules. After campmg with Wiffie's company and giving them encouragement, the officials hurried on towards Salt Lake City, promising to send back supplies with all possible dispatch.

"We reached [Fort] Laramie about the 1st or 2ndof September, but the provisions, etc., which we expected, were not there for us. Captain Willie called a meeting to take into consideration our circumstances, conditions,and prospects, and to see what could be done. It was ascertainded that at our present rate of travel and consumption of flour the latter would be exhausted when we were about three hundred and fifty miles from our destination. It was resolved to reduce our allowance from one pound to three-quarters of a pound per day, and at the same time to make every effort in our power to travel faster. We continued this rate of rations from Laramie to Independence Rock.

"About this time Captain Willie received a letter from Apostle Richards informing him that we might expect supplies to meet us from the valley by the time we reached South Pass. An examination of our stock of flour showed us that it would be gone before we reached this point. Our only alternative was to still further reduce our bill of fare. The issue of flour was then to average ten ounces per day...

"We had not travelled far up the Sweetwater before the nights, which had gradually been getting colder since we left Laramie, became very severe. The mountains before us, as we approached nearer to them, revealed themselves to view mantled nearly to their base in snow, and tokens of a coming storm were discemable in the clouds which each day seemed to lower around us...

"Our seventeen pounds of clothing and bedding was now altogether insufficient for our comfort. Nearly all suffered more or less at night from cold. Instead of getting up in the morning strong, refreshed, vigorous, and prepared for the hardships of another day of toil, the poor Saints were to be seen crawling out from tents haggard, benumbed, and showing an utter lack of that vitality so neccessary to our success.

"Cold weather, scarcity of food, lassitude and fatigue from over-exertion, soon produced their effects. Our old and infirm people began to droop, and they no sooner lost spirit and courage than death's stamp could be traced upon their features. Life went out as smoothly as a lamp ceases to burn when the oil is gone. At first the deaths occured slowly and irregularly, but in a few days at more frequent intervals, until we soon thought it unusual to leave a campground without burying one or more persons.

"Death was not long confined in its ravages to the old and infirm, but the young and naturally strong were among its victims... Many a father pulled his cart, with his little cilildren on it, until the day preceding his death. I have seen some pull their carts in the morning, give out during the day, and die before next morning...

"Each death weakened our forces. In my hundred I could not raise enough men to pitch a tent when we camped, and now it was that I had to exert my self to the utmost. I wander I did not die, as many did who were stronger than I was. When we pitched our camp in the evening of each day, I had to lift the sick from the wagon and carry them to the fire, and in the morning carry them again on my back to the wagon. When any in my hundred died I had to inter them; often helping to dig the grave myself. In performing these sad offices I always offered up a heartfelt prayer to that God who beheld our sufferings, and begged him to avert destruction from us and send us help.

"We travelled on in misery and sorrow day after day. Sometimes we made a pretty good distance, but at other times we were only able to make a few miles progress. Finally we were overtaken by a snowstorm which the shrill wind blew furiously about us. The snow fell several inches deep as we travlled along., but we dared not stop, for we had a sixteen-mile journey to make, and short of it we could not get wood and water.

"As we were resting for a short time at noon a light wagon was driven into our camp from the west. Its occupants were Joseph A. Young and Stephen Taylor. They informed us that a train of supplies was on the way, and we might expect to meet it in a day or two. More welcome messengers never came from the courts of glory than these two young men were to us. They lost no time after encouraging us all they could to press forward, but sped on farther east to convey their glad news to Edward Martin and the fifth handcart company who left Florence about two weeks after us, and who it was feared were even worse off than we were. As they went from our view, many a hearty 'God bless you' followed them.

"We pursued our journey with renewed hope and after untold toil and fatigue, doubling teams frequently, going back to fetch up the straggling carts, and encouraging those who had dropped by the way to a little more exertion in view of our soon-to-be improved condition, we finally, late at night, got all to camp - the wind howling frightfully and the snow eddying around us in fitful gusts. But we had found a good camp among the willows, and after warming and partially drying ourselves before good fires, we ate our scanty fare, paid our usual devotions to the Deity and retired to rest with hopes of coming aid.

"In the morning the snow was over a foot deep. Our cattle strayed widely during the storm, and some of them died. But what was worse to us than all this was the fact that five persons of both sexes lay in the cold embrace of death.

"The morning before the storm, or, rather, the morning of the day on which it came, we issued the last ration of flour. On ths fatal morning, therefore, we had none to issue. We had, however, a barrel or two of hard bread which Captain Willie had procured at Fort Laramie in view of our destitution. This was equally and fairly divided among all the company. Two of our poor broken-down cattle were killed and their carcasses issued for beef. With this we were informed that we would have to subsist until the coming supplies reached us. All that now remained in our commissary were a few pounds of sugar and dried apples, about a quarter of a sack of rice and a small quantity (possibly 20 or 25 Ibs.) of hard bread...

"Being surrounded by snow a foot deep, out of provisions, many of our people sick, and our cattle dying, it was decided that we should remain in our present camp until the supply train reached us. It was also resolved in council that Captain Willie with one man should go in search of the supply train and apprise the leader of our condition, and hasten him to our help. When this was done we settled down and made our camp as comfortable as we could. As Captain Willie and his companion left for the West, many a heart was lifted in prayer for their success and speedy return. They were absent three days - three days which I shall never forget. The scanty allowance of hard bread and poor beef, distributed as described, was mostly eaten the first day by the hungry, ravenous, famished souls.

"We killed more cattled and issued the meat; but, eating it without bread, did not satisfy hunger, and to those who were suffering from dysentry it did more harm than good. This terrible disease increased rapidly amongst us during these three days, and several died from exhaustion... The recollection of it unmans me even now - those three days! During that time I visited the sick, the widows whose husbands died in serving them, and the aged who could not help themselves, to know for myself where to disperse the few articles that had been placed in my charge for distribution. Such craving hunger I never saw before, and may God in his mercy spare me the sight again.

"The storm which we encountered, our brethern from the Valley also met, and, not knowing that we were so utterly destitute, they encamped to await fine weather. But when Captain Willie found them and explained our real condition, they at once hitched up their teams and made all speed to come to our rescue. On the evening of the third day (October 21) after Captain Willie's departure, just as the sun was sinking beautifully behind the distant hills, on an eminence immediately west of our camp several covered wagons, each drawn by four horses were seen coming towards us. The news ran through the camp like wildfire, and all who were able to leave their beds turned out en masse to see them. A few minutes brought them sufficiently near to reveal our faithful captain slightly in advance of the train. Shouts of joy rent the air; strong men wept till tears ran freely down their furrowed and sun-burnt cheeks, and little children partook of the joy which some of them hardly understood, and fairly danced around with gladness. Restraint was set aside in the general rejoicing, and as the brethern entered our camp the sisters fell upon them and deluged them with kisses. "

The Salt Lake boys, mounted on harnessed mules and with axes in hand, were soon dragging wood from the hills. Fires warmed the camp and cooked food allayed starvation. But help had come too late to save all. Nine died that first night..

"I was installed as regular commissary to the camp. The brethern turned over to me flour, potatoes, onions, and a limited supply of warm clothing for both sexes, besides quilts, blankets, buffalo robes, woolen socks, etc. I first distributed the neccessary provisons, and after supper divided the clothing, bedding, etc. where it was most needed. That evening, for the first time in quite a period, the songs of Zion were to be heard in the camp, and peals of laughter issued from the little knots of people as they chatted around the fires. The change seemed almost miraculous, so sudden was it from grave to gay, from sorrow to gladness, from mourning to rejoicing. With the cravings of hunger satisfied, and with hearts filled with gratitude to God and our good brethern, we all united in prayer, and then refired to rest.

"Among the brethern who came to our succour were elders W. H. Kimball and Q. D. Grant, They had remained but a few days in the Valley before starting back to meet us. May God ever bless their manly fortitude. They felt that they had, in a great measure, contributed to our sad position; but how nobly, how faithfully, how bravely they worked to bring us safely to the Valley - to the Zion of our hopes!"

Kimball and about half of the rescue party stayed with the Willie Company to help it move westward; while Grant, with the other half of the Sah Lake wagons, pushed on to find Martin's Company and the two rear wagon trains.

HELP FROM SALT LAKE VALLEY

The Church anthorities were much surprised to learn that so many Saints were far back on the trail. "We had no idea there were any more companies upon the Plains. " said President Brmgham Young "until our brethem arrived, presuming that they would consider their late arrival in America and not start them across the Plains until another year."

It was Saturday, October 4, when Richards came with the news. That evening the leading officials assembled to consider the needs of the oncoming emigrants. President Young, a practical man, believed the situation was critical; it would require immediate and vigorous action. He learned the general location of the handcart companies and the late ox trains. With specific mformation on their numbers and supplies, he calculated what would be required for effective relief.

The Semi-annual Conference of the Mormon Church was about to convene. Some twelve thousand of the faithful had gathered into Salt Lake City from the scattered settlements, to hear the word of the Lord from the Prophet Bringham Young and the Apostles. News of the late departure of the Fourth and Fifth handcart companies had spread among the people; and they assembled Sunday morning, in the first general meeting, the air was tense with expectancy.

The commanding figure of the fifty-five-year-old Mormon leader was always impressive as he rose from among the brethem on the stand to address the Saints. To his revering people, he was the mouthpiece of God.

"I will now give this people the subject and the text for the Elders who may speak to-day and during the conference, "he announced. "It is this. On the 5th day of October, 1856, many of our brethern and sisters are on the plains with handcarts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. The text will be, 'to get them here.' I want the brethern who may speak to understand that their text is the people on the plains. And the subject matter for this community is to send for them and bring them in before winter sets in.

"That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess. It is to save the people. This is the salvation I am now seeking for. To save our brethem that would be apt to perish, or suffer extremely, if we do not send them assistance.

"I shall call upon the Bishops this day. I shall not wait until tomorrow, nor until the next day, for 60 good mule teams and 12 or 15 wagons. I do not want to send oxen. I want good horses and mules. They are in this Territory, and we must have them. Also 12 tons of flour and 40 good teamsters, besides those that drive the teams. This is dividing my texts into heads. First, 40 good young men who know how to drive teams, to take charge of the teams that are now managed by men, women and children who know nothing about driving them. Second 60 or 65 good spans of mules, or horses, with harness, whipple trees, neckyokes, stretchers, lead chains, &c. And thirdly, 24 thousand pound of flour, which we have on hand...

"I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the Celestial Kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains. And attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal durties. Otherwise, your faith will be in vain. The preaching yon have will be in vain to you, and you will sink to Hell, unless you attend to the things we tell you."

At the regular Conference the next day (Monday, 0ctober 6), the theme was continued. President Young announced that the first business was to forthwith start assistance to those now on the plains. He called upon those who were willing to go, or to send teams, to come to the stand and report. If enough did not volunteer, he said, he would close the Conference, and he and Brother Kimball would start out with help.

Kimball, Young's first counsellor, having a humorous turn of mind, moved that the Conference adjourn and that he and President Young forthwith go to the aid of the emigrants. The question was put, and the assembly voted a unanimous., "NO!"

President Kimball then called on the blacksmiths in the congregation to retire; as they were wanted to shoe the horses and repair the wagons of those about to start to asist the brethern on the plains...

The response for help was magnificent... Sixteen wagonloads of food and supplies were quickly assembled; and on the morning of October 7, sixteen good four-mule teams and twenty-seven hardy young men headed eastward with the first installment of provisions. The gathering of more to follow, was pushed vigorously...

As the relief train reached the elevation of South Pass, where the continent divides to east and west drainages, the wagons were overtaken by a severe storm and cold weather. Snow continued for three days.

At Willow Creek, on the upper reaches of the Sweetwater, they halted to await better weather. Into this camp, riding worn-out mules, came Captain J. G. Willie and Joseph Elder of the Fourth Handcart Company on the evening of October 20. They reported that the emigrants were freezing and starving. All would perish if help did not reach them soon.

Early next morning the rescue party pushed on, and by night arrived at the destitute encampment. They had come in time to save the lives of most of Willie's Company.

After giving emergency relief, the rescue train was divided into two parties. About half, under Captain Kimball, remained with Willie's Company to help it westward. The other half, led by Captain Grant, pushed eastward to meet the Martin Company and the rear wagon trains...

Willie's Company Carried to Safety

The Fourth Handcart Company, with the aid of the rescue wagons and provisions, continued its westward trek. "We travelled but a few miles the first day, " reports John Chislett, "the roads being very heavy. All who were unable to walk were allowed to ride. The second day we travelled a little farther, and each day Brother Kimball got the company along as far as possible to move it, but still our process was very slow.

"Timely and good beyond estimate as the help which we received from the Valley was to our company generally, it was too late for some of our number. They were already prostrated and beyond all human help. Some seemed to have lost mental as well as physical energy. We talked to them of our improved condition, appealed to their love of life and showed them how easy it was to retain that life by arousing themselves; but to no purpose. We then addressed ourselves to their religious feelings, their wish to see Zion; to know the Prophet Bringham; showed them the good things that he had sent out to us, and told them how deeply he sympathized with us in our sufferings, and what a welcome he would give us when we reached the city. But all our efforts were unavailing; they had lost all love of life, all sense of surrounding things, and had sunk down into a state of indescribable apathy.

"The weather grew colder each day, and many got their feet so badly frozen that they could not walk, and had to be lifted from place to place. Some got their finger frozen; other their ears; and one woman lost her sight by the frost. These severities of the weather also increased our number of deaths, so that we buried several each day.

"A few days of bright freezing weather were succeeded by another snowstorm. The day we crossed the Rocky Ridge" it was snowing a little - the wind hard from the north-west - and blowing so keenly that it almost pierced us through. We had to wrap ourselves closely in blankets, quilts, or whatever else we could get, to keep from freezing. Captain Willie still attended to the details of the company's travelling, and this day he appointed me to bring up the rear. My duty was to stay behind everything and see that nobody was left along the road."

Chislett assisted, as best he could, those who lagged behind. But this rear group kept increasing in number until he had to leave them, and hurry on to the main camp for help.

"After some time I came in sight of the camp fires, which encouraged me. As I neared the camp I frequently overtook stragglers on foot, all pressing forward slowly, I stopped to speak to each one, cautioning them all against resting, as they would surely freeze to death. Finally, about 11 p.m. I reached the camp almost exhausted. I had exerted myself very much during the day in bringing the rear carts up the ridge, and had not eaten anything since breakfeast. I reported to Captain Willie and Kimball the situation of the folks behind. They immediately got up some horses, and the boys from the Valley started back about midnight to help the ox teams in. The night was very severe and many of the emigarants were frosen. It was 5 a.m. before the last team reached camp.

"There were so many dead and dying that it was decided to lie by for the day. In the forenoon I was appointed to go round the camp and collect the dead, I took with me two young men to assist me in the sad task, and we collected together, of all ages and both sexes thirteen corpses, all stiffly frozen. We had a large square hole dug in which we buried these thirteen people, three or four abreast and three deep...Two others died during the day making fifteen in all buried on that camp ground."

This was on Willow Creek, a tributary of the Sweetwater, and about fourteen miles east of South Pass. From here an express was sent to the Salt Lake Valley, it arrived on October 31. On that day Wilford Woodruff, writing to George A Smithy told of the arrival of the messengers:

"They bring bad news of that company; through starting so late in the season they have got caught in the snow storms and many have died. When the teams sent out at Conference, arrived at this camp, there had been 20 deaths, nineteen of them men, and while with them in one day there were 15 burials; and when the messengers left, there had been fifty-five deaths. They did not seem to be sick, but chilled through. Men would dig graves for their brethern and before night die themselves...

Chislett continues with his narration: "The day of rest on Willow Creek did the company good, and we started out next mommg with new life. During the day we crossed the Sweetwater on the ice, which did not break, although our wagons were laden with sick people. The effects of our lack of food, and the terrible ordeal of the Rocky Ridge, still remained among us. Two or three died every day....

"Near South Pass we found more brethern from the Valley, with several quarters of good fat beef hanging frozen on the limbs of the trees where they were encamped. These quarters of beef were to us the handsomest pictures we ever saw. The statues of Michael Angelo, or the paintings of the anciant masters, would have been to us nothing in comparison to these life giving pictures.

"After getting over the Pass we soon experienced the influence of a warmer climate and for a few days we made good progress. We constantly met teams from the Valley, with all necessary provisions. Most of these went on to Martin's company, but enough remained with us for our actual wants. At Fort Bridger (on November 2nd) we found a great many teams that had come to our help. The noble fellows who came to our assistance invariably received us joyfully, and did all in their power to alleviate our suffering. May they never need similar relief. From Bridger all our company rode, and this day I also rode for the first time on our journey. The entire distance from Iowa City to Fort Bridger I walked and waded every stream from the Missouri to that point, except Elkhom, which we ferried, and Green River, which I crossed in a wagon. During the journey from Bridger to Salt Lake a few died of dysentery, and some from the effects of the frost the day we crossed the fatal Rocky Ridge. But those who weathered that fatal day and night, and were free from disease, gradually regained strength and reached Salt Lake City in good health and spirits.

"When we left Iowa City we numbered about five hundred persons. Some few deserted us while passing through Iowa, and some remained at Florence. When we left the latter place we numbered four hundred and twenty, about twenty of whom were independent emigrants with their own wagons, so that our handcart company was actually four hundred of this number. Sixtyseven died on the journey, making a mortality of one-sixth of our number. Of those who were sick on our arrival, two or three soon died. President Young had arranged with the bishops of the different wards and settlements to take care of the poor emigrants who had no friends to receive them, and their kindness in this respect cannot be too highly praised.

The above narrative taken from T B H Stenhouse's ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS