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FRONI 
 
 KIRTLAND 
 
 — TO 
 
 Salt Lake City, 
 
 BY JAIVIES A. LITTLK, 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 JAMES A. LITTLE, PUBLISHER. 
 Printed at The Juvenile Instructor Office, 
 
 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. 
 1890. 
 
.L4J- 
 
 DEDICATORY. 
 
 IVi'/Zi feelings of heartfelt gratification and esteem^ and by permission, 
 this book is respectfully dedicated to 
 
 The only living Apostle Pioneer. 
 
 The Author. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1890, by James A. LITTLE, in the 
 Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 
 
Bancroft Liu 
 
 fr.e;fjPlCe;. 
 
 IT WAS not designed to make this litde volume a 
 detailed history of the Church of Jesus Christ of 
 Latter-day-Saints, in the early stages of its growth. A 
 consecutive narrative of its most important move- 
 ments, the policies involved in them, the potent in- 
 fluences that forced them to a culmination, and some 
 of their more immediate results is all that has been 
 aimed at. 
 
 Only sketches have been made where volumes 
 might be written, and the subject is far from ex- 
 hausted even in the general way in which It has been 
 handled. 
 
 It is hoped, that what is written will be found 
 interesting and instructive to the reader and, what is 
 of much Importance, that all who may desire to 
 peruse the book will find it easily within their reach. 
 
 History should not only give a correct narrative 
 of events but, as well, the Influences and motives that 
 stimulated the actors. For this reason whenever they 
 have left a record of their acts and motives, they 
 should be permitted to speak for themselves. Hence, 
 this book may be considered an epitome of the mo- 
 tives and experiences of the Saints who rejoiced and 
 suffered In the persecutions and exoduses attending 
 the early growth of the Latter-Day Work. 
 
 The Author. 
 
iJsrDz:x. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGK. 
 
 Early Recollections — The Organization of the Church — The 
 Policy of Moving "To the West" Revealed — The Object of 
 the Gathering to Kirtland — Time Specified for Remaining 
 There — The Move to the Rocky Mountains Foreshadowed. 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Disarming the Saints — The Expulsion from Jackson County — 
 "Zion's Camp" — The New County of Caldwell is Organ- 
 ized, to which the Saints Gather — The Presidency of the 
 Church Driven from Kirtland — The Kirtland Exodus — Its 
 Organization — Scarcity of Food — Necessity for Labor — 
 Much Sickness in Camp 15 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Company leave their Encampment of a Month — Several Bur- 
 ied by the Way — Hunger in Camp — The Economic Methods 
 of the Saints — Entrance of the Company into Missouri — 
 Great Excitement Among the People — The Company Arrive 
 in Far West 23 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Exodus from Missouri— The Covenant of Assistance — Suffer- 
 ings of the Saints as Illustrated in a Sketch of the Lytles — 
 Kindness of the People of Quincy — How Levi Hancock got 
 out of Missouri — Blessing on the Green Corn 27 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Location of Nauvoo — Camp of the Exiles — Their Suffering Con- 
 dition — The Location Made Healthier by Draining — Joseph 
 Smith in Vision Prophesies that the Saints will Remove to 
 the Rocky Mountains — The Twelve Labor to Carry out His 
 Predictions — The Commencement of the Exodus 35 
 
INDEX. V 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 The Twelve in Camp — Extreme Cold — A Last Visit to Nauvoo — 
 Experience of Elder Meeks — The Heroism of the Sisters — 
 Death of Edwin Little — Brigham Young vs. Nauvoo — Six- 
 teenth Anniversary of the Organization of the Church — Gar- 
 den Grove — Mount Pisgah 42 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 Difficulty of Obtaining Supplies — Sixteenth Anniversary of the 
 Organization of the Church — O. Pratt's Review on the nth 
 of April — Mount Pisgah Located — Sickness and Death 
 Among the Saints — Sister Z. D. Young's Narrative of Suffer- 
 ing — P. Meeks' Narrative 50 
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 Miller and Emmett Company — The Camp on Running Water — 
 The Aged Chief of the Poncas — Breaking up of the Camp on 
 Running Water — Winter Quarters Located and a Town Built 
 — Sister Bathsheba Smith's Description of the Houses — Ten 
 Thousand Saints on the Move Across Iowa 57 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Remnant in Nauvoo — A Brave Defense Against the Mob — 
 
 Elder Bullock's Thrilling Narrative — The Hancock Tragedy. 62 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Col. Thomas L. Kane's Graphic Picture of the Nauvoo Expulsion 
 — The Miraculous Flock of Quails — Kind Providence Cares 
 for the Saints — Closing Event on the Banks of the Missis- 
 sippi 67 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The Wilderness Echoes with the Sound of Industry — The Pio- 
 neers Leave Winter Quarters — Their Military Organization — 
 The First Buffalo Hunt — Representative Lady Pioneers — A 
 Prophet General with Apostles for Lieutenants — The Prairie 
 on Fire — Vast Herds of Buffalo — Thieving Indians .... 76 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Ash Hollow and its Reminiscences — Rattlesnakes — Visit of 
 Indians — Chimney Rock — Romantic Scenery — A Lunar 
 Rainbow — The Black Hills — Fort Laramie — California Emi- 
 gration — Laramie Peak — Making Roads — Ferry Across the 
 Platte 87 
 
VI INDEX. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Leaving the Platte — Saleratus Lake — Devil's Gate — Valley of the 
 Sweetwater — Winter and Summer Mingled Together — The 
 South Pass — Interesting Interviews with Major Harris and 
 Colonel Bridger — Arrival of Samuel Brannan From the Bay 
 of San Francisco — The Pueblo Detachment of the Mormon 
 Battalion — Mountain Fever 96 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Description of Fort Bridger — Start for Salt Lake — As Expected, 
 Many Difficulties were Encountered — Red Mineral Spring, 
 Tar and Sulphur Springs — Sickness of President Young — O. 
 Pratt, with a Detachment, Pioneers the Road — Frosty Nights 
 — Bears on Weber's Fork — East Canyon Creek — The Labors 
 of Camp Hunters — First View of Great Salt Lake Valley — 
 The Advance Camp in Emigration Canyon 104 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The Advance of the Pioneers Enters Great Salt Lake Valley — 
 Description of this Resting Place for the Pilgrims — Arrival 
 of President Young — The Crickets and Cricket Eaters of the 
 Desert — Thieving Propensities of the Indians Illustated . . 114 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Initial Point for the Survey of the Country — First Lessons in 
 Irrigation — Arrival of the Pueblo Detachment of the Mor- 
 mon Battalion Accompanied by a Company of Saints From 
 the Southern States — How these Companies Came to Connect 
 with the Pioneers — Narrative of Elder Thomas Bullock — Salt 
 Lake Valley Mexican Domain — Preparations for Defence and 
 Shelter — Brigham Young Returns to Winter Quarters to 
 Organize the Gathering — What the Pioneers Accomplished 
 in One Month 123 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Immigration of 1847 — Organization and Method of Travel — 
 Sublime Faith of these Saints — Mail Facilities — First Lesson in 
 Stampedes — Writing on a Buffalo Skull — Stampede and Loss 
 of Twenty Yoke of Oxen — P. H. Young Brings News From 
 the Pioneers — Sickness and Death — The Alkali Lands — Meet 
 Returning Soldiers and Pioneers — Exciting Stampede — 
 Death of Sister Grant — Arrival in the Valley 132 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Advantages of the New Gathering Place — Organization of a First 
 Presidency — The First General Epistle to the Saints Organ- 
 izing the Gathering 145 
 
INDEX. Vll 
 
 CHAPIER XIX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 The Mormon Battalion after their Discharge at Los Angeles- 
 Incidents of their Travel to Salt Lake Valley — About Fifty of 
 Them Continue their Travels to Winter Quarters — A Wonder- 
 ful March of Four Thousand Miles Under Difficulties in 
 Seventeen Months 151 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Captain P. C. Merrill's Company leaves Salt Lake for Winter 
 Quarters — Excessive Cold — Difficulties in Crossing Loupe 
 Fork — Suffering for Food — Misfortune of Alpheus Haws — 
 Horse Beef — Pawnee Indians — Dividing Food under Diffi- 
 culties — A Turkey for Supper — Providential Supply of 
 Food — Arrival in Winter Quarters — Captain Lytle's Uom- 
 pany Live mostly on Wild Meat — Difficulties at Loupe 
 Fork — Supper on a Donkey's Brains — Another on the Con- 
 tents of a Mule's Head — A Feast on Rawhide Saddle-Bags 
 Mule Beef for Ten Days — Arrival at Winter Quarters ... 160 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Condition of the People on the Shores of the Great Salt 
 Lake — Great Scarcity of Food — The Situation as shown by 
 L. D. Young's Narrative 169 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 The Emigration of 1848 — Organization of the Companies going 
 with President Young — Good news from the Valley — The last 
 Companies under Elders Richards and Lyman — Special 
 Epistle from President Young; his arrival in the Valley 
 — Arrival of the last Companies — Remarkable Prophecy — 
 Letter of P. P. Pratt, a Reign of Peace — What others thought 
 of the Mormons in Great Salt Lake Valley 174 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Condition of the Salt Lake Colony in the Winter of 1848-49 — 
 The Frontier Guardian — A Local Government Organized 
 — Review — Presidency of the Church Transferred to Salt Lake 
 — Apostles and Elders on the Mis^^ouri River — The Emigra- 
 tion of 1849 — Special Instructions — Anxiety as to the Fate of 
 the Salt Lake Colony 185 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Great Rush of People to California — Sickness and Death along 
 the Platte River — Captain Egan's Company — Great Waste 
 of Property — The last Train — Peace and Prosperity on the 
 the Shores of Salt Lake — Key Note of the Gathering for 1850 
 — Thirty Thousand Dollars to help the Poor — News from 
 the Camps of Israel 192 
 
VIU INDEX. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Synopsis of News from Salt Lake — Great Sacrifice of Property by 
 California Emigrants — Curious History of a Letter from 
 Captain Gully — Second General Epistle from Great Salt 
 Lake Valley — News from Emigrating Companies — Food 
 Supply in the Desert — Come ! from the Nations Come — 
 Organization of the P. E. Fund Company — Another Letter 
 from Smith and Benson — Tremendous Snow Storm — Sixty 
 Animals Perish — Pigs and Chickens Freeze to Death — Re- 
 markable Preservation of Human Life — Graves of the Gold 
 Diggers 202 
 
 CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 Bishop Hunter Agent for Gathering the Poor — Characteristic 
 Anecdotes — Instructions for the Emigration of 1850 — The 
 Call for the Gathering of the Camps of Israel — Dearth of News 
 in Great Salt Lake Valley — News from Parties Snowed in in 
 the Mountains 213 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Three Hundred and Fifty Wagons Start up the South Side of the 
 Platte — Immense Emigration to California — Prosperous Con- 
 dition of the Saints — The Deseret News — Panoramic View 
 of the Emigration — Ravages of the Cholera — The Disease in 
 its Most Fearful Stages — Graves by the Wayside — The Last 
 of the Mormon Emigration on the way — O. Hyde on his 
 way to the Mountains — His Account of the Emigration — 
 Good Crops and Food Abundant in the Valley — "Rich and 
 Poor Gather to the State of Deseret" — the Saints counseled 
 to Travel on the North Side of the Platte 220 
 
 CHAPTER XXVni. 
 
 The Emigration of 185 1 — News from Companies on the Plains 
 — The Fire of the Gathering — Hand Carts Foreshadowed — 
 Elders Ezra T. Benson and J. M. Grant Sent to Superin- 
 tend the Emigration of 1852 — Elder Margetts' Trip from 
 Salt Lake to Kanesville 233 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Captain Foot's Hundred — Its History Illustrates the Difficulties 
 Encountered by the Emigrating Saints in 1852 — The Opening 
 up of a New Era — Gathering the Poor from Europe under 
 the Auspices of the Perpetual Emigration Fund Company . 239 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 The Way marks of the Saints along their Route of Travel — Fair- 
 view Cemetery — The Grave of Solomon Hancock — Relics of 
 Winter Quarters 250 
 
from: kirtland 
 
 TO 
 
 SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER. I. 
 
 EARLY RECOLLECTIONS THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH 
 
 THE POLICY OF MOVING "TO THE WEST" REVEALED 
 
 THE OBJECT OF THE GATHERING TO KIRTLAND TIME 
 
 SPECIFIED FOR REMAINING THERE THE MOVE TO THE 
 
 ROCKY MOUNTAINS FORESHADOWED. 
 
 IN THE spring of 1846, the writer was a soldier in 
 the Army of Occupation, on the Rio Grande, under 
 General Z. Taylor, ready to contribute his mite in the 
 expected contest with Mexico, towards redressing the 
 wrongs of American citizens and enlarging the public 
 domain. There reports reached him of the expulsion of 
 the Mormons from Nauvoo, accompanied with the sug- 
 gestion that they would probably perish in the storms of 
 winter on the bleak prairies of Iowa. 
 
 In the spring of 1849, he joined their fortunes by 
 embracing their doctrines. The same season, in company 
 with many others, he followed the trail of their pioneers 
 across the desolate wastes between the Missouri river 
 and the shores of the Great Salt Lake. The first object 
 on the route that particularly interested him was a col- 
 lection of dilapidated, tenantless houses, on the west 
 
lO FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 bank of the Missouri river, near where the town of 
 Florence now stands. On inquiry he was informed this 
 had been the resting-place of the Mormons after their 
 expulsion from the beautiful city of Nauvoo; the rest 
 denied them in their own homes in Illinois they had 
 sought from the mercy of savages, beyond the confines 
 of civilization. 
 
 Near this way-mark of civilization was a place of sep- 
 ulchre where rested, in the secure repose of death, stern, 
 enduring manhood, elastic youth and prattling Innocence, 
 alike the victims of relentless persecution. No fence 
 protected this humble mausoleum from the tread of the 
 reckless emigrant, the prowling savage, and the wild 
 beasts who found protection in the very desolateness of 
 its surroundings. No costly monuments, with finely 
 chiseled epitaphs, ornamented the ground and reminded 
 the passer-by that here rested the opulent and influential. 
 The humble condition of surviving friends was evident 
 from the rude pieces of timber and the Ill-shapen stones at 
 the head of graves. There was a sameness In their 
 appearance that required the recollection of surviving 
 friends to Indicate where wounded affection might drop 
 a few parting tears, when the still operative forces of 
 persecution compelled the remnant of this shattered peo- 
 ple to bid adieu to the resting-places of departed loved 
 ones and seek a home in the solitudes of the great 
 desert. 
 
 A fast age and the great continental railways have 
 made the trail of Mormon migration to the interior of 
 the continent a thing of the past, but the dusty road, the 
 dreary plains, the rocky heights, the almost impassible 
 canyons, the stampedes of cattle, the lurking savage, the 
 nights of sleepless vigils, the days of watchfulness and 
 of dreary labor, the dying friend who had long hoped to 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I I 
 
 enjoy a season of rest in a desert home, the grave by the 
 wayside, hastily dug but deep to protect the debris of 
 humanity from ravenous wolves, will forever remain fresh 
 in the memories of those to whom they have been a living 
 reality. 
 
 With these scenes vividly photographed on his mind 
 for forty years, the writer's interest in the early history 
 of the Saints has constantly increased. 
 
 A latter-day dispensation in which should culminate 
 the redemption of the race, has been expected by seers 
 and prophets down through the ages. A leader of that 
 dispensation was also prepared, in whom should first be 
 planted the principles of the Latter-day work. That 
 leader is Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the nineteenth 
 century. 
 
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 
 first assumed organized form in Fayette, Seneca County, 
 New York, the 6th of April, 1830. Its journeyings from 
 there to the Salt Lake of the Rocky Mountains was the 
 filling up of a grand prophetic outline. 
 
 In October of that year Parley P. Pratt and Ziba 
 Peterson were required, by revelation, to accompany 
 Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jr., into the wilder- 
 ness among the Lamanites. 
 
 After necessary preparations, they bade adieu to 
 brethren and family friends, and preaching by the way, 
 continued their journey to Kirtland, Ohio, where 
 they tarried awhile and labored, and, as a result of that 
 labor, organized a branch of the Church of about one 
 hundred and twenty-seven members. They were mostly 
 from the followers of Sidney S. Rigdon, an influential 
 Campbellite preacher. 
 
 The latter part of January, 1831, the Prophet Joseph 
 Smith and family, accompanied by S. S. Rigdon, who 
 
12 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 had been visiting them, moved to Kirtland, where they 
 arrived about the first of February. This made it the 
 headquarters of the Church, and a nucleus around which 
 to gather its increasing numbers. 
 
 Soon after the arrival of the Prophet in Kirtland, 
 the Lord said to him in a revelation, "And from this 
 place ye shall go forth into the regions westward ; and 
 inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you, ye 
 shall build up my Church in every region, until the time 
 shall come when it shall be revealed unto you from on 
 high, where the city of the New Jerusalem shall be pre- 
 pared, that ye may be gathered in one, that ye may be 
 my people and I will be your God." This indicated that 
 still further *'to the west" would be the center of future 
 empire and another objective point towards which the 
 movements of the Church would be directed. This view 
 was further emphasized by a subsequent passage in the 
 same revelation: ''And behold it shall come to pass that 
 my servants shall be sent forth to the east and to the 
 west, to the north and to the south ; and even now, let 
 him that goeth to the east, teach them that shall be con- 
 verted to flee to the west, and this in consequence of that 
 which is coming on the earth, and of secret combina- 
 tions." 
 
 In this we see a declared policy, which developed in 
 the subsequent movements of the Church until they cul- 
 minated in colonizing the Great Salt Lake Valley. 
 
 Elder P. P. Pratt and companions faithfully per- 
 formed their mission and Elder Pratt in his Autobiogra- 
 phy, sums up general results as follows : 
 
 ''After much fatigue and some suffering we all 
 arrived in Independence, in the county of Jackson, on 
 the extreme western frontiers of Missouri, and of the 
 United States. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 3 
 
 "This was about fifteen hundred miles from where 
 we started, and we had performed most of the journey 
 on foot, through a wilderness country, in the worst sea- 
 son of the year, occupying about four months, during 
 which we had preached the gospel to tens of thousands 
 of Gentiles, and two nations of Indians ; baptizing, con- 
 firming and organizing many hundreds of people into 
 churches of Latter-day Saints." 
 
 Thus early was the way marked out for a future 
 stride of the Church to the west of one thousand five 
 hundred miles. Events proved that ''the Ohio," with 
 Kirtland as a center of operations was, from the first, 
 only designed as a way station at which to gather strength 
 for carrying out the policy of continuing "to flee to the 
 west;" for, as early as September nth, 1831, the Lord 
 declared through his Seer, that it was His "will to retain 
 a stronghold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five 
 years," and after that He would "not hold any guilty that 
 shall go with an open heart up to the land of Zion." 
 
 An important factor in the gathering of this strength 
 was the building and dedication of a temple. For ages 
 the Priesthood in heaven and on the earth had been 
 awaiting, with deep interest, the ushering in of "the dis- 
 pensation of the fullness of times." The Seer, the cir- 
 cumstances of whose coming had been a subject of 
 recorded prophecy, came. A suitable place, in which 
 he could be clothed with authority for the fulfillment 
 of his mission, was a necessity. That the Kirtland 
 temple was the place in which this grand purpose 
 was accomplished is evident from Sec. no, Doc. and 
 Cov. 
 
 That the Church was organized; a people gathered, 
 a town built up, a temple erected and dedicated in which 
 a great event of the ages was consummated, within the 
 short period of six years, evidences the rapid growth of 
 
14 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the Latter-day work and the toils and sacrifices of the 
 Kirtland Saints. 
 
 Even in this primary gathering place the location in 
 the Rocky Mountains began to develop from the shad- 
 ows of the future. Doubtless, many evidences of this 
 might be gathered up, but the following will answer our 
 purpose. Elder Lorenzo D. Young states in his Auto- 
 biography that, when very sick in Kirtland, Father Joseph 
 Smith promised he should recover, live to go with the 
 Saints to the Rocky Mountains and there receive many 
 blessings. 
 
 We may reasonably assume that when the Prophet 
 received the revelation counseling those that should be 
 converted ** to flee to the west," the idea was well defined 
 in his mind that the culmination of the policy would be 
 in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. 
 
 While there was a grand purpose in the temporary 
 occupation of Kirtland, it was, at the same time, neces- 
 sary they should establish themselves in Missouri for a 
 central gathering place when it became necessary to 
 evacuate it. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 5 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 DISARMING THE SAINTS THE EXPULSION FROM JACKSON 
 
 COUNTY ''ZION's CAMP " THE NEW COUNTY OF CALD- 
 WELL IS ORGANIZED, TO WHICH THE SAINTS GATHER 
 
 THE PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH DRIVEN FROM KIRT- 
 LAND THE KIRTLAND EXODUS ITS ORGANIZATION 
 
 SCARCITY OF FOOD NECESSITY FOR LABOR MUCH SICK- 
 NESS IN CAMP. 
 
 IT IS a singular fact to contemplate, that the first ground 
 from which the Saints were driven, was that on which 
 will be built the chief city of the Western Hemisphere. 
 Fifty-five years after that sad event they are still wander- 
 ers from their heritage, and the longing eyes of the faith- 
 ful are directed towards the place, as are those of Judah 
 to the Jerusalem of their fathers. When they will 
 realize the fruition of their hopes remains an unanswered 
 query. 
 
 The bitter feelings engendered by the slavery ques- 
 tion between the people of the Northern and Southern 
 States, made the slave owners of Missouri, like others, 
 jealous and suspicious of northern people. This, with 
 Other causes, operated from the first, to give the Saints 
 but little rest among these rude people of the frontier. 
 Those in Jackson county had suffered almost constant 
 annoyance, culminating in expulsion from their homes. 
 
 Preparatory to the accomplishment of this barbarous 
 act, with the assurance of the Lieut. Governor of the 
 state and others, that the object was to disarm the com- 
 batants on both sides, wij:h the hope of insuring peace, 
 the Saints surrendered about fifty of their weapons of 
 
1 6 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 defence. The mob, then secure from injury, were like 
 savages let loose on women and children. They went 
 about well armed in companies, on foot and on horse- 
 back. They frightened the distracted women and chil- 
 dren with threats of what they would do to their hus- 
 bands and fathers if they could catch them, and warned 
 them to flee immediately or they would demolish their 
 houses and massacre them before night. 
 
 Christian preachers acted a conspicuous part in 
 these cruel proceedings; called the Mormons "the com- 
 mon enemies of mankind " and exulted in their afflic- 
 tions. 
 
 Sunday, the 24th of November, 1833, about one 
 hundred and fifty of these harassed people were driven 
 from their homes in Jackson county. Some went into 
 Van Buren county, others fled into Clay county and 
 camped on the banks of the Missouri river. The exiles 
 subsequently made every possible exertion to recover 
 their property, but without success. The citizens of 
 Van Buren county would not let the Saints rest in 
 peace among them. This was a double hardship after 
 having built themselves houses and provided food for 
 winter. 
 
 In 1834, a military body, called "Zion's Camp" 
 marched from Ohio to Missouri for the relief of the 
 Saints. After a short time spent among them, Joseph 
 Smith and others, on the 9th of July, commenced their 
 return journey to Kirtland where they arrived the ist of 
 August. There the Prophet found the elements of dis- 
 cord and apostasy in several leading elders. Much 
 opposition had been aroused against him by false reports 
 and accusations. All of which disappeared before the 
 light of investigation. 
 
 When driven out of Jackson county the Saints 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I J 
 
 scattered into several counties, but perhaps more of them 
 settled in Clay than in any other county, as they there 
 met more kindness and consideration than elsewhere. 
 Besides, it was the most convenient county for the 
 exiles to gather to in their great distress. In time, 
 however, causes similar to those in Jackson county 
 operated to make the citizens uneasy at their presence. 
 The success and influence of the Jackson County mob 
 also assisted in developing the spirit of persecution in 
 the surrounding counties. 
 
 The first general move made in Clay county, for 
 the expulsion of the Saints, was on the 29th of June, 
 1836. In accordance with previous notice a respectable 
 number of citizens met at the court-house in Liberty. 
 The meeting was organized and a committee appointed 
 to give expression to the object of the meeting, and the 
 sentiments of the citizens of the county, with regard to 
 the residence of the Mormons among them. 
 
 In perusing the minutes of this meeting we are 
 struck with the open-hearted candor with which it gave 
 expression to the public sentiment and the total want of 
 consideration which popular prejudice engenders with 
 regard to justice and constitutional rights. An excited 
 populace regards no law that stands in the way of the 
 gratification of its blind fury. 
 
 The Saints were required to remove from the 
 county, and a committee of ten was appointed to wait 
 on them and receive their answer. The ist of July a 
 considerable body of the elders of the Church in Clay 
 county assembled and organized. The proceedings of 
 the citizens who met on the 29th of June were read and 
 a Preamble and Resolutions adopted in answer to them. 
 
 The Preamble expressed the gratitude of the Saints 
 for the kindness shown them by the citizens of Clay 
 
1 8 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 County, and said: "Being desirous for peace, and wish- 
 ing the good rather than the Ill-will of mankind, we will 
 use all honorable means to allay the excitement, and so 
 far as we can, remove any foundation for jealousies 
 against us as a people." 
 
 A committee of three was appointed to present the 
 Preamble and Resolutions to an adjourned meeting of 
 the citizens. This meeting accepted the reply of the 
 Saints to their resolutions passed on the 29th of June. 
 It was also urged upon the citizens to carry out, in good 
 faith, the arrangements made between themselves and 
 the Mormons. The meeting also recommended the 
 Mormons to the good treatment of the people of the 
 surrounding counties. 
 
 The Saints in Clay county selected a new location 
 on Shoal Creek In territory attached to Ray county, and 
 commenced moving on to it In September, 1836. Thus 
 this move from Clay county was accomplished without 
 much violence. The Saints gathering on Shoal Creek, 
 petitioned the Missouri Legislature to incorporate a new 
 county from territory attached to Ray county. This 
 petition was granted about the middle of the following 
 December and the new county was called Caldwell. 
 
 The mob In Davles county gave notice to the Saints 
 in that county to leave by the ist of August, 1837. At 
 this time there were about one hundred houses in Far 
 West, the chief settlement of the Saints in the new 
 county. 
 
 In the autumn of 1837, the spirit of apostasy began 
 to develop with much power In KIrtland. The Prophet 
 had been to Missouri to aid in the direction of affairs by 
 his presence and counsel. Returning to KIrtland about 
 the loth of December, he found several of the quorum 
 of the apostles In open rebellion, and these with others. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 9 
 
 united for the overthrow of the Church. So bitter did 
 this spirit become that there was a show of armed force 
 to destroy those who sustained the legitimate authority 
 of the Church. So great was the pressure that Elder 
 Brigham Young, a staunch supporter of the Prophet, left 
 KIrtland for Missouri the 22nd of December, 1837. 
 
 The apostate power continued to increase until Jos- 
 eph Smith and Sidney S. RIgdon were compelled to flee 
 in the night. They left KIrtland on the evening of the 
 1 2th of January, 1838. They were joined by their fam- 
 ilies on the 1 6th, and pursued their journey to Missouri 
 in wagons. They arrived In Far West the 14th of the 
 following March. The head quarters of the Church 
 were now removed from KIrtland to Missouri, and it was 
 the signal for the evacuation of the former place. It had 
 filled its mission and was no longer needed for the pro- 
 gress of the Saints ''to the west." 
 
 The 6th of March, 1838, the seventies met In the 
 temple In KIrtland to devise the best means of removing 
 their quorum to Missouri. On the loth of the month it 
 was made manifest by "vision and prophecy," that they 
 should go up in a camp, pitching their tents by the way. 
 On the 13th, they adopted rules for their journey, which 
 were signed by one hundred and seventy-five men. The 
 privilege was given for any persons to go In the company 
 provided they would abide the laws for its government. 
 A Board of Commissioners was appointed to lead the 
 camp, which was divided into companies of tens with a 
 captain over each. A clerk, historian and treasurer were 
 also appointed. 
 
 Elder Joel H. Johnson says In his journal: ''On the 
 6th of July, 1838, I started from KIrtland, with my family, 
 in company with the camp called 'The KIrtland camp,' 
 numbering In all, men, women and children, five hundred 
 
20 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 and fifteen souls ; with fifty-eight wagons and a large 
 number of cows. It consisted, principally, of the poor 
 Saints of Kirtland, the sick, lame, blind, etc., with all who 
 
 could not move without help." Kirtland was the first 
 place the Saints had gathered to and the third they 
 evacuated in less than five years. Zion's camp was 
 essentially a military organization not burdened with 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 2 1 
 
 families. The "Kirtland camp" was the first company 
 of Saints, of any considerable magnitude, that was an 
 emigrating one, burdened with women and children, 
 household goods, cattle, etc. 
 
 Traveling among avowed enemies organization for 
 defence was a necessity. The following circumstance 
 illustrates the temper of the people in many places. 
 Near the town of Mansfield, Ohio, three of the com- 
 pany, Josiah Butterfield, Jonathan Dunham and H. Hall, 
 were, for some supposed connection with the ''Kirtland 
 safety society money," arrested and lodged in jail. 
 Threats were in circulation that the camp should not pass 
 through the town ; but as they continued their journey 
 the next morning nothing disturbed them, except the 
 repeated firing of cannon to frighten their horses as 
 they passed the court-house. The court was in session 
 and the case of the imprisoned brethren was called up, 
 but no bill being found against them they were dis- 
 charged a little after one o'clock p. m. This was on the 
 20th of July. 
 
 On account of a heavy rain, which had thoroughly 
 wet the camp the night before, on the 21st the roads 
 were muddy and traveling bad. To seriously increase 
 the difficulties food was scarce, there not being half 
 enough in camp for dinner. There was some appetite 
 for raw corn before a supply could be obtained. Sunday 
 the 22nd of July, the camp was one hundred and eighty- 
 eight miles from Kirtland. 
 
 In these early times of trying experiences cleanli- 
 ness was, as now, a part of the religion of the Saints. 
 At proper times the company was halted at a con- 
 venient place for fuel and water, and the "Sisters" were 
 notified that time would be given for cleansing linen, etc. 
 
 The 24th of July, while in camp for this purpose, the 
 
2 2 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 men obtained a job and performed labor to the amount 
 of nineteen dollars. Some difficulties were thrown in the 
 way of the people because they were Mormons. For this 
 reason, in one place they could not buy forage and one 
 man threatened to shoot Captain Dunham, the engi- 
 neer. 
 
 About the ist of August, the Kirtland company 
 halted in their journey to recruit their teams. The men 
 engaged in such labor as they could obtain in order to 
 get means to continue their journey. No rations were 
 issued to those who could not give a reasonable excuse 
 for absenting themselves from labor. The doctrine that 
 ''the Idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer " appears 
 to have been rigidly enforced. Three brethren were 
 appointed to settle minor difficulties. For some time the 
 camp did not make much progress. Many were sick, 
 and the evening of the 8th of August was spent by several 
 of the Elders In visiting the tents and rebuking diseases 
 and evil spirits. Elder Byington's child died, but many 
 of the sick were healed. 
 
 Division crept Into the camp and they did not pro- 
 perly Improve their time in labor. The 20th of August 
 the company began to break up. Two men who had 
 been cut off from the Church left it with their families. 
 About this time two children were born In camp. The 
 men continued to labor as they had opportunity. They 
 burned charcoal, erected a forge, and the blacksmiths 
 repaired wagons, shod horses, and prepared to resume 
 their journey. 
 
 Every man was expected to fill his place In the 
 organization. For not honoring his office of tent-master 
 a Mr. Hammond was cut off from the company. It was 
 the duty of a tent-master to see that prayer was attended 
 to at the proper time, that no iniquity existed In his 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 23 
 
 tent, and also to draw the daily rations for those belong- 
 ing to his mess. 
 
 At three o'clock in the morning of the 29th of 
 August, the trumpet sounded to wake up the sleepers to 
 prepare for the journey. The people appeared weary 
 of inactivity, for "every heart leapt with joy, and even 
 the children were so delighted that they appeared like a 
 lot of playful lambs." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE COMPANY LEAVE THEIR ENCAMPMENT OF A MONTH 
 
 SEVERAL BURIED BY THE WAY HUNGER IN CAMP — THE 
 
 ECONOMIC METHODS OF THE SAINTS ENTRANCE OF THE 
 
 COMPANY INTO MISSOURI GREAT EXCITEMENT AMONG 
 
 THE PEOPLE THE COMPANY ARRIVE IN FAR WEST. 
 
 AT NINE o'clock the camp ground which had been 
 occupied for a month was vacated. The company 
 traveled eighteen miles and that night was two hundred 
 and seventy miles from Kirtland. The enmity of the 
 people was shown in various ways. On Sunday, the 2nd 
 of September, a malicious stage-driver turned out of his 
 course and broke up a wheel of one of the wagons. 
 The following day the company passed through Indian- 
 apolis, the capital of the state of Indiana. Although 
 there were some threats from the people, no demonstra- 
 tion was made except hurling a brickbat at one of the 
 men which did no harm. 
 
 There was much sickness in the country the com- 
 
24 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 pany were passing through, and several of its members 
 died and were buried by the way. It was autumn and 
 winter was approaching. While it was still thought 
 advisable for the company to try to go up to Zion in a 
 body, a few families were counseled to find places to 
 work through the winter, and get means with which to 
 help themselves. 
 
 In accordance with this counsel the loth of Sep- 
 tember, nine or ten families remained behind. On the 
 14th of September the company passed through Spring- 
 field in the state of Illinois. Much enmity was mani- 
 fested in the countenances and conduct of the citizens. 
 Fever and ague were prevalent in the country, and on 
 account of sickness and destitution, many families had 
 found stopping places before arriving at this place. The 
 people of this camp had learned what it was to be hungry, 
 as they were often short of food for man and beast. For 
 the last one hundred miles of travel their food had con- 
 sisted of boiled corn and shaving pudding. The latter 
 was made by shaving the new ears of corn on a jointer or 
 foreplane. It was pronounced excellent with a little milk, 
 butter or sweetening. An occasional mixture of pork, 
 flour, potatoes, etc., made it approximate quite a com- 
 fortable living. The cobs and refuse were given to the 
 horses so that nothing was lost. 
 
 At this early period of church history the economic 
 methods and patient endurance of the Saints made the 
 following sentiment proverbial: "The Mormons would 
 starve a host of enemies to death, for they will live 
 where everybody else would die." At this time the com- 
 pany had become reduced from five hundred and fifteen 
 to two hundred and sixty persons. They were five hun- 
 dred and forty-six miles from Kirtland, and had been a 
 little over five months on the way. Destitution, severe 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 25 
 
 toil, sickness and death caused murmurlngs and division, 
 and they had scattered along the route. 
 
 September 20th, 1838, the Kirtland Saints crossed 
 the Mississippi river into Pike county, Missouri, and 
 pitched their tents one mile west of the town of Louisi- 
 ana, six hundred and fifty-six miles from Kirtland. The 
 Saints in Missouri were in serious difficulty with the 
 mob, and the travel-worn remnant of the Kirtland Exo- 
 dus found no place to rest. They fled from the fires of 
 persecution in Ohio to find themselves in a furnace of 
 af^iction in Missouri. 
 
 The following incident partially illustrates the tem- 
 per of the Missourians. Elder John D. Tyler had charge 
 of the loose stock of the company. The third day after 
 crossing the Mississippi river, in passing through the 
 town of Paris, those having charge of the herd were 
 hailed and asked to what place they were driving the 
 cattle. They were answered, "Towards the Rocky 
 Mountains." ''Well, you are going into trouble." Elder 
 Tyler replied, "We have been in that place before and 
 know how to take it." It may justly be said of the Mis- 
 sourians "they grumbled and growled like wolves." 
 
 In passing through the town of Madisonville the 
 company met all sorts of exciting stories about the Mor- 
 mon troubles. They encamped at night on the west side 
 of the north branch of Salt river, on the ground occupied 
 a few days previous by Elder Page's company from Can- 
 ada. They were told that the governor of the state was 
 just ahead with a military force to stop them. It was 
 only one of the many flying reports that they so often 
 heard. 
 
 The 28th of September, 1838, the company found 
 themselves on Parson's creek, Lynn county, Missouri. 
 The country was a natural paradise. It was well sup- 
 
26 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 plied with wild turkeys, prairie hens, quails, partridges, 
 wild geese, ducks, snipes, deer, raccoons and squirrels. 
 From this profusion of game some food was obtained 
 for the camp. The following day a couple of wagons 
 upset and hurt several persons, and there were also some 
 sick in camp. 
 
 Sunday, the 30th of September, the camp traveled 
 fifteen miles and encamped in Caldwell county, on the farm 
 of Brother Oliver Walker who gave each one a large 
 pumpkin and some shelled beans. The company began 
 to enjoy the kindly hospitality of the Saints, and these 
 friendly associations made them feel as though they had, 
 indeed, entered the '' Land of Promise." 
 
 The 2nd of October the company approached Far 
 West. The Prophet, Joseph Smith, Elders Sidney S. 
 Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Isaac Morley and George W. 
 Robinson met them a few miles out and escorted them 
 into the city. They encamped on the public square 
 where friends greeted friends in the name of the Lord. 
 Isaac Morley, Patriarch at Far West, furnished a beef for 
 the camp, and Elder Rigdon provided a supper for the 
 sick. The people needed the kind hospitality of friends 
 for they had eaten but little for several days. By the 
 way they had traveled, they were distant from Kirtland 
 eight hundred and sixty-six miles. They had now 
 reached the " Land of Zion," the headquarters of the 
 Church, and the Kirtland exodus had culminated, but 
 we will accompany them to their destination. 
 
 The 4th October, 1838, was an important day to the 
 '' Kirtland Camp." It ended their long and trying 
 journey, *' for they arrived at their destination and 
 began to pitch their tents about sunset, when one of 
 the brethren living in the place proclaimed with a loud 
 voice — ''Brethren, your long and tedious journey is now 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 2^ 
 
 ended, you are now on the public square of Adam-ondl- 
 Ahman. This is the place where Adam blessed his 
 posterity, where they rose up and called him Michael, 
 the Prince, the Archangel, and he being full of the Holy 
 Ghost predicted what should befall his posterity to the 
 latest generation. " 
 
 The town of Adam-ondi-Ahman had been located 
 in June of that year on the north side of Grand River, in 
 Davis county, twenty-five miles north of Far West. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE EXODUS FROM MISSOURI THE COVENANT OF ASSISTANCE 
 
 SUFFERINGS OF THE SAINTS AS ILLUSTRATED IN A 
 
 SKETCH OF THE LYTLES — KINDNESS OF THE PEOPLE OF 
 
 QUINCY HOW LEVI HANCOCK GOT OUT OF MISSOURI 
 
 BLESSING ON THE GREEN CORN. 
 
 MISSOURI was a '' Land of Promise" to the Saints, 
 to be retained only on condition of keeping 
 the law of consecration which had been in part revealed 
 in Ohio. This law was applicable to all members of the 
 Church, and without its observance an inheritance could 
 not be obtained upon the land of Zion. For evidence 
 that the conditions were not fulfilled the reader is re- 
 ferred to Sec. 1 1 o, Doc. and Cov. 
 
 With divine requirements unfulfilled the Saints had 
 not faith to contend with surrounding antagonisms, and 
 the land of Missouri proved an uncongenial soil for 
 their growth. Even with their failure in coming up to 
 
28 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the Standard of excellence required of them, the purity of 
 their principles, their progressive spirit, and their unity of 
 action, were too much for the crude intellectual and moral 
 capacity of the average Missourian, and he made fre- 
 quent spasmodic efforts to eject from his surroundings 
 elements so antagonistic to his nature.. 
 
 As before stated the Saints in Missouri were subject 
 to great annoyances and, in the autumn of 1833, were 
 expelled by mobs from their homes in Jackson county. 
 They scattered out into Clay, Daviess, and De Witt coun- 
 ties. They were not permitted to rest in these places ; 
 they gathered into Caldwell county and located the town 
 of Far West. These persecutions were a constant 
 accumulation of unredressed wrongs heaped upon them 
 by the Missourians. These wrongs generally culminated 
 in confiscation of property, and often in imprisonment 
 and death. Death sometimes by personal violence, but 
 oftener by dieases caused by exposure to the elements 
 and want of the necessaries of life. 
 
 When the Prophet, Joseph Smith, arrived in Far 
 West, in March, 1838, it became the residence of the 
 leading authorities of the Church, and it and the sur- 
 rounding country, the gathering place for its members. 
 The Missourians feared the Saints on account of their 
 thorough organization, their unity of purpose and action, 
 and offered violence to oppose their voting at the August 
 election. At the town of Gallatin a knock down fight 
 occurred between the parties in which the Mormons were 
 victorious. This roused the popular excitement to fever 
 heat. From that time antagonisms seemed to strengthen. 
 Mobs became legalized military bodies under State au- 
 thority ; the judiciary instead of defending the injured be- 
 came a mere tool in the hands of a vindictive populace. 
 
 The climax of tyranny and wrong was finally reached 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 29 
 
 by the governor of the State, Lilburn W. Boggs, issuing 
 a decree that the Mormons must either leave the State 
 or be exterminated. The Saints were disarmed and 
 their leaders imprisoned. In this defenceless condition 
 they were robbed and abused by as graceless a set of 
 villains as ever claimed connection with Christian civiliza- 
 tion. 
 
 The crisis had come, and it was death or expatriation. 
 The memorable exodus of the Saints from Missouri com- 
 menced in the autumn of 1838, and culminated the ensu- 
 ing winter under circumstances of extreme destitution 
 and suffering. It was a dark day. They were leaving 
 their ''Land of Promise" to which they had clung with 
 great tenacity and there was no other in sight. There 
 had been no prophetic utterances to indicate where should 
 be their next gathering place. Only those who have 
 passed through a similar experience can conceive of their 
 sufferings, and they will never be written unless it is done 
 by the recording angels. 
 
 They left ample evidence of their sufferings along 
 their trail to the west bank of the Mississippi river, 
 opposite the town of Quincy, Illinois, a distance of about 
 one hundred and seventy-five miles. There hundreds 
 encamped in winter storms with little protection except 
 the forest along the river bottom, which furnished abund- 
 ant fuel for their fires. 
 
 In fulfillment of a covenant made by the Elders, that 
 they would not cease their exertions until their people 
 were gathered out of Missouri, when those who owned 
 teams had accomplished the deliverance of their families, 
 they, and their scanty stock of household goods were 
 unloaded and the team returned to Missouri to deliver 
 others from perils and death. 
 
 Some Missourians living on the road traveled by 
 
30 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the Saints, in their vindictive hate, ignored their usual 
 customs of hospitality, and at night denied women and 
 children shelter from the rigors of a northern winter, the 
 icy air of which was often breathed by new born babes ; 
 others, with warm sympathies for suffering humanity, 
 offered them such shelter and comfort as was practicable 
 under the eyes of some vindictive neighbor. 
 
 Let it be recorded to the honor of the citizens of the 
 town of Quincy, that they liberally administered to the 
 wants of the fugitives from Missouri. 
 
 The misfortunes of a people are often best illustrat- 
 ed by individual experiences. 
 
 With the slender outfit of a wagon and a pair of 
 horses Mr. John Lytle, his brother Andrew, and their 
 families, in all ten persons, arrived on the west bank of 
 the Mississippi river, opposite the town of Quincy, Illi- 
 nois, in the month of February, 1839. In fulfillment of 
 a covenant before referred to, their effects were at once 
 unloaded and the team returned to assist others. After 
 bringing out its owner and his brother, it made two trips 
 bringing two families each time, when it was too exhausted 
 for further labor in that direction. The Lytles encamped 
 in the timber on the river bottom, with many other fugi- 
 tives. At the time of their arrival the river was open 
 and no arrangements had been perfected for crossing the 
 people. 
 
 Their shelter from the chilling winds of winter was 
 what the timber afforded, with quilts and wagon covers 
 drawn over poles. In a day or two the weather turned 
 severely cold, the river froze over, and the people crossed 
 on the ice. Mr. John Lytle and family, with five other 
 families, found shelter in a room about 18x20 feet. The 
 only advantage of this crowded condition was protection 
 from the cold. The first and only night this shelter was 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 3 1 
 
 enjoyed, Mrs. Lytle gave birth to a son. Even in this 
 extreme of destitution they were not permitted to rest, 
 for the following day the owner ordered them to vacate 
 the house as he had an opportunity to rent. A cabin 
 was found barely large enough to shelter the two bro- 
 thers and their families. To it the suffering wife and 
 new-born babe were removed. 
 
 This miserable shelter was occupied but one night 
 for they were again ordered to vacate. Fortunately 
 another shelter was found, but at a considerable distance. 
 To it, families and effects were removed. Under these 
 hardships the tender infant sickened and died. The 
 mother, destitute of every comfort woman is supposed 
 to need in her condition, also sickened but finally rallied 
 and recovered. 
 
 Hoping to find some relief and rest, Mr. Lytle and 
 family made a visit to Pike county, Illinois. They found 
 their relations embittered against their people, and a cool 
 reception was the result. In a day or two they returned 
 to the neighborhood of Quincy, and soon after con- 
 tinued their journey to Commerce where their people 
 were already gathering. There they found a hearty 
 welcome from fellow-sufferers as destitute as themselves. 
 Levi Hancock was well known in the Church as one of 
 the First Seven Presidents of Seventies. Many will be 
 interested in the following account of how he got out 
 of Missouri. It may be considered an extreme case but 
 doubtless, there were many others nearly paralleling it. 
 
 Levi Hancock arrived from Ohio in Far West, 
 Missouri, in March, 1838, in company with the Prophet, 
 Joseph Smith. He settled on Plum Creek, a short dis- 
 tance from the town. There he remained until the time 
 had nearly expired within which the Saints were to leave 
 the State. Up to that time he had spent his energies in 
 
32 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 assisting others to get away. The New Year of 1839 
 found him nearly destitute of the means of moving, or of 
 providing ordinary necessities for his family. The mob had 
 killed his only cow, robbing his family of even that 
 limited source of sustenance. 
 
 He had a blind horse, but no vehicle to carry his 
 little children and the few household goods still retained 
 for family use. He had a small foot lathe. This he 
 fitted up with belts of rawhide from the skin of his cow. 
 With this crude machinery he turned hubs for two cart 
 wheels, split spokes out of fence rails, and cut out felloes 
 from the hewn puncheons of his cabin floor. From the 
 puncheons he also made a box for his cart, and over a 
 semblance of bows, an old quilt was stretched to shelter 
 the contents of the box from storms. 
 
 Several inches of snow covered the ground when 
 this destitute family were forced to leave the shelter of 
 their cabin, to dare their fate in the cold of winter. It 
 consisted of husband, wife and three children, the oldest 
 a lad of about five years. The children were shoeless 
 and the mother nearly so, having on her feet the tattered 
 remains of a pair of shoes which afforded her feet but 
 little protection from the cold snow. 
 
 To intensify the sufferings of the lad, and to add to 
 the keen edge of those of the father and mother, a short 
 time previous to starting, while out after the cow, he 
 was met by a couple of Missourians and because he was a 
 Mormon boy, was whipped with hickory withes until 
 his back and legs were covered with welts and cuts, from 
 which the blood trickled down to the ground. Exposure 
 and traveling made these partially healed wounds very 
 painful. The mother with wet chilled feet and limbs, 
 and her deep sympathies for her little ones, about 
 reached the extreme of human suffering and found some 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 33 
 
 relief in tears. The husband and father, still trusting in 
 a kindly Providence appeared as cheerful as an aching 
 heart made it possible. 
 
 He prophesied to his suffering companion that she 
 should be provided with a pair of shoes in a remarkable 
 manner. In the middle of the first day's travel they 
 stopped to rest and warm. A good fire was made, for 
 wood was plentiful. The mother stripped the ragged, 
 saturated shoes and stockings from her feet and placed 
 them by the fire to dry. The dinner, consisting of 
 parched corn — quite inadequate of itself to sustain the 
 human frame, especially under such circumstances — was 
 eaten. Preparing to resume the journey the mother 
 reached her hand down to take her tattered shoes, and 
 to her astonishment she held a new pair in her hand. 
 Both husband and wife expressed their heart-felt grati- 
 tude for this gift of a kindly Providence, so opportunely 
 supplying a serious want. 
 
 When it stormed mother and children huddled 
 together under the old quilt cover of the cart. At night 
 the meagre bed was made by the camp fire, with a log 
 at the foot and one at the head to keep off the wind. 
 On the single quilt that covered them was spread such 
 outside garments as they could divest themselves of, and, 
 by sleeping together, a considerable degree of warmth 
 and comfort were obtained. 
 
 They traveled the well-worn track of those who had 
 preceded them and arrived on the bank of the Mis- 
 sissippi river, opposite the town of Quincy sometime 
 in the month of February. An idea of the severity of 
 the weather may be formed from the fact that the Mis- 
 sissippi river was frozen over and they crossed it on 
 the ice. 
 
 Although the people of Quincy had shown much 
 
34 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND-TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 kindness to the destitute Saints, Elder Hancock con- 
 tinued his journey to the new location then called Com- 
 merce, now Nauvoo. There was enacted the closing 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 35 
 
 scene in this family drama. It was still winter and the 
 fact had a serious significance to the poorly sheltered, 
 half-clad and famishing Saints. The faithful blind horse 
 had nearly dragged out his life in the service of his mas- 
 ter. That master could not feed him, and his heart 
 rebelled against turning him out on the common with the 
 certainty that he must gradually starve to death. 
 
 One day the lad, Mosiah, saw his father leading the 
 faithful brute towards the river, with a wisp of provender 
 under his arm and an axe in his hand. Curiosity prompt- 
 ed the boy to follow and inquire of the father what he 
 intended to do with the horse. Without answering his 
 question the father ordered him, somewhat sharply to 
 return. As he did so, the last he saw of the horse he 
 was quietly eating the provender and the master was 
 cutting a circle in the ice around him. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 LOCATION OF NAUVOO CAMP OF THE EXILES THEIR SUFFER- 
 ING CONDITION THE LOCATION MADE HEALTHIER BY 
 
 DRAINING JOSEPH SMITH IN VISION PROPHESIES THAT 
 
 THE SAINTS WILL REMOVE TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 
 
 THE TWELVE LABOR TO CARRY OUT HIS PREDICTIONS 
 - — THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXODUS. 
 
 AN UNHEALTHY location, called Commerce, on the 
 east bank of the Mississippi river, was the only 
 gathering place available for the Saints. It was a com- 
 manding site for their future city near the head of the 
 Lower Rapids, and one hundred and ninety-two miles 
 
36 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 above the city of St. Louis. The ground Is regular and 
 rises gradually from the river, with a plain at the summit- 
 The first land was purchased for the Saints May ist, 1839. 
 The loth of May the Prophet Joseph, lately delivered 
 from a Missouri prison, moved on to the ground with his 
 family in a condition of extreme destitution. Leaders 
 and people occupied a common level. Burnings, plun- 
 derings and drivings had been a common lot. Leading 
 men had suffered in Missouri prisons, and broken con- 
 stitutions were the heritage of many of the people. 
 
 The camps of the Saints occupied the lower ground 
 along the bank of the river. They presented a general 
 appearance of great destitution. Houses, covered 
 wagons and tents were luxuries enjoyed by few. There 
 was slight protection from the scorching sun by day or 
 from chilling dews by night. Their food was poor in 
 quality and meagre in quantity. In a state of semi- 
 starvation, alternately chilled to the marrow with ague or 
 burning with fever, death reaped a bountiful harvest among 
 these victims of religious persecution. 
 
 On the bottom lands along the river, and extending 
 a considerable distance above the camps, were a succes- 
 sion of ponds of stagnant water filled with decaying vege- 
 tation. In the heat of summer miasmatic vapors from 
 these stagnant pools filled the air with seeds of disease 
 and death. It was soon evident to the people that these 
 sloughs must be drained by cutting ditches from them to 
 the river. So urgent did this labor appear that men who 
 suffered from chills and fever alternate days, labored on 
 these drains the days they were free from these attacks. 
 This labor was completed in the summer of 1840 and, 
 from that time, there was a marked improvement in the 
 health of the place. 
 
 The following from the recollections of Elder Mosiah 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 37 
 
 Hancock vividly illustrates the great needs of the people: 
 He says, although then only a lad the circumstance made 
 too powerful an impression on his mind to be ever for- 
 gotten. In the summer of 1839 his father and family 
 lived with the Prophet Joseph. The first green corn of 
 the season was greeted with much satisfaction, as the 
 fruit of their labors in their new location. It was boiled 
 on the cob and placed in the center of the table. Around 
 it were the Prophet, Joseph Smith, Sen., Levi Hancock, 
 and others of his family. Joseph asked his father to 
 bless the food. The Patriarch grasped an ear of corn 
 between his thumb and two fingers. Holding it up 
 from the table he said, "Oh God, the Eternal Father, 
 we thank Thee for this corn, and we ask Thee in the 
 name of Jesus Christ to bless and sanctify it, and streng- 
 then our stomachs that we may be able to receive the 
 same to the nourishment of our bodies, until Thou canst 
 provide something better for us, this we ask Thee in the 
 name of Jesus Christ, Amen." This blessing was asked 
 with the tears trickling down the face of the aged father. 
 He evidently keenly sensed his own needs and those of 
 his people ; more especially the wants of the sick and 
 of delicate women and children. Another year of suffer- 
 ing and this Patriarch of the House of Israel passed away 
 the 1 4th of September, 1 840. 
 
 Nauvoo proved only another way-side station where 
 the Saints might gather strength for the culminating 
 move in this succession of exoduses. For advancement 
 in the ordinances of the gospel, it was necessary that 
 another temple should be built. The land of Missouri 
 was so thoroughly under antagonistic influences, that 
 progress in that direction was limited to selecting sites 
 and laying corner-stones. 
 
 The corner stones of the Nauvoo temple were laid 
 
38 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the 6th of April, 1841, less than two years after the first 
 purchase of land for the new city. Within five years 
 that temple was so far completed that the object of its 
 construction was realized, and it was the chief object of 
 interest in a beautiful and populous city. Considering 
 the extreme poverty to which the Saints were reduced, 
 by the Missouri persecutions, these historical facts 
 evidence their wonderful vitality and recuperative powers, 
 and modern history will scarcely parallel them where the 
 chief incentives to action have been embodied in a re- 
 ligious faith. 
 
 There are many events in the history of the Saints 
 bordering on the miraculous. Personal experiences are 
 often surrounded with a halo of romance, and again 
 others are enveloped in the dark shadows of tragedy. 
 Faith in God and their mission have given them wonderful 
 powers of endurance. .Opinions may differ as to the 
 character of that fajth, but with it they have faced the 
 fires of affliction, overcome the difficulties of the ever 
 present, and found strength and comfort in assurances 
 of a better future. In the shifting scenes the Church 
 was passing through the Prophet Joseph, and those 
 immediately around him, did not lose sight of the objec- 
 tive point in the command '* to flee to the West." 
 
 At a meeting of Freemasons in the town of Mont- 
 rose, on the west side of the Mississippi river, Joseph 
 Smith, while conversing with his brethren, uttered the 
 remarkable prophecy that the Saints would be driven 
 to the Rocky Mountains. Elder Anson Call was present 
 on the interesting occasion and in his autobiography, 
 gives a more detailed account of the circumstance than 
 the writer has found elsewhere. On the 14th of July, 
 1843, the Prophet Joseph, with quite a number of 
 his brethren, crossed the Mississippi river to the town of 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 39 
 
 Montrose, to be present at the Installment of the masonic 
 lodge of the ''Rising Sun." A block school-house had 
 been prepared for the occasion with a shade In front, 
 under which was a barrel of Ice water. Judge George 
 Adams was the highest Masonic authority In the State of 
 Illinois, and had been sent there to organize this lodge. 
 He, Hyrum Smith and J. C. Bennett, being high Masons, 
 went into the house to perform some ceremonies which 
 the others were not entitled to witness. These, Includ- 
 ing Joseph Smith, remained under the bowery. Joseph, 
 as he was tasting the cold water, warned the brethren 
 not to be too free with it. 
 
 With a tumbler still in his hand, he prophesied that 
 the Saints would yet go to the Rocky Mountains. Says 
 Anson Call: "I had before seen him in vision, and now 
 saw, while he was talking, his countenance change to 
 white ; not the deadly white of a bloodless face, but a 
 living, brilliant white. He seemed absorbed in gazing at 
 something at a great distance, and said, ' I am gazing 
 upon the valleys of those mountains.' This was followed 
 by a vivid description of the scenery of these mountains 
 as I have since become acquainted with it. 
 
 "Pointing to Shadrach Roundy and others he said : 
 'There are some men here who shall do a great work in 
 that land.' Pointing to me, he said: 'There is Anson, he 
 shall go and shall assist In building cities from one end 
 of the country to the other, and you,' rather extending 
 the idea to all those he had spoken of, ' shall perform 
 as great a work as has been done by man, so that the 
 nations of the earth shall be astonished, and many of 
 them will be gathered in that land, and assist In building 
 cities and temples, and Israel shall be made to rejoice.' 
 
 "It Is Impossible to represent In words this scene 
 which Is still vivid in my mind, of the grandeur of Joseph's 
 
40 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 appearance, his beautiful descriptions of this land, and 
 his wonderful prophetic utterances, as they emanated 
 from the glorious inspirations which overshadowed him. 
 There was a force and power in his exclamations of 
 which the following is but a faint echo. 'Oh, the beauty 
 of those snow-capped mountains ! The cool refreshing 
 streams that are running down through those mountain 
 gorges ! ' Then gazing in another direction, as if there 
 was a change of locality! 'Oh, the scenes that this 
 people will pass through ! The dead that will lie between 
 here and there ! ' Then, turning in another direction as 
 if the scene changed again : ' Oh, the apostasy that will 
 take place before my brethren reach that land ! ' Not 
 an Iota of this prophecy has failed of being fulfilled." 
 This narrative, in part is a testimony of that fulfillment. 
 Elder Call continues, "Although I felt that Joseph was 
 wrapt in vision, and that his voice was the voice of God, 
 little did I realize the vast significance of those prophetic 
 declarations compared with what I do now, with the expe- 
 rience of forty-five years that has intervened since they 
 were uttered. As he drew to a close, the door of the 
 house opened and we entered the building to transact 
 the business for which we had gathered." 
 
 The following, from the History of Joseph Smith, 
 indicates the development in his mind of plans for the 
 fulfillment of what he had seen in vision : 
 
 *'On Sunday, the 25th of February, 1844, in a meet- 
 ing at the assembly room of the Saints in Nauvoo, 
 Joseph prophesied that within ^v^ years the Saints would 
 be out of the power of their old enemies, whether apos- 
 tates or of the world, and he asked the brethren to 
 record the prediction. 
 
 "About this time he was inspired to direct the glance 
 of the apostles to the western slope, where he said the 
 people of God might establish themselves anew, worship 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 4 1 
 
 after their own sincere convictions and work out the 
 grand social problems of modern life. This subject was 
 present in his mind and often upon his lips during the 
 brief remainder of his earthly existence. Frequent 
 councils were held and he directed the organization of an 
 exploring expedition to venture beyond the Rocky 
 Mountains. *♦*:!:♦* 
 
 "His purpose was not to sever the Saints from this 
 sublime republic by any emigration ; he saw that this 
 country's domain must soon stretch from ocean to ocean. 
 * * * And though he did not live to see the 
 exodus of the Saints nor to send out the first pioneer 
 party of explorers, his inspired suggestion was carried 
 out, and through it his prediction was fulfilled that the 
 Saints in five years would be beyond the power of their 
 old enemies." 
 
 The career of the Prophet was drawing to a close. 
 He had appointed and endowed others with authority 
 and power to carry out his inspirations, and he and his 
 brother Hyrum were assassinated in Carthage on the 
 27th of June, 1844. 
 
 A short time before the death of Joseph and Hyrum, 
 being hard pressed by their enemies, with a few friends 
 they crossed to the west bank of the Mississippi river, 
 with the hope of yet leading the way to the fastnesses of 
 the Rocky Mountains, and of assisting the Saints in real- 
 izing the bright, prophetic visions of their future. But 
 through the over persuasion of his supposed friends, the 
 Prophet was induced to return to Nauvoo to meet his 
 fate. 
 
 He saw the crisis and met it with the following sen- 
 timents welling up from the very depths of a strong but 
 keenly sensitive soul : "If my life has ceased to be of 
 value to my friends, it has ceased to be of much value 
 to myself." "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter." 
 
 He was succeeded by Brigham Young, the Presi- 
 
42 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 dent of the Council of Twelve Apostles, and under his 
 leadership the plans of Joseph were perfected and car- 
 ried out. 
 
 In Illinois, as in Missouri, the Saints suffered a long 
 series of persecutions. They were the cause of much 
 sorrow and suffering, of which the present and future 
 generations will get only an occasional glimpse from 
 what is recorded of them. Under the culminating pres- 
 sure of these the Saints commenced their long-contem- 
 plated move to the Rocky Mountains on the 5th and 6th 
 of February, 1846, by beginning to cross the Mississippi 
 river and forming an advanced camp on Sugar creek, a 
 few miles from Nauvoo. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE TWELVE IN CAMP EXTREME COLD A LAST VISIT TO 
 
 NAUVOO EXPERIENCE OF ELDER MEEKS THE HEROISM 
 
 OF THE SISTERS DEATH OF EDWIN LITTLE BRIGHAM 
 
 YOUNG VS. NAUVOO SIXTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH GARDEN GROVE 
 
 MOUNT PIS(;AH. 
 
 THE 15th of February, 1846, Rrigham Young, Willard 
 Richards and George A. Smith, with their families, 
 moved across the river to the camp on Sugar creek, and 
 the following day began to organize the people for the 
 march westward. Previous to this the thermometer had 
 indicated 20° below zero, and the Mississippi river had 
 frozen over so that teams crossed on the ice. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 43 
 
 About the same date that the movement from Nau- 
 voo commenced, the ship Brooklyn sailed from the harbor 
 of New York for the Bay of San Francisco with two 
 
 hundred and fourteen Saints, under the charge of Elder 
 Samuel Brannan. The object was to plant a colony on 
 the Pacific coast. 
 
 Before leaving Christian civilization and launching out 
 
44 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 onto the prairies of Iowa, Brlgham Young, and others of 
 the Council of the Twelve, returned to Nauvoo to see 
 the deserted homes of their people for the last time, and 
 to bid adieu to their beloved city and temple. There was 
 much suffering in the camp on Sugar Creek. Violent 
 storms, excessive cold and fatiguing labor made heavy 
 drafts on the energy and vitality of the people, in many 
 cases thinly clad and poorly fed. It is safe to assert, 
 that the sum of suffering in getting away from Nauvoo 
 and in crossing the prairies of Iowa will never be footed 
 up by mortals^ nor a tithe of the interesting and instruc- 
 tive experiences written. 
 
 The following narrative, showing how Elder P. Meeks 
 got out of Nauvoo will illustrate some of the difficulties 
 of the situation. It is dated Orderville, March 4th, 1882. 
 'T am now eighty-six years of age. My faculties are 
 more or less failing, and my memory with the others. 
 But there are some events of my life which I shall never 
 forget, for they are so thoroughly impressed upon my 
 mind that they seem a part of myself. 
 
 "The persecutions of Nauvoo I endured with the 
 Saints. I gave up my gun to a brother who, I thought, 
 could make a better use of it. For a substitute I fas- 
 tened a strong table-fork on to the end of a pole about 
 six feet long. With this, when the alarm was given that 
 our enemies were approaching, I repaired to the temple, 
 prepared to do the best I could to defend myself and the 
 Saints. 
 
 ''About the time the latter were crossing the Missis- 
 sippi I had been east and was returning home. I passed 
 through Carthage where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were 
 martyred. Some Mormon-eaters of the place, took my 
 horse from me and, with oaths and imprecations, asserted 
 that they could cut my heart out. They confined me in 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 45 
 
 Carthage jail and in the room where Joseph and Hyrum 
 had been shot. There I was compelled to remain in 
 sight of the stains made by their blood. This was very 
 unpleasant and caused many sorrowful reflections. 1 
 remained there eight or ten days, when it was very nec- 
 essary that I should be in Nauvoo to care for my family 
 and go west with the Saints. 
 
 'Tn these things was the extreme cruelty of the mob 
 manifest. They were not willing to give us reasonable 
 time to get ready to leave, and when we were making 
 every possible exertion to do so would perplex, detain 
 and sometimes rob us, as they did me of my horse. The 
 sheriff of the county knowing that I was innocent of any 
 crime, and that I wished to get away with my people, 
 favored me all he could. Having occasion to go to 
 Nauvoo, he drew up some bonds for my appearance at 
 court, induced an irresponsible person to sign them, in 
 order to give him some excuse for letting me go, brought 
 out a horse from one of my friends in Nauvoo, got me 
 on to it and told me not to look back, for fear of ex- 
 citing suspicion, until I reached a piece of timber a little 
 distance from the town. I did as directed although it 
 was very difficult to not look back to see if I was pursued. 
 From the timber I made all haste to Nauvoo. 
 
 "I had been engaged with brother Wm. McCleary, 
 the Prophet's brother-in-law, getting up a wagon with 
 which to go west. It was well along towards completion 
 when I was under the necessity of parting with my 
 interest in it for a barrel of flour. I then succeeded in 
 trading a little, one horse wagon for a light, two horse 
 wagon. My principal dependence for a team to haul 
 this was a pair of three-year-old, unbroke bullocks. Their 
 chief characteristic was a wonderful ability for using their 
 hind legs without any regard to the convenience or safety 
 
46 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 of those around them. These unmanageable beasts were 
 put on to the tongue of the wagon and, for a time, an 
 old pair of oxen were used ahead of them to prevent 
 their getting away or doing damage. 
 
 'T had a small flock of sheep which I had not time to 
 sell. These I left, together with my house and lot, the 
 former containing my furniture and books. With my 
 rickety old wagon, and the little it would carry, I 
 crossed the Mississippi river and joined the camp on 
 Sugar creek. I had an interest in a wagon shop which 
 I left with Brother McCleary to turn over to some brother 
 who needed assistance. My right of ownership in the 
 horse, which was taken from me in Carthage, I assigned 
 to lawyer Edmunds for keeping me clear of legal process, 
 until I could cross the river out of the immediate reach 
 of such process from Illinois. 
 
 'T thought if I could get my old wagon to a black- 
 smith shop and expend about twenty dollars on it, it 
 would enable me to get to the Missouri river. In going 
 from Nauvoo to Sugar creek, a short distance from the 
 ferry across the river, the road passes over a hill. The 
 top of this hill, I was aware, was the last point from which 
 I could see the Nauvoo temple I have no words with 
 which to convey a proper conception of my feelings when 
 taking a last look at this sacred monument of the living 
 faith of the Saints, and which was associated in their 
 minds with the heavenly and holy. After the lapse of 
 thirty-six years I can scarcely restrain my feelings when 
 I write of it. The rain and mud so swelled the timber 
 and tightened the irons on my wagon, that without the 
 aid of a blacksmith, I was able to continue my journey 
 westward." 
 
 The first of March, 1846, the "Camp of Israel" on 
 Sugar creek commenced its weary march for the Mis- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 47 
 
 souri river. It comprised nearly four hundred wagons, 
 traveled five miles in a north-west direction and again 
 encamped on Sugar creek. A well-known writer says : 
 ''The survivors of that journey will tell you they never 
 suffered so much from the cold in their lives as they did 
 on Sugar creek. And what of the Mormon women ? 
 Around them circles an almost tragic romance. Fancy 
 may find abundant subject for graphic story of the 
 devotion, the suffering, the matchless heroism of the 
 ' Sisters,' in the telling incident that nine children were 
 born to them the first night they encamped on Sugar creek, 
 February 5th, 1846. That day they wept their farewells 
 over their beloved city, or in the sanctuary of the temple 
 in which they had hoped to worship till the end of life, 
 but which they left, never to see again ; that night suf- 
 fering nature administered to them the mixed cup of 
 woman's supremest joy and pain." 
 
 As a fitting continuation of the above, Eliza R. Snow 
 says: "I was informed that on the first night of the 
 encampment, nine children were born into the world, and 
 from that time as we journeyed onward mothers gave 
 birth to offspring under almost every variety of circum- 
 stances imaginable, except those to which they had been 
 accustomed; some in tents, others in wagons — in rain- 
 storms and in snow-storms. I heard of one birth which 
 occurred under the rude shelter of a hut, the sides of 
 which were formed of blankets fastened to poles stuck 
 in the ground, with a bark roof through which the rain 
 was dripping; kind sisters stood holding dishes to catch 
 the water as it fell, thus protecting the new-comer and 
 its mother from a shower bath as the little innocent first 
 entered on the stage of human life." 
 
 The following is another picture from the same pen 
 illustrating the situation : ''Many of our sisters walked 
 
48 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 all day, rain or shine, and at night prepared suppers for 
 their families, with no sheltering tents ; and then made 
 their beds in and under wagons that contained their 
 earthly all. How frequently, with intense sympathy and 
 admiration, I watched the mother, when, forgetful of her 
 own fatigue and destitution, she took unwearied pains to 
 fix up, in the most palatable form, the allotted portion of 
 food, and as she dealt it out was cheerino- the hearts of 
 
 o. 
 
 her homeless children, while, as I truly believed, her own 
 was lifted to God in fervent prayer that their lives might 
 be preserved." 
 
 In the midst of suffering there was comfort and con- 
 solation to these people in the thought that they were 
 leaving their enemies. All were cheerful and happy in 
 anticipation of finding a resting place from persecution 
 somewhere in the solitudes of the Rocky Mountains. 
 Welling up in every heart to stimulate to exertion, to 
 nerve up to endurance was the hope, aye, the abiding 
 faith that in the mountains and deserts they would find 
 shelter from the pursuit of relentless enemies. 
 
 Exposure to the elements, excessive labor, want of 
 proper food and comfortable clothing forced many to lay 
 down their weary bodies in unmonumented graves, the 
 location of which has passed from the knowledge of 
 the living. Among these was the eldest brother of the 
 writer, Edwin Little. He left Nauvoo with his wife and 
 child with President Young. He was a strong man, 
 physically, with a heart overflowing with kindness, he 
 assisted all who needed help if possible. In this way he 
 wore himself out, took cold and died with inflammation of 
 the lungs, at Richardson's Point, fifty-five miles from 
 Nauvoo". He was buried in a rough board coffin, the 
 best that could be had under the circumstances, and an 
 effort was made by his friends to hide his place of sep- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 49 
 
 ulchre for fear it might be disturbed by the enemies of 
 the Saints. 
 
 At this time Joseph Young, president of the Seven- 
 ties, was still in Nauvoo. From Richardson's Point his 
 brother Brigham expressed his personal feelings on the 
 situation as follows: *'I feel as though Nauvoo will be 
 filled with all manner of abominations. It is no place for 
 the Saints, and the Spirit whispers to me that the brethren 
 had better get away as fast as they can. * * * j^q 
 not think. Brother Joseph, that I hate to leave my house 
 and home. No, far from that, I am so free from bondage 
 at this time, that Nauvoo looks like a prison to me. It 
 looks pleasant ahead, but dark to look back." 
 
 Yes, it was deliverance from bondage. Better, far, 
 the freedom of the wilderness than the chances of suffer- 
 ing and death from a vindictive populace, stirred up with 
 religious hate until they ignore the common rights of 
 humanity. 
 
50 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING SUPPLIES — SIXTEENTH ANNIVER- 
 SARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH (). 
 
 PRATT's review on THE I ITH OF APRIL MOUNT 
 
 PISGAH LOCATED SICKNESS AND DEATH AMONG THE 
 
 SAINTS SISTER Z. D. YOUNg's NARRATIVE OF SUFFER- 
 ING — P. meek's narrative. 
 
 TO PROVIDE for the inhabitants of a city driven 
 from their homes into a wilderness, exposed to the 
 sweeping storms and bitter cold of winter, with nothing 
 but the slender resources of the camp itself, is a task 
 which but few men could hope to successfully accom- 
 plish. Besides the food supply for the people, it required 
 daily large quantities of grain to sustain the animals of 
 the camps, and these were necessities of existence, the 
 people's means of deliverance from the perils that envi- 
 roned them. 
 
 The sixteenth anniversary of the organization of the 
 Church found the camps on a branch of Shoal creek, 
 where they remained over two weeks on account of rain 
 and mud. The 6th of April nine or ten teams were sent 
 to the settlements for corn. In about three days they 
 returned, the most of them empty. There was but little 
 strength in the old, dry grass or in the early, succulent 
 growth, and the animals were weak. 
 
 Many reflections crowd around this sixteenth anni- 
 versary of the organization of the Church. Its situation 
 was quite in keeping with Its wonderful, eventful history. 
 Three times in this short period had its members been 
 forced to evacuate their homes cri masse, and these 
 sweeping exoduses were interspersed with minor driv- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 5 1 
 
 Ings and plunderlngs. The gospel had been preached 
 extensively in the United States, in the Canadas and in 
 Europe. Two beautiful temples and several cities had 
 been built, hundreds of the Saints had lost their lives, 
 the direct and indirect results of persecution, and the 
 inspired genius, the great prophet of the nineteenth cen- 
 tury, who had led them in the God-like struggle to plant 
 truth and righteousness in the earth, had been slain in 
 the meridian of life. 
 
 After petitioning the Executive of every State in the 
 Union for a place of rest, they were now seeking a 
 refuge in the wilderness from the vindictiveness of Chris- 
 tian civilization. Let one who toiled and suffered speak 
 of the situation and sentiments of the Saints at this 
 time : 
 
 "April I ith. During the night the mud froze hard. 
 To any but Saints our circumstances would have been 
 very discouraging, for it seemed to be with the greatest 
 difficulty that we could preserve our animals from actual 
 starvation, and we were obliged to send off several day's 
 journey to the Missouri settlements, on the south, to 
 procure grain. Many of the people were nearly desti- 
 tute of food, and many women and children sufferedmuch 
 from exposure to the inclemency of the weather and from 
 the lack of the necessaries of life, such as they were in 
 former times accustomed to enjoy. But in the midst of 
 all these temporal afflictions the Saints were comforted in 
 anticipation of better days. They looked forward to the 
 time when these light afflictions should cease. * * * 
 They were willing to endure hardships and privations for 
 the sake of escaping the unrelenting persecutions of Gen- 
 tile Christians, from whom they had received for many 
 years nothing but cruelty and the most heart-rending 
 oppression. 
 
52 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 ''Their desire was to establish themselves in some 
 lonely valley of the mountains, in some sequestered spot 
 where they and their children could worship God and 
 obey His voice and prepare themselves for the glory 
 which is to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 
 
 "With these glorious anticipations, cheerfulness and 
 joy seemed to animate every countenance and sufferings 
 were endured without murmuring. The Twelve and 
 other authorities met in council and determined to leave 
 the settlements still further to our left and launch forth 
 upon the broad prairies of the north-west, which were for 
 hundreds of miles uninhabited." 
 
 The 24th of April Garden Grove, on the head- 
 waters of Grand river, was reached. There it was 
 decided to make a way station, a place of rest for those 
 who were unable to proceed further. It was still a sea- 
 sonable time for putting in corn and other crops. The 
 camps were organized for labor, and by the loth of May 
 many houses were built, wells dug, extensive farms 
 fenced, and the place assumed the appearance of having 
 been occupied for years. On the i ith of May, a portion 
 of the camp resumed their journey. 
 
 Of this time P. P. Pratt, in his autobiography, says : 
 
 "We called the place 'Garden Grove.' It is in 
 Iowa, perhaps one hundred and fifty miles from Nauvoo. 
 After assisting to fence this farm and build some log 
 houses, I was despatched ahead by the Presidency with a 
 small company to try to find another location. Cross- 
 ing this branch of Grand river I now steered through 
 the vast and fertile prairies and groves without a track 
 or anything but a compass to guide me — the country 
 was entirely wild and without inhabitants. 
 
 " Our course was west, a litde north. We crossed 
 small streams daily, which, on account of deep beds and 
 miry banks, as well as on account of their being swollen 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 53 
 
 by the rains, we had to bridge. After journeying thus 
 for several days, and while lying encamped on a small 
 stream which we had bridged, I took my horse and rode 
 ahead some three miles in search of one of the main 
 branches of Grand river which we had expected to 
 find for some time. Riding about three or four miles 
 through beautiful prairies, I came suddenly to some 
 round and sloping hills, grassy, and covered with beauti- 
 ful groves of timber, while alternate open groves and 
 forests seemed blended in all the beauty and harmony of 
 an English park, while beneath and beyond on the west 
 rolled a main branch of Grand river, with its rich bot- 
 toms of alternate forest and prairie. As I approached 
 this lovely scenery several deer and wolves being star- 
 tled at the sight of me, abandoned the place and bounded 
 away till lost from sight amid the groves. 
 
 "Being pleased and excited at the varied beauty 
 before me, I cried out, this is Mount Pisgah. I returned 
 to my camp, with the report of having found the long 
 sought river, and we soon moved on and encamped 
 under the shade of those beautiful groves. It was now 
 late in May, and we halted here to await the arrival of 
 the President and council. In a few days they arrived 
 and formed a general encampment here, and finally 
 formed a settlement, and surveyed and enclosed another 
 farm of several thousand acres. This became a town 
 and resting place for the Saints for years, and is now 
 known on the map of Iowa as a village and post-office 
 named ' Pisgah.'" 
 
 Most of the Saints who stopped at these stations were 
 pre-disposed to disease. The hardships they had endured, 
 the large area of rich prairie soil newly turned up to the 
 warm spring and summer sun, and other untoward con- 
 ditions rapidly developed the germs of disease already 
 sown. 
 
 Mrs. Zina D. Young, in her written experience at 
 the latter place, furnishes a vivid illustration, not only of 
 
54 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 her own afflictions, but of the unrecorded sufferings of 
 a multitude of others. She says, "We reached Mount 
 Pisgah in May. I was now with my father, who had 
 been appointed to preside over this temporary settle- 
 ment of the Saints. But an unlooked-for event soon 
 came. One evening Parley P. Pratt arrived, bringing 
 the word from headquarters that the Mormon Battalion 
 must be raised in compliance with the requisition of the 
 government upon our people. And what did this news 
 personally amount to, to me? That I had only my father 
 to look after me now ; for I had parted from my husband ; 
 my eldest brother, Dimick Huntington, with his family, 
 had gone into the Battalion, and every man who could be 
 spared was also enlisted. It was impossible for me to 
 go on to Winter Quarters, so I tarried at Mount Pisgah 
 with my father. 
 
 "But, alas! a still greater trial awaited me ! The call 
 for the Battalion had left many destitute. They had to 
 live in wagons. But worse than destitution stared us in 
 the face. Sickness came upon us, and death invaded 
 our camp. Sickness was so prevalent and deaths so 
 frequent that enough help could not be had to make 
 coffins, and many of the dead were wrapped in their 
 grave clothes and buried with split logs at the bottom of 
 the grave and brush at the sides, that being all that could 
 be done for them by their mourning friends. Too soon 
 it became my turn to mourn. My father was taken sick, 
 and in eighteen days he died. Just before he left us for 
 his better home, he raised himself upon his elbow, and 
 said: *Man is like the flower or the grass cut down 
 in an hour ! Father unto Thee do I commend my spirit ! ' 
 This said, he sweetly went to rest with the just, a martyr 
 for the truth ; for, like my dear mother, who died in the 
 expulsion from Missouri, he died in the expulsion from 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 55 
 
 Nauvoo. Sad was my heart. I alone of all his children 
 was there to mourn." 
 
 When the Saints were scattered from Garden Grove 
 to Council Bluffs, under very unfortunate conditions, that 
 memorable call was made on them by the United States 
 for a battalion of five hundred men for the Mexican war. 
 It drew heavily on the strength of the camps and neces- 
 sarily modified both general and individual plans. Leav- 
 ing them for the present on the lands of the Pottowatomie 
 Indians, who made them welcome, we will go back and 
 bring up our friend Elder Priddy Meeks. 
 
 He left Sugar creek with the Saints and in con- 
 tinuation of his narrative says: "When I arrived at the 
 crossing of the Des Moines river, I found many wagons 
 already there waiting to ferry over. As this would 
 occasion considerable delay, I felt impressed to move up 
 the river with the hope of finding some better oppor- 
 tunity of crossing. I traveled up it for two or three days 
 and saw several others who had taken the same view of 
 the situation as ^myself. We found an old ferry boat 
 lying idle. This we repaired and crossed the river. 
 Finding no road in the direction it was necessary to 
 travel, we followed a divide, or the high ground between 
 two streams, for several days. It rained almost inces- 
 santly, but still we made some progress each day. 
 
 "Notwithstanding our untoward circumstances, we 
 were cheerful and happy. We ate our water gruel when 
 we had nothing better, which was much of the time. I 
 had a fiddle with me in the use of which I was sufficiently 
 proficient to grind out music for evening dances. This 
 enabled us to diversify our lives with the merry dance 
 around our camp fires, when the weather would permit. 
 
 " After traveling several days we discovered in the 
 distance white objects moving slowly over the prairies. 
 
56 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 Various were our conjectures as to what we were in- 
 debted for the unusual appearance. Some surmised they 
 might be a flock of white cranes feeding, but a nearer 
 approach developed them into wagons. It was President 
 Young's company traveling in nearly the same direction 
 as ourselves. 
 
 '* Arriving at the wayside settlement of the Saints 
 called Mount Pisgah, I stopped to make a temporary 
 home and raise a crop. I assisted in fencing a field in 
 which I planted corn and vegetables. I also built quite 
 a comfortable cabin where I anticipated spending the 
 winter. I farmed in connection with Brother Christian 
 Houtz. After accomplishing considerable labor I was 
 •directed by President Young to go on to the Bluffs. 
 I left my interest in the crops to Brother Houtz, and 
 directed him to let some poor brother, who might 
 arrive late in the season, have my cabin. He after- 
 wards turned it over to Joseph W. Johnson. Soon 
 after I arrived at Council Bluffs the Mormon Battalion 
 was raised for the Mexican war. My son-in-law Orson 
 B. Adams was the second man who volunteered to go 
 and I took charge of his family and effects." 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 57 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MILLER AND EMMETT COMPANY THE CAMP ON RUNNING 
 
 WATER^THE AGED CHIEF OF THE PONCAS BREAKING 
 
 UP OF THE CAMP ON RUNNING WATER WINTER QUARTERS 
 
 LOCATED AND A TOWN BUILT SISTER BATHSHEBA 
 
 smith's DESCRIPTION OF THE HOUSES TEN THOUSAND 
 
 SAINTS ON THE MOVE ACROSS IOWA. 
 
 IT HAD been contemplated, by the leaders of the 
 Church, to send a company of pioneers to the 
 mountains the same year. An unsuccessful effort was 
 made. The following account of that effort is from Mr. 
 Anson Call's Biographical Sketch in Tullidge s History 
 of Norther 71 Utah : 
 
 ''George Miller and James Emmett, under false pre- 
 tences, had deceived many of the Saints« and drawn off 
 fifty-two wagons into the western wilderness. Brigham 
 Young and Heber C. Kimball each organized a com- 
 pany of seventy-five wagons for the avowed purpose of 
 traveling westward. 
 
 " They left Elk Horn river for the mountains by 
 order of the Apostles, the 22nd of July, 1846. They 
 traveled up the Platte river to the Pawnee missionary 
 station on the Loupe Fork, where they found the com- 
 pany of Miller and Emmett. 
 
 "When encamped on the west side of the Loupe Fork, 
 an express came from the Apostles, directing them not 
 to travel any further west that season. The express also 
 brought instructions for the organization of a council of 
 twelve men, to direct the affairs of the companies, and 
 they were named in the communication. The council 
 was organized on the 8th of August, 1846. Bishop Geo. 
 Miller was its president. 
 
58 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 **The next move was to find a place where the com- 
 panies could winter. For this purpose the country 
 around the Platte river and Loupe Fork were explored 
 without gratifying results. They counseled with two 
 Ponca chiefs, who invited them to winter with their people 
 on the Missouri river. They were guaranteed protection, 
 plenty of feed for their animals, and timber with which 
 to build houses. They accepted the invitation of these 
 friendly Lamanites, and with nine days travel arrived at 
 their camp. A place was selected on the west side of 
 the mouth of the Running Water river, and one hundred 
 and twenty-five log houses were built in fort form. 
 
 " Nucanumpa, the aged chief of the nation, was taken 
 sick and sent for the council. He said he had told his 
 captains not to distrust the Mormons, and they had 
 agreed that they would not. He wished to talk all 
 he could before he died ; had killed his best dog, and 
 after it was eaten he wanted to commence to talk. 
 
 ''The Mormon leaders assisted the chiefs to eat the 
 dog, when the talk commenced through the interpreter, 
 Battese. The chief said much about dying and another 
 world. He desired his Mormon friends to prepare such 
 a stone as he had seen in St. Louis, and put it at the 
 head of his grave with his name and title on it. The 
 following day this noble specimen of the aboriginal 
 American went to his departed fathers, and a stone was 
 put at the head of his grave as he had requested. 
 
 ''Rushes were plenty for cattle, but it was a hard 
 winter and many died. The Poncas did as they agreed, 
 but the Sioux stole some horses and cattle. 
 
 "George Miller, being in authority, seemed infatuated 
 with the idea that he was the real head of the people, and 
 that when spring came he could lead them into the 
 wilderness away from the Apostles. 
 
 "The 2 7th of February, 1847, Apostles E. T. Benson 
 and Erastus Snow arrived in camp with instructions from 
 their quorum for the people to return to Winter Quarters, 
 and replenish their teams and their stock of provisions 
 preparatory to going to the mountains. After delivering 
 their message they departed. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 59 
 
 ''The council of twelve was called together and with 
 its president came James Emmett, who was not a mem- 
 ber, but who was permitted by request of Bishop Miller, 
 to take a part in its deliberations. The president arose 
 and addressed the council, saying in substance that he 
 did not consider the Twelve had any right to dictate to 
 the people of that camp ; that he was their appointed 
 leader and it was their duty to follow him into the wilder- 
 ness among the Lamanites, in fulfillment of a special 
 mission conferred upon him by the Prophet Joseph. 
 James Emmett followed in the same strain. It then 
 being the privilege of each member of the council to ex- 
 press his views, Anson Call, who had from its organiz- 
 ation been an active member, arose and stated his, the 
 summary of which was that the twelve Apostles were the 
 legitimate leaders of the Saints and that he should follow 
 their counsel. The ten members of the council who 
 followed him were unanimous in expressing the same 
 views. 
 
 " Bishop Miller saw the reins slipping out of his hands 
 and vented his rage in an impetuous speech. All the 
 council excepting its president, decided to call the peo- 
 ple together and lay the subject before them, that they 
 might understandingly choose for themselves whether 
 they would stay with Miller and Emmett, or return to 
 Winter Quarters. This was done and preparations were 
 at once commenced for the return journey. On the 3rd 
 of April the camp moved out for Winter Quarters, and 
 only five or six wagons remained with Miller and 
 Emmett. ::^ ****** ♦ 
 
 "The action of Bishop Miller in opposing the Apos- 
 tles had opened the eyes of all who had been deceived. 
 Thus by a far-seeing policy of the Apostles, or by a chain 
 of special providences, were many honest people saved 
 from temporal ruin, and brought back under their legiti- 
 mate leaders, to act their part in the grand scheme of 
 empire-founding in the Rocky Mountains. Arriving at 
 Winter Quarters the companies were broken up." 
 
 Some of the Saints remained at the way stations of 
 
6o 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 Garden Grove and Mount Pisgah. Many others settled 
 on the Pottowatomie lands, built houses, cut hay for their 
 animals, gathered sustenance for their families, and made 
 every possible preparation for the coming winter. The 
 leaders of the Church located a place on the west bank 
 
 of the Missouri river which they called Winter Quarters. 
 The name sufficiently indicates the object. There seven 
 hundred houses were built, suggestive that that many 
 families located there, comprising four thousand people. 
 The narrative of Mrs. Bathsheba W. Smith furnishes 
 a good illustration of the make up of the houses of this 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 6 1 
 
 impromptu city: ''Our chimneys were made of sods, cut 
 with a spade in the form of a brick ; clay was pounded 
 in to make our fireplaces and hearths. In our travels 
 the winds had literally blown our tents to pieces, so that 
 we were glad to get into cabins. The most of roofs 
 were made of timber, covered with clay. The floors 
 were split and hewed puncheon ; the doors were gen- 
 erally made of the same material, of cottonwood and 
 linn. Many houses were covered with oak-shakes, fas- 
 tened on with weight-poles. A few were covered with 
 shingles. A log meeting-house was built, about twenty- 
 four by forty feet, and the hewn floor was frequently 
 used for dancing. A grist-mill was built and run by 
 water-power, and in addition to this, several horse-mills 
 and hand-mills were used to grind corn." 
 
 In the general epistle to the Saints of December 
 23rd, 1847, it is estimated that in the month of July, 
 1846, there were more than two thousand emigrating 
 wagons between Council Bluffs on the Missouri river and 
 Nauvoo. The number of people accompanying these 
 wagons may be reasonably estimated at ten thousand. 
 Probably half as many more scattered out from Nauvoo 
 in various directions, to get away from enemies and 
 to accumulate means to follow the main body of their 
 people. 
 
 Winter Quarters was the third, and by far the most 
 important way station between Nauvoo and the objective 
 point of the "Camps of Israel," the valleys of the Rocky 
 Mountains. There, and in the surrounding country, they 
 were to gather up their strength and mature their plans 
 before grappling with the difficulties of a thousand miles 
 of desert travel. In log cabins and dugouts, hastily con- 
 structed under the pressure of necessity, must the 
 Saints endure the rigors of winter and take the chances 
 
1 
 
 62 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 of life and death with bodies worn, constitutions broken 
 from excessive toil and exposure, often half famished 
 for want of proper food and chilled for want of comfor- 
 table shelter and clothing. To say that a city of the 
 dead increased rapidly beside that of the living is stating 
 the case mildly. To say that the living were decimated 
 would not probably be an over estimate of the mortality 
 during that season of struggling for existence. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE REMNANT IN NAUVOO A BRAVE DEFENCE AGAINST 
 
 THE MOB ELDER BULLOCK's THRILLING NARRATIVE 
 
 THE HANCOCK TRAGEDY. 
 
 HAVING located the Saints who left Nauvoo in the 
 winter and spring of 1846, we will return and 
 record the fate of the poor and afflicted who were of 
 necessity left until teams could be sent from the advanced 
 camps to move them away. The vindictive spirit in the 
 inhabitants of the surrounding country which had forced 
 the main body of the Saints from their homes in midwin- 
 ter, could not let this helpless remnant remain in peace 
 until friends could assist them. In the fore part of Sep- 
 tember, 1846, the mob marched on Nauvoo in force. 
 There were only about one hundred and fifty men and 
 boys, generally poor in health and in an impoverished 
 condition, to defend the place against an enemy several 
 times their number. They made a desperate effort in 
 self-defence, but were overpowered. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 63 
 
 A competent eye witness may tell what he saw 
 others suffer and what he endured. The writer of the 
 following letter, Elder Thomas Bullock, was known to 
 many thousands of the Saints. The copy of the letter, 
 from which the writer has taken these excerpts, was 
 without date, but the letter was doubtless written the 
 winter after the events described in it took place. It was 
 addressed to Elder F. D. Richards, then in England. 
 
 ''Winter Quarters, Camp of Israel, 
 
 "Omaha Nation. 
 ' ' Beloved Franklin : 
 
 'Tn the month of August, 1846, I was taken very 
 sick with the ague and fever, and soon after my wife and 
 four little children were taken with the same disease. In 
 this condition we continued until the i6th of September. 
 On that day a friend, George Wardell, packed up my 
 goods on two wagons and removed them to his house to 
 be out of danger from the cannon balls, which were fly- 
 ing about too thick for anyone to feel anyway comforta- 
 ble. He located us behind his house out of danger. 
 As I did not see this battle, I don't write much about it. 
 But I know for a whole week the roar of cannon and the 
 sharp cracking of rifles kept us in awful suspense and 
 anxiety. 
 
 "Our devoted city was defended by about one hun- 
 dred and fifty poor, sickly, persecuted Saints, while it 
 was cannonaded by from fifteen hundred to two thousand 
 demoniacs in the shape of men, who had sworn to raze 
 our temple to the ground, to burn the city, ravish our 
 wives and daughters and drive the remainder of the 
 people into the river. With what desperation our litde 
 band fought against such an overwhelming horde of des- 
 peradoes, I leave you to judge. My flesh seems to crawl 
 on my bones at the remembrance of those scenes. On 
 the 1 7th of September, two thousand men with five hun- 
 dred wagons marched into the city. Such yelling and 
 hooting I never before heard from civilized men, nor even 
 
64 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 from the wild savages. Terror and dismay surely for 
 once overcame the sick, the poor women and children. 
 
 ''While the leaders were haranguing their mob fol- 
 lowers at the rope walk, by Hibbard's, such an awful and 
 infuriated noise I never before heard, though I was in 
 Warsaw street, more than a quarter of a mile from the 
 scene. We expected an indiscriminate massacre was 
 commencing. Myself and others who were sick were 
 carried by friends into the tall weeds and into the woods, 
 while all who were able to do so hid themselves. Many 
 crossed the river leaving everything behind them. As 
 night approached we returned to our shelter. But, O 
 God, what a night to remember ! 
 
 "The next morning at nine o'clock saw me, my wife, 
 my four children, my sister-in-law Fanny, my blind 
 mother-in-law, all shaking with the ague in one house, 
 only George Wardell to do anything for us, when a band 
 of about thirty men, armed with guns, with fixed bayonets, 
 pistols in belt, the captain with sword in his hand, and 
 the stars and stripes flying about, marched opposite my 
 sheltering roof The captain called and demanded that 
 the owner of the two wagons be brought out. I was 
 raised from my bed, led out of doors, supported by my 
 sister-in-law 'and the rail fence. I was then asked if those 
 goods were mine. I replied, 'They are.' The captain 
 then stepped out to within four feet of me, pointed his 
 sword at my throat, while four others presented their 
 guns with bayonets within two feet of my body, and said, 
 'If you are not off from here in twenty minutes my 
 orders are to shoot you.' I replied, 'Shoot away, for 
 you will only send me to heaven a few hours quicker, for 
 you may see I am not for this world many hours longer.' 
 The captain then told me, 'If you will renounce Mor- 
 monism you may stay here and we will protect you.' I 
 replied, 'This is not my house; yonder is my house,' 
 pointing to it, 'which I built and paid for with the gold 
 that I earned in England. I never committed the least 
 crime in Illinois, but I am a Mormon, and if I live I shall 
 follow the Twelve.' Then said the captain, 'I am sorry 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 65 
 
 to see you and your sick family, but if you are not gone 
 when I return in half an hour, my orders are to kill you 
 and every Mormon in the place.' 
 
 "But Oh, the awful cursing and swearing these 
 men did pour out! I tremble when I think of it. 
 George and Edwin drove my wagons down to the ferry 
 and were searched five times for firearms. The mob 
 took a pistol, and though they promised to return it when 
 I got across the river, I have not seen it to this day. 
 While on the bank of the river I crawled to the margin 
 to bid a sister who was going down to St. Louis good 
 bye. While there a mobber shouted out, ' Look ! Look ! 
 there is a skeleton bidding death good bye.' So you 
 can imagine the poor, sickly condition of both of us. 
 
 ''On Wednesday, the 23rd of September, while in 
 my wagon on the slough opposite Nauvoo, a tremendous 
 thunder shower passed over which drenched everything 
 we had ; not a dry thread left to us ; the bed a pool of 
 water, my wife and sister-in-law lading it out by basins 
 full, and I in a burning fever and insensible, with all my 
 hair shorn off to cure me of my disease. Many had not 
 a wagon or tent to shelter them from the pitiless blast. 
 One case I will mention. A poor woman stood among 
 the bushes, wrapping her cloak around her three little 
 orphan children, to shield them from the storm as well 
 as she could through that terrible night, during which 
 there was one continued roar of thunder and blaze of 
 lightning while the rain descended in torrents. 
 
 "The mob seized every person in Nauvoo they could 
 find, led them to the river and threw them in. I will 
 mention one individual case. They seized Charles Lam- 
 bert, led him to the river and in the midst of cursing and 
 swearing one man said, 'By the holy saints, I baptize 
 you by order of the commanders of the temple,' plunged 
 him in backwards and then said, 'The commandments 
 must be fulfilled, G — d — you, you must have another 
 dip.' They threw him in on his face, then sent him on 
 the flat boat across the river, with the promise that if he 
 returned to Nauvoo they would shoot him. Such were 
 
66 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 some of the scenes that occurred when we were driven 
 from Nauvoo." ****♦♦* 
 
 Elder Bullock wrote the above under the keen sen- 
 sibility of one who suffered about all that could be 
 endured. We might expect the picture to be overdrawn 
 but the following from the Mississippiaii, a paper pub- 
 lished at Rock Island, about seventy miles from Nauvoo, 
 fittingly parallels Elder Bullock's letter in intensity of 
 expression and vividness of coloring. The Mississippian 
 heads the article, 
 
 "THE HANCOCK TRAGEDY. 
 
 "Such is our feeling, our indignation, our burning 
 sense of shame, of disgrace, in regard to recent affairs 
 in Hancock county that we hardly know what to say — 
 how to begin. * * * * * * * 
 
 "The savage will relent over the infant's wail, but 
 these infuriated men see the haggard mother with her 
 dying infant, nerved by despair, and goaded by fear, 
 rushing from the city, and they can laugh at her misery, 
 taunt her as she passes, and add speed to her faltering 
 steps by their abuse, their insults and jeers. Aye, too, 
 many of these helpless, dying children, these more than 
 widowed mothers, have fathers and husbands now 
 engaged in the service of the United States, fighting for 
 their country. ♦ * * ^nd such is the protection 
 afforded to their wives. and children, turned out from their 
 only shelter, none but heaven's canopy, with no hope but 
 in God's mercy! And to such a pass has mob law come 
 in the state of Illinois. Men deliberately taken out and 
 shot, denied a trial, and their last appeal for mercy meet- 
 ing no response. Men surrendering themselves under 
 the most solemn pledges and faith of the state, confined 
 within prison walls, guarded by men under a solemn 
 promise to protect them from all violence, basely surren- 
 dered to armed ruffians and brutally massacred while 
 awaiting a trial under the laws of their country ! Men 
 unsafe even with their female companions, but inhumanly 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. d'] 
 
 shot on the highway! Men resorting to the cruelest 
 tortures to wring from their victims confessions of crime! 
 Men with their wives and children compelled to see their 
 houses, their substance, all destroyed before their eyes, 
 with their sick and dying around them, and then driven 
 out into the wilderness to become the prey of savages, 
 or the victims of famine. 
 
 "We turn from the picture with disgust and loathing. 
 If such is to be the state of things, we with our brethren 
 may next become the victims of mob violence because 
 we are immersionists and close communionists — our 
 Methodist friends because they shout — the Presbyterians 
 by their infant sprinkling, the Episcopalians for reading 
 their prayers ! It is time at any expense, at any cost, 
 for every citizen, for every officer to stand forward and 
 defend, maintain, and obey the laws." 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 COL. THOMAS L. KANE S GRAPHIC PICTURE OF THE NAUVOO 
 
 EXPULSION THE MIRACULOUS FLOCK OF QUAILS KIND 
 
 PROVIDENCE CARES FOR THE SAINTS CLOSING EVENT 
 
 ON THE BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 THE account of Nauvoo and surrounding country, laid 
 waste by religious persecution would not be com- 
 plete without that immortal picture of its desolation 
 drawn by the philanthropist, Thomas L. Kane, in a lec- 
 ture before the Historical Society of Philadelphia. 
 
 *'A few years ago," said Colonel Kane, "ascending 
 the upper Mississippi in the autumn when its waters 
 were low, I was compelled to travel by land past the 
 region of the rapids. My road lay through the Half-Breed 
 
68 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 tract, a fine section of Iowa, which the unsettled state of 
 its land titles had appropriated as a sanctuary for 
 coiners, horse thieves, and other outlaws. I had left my 
 steamer at Keokuk, at the foot of the Lower Fall to hire 
 a carriage, and to contend for some fragments of a dirty 
 meal with the swarming flies, the only scavengers of the 
 locality. 
 
 "From this place to where the deep water of the 
 river returns, my eye wearied to see everywhere sordid 
 vagabond and idle settlers ; and a country marred with- 
 out being improved by their careless hands. I was 
 descending the last hill-side upon my journey when a 
 landscape in delightful contrast broke upon my view. 
 Half encircled by a bend of the river, a beautiful city lay 
 glittering in the fresh morning sun, its bright new dwell- 
 ings, set in cool green gardens ranging up around a 
 stately dome-shaped hill which was crowned by a noble 
 marble edifice, whose high tapering spire was radiant 
 with white and gold. The city appeared to cover several 
 miles, and beyond it, in the background, there rolled off 
 a fair country chequered by the careful lines of fruitful 
 husbandry. The unmistakable marks of industry, enter- 
 prise, and educated wealth everywhere made the scene 
 one of singular and most striking beauty. 
 
 " It was a natural impulse to visit this inviting region. 
 I procured a skiff, and rowing across the river, landed 
 at the chief wharf of the city. No one met me there. I 
 looked and saw no one. I could hear no one move, 
 though the quiet everywhere was such that I heard the 
 flies buzz, and the water ripples break against the shallow 
 of the beach. I walked through the solitary streets. The 
 town lay as in a dream under some deadening spell of 
 lonliness from which I almost feared to wake it, for plainly 
 it had not slept long. There was no grass growing up 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 69 
 
 in the paved ways ; rains had not entirely washed away 
 the prints of dusty foot-steps. 
 
 "Yet I went about unchecked. I went into empty 
 workshops, ropewalks and smithies. The spinner's wheel 
 was idle, the carpenter had gone from his work-bench 
 and shavings, his unfinished sash and casing. Fresh 
 bark was in the tanner's vat, and the fresh-chopped light- 
 wood stood piled against the baker's oven. The black- 
 smith's shop was cold, but his coal-heap and ladling 
 pool and crooked water horn were all there, as if he had 
 just gone off for a holiday. No work-people anywhere 
 looked to know my errand. 
 
 'Tf I went into the gardens clinking the wicket-latch 
 loudly after me, to pull the marygolds, hearts-ease, and 
 lady-slippers, and draw a drink with the water-sodden 
 well-bucket and its noisy chain, or knocking off with my 
 stick the tall, heavy-headed dahlias and sunflowers, 
 hunted over the beds for cucumbers and love-apples — no 
 one called out to me from any opened window, or dog 
 sprang forward to bark an alarm. 
 
 'T could have supposed the people hidden in the 
 houses, but the doors were unfastened, and when at last 
 I timidly entered them, I found dead ashes white upon the 
 hearths, and had to tread a-tiptoe as if walking down the 
 aisle of a country church, to avoid arousing irreverent 
 echoes from the naked floors. On the outskirts of the 
 town was the city grave-yard ; but there was no record 
 of plague there, nor did it in anywise differ much from 
 other Protestant-American cemeteries. Some of the 
 mounds were not long sodded. Some of the stones were 
 newly set, their dates recent and their black inscriptions 
 glossy in the mason's hardly dried lettering ink. Be- 
 yond the grave-yard, out in the fields, I saw in one spot 
 hard by where the fruited boughs of a young orchard 
 
70 FROxM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 had been roughly torn down, the still smouldering em- 
 bers of a barbacue fire that had been constructed of rails 
 from the fencing around it. It was the latest sign of life 
 there. Fields upon fields of heavy-headed yellow grain 
 lay rotting ungathered upon the ground. No one at 
 hand to take in their rich harvest. 
 
 ''As far as the eye cQuld reach, they stretched 
 away, they sleeping too, in the hazy air of autumn. Only 
 two portions of the city seemed to suggest the import 
 of this mysterious solitude. On the eastern suburb the 
 houses looking out upon the country showed by their 
 splintered woodwork and walls battered to the founda- 
 tion, that they had lately been the mark of a destructive 
 cannonade. And in and around the splendid temple 
 which had been the chief object of my admiration 
 armed men were barracked, surrounded by their stacks 
 of musketry and pieces of heavy ordnance. These 
 challenged me to render an account of myself and why I 
 had had the temerity to cross the water without a written 
 permit from the leader of their band. 
 
 ''Though these men were generally more or less 
 under the influence of ardent spirits, after I had explained 
 myself as a passing stranger, they seemed anxious to 
 gain my good opinion. They told the story of the dead 
 city, that it had been a notable manufacturing and com- 
 mercial mart, sheltering over twenty thousand persons ; 
 that they had waged war with its inhabitants for several 
 years, and had finally been successful, only a few days 
 before my visit, in an action fought in front of the ruined 
 suburb ; after which, they had driven them forth at the 
 point of the sword. The defence, they said, had been 
 obstinate, but gave way on the third day's bombardment. 
 They boasted greatly of their prowess, especially in this 
 battle, as they called it ; but I discovered they were not 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 7 1 
 
 of one mind as to certain of the exploits that had distin- 
 guished it, one of which, as I remember, was, that they 
 had slain a father and his son, a boy of fifteen, not long 
 residents of the fated city, whom they admitted to have 
 borne a character without reproach. 
 
 ''They also conducted me inside the massive sculp- 
 tured walls of the curious temple, in which they said the 
 banished inhabitants were accustomed to celebrate the 
 mystic rites of an unhallowed worship. They particu- 
 larly pointed out to me certain features of the building, 
 which, having been the peculiar objects of a former 
 superstitious regard, they had as a matter of duty, sedu- 
 lously defiled and defaced. The reputed sites of certain 
 shrines they had thus particularly noticed, and various 
 sheltered chambers, in one of which was a deep well, 
 constructed, they believed, with a dreadful design. 
 
 "Besides these, they led me to see a large and deep 
 chiseled, marble vase or basin, supported upon twelve 
 oxen, also of marble, and of the size of life, of which 
 they told some romantic stories. They said the deluded 
 persons, most of whom were emigrants from a great dis- 
 tance, believed their Deity countenanced their reception 
 here of a baptism of regeneration, as proxies for whom- 
 soever they held in warm affection in the countries from 
 which they had come. That here parents ' went into the 
 water' for their lost children, children for their parents, 
 widows for their spouses and young persons for their 
 lovers. That thus the great vase came to be for them 
 associated with all dear and distant memories, and was 
 therefore the object of all others in the building to which 
 they attached the greatest degree of idolatrous affection. 
 On this account the victors had so diligendy desecrated 
 it as to render the apartment in which it was contained 
 too noisome to abide in. 
 
72 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 "They permitted me also to ascend into the steeple 
 to see where it had been lightning struck on the Sabbath 
 before, and to look out, east and south, on wasted farms, 
 like those I had seen near the city, extending till they were 
 lost in the distance. Here, in the face of pure day, close 
 to the scar of Divine wrath left by the thunder bolt, were 
 fragments of food, cruses of liquor and broken drinking 
 vessels, with a bass drum and a steamboat signal bell, of 
 which I afterwards learned the use with pain. 
 
 ''It was after nightfall when I was ready to cross the 
 river on my return. The wind had freshened since the 
 sunset, and the water beating roughly into my little boat I 
 headed higher up the stream than the point I had left in 
 the morning, and landed where a faint, glimmering light 
 invited me to steer. 
 
 "Here, among the docks and rushes, sheltered only 
 by the darkness, without roof between them and the sky, 
 I came upon a crowd of several hundred human crea- 
 tures, whom my movements roused from uneasy slumber 
 on the ground. 
 
 *' Passing these on my way to the light, I found it 
 came from a tallow candle in a paper funnel shade, such 
 as is used by street venders of apples and peanuts, and 
 which, flaring and guttering away in the bleak air of the 
 water, shone flickeringly on the emaciated features of a 
 man in the last stages of a bilious remittent fever. They 
 had done their best for him. Over his head was some- 
 thing like a tent, made of a sheet or two, and he rested 
 on a but partially ripped open, old straw mattress, with a 
 hair sofa cushion under his head for a pillow. His gap- 
 ing jaw and glazing eye told how short a time he would 
 monopolize these luxuries, though a seemingly bewil- 
 dered and excited person, who might have been his wife, 
 seemed to find hope in occasionally forcing him to swal- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 73 
 
 low awkwardly measured sips of the tepid river water 
 from a burned and battered, bitter smelling tin coffee 
 pot. Those who knew better had furnished the apothe- 
 cary he needed, a toothless old bald-head, whose manner 
 had the repulsive dullness of a man familiar with death 
 scenes. He, so long as I remained, mumbled in his 
 patient's ear a monotonous and melancholy prayer, 
 between the pauses of which I heard the hiccough and 
 sobbing of two little girls who were sitting upon a piece 
 of drift wood outside. 
 
 "Dreadful, indeed, was the suffering of these for- 
 saken beings ; bowed and cramped by cold and sunburn, 
 alternating as each weary day and night dragged on, 
 they were, almost all of them, the crippled victims of 
 disease. They were there because they had no homes, 
 nor hospital, nor poor house, nor friends to offer them 
 any. They could not satisfy the feeble cravings of their 
 sick, they had not bread to quiet the fractious hunger- 
 cries of their children. Mothers and babes, daughters 
 and grand parents, all of them alike, were bivouacked in 
 tatters, wanting even covering to comfort those whom 
 the sick shiver of fever was searching to the marrow. 
 
 "These were Mormons, famishing in Lee County, 
 Iowa, in the fourth week of the month of September, 
 in the year of our Lord 1846. The city, it was Nauvoo, 
 Illinois. The Mormons were the owners of that city, 
 and the smiling country around. And those who had 
 stopped their planes, who silenced their hammers, their 
 axes, their shuttles and their workshop wheels. Those 
 who had put out their fires, who had eaten their food, 
 spoiled their orchards and trampled under foot their 
 thousands of acres of unharvested bread ; these were 
 the keepers of their dwellings, the carousers in their tem- 
 ple, whose drunken riot insulted the ears of their dying. 
 
74 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 *' I think it was as I turned from the wretched night 
 watch of which I have spoken, that I first Hstened to the 
 sounds of revel of a party of the guard within the city. 
 Above the distant hum of the voices of many, occasion- 
 ally rose distinct the loud oath-tainted exclamation and 
 the falsely intonated scrap of vulgar song ; but lest this 
 requiem should go unheeded, every now and then when 
 their boisterous orgies strove to attain a sort of ecstatic 
 climax, a cruel spirit of insulting frolic carried some of 
 them up into the high belfry of the temple steeple, and 
 there, with the wicked childishness of inebriates, they 
 whooped and shrieked and beat the drum that I had seen, 
 and rang in charivaric unison their loud-tongued steam- 
 boat bell. 
 
 ''There were, all told, not more than six hundred 
 and forty persons who were thus lying on the river flats. 
 But the Mormons in Nauvoo and its dependencies had 
 been numbered the year before at over twenty thousand. 
 Where were they? They had last been seen, carrying 
 in mournful trains their sick and wounded, halt and 
 blind, to disappear behind the western horizon, pursuing 
 the phantom of another home. Hardly anything else 
 was known of them ; and people asked with curiosity, 
 'What has been their fate — what their fortunes?'" 
 
 A few days after Col. Kane's visit to Nauvoo and 
 the camp of sickness and death on the west side of the 
 river, a number of wagons arrived from the advanced 
 camps of the Saints for the deliverance of this forlorn 
 remnant. Elder Bullock's letter continues: 
 
 '' On the 9th of October several wagons with oxen 
 having been sent by the Twelve to fetch the poor Saints 
 away, were drawn out in a line on the river banks ready 
 to start. But hark! what noise is that? See! the quails 
 descend. They alight close by our little camp of twelve 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 75 
 
 wagons, run past each wagon tongue, when they arise, 
 fly around the camp three times, descend and again run 
 the gauntlet past each wagon. See! the sick knock 
 them down with sticks and the Httle children catch them 
 alive with their hands ! Some are cooked for breakfast. 
 
 ''While my family were seated on the wagon tongue 
 and ground, having a washtub for a table, behold they 
 come again ! One descends upon our tea-board in the 
 midst of our cups, while we were actually around the 
 table eating our breakfast, which a little boy eight years 
 old catches alive with his hands. They rise again, the 
 flocks increase in number, seldom going seven rods from 
 our camp, continually flying around the camp, sometimes 
 under the wagons, sometimes over, and even into the 
 wagons where the poor, sick Saints are lying in bed ; 
 thus having a direct manifestation from the Most High 
 that although we are driven by men He has not forsaken 
 us, but that His eyes are continually over us for good. 
 At noon, having caught alive about fifty and killed about 
 fifty more, the captain gave orders not to kill any more, 
 as it was a direct manifestation and visitation from the 
 Lord. In the afternoon hundreds were flying at a time. 
 When our camp started at three p. m. there could not 
 have been less than five hundred, some said there were 
 fifteen hundred, flying around the camp. 
 
 ''Thus am I a witness to this visitation. Some Gen- 
 tiles who were at the camp marveled greatly. Even pas- 
 sengers on a steamboat going down the river looked 
 with astonishment." 
 
 As welcome to this famished "forlorn hope" were 
 these quails as the heavenly manna to the hungry hosts 
 of ancient Israel in the wilderness. What a comfort to 
 these suffering exiles to grasp in their faith the assurance 
 that although men tried to destroy them they were not 
 
76 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 forsaken of their God. Could the skeptic wish to ignore 
 the fact that in this visitation a kindly Providence mani- 
 fested sympathy for suffering humanity? 
 
 The 9th of October, 1846, was an important day in 
 the history of the Nauvoo Exodus. It was the distinct 
 closing of that immortal event on the banks of the Mis- 
 sissippi river. The heritage of the Saints was fully in 
 possession of their enemies. The poor remnant that 
 from the force of circumstances were compelled to 
 remain to the last, were on the trail of their people 
 towards the setting sun. The interests of this traveling 
 Zion were now wholly transferred to the Missouri river. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE WILDERNESS ECHOES WITH THE SOUND OF INDUSTRY 
 
 THE PIONEERS LEAVE WINTER QUARTERS THEIR 
 
 MILITARY ORGANIZATION THE FIRST BUFFALO HUNT 
 
 REPRESENTATIVE LADY PIONEERS A PROPHET GENERAL 
 
 WITH APOSTLES FOR LIEUTENANTS THE PRAIRIE ON 
 
 FIRE VAST HERDS OF BUFFALO THIEVING INDIANS. 
 
 " The time of winter now is o'er, 
 
 There's verdure on the plain ; 
 We leave our sheltering roofs once more 
 And to our tents again." — E. R. S. 
 
 WITH several hundred Saints wintering with the 
 Indians on Running Water river, one hundred and 
 fifty miles above Winter Quarters ; with a large portion 
 of the people on the Pottowatomie lands on the east side 
 
^ FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. ']'] 
 
 of the Missouri; with several thousands, including the 
 indigent and helpless, the families of men in the Bat- 
 talion who needed direct attention from the authorities ; 
 with the general supervision of large herds of animals, 
 the preservation of which from niarauding Indians was a 
 necessity of existence, imposed very heavy responsibili- 
 ties on Brigham Young and his fellow Apostles. 
 
 The Saints bore their afflictions with the fortitude 
 characteristic of "them. The long winter gave their 
 leaders ample time to perfect their plans for the import- 
 ant operations of the ensuing season. As the spring of 
 1847 opened, this wilderness, so lately occupied by only 
 a few Indians, resounded with the sounds of intelligent, 
 well directed labor. There was energetic purpose in 
 every stroke of an ax, every turn of a wagon wheel or 
 of a plow. Those who had been selected to make up the 
 company of pioneers and those who expected to follow 
 them that season '' to the west," were busy preparing for 
 their advent into the wilderness. Those expecting to 
 remain, with equally decided purpose, were fencing 
 fields, breaking up the virgin soil and preparing to raise 
 food for themselves and for those who might take their 
 places when they departed for the place which all ex- 
 pected would be found for them in the desert. 
 
 The 7th of April, 1847, the pioneers began to move 
 out of Winter Quarters for their place of gathering on 
 the Elk Horn river. After organizing they started on 
 their long-contemplated journey the 14th of April. The 
 company consisted of seventy-three wagons and car- 
 riages, one hundred and forty-three men, three women 
 and two children, in all, one hundred and forty-eight 
 souls. With one exception the animals of the camp 
 were horses and mules ; that exception was a milch cow 
 belonging to Lorenzo D. Young. Doubtless previous 
 
78 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. . 
 
 training had fitted this cow for the proper performance 
 of her part as a pioneer, for she daily followed the camp 
 without trouble to anyone. Mrs. Harriet Young was 
 the pioneer butter-maker of the Mormon camps on the 
 plains, for she had thoughtfully taken along a small churn, 
 so that her husband and sometimes friends enjoyed the 
 luxury of a taste of butter as well as milk for their tea 
 and coffee. 
 
 It was a matter of serious consideration on the part 
 of President Young on account of emergencies that might 
 arise, whether any woman should accompany the pioneers. 
 The following considerations might well decide in their 
 favor. So far the wives and daughters of the Elders 
 had bravely shared dangers and sacrifices with them. 
 They were not likely to encounter any more hardships 
 and risks than had already characterized much of their 
 lives. When the subject was fairly considered their past 
 record evidently entitled them to a representation in 
 ''The camps of Israel," and why should that of the pio- 
 neers be an exception ? The representative ladies were 
 Mrs. Clara Young, wife of Brigham Young, Mrs. Ellen 
 Kimball wife of H. C. Kimball and Mrs. Harriet Young 
 wife of Lorenzo D. Young. 
 
 This company was made up of a choice selection of 
 Elders whose previous experiences and known abilities 
 gave an assurance that the organization was well adapted 
 to meet any probable emergencies that might arise. 
 Those intending to follow them the same season, were 
 advised to wait several weeks until the weather should 
 become warmer, and the grass have time to grow. 
 
 The pioneers were efficiently organized as a military 
 body of which Brigham Young was the chosen leader. 
 A prophet-general, leading the van of his shattered 
 people into the wilderness with Apostles for lieutenants, 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 79 
 
 marking out the road for the thousands who were to 
 follow, and selecting a location abounding in profusion 
 with elements of comfort and wealth, where they could 
 recruit their energies and increase in numbers until able 
 to combat the antagonisms which they must meet in the 
 fulfillment of their mission. 
 
 They were pioneers in the strictest sense, for there 
 was no beaten track for them to follow. They struck 
 out on the north side of the beautiful Platte which for 
 five hundred miles wound its serpentine way through a 
 magnificent country, with scarcely a mark of civilization. 
 They crossed several small streams before arriving at the 
 Loupe Fork of the Platte. This they found the most 
 dangerous stream to ford on the whole route, having an 
 ever changing bottom of quicksand. 
 
 It was necessary for the men to wade the stream in 
 crossing their wagons. The water was up to their 
 waists and as the weather was yet cool, this made them 
 very uncomfortable. From the ford they followed a 
 dividing ridge to the head of Grand Island, where they 
 first came in sight of buffalo. This was something new 
 in their varied experiences. The sight made a sensation 
 for in it was a spice of romance. A buffalo hunt was 
 at once inaugurated. Several men mounted their horses 
 with the view of attacking a band in sight, but a con- 
 siderable distance away. Coming up with them they gave 
 chase in splendid style along the side of a ridge in full view 
 of the camp. The hunters mingled with the noble game 
 and all were soon enveloped in a cloud of dust. Occa- 
 sionally a straggling animal was singled out and became 
 a vicdm. The sport was continued until the party had 
 killed and secured eleven bulls, cows and calves. When 
 these were brought to camp, it presented the appearance 
 of a lively meat market. All were busy drying their 
 
8o 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 meat over smoking fires in the sun to preserve what 
 could not be used immediately. Now fairly launched 
 out on to the plains into the midst of wild animals 
 
 J- 4 ^^^■^a ■ !'- 
 
 and roving bands of Indians, each day brought not only 
 its legitimate labors, but its imaginary or real dangers, 
 its novelties in animal and vegetable life and its new and 
 ever varying scenery. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 8 1 
 
 The teams being weak for want of sufficient food, 
 on the 3rd of May the company concluded to rest for 
 the day. Many of the men repaired wagons, harness, 
 etc., and a company of hunters were sent out and re- 
 turned with two buffalo calves and one antelope. 
 
 The morning of the 4th of May, a report having 
 reached camp that a scouting party a few miles ahead had 
 seen a large body of Indians, the company was directed to 
 travel two wagons abreast, as this compact form was 
 better suited for defence. As soon as the wagons were 
 well out on the prairie President Young called out, 
 ''Attention, the camps of Israel. First company forward." 
 Then the others in succession took their places until the 
 desired formation was attained. This was a unique 
 style of command for modern times. 
 
 During the day a Frenchman came over from the 
 south side of the Platte. He was one of a company of 
 nine men, with three teams, on their way from Fort 
 Laramie to the States. By him fifty or sixty letters were 
 sent to the families of pioneers at Winter Quarters. He 
 remained with the pioneers about an hour, and three of 
 their number returned with him. The Indians had been 
 burning the dry grass which gave the country a blackened 
 appearance, occasionally relieved by a spot of green 
 grass mingled with the dry of the previous year's growth. 
 These spots, which had escaped the fire, often afforded 
 but a scanty supply of provender for the animals. 
 
 In the afternoon of the following day the camp 
 traveled about six miles. The hunters killed a buffalo 
 cow and five calves. A good sized calf was also captured 
 alive with the intention of making a camp pet of it. 
 About 4 p. m. the company came to a column of fire 
 which crossed their path, extending from the river as far 
 as the eye could see to the north. They wisely con- 
 
82 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 eluded that it was safest to encamp on the burnt prairie. 
 Some small patches of grass which* the fire had spared, 
 afforded a scanty supply of food for animals. 
 
 About 4 o'clock on the morning of the 6th there 
 was a timely shower of rain, and the company passed 
 safely to the west side of the line of fire and smoke. 
 The country abounded in buffalo, antelope, elk and 
 wolves. During the day immense herds of buffalo were 
 in sight on both sides of the Platte river. Many hundreds 
 were feeding within a short distance of the road, but 
 manifested no alarm at the approach of the company. 
 Professor O. Pratt in his journal says : 
 
 '' During the time of our halts we had to watch our 
 teams to keep them from mingling with the buffalo. I 
 think I may safely say that I have seen ten thousand 
 buffalo during the day. Some few antelope, which came 
 near our wagons, we killed for food, their meat being 
 very excellent, but we did not allow ourselves to kill any 
 game only as we wanted for food. * ♦ ♦ Young 
 buffalo calves frequently came in our way and we had to 
 carry them away from the camp to prevent their follow- 
 ing us." 
 
 About this time, between the buffalo and the prairie 
 fires, the animals of the camp were nearly famished. 
 The buffalo became very numerous. It was impracticable 
 to give an approximate estimate of their numbers, say 
 one hundred thousand or more. They were poor in flesh 
 and no more were killed than the necessities of the camp 
 required. At one time a herd of several miles in extent 
 was seen. "The prairie was literally a dense, black mass 
 of moving animals." Mr. Thomas Bullock says: *'Our 
 camp had to stop two or three times while the droves 
 went around us. As soon as they had passed many 
 would stop and look at us, as if amazed at such a sight. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. S^ 
 
 We caught several calves alive. Remember, catching a 
 buffalo calf and a domesticated one, are two different 
 things. A swift horse is sometimes pushed to catch up 
 with him. They are as swift as horses, and although the 
 old animals are the ugliest racers of any brutes, they get 
 over the ground very fast, and an inexperienced rider is 
 soon left to admire their beauty in the distance." The 
 bones and carcasses of buffalo were more or less abundant 
 on the prairie, after the company passed the Loupe Fork. 
 Among them were frequently found human bones, pro- 
 bably those of Indians. Several human skulls were 
 found in a state of good preservation. 
 
 A considerable distance along the Platte, for want 
 of better fuel, the pioneers often made their fires of the 
 excrement of the buffalo. The emigration who have 
 followed them for two hundred miles along the Platte, 
 have been compelled to use the same material. It burns 
 something like dry turf, and makes quite a good fire 
 when dry, but is useless when wet. 
 
 Of May loth. Apostle O. Pratt says in his journal : 
 "Before we left this morning we wrote a letter addressed 
 to the officers of our next camp, which will follow our 
 track, in about six or eight weeks. The letter was care- 
 fully secured from the weather by sawing five or six 
 inches into a board parallel to its surface. The board 
 was about six inches wide and eighteen long. The letter 
 was deposited in the track made by the saw and three 
 cletes were respectively nailed upon the top and two sides, 
 and after writing on the board necessary directions, it 
 was nailed to the end of a pole, four to five inches in 
 diameter and about fifteen feet in length. This pole was 
 firmly set about five feet in the ground near our road." 
 While traveling a bay horse made its appearance. It 
 seemed quite wild. Some of the company gave chase 
 
84 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 with the hope of capturing it but without success. Feed 
 for the teams continued scarce on account of having been 
 eaten out by the buffalo. 
 
 Mr. WiUiam Clayton, clerk of the company, and 
 others began to discuss the subject of attaching some 
 machinery to a wagon to indicate the number of miles 
 traveled each day. President Young requested Mr. Pratt 
 to give the matter some attention. In a day or two, by 
 the assistance of Mr. Harmon, a mechanic, a machine 
 was made and attached to a wagon wheel which auto- 
 matically measured the distance traveled whenever the 
 wagon moved. 
 
 The nth of May a human skull was found. The 
 teeth were perfectly sound and well set in the jaw. Per- 
 haps it had belonged to an Indian warrior who had fallen 
 in one of the late battles between the Pawnees and Sioux, 
 in which the latter were victorious. Some small scars on 
 the bone indicated that the scalp had been removed. 
 About this time there were indications that large parties 
 of Indians had lately been in the vicinity. Also buffalo 
 were scarce, evidently having been driven from the local- 
 ity. The company encamped near a clear stream of 
 water, about fifteen feet wide, in which a number of small 
 fish called dace, were caught with a hook. Feed was 
 scarce, Indian horses and the buffalo having left but little 
 grass. From the Elk Horn until the South Pass was 
 reached, a distance of seven hundred miles, it might be 
 said every mile of travel increased the altitude and pro- 
 portionately with that increase the air became cooler and 
 more rarefied. This will account for the fact that on the 
 morning of the 14th of May the animals suffered con- 
 siderably with the cold. 
 
 Approaching Laramie the country became more 
 broken, and, from hills near the road, the prospect was 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 85 
 
 often very extensive and beautiful. Here and there 
 small herds of buffalo were grazing upon the hills and 
 in the valleys. It was a new experience, even in the 
 
 wonderfully varied lives of the pioneers. There was a 
 wild, weird romance about the country, like some dream, 
 some imaginary scene materialized. During the evenings 
 the sound of music in different parts of the camp seemed 
 
86 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 Strangely harmonious with the almost death-like solitude 
 of these uninhabited regions. 
 
 There were indications that Indians had discovered 
 the camp and were lurking around for the purpose of 
 stealing horses. During the night one was seen by the 
 guard creeping towards the camp on his hands and knees. 
 He was fired upon and immediately rose to his feet and 
 ran away. During the following day fresh tracks of 
 these nomadic robbers were seen in the sand. They 
 would sometimes follow emigrants hundreds of miles, 
 keeping secreted during the day and watching for oppor- 
 tunities to steal at night. The pioneers corraled their 
 wagons in a circle, with the tongues outside, and the for- 
 Avard wheel of one wagon locked into the hind wheel of 
 another. In the interior of this temporary fortification the 
 animals were secured, while the whole camp was strongly 
 guarded. When the animals were grazing during the 
 day, about fourteen men usually encircled them on all 
 sides to prevent them from straying, or being suddenly 
 frightened away by a dash from Indians, accompanied 
 with horrid yells for the purpose of scattering the animals 
 of emigrants out of their reach. If the Indians suc- 
 ceeded they could hunt up the animals at leisure after 
 the owners had gone on. Sometimes if small parties of 
 two or three men ventured in search of their lost animals, 
 they were robbed of their clothing, and of their horses, 
 if so fortunate as to have any. If permitted to escape 
 with their lives they returned to camp in a destitute, for- 
 lorn condition. At this time game was plentiful. Out 
 of the abundance of buffalo, deer, antelope, geese and 
 ducks, the hunters were able to supply the camp with 
 what meat they required. No fuel for several days ex- 
 cept floodwood and buffalo excrement. The i6th of May. 
 the camp rested in die afternoon and the people met for 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. Sy 
 
 public worship. Two days after they crossed a rapid 
 stream which they named Rattlesnake creek, from the 
 circumstance of finding a rattlesnake near it. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ASH HOLLOW AND ITS REMINISCENCES RATTLESNAKES 
 
 VISIT OF INDIANS CHIMNEY ROCK ROMANTIC SCENERY 
 
 A LUNAR RAINBOW THE BLACK HILLS FORT LARA- 
 MIE — CALIFORNIA EMIGRATION LARAMIE PEAK 
 
 MAKING ROADS FERRY ACROSS THE PLATTE. 
 
 THE 20th of May Ash Hollow on the south side of 
 the Platte was passed. It was so named from some 
 ash timber growing there. It afterwards became a 
 noted way-mark in traveling up the Platte. Rumor 
 located many a deadly fight here between hostile bands 
 of Indians, and also between them and white men. Near 
 here was a lone cedar tree in which had been deposited 
 the remains of an Indian child with the necessary accom- 
 paniments, according to their traditions, for its future 
 enjoyment and welfare. The following day there was 
 found on the prairie a large petrified bone, once a part 
 of the frame-work of an animal of enormous size. It 
 was a leg bone from the knee downwards, was seventeen 
 and one-half inches in length, eleven inches wide, six 
 inches thick, and its weight twenty-seven pounds. It 
 was a curious specimen of ancient zoology. Towards 
 evening the camp was visited by two or three Indians. 
 They appeared friendly and gave the men to understand 
 
88 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 that a large number of their people were encamped 
 near by. 
 
 May 22nd, the company crossed a stream which 
 they called Crab creek. With glasses Chimney Rock 
 was seen forty-two miles distant. The following day 
 was Sunday. As was the general custom on that day 
 the teams rested. By a barometrical measurement of 
 Professor Pratt's, the height of a neighboring peak was 
 235 feet above the Platte river, and 3,590 feet above sea 
 level. Rattlesnakes were numerous. Nathaniel Fair- 
 banks was bitten by a large yellow one. Although 
 remedies were applied he suffered considerably during 
 the day. The people assembled for worship and were 
 addressed by Brigham Young and others. 
 
 About 7 o'clock p. m. the wind blew a violent gale 
 from the north, with rain and hail from a cold quarter. 
 This made people and animals very uncomfortable. The 
 morning of the 24th a few flakes of snow fell. From a 
 real or fancied resemblance of the surrounding hills and 
 rocks to ruined cities and towers, this region was named 
 Bluff Ruins. At the noon halt the camp was visited by 
 two Indians. By signs they made the company under- 
 stand that their tribe was a short distance on the south 
 side of the Platte. Food was given them and they 
 returned to their camp, fording the river on foot. They 
 notified their people of the approach of the pioneers, 
 and, in the evening, thirty-five of their number, including 
 squaws and boys, come to camp on horseback. They 
 were much better dressed than the Indians on the Mis- 
 souri river. Many of them had broadcloth clothes, 
 blankets and fur caps, adorned with abundance of beads 
 and other finery. They were armed with bows, steel- 
 pointed arrows and a few firearms. They were of the 
 Dacotah tribe, which interpreted means ''cut throat," 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 89 
 
 but generally known to the whites as Sioux. Their 
 chief's name was Owastate-cha. Soon after dark he 
 sent his men away to encamp, but he requested the 
 privilege of remaining with the pioneers over night. 
 This, doubtless, was a precautionary measure on his 
 part, as his people would disturb nothing belonging to 
 the camp while their chief was enjoying its hospitality. 
 A tent was spread for his accommodation. In the morn- 
 ing there was a hard frost. To a supper for the Indians 
 the previous evening the pioneers added a breakfast. 
 
 The 26th of May the pioneers passed Chimney 
 Rock, but about three miles north of it. At this point 
 the valley of the Platte was about 3,790 feet above sea 
 level. Prickly pears continued to grow more numerous. 
 This indicated that they were getting into a country of 
 not much rainfall during summer. They were still on 
 that section of the route where there was no timber on 
 the north side of the Platte and, consequently, no fuel 
 for camp use except flood wood, which was very scarce, 
 and ''buffalo chips." The latter diminished in quantity 
 as the company traveled west. No buffalo had been 
 seen for several days, but antelopes were plentiful. 
 
 May 27th, the company passed the meridian of the 
 highest peak of Scott's Bluffs, which was near the river 
 on the south side. With indications of a shower in the 
 afternoon the company encamped for the night. The 
 showers along the Platte had been accompanied with 
 high winds, rushing in fitful, violent gusts, but of short 
 duration. The burned prairies were now mantled with 
 the beautiful verdure of spring, and the river bottoms, 
 refreshingly green, afforded luxurious herbage for the 
 camp animals. 
 
 "The bluffs on the opposite side of the river exhib- 
 ited a great variety of forms, presenting scenes remark- 
 
90 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 ably picturesque and Interesting in their appearance. 
 There can be seen towers of various forms and heights. 
 Perpendicular walls, some of whose outlines are circular, 
 others rectilineal. Deep notches, both semi-circular and 
 rectangular, seemed to be excavated in their summits. 
 Many of these scenes closely resemble the artificial 
 works of man thrown partially into disorder and confu- 
 sion by sorrte great convulsion of nature." 
 
 May 30th, being Sunday, was another day of rest 
 for the teams. It was appointed a day for fasting and 
 prayer. A prayer meeting in the morning was followed 
 by preaching and exhortation in the afternoon. Towards 
 evening there was a thunder shower, and later, another 
 light one from the east. "The moon shone brightly in 
 the east, being about half an hour above the horizon. By 
 refraction of its mild rays through the falling drops it 
 produced a beautiful lunar rainbow in the west, but little 
 inferior in brightness to a solar one. Chimney Rock, 
 though forty miles distant, can be seen from the bluffs, 
 while the lowering peaks of the Black Hills, west of Lar- 
 amie, present themselves like blue clouds stationary in 
 the horizon." 
 
 The ist of June the pioneers encamped near Fort 
 Laramie, situated on the left bank of Laramie Fork, 
 about one and a half miles from its confluence with the 
 North Fork. Its walls were of adobe and about fifteen feet 
 high. Ranges of houses were built in the interior adjoin- 
 ing the walls, leaving a central yard of about one hun- 
 dred feet square. It belonged to the American Fur 
 Company, was in charge of a Mr. Boudeau and was occu- 
 pied by about eighteen men and their families. 
 
 In the evening the camp was visited by some Saints, 
 Mr. Crow and family, who left the southern states the 
 season before under the counsel of elders from the head- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 91 
 
 quarters of the Church, who had advised them of the 
 contemplated move of the Saints to the Rocky Mount- 
 ains and approved of the idea of attempting to intersect 
 their trail up the Platte river. This party of fourteen 
 persons had wintered at Pueblo with a detachment of the 
 Mormon Battalion and a considerable company of Saints 
 from the south, and had reached Laramie a few days in 
 advance. 
 
 The 2nd of June a party of the pioneers crossed 
 
 FORT LARAMIE. 
 
 the river in a boat of sole-leather. It had been the prop- 
 erty of Mr. Ira Eldredge, and it carried his family outfit 
 across the Mississippi and Missouri rivers ; was utilized 
 by the pioneers and had been brought by them from 
 Winter Quarters as a wagon box. The party crossed 
 the river and walked up to Fort Laramie. They were 
 kindly received and seated in a neat, comfortable apart- 
 ment. After a sociable, cheerful chat with Mr. Boudeau 
 and others, they walked down to see his flatboat. This 
 
92 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 was engaged at the reasonable figure of fifteen dollars 
 to ferry the company across the North Fork, as further 
 travel up its left bank would be attended with considera- 
 ble difficulty. Indian aggressions and the severe droughts 
 to which the country was subject, had caused agriculture 
 to be entirely neglected. The whites, like the Indians, 
 depended on the flesh of wild animals for their principal 
 food. Whatever they had of the products of the earth 
 and other luxuries were hauled from the Missouri river, 
 a distance of five hundred miles, on wagons. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 3rd of June, the pio- 
 neers commenced ferrying across the North Fork of the 
 Platte, averaging about four wagons per hour. The 
 afternoon of the previous day they saw with their glasses 
 three or four white men coming in on horseback on the 
 opposite side of the Platte. While ferrying they learned 
 these men were from the states and had made the jour- 
 ney in seventeen days. They reported having passed 
 about two thousand wagons in detached companies on 
 their way to Oregon. One small company was expected 
 to arrive at Laramie on the 4th, a larger one the follow- 
 ing day, and a still larger one on the 6th. These emi- 
 grants were principally from Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. 
 Emigration to the Pacific slope seemed to be gready on 
 the increase. 
 
 The pioneers having safely crossed the North Fork, 
 resumed their journey about noon of the 4th. They fol- 
 lowed the Oregon road near that stream. It was a great 
 change from the long levels of the Platte bottoms to a 
 broken, mountain road. From Laramie to Salt Lake 
 there was no lack of fuel for camp purposes, pine and 
 cedar on the hills, cottonwood and box elder along the 
 streams, with sagebrush abundant almost everywhere, 
 sometimes growing ten feet high. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 93 
 
 The 7th of June three companies of Oregon emi- 
 grants came up with the pioneers. Under this date Mr. 
 Pratt says in his journal: ''This forenoon gained in ele- 
 vation very fast. Laramie Peak, twelve or fifteen miles 
 to the south-west, shows from this position to good 
 advantage. Its top is whitened with snow that acts as a 
 condenser upon the vapor of the atmosphere which 
 comes within its vicinity, generating clouds, which are 
 precipitated in showers upon the surrounding country. 
 This peak has been visible to our camp for eight or ten 
 days, and I believe that almost every afternoon since, we 
 have been visited with thunder showers which seem to 
 originate in the vicinity of the peak." 
 
 The night of the 7th of June the pioneers encamped 
 on Horse Shoe creek. Next day they saw a solitary 
 buffalo, the first one seen for upwards of two hundred 
 miles. They traveled fifteen miles and encamped on Big 
 Timber creek. About a mile from them were encamped 
 a few wagons from Fort Bridger, on the west side of the 
 mountains, loaded with furs and peltries, on their way to 
 Fort Laramie. 
 
 The 9th of June the company crossed a stream 
 about twenty feet wide which they called Little Timber. 
 The banks being rather steep they were much improved 
 by the use of spades and picks. It was a daily labor to 
 repair the roads and leave them in a passable condition 
 for the companies that were expected to follow. There 
 was a daily detail of ten or twelve men who went in 
 advance of the company, with the necessary tools to 
 work the road. Distances were also measured with the 
 machine before mentioned and boards set up every ten 
 miles, conveying the intelligence to the traveler of the 
 distance he was west of Laramie. The pioneers 
 encamped on a stream called ''A La Parele." Just 
 
94 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITV. 
 
 above camp It ran through a mountain forming a natural 
 bridge over the stream. Three men with fifteen horses, 
 most of them carrying packs, passed the company. 
 They were from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and on their 
 way to San Francisco, in upper CaHfornia, via the Great 
 Salt Lake. 
 
 The evening of June nth, a short distance above 
 their camp were two small companies of emigrants which 
 had passed them a few days before. The previous day 
 their teams took fright from the running of a horse. 
 Two wagons were upset and one woman and two chil- 
 dren considerably injured, but no bones were broken. 
 The following day the pioneers made the point where 
 the Oregon road crossed the Platte river, one hundred 
 and twenty-four miles from Laramie. They found the 
 channel about one hundred feet wide and the water 
 fifteen feet deep. Here they overtook one of the fore- 
 most companies of the Oregon emigrants. Three days 
 previous to their arrival the pioneers had sent a small 
 detachment in advance to this place, where they arrived 
 about four hours ahead of any emigrants, with the boat 
 of sole leather before mentioned. As this would carry 
 fifteen or eighteen hundred pounds of freight, they were 
 employed by the emigrants to ferry them over. Goods 
 were crossed in the skiff and the empty wagons floated. 
 In the operation the latter were frequently hurled several 
 times over by the force of the current. 
 
 A few miles from this place the hunters of the com- 
 pany killed a few buffalo and three or four grizzly bears, 
 the latter being quite numerous on the Black Hills. June 
 14th the pioneers commenced crossing the Platte. Some 
 of the wagons were crossed on light rafts made of pine 
 poles lashed together, others were floated, but the cur- 
 rent was found too rapid to do this without injuring 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 95 
 
 them, so they resorted wholly to the slow process of 
 rafting. Twenty-four wagons were crossed during the 
 day. They remained at this place until the morning of 
 the 19th. In this time two large canoes were constructed 
 of Cottonwood timber. These were placed parallel to 
 each other, a few feet apart, and firmly fastened together 
 with cross timbers well pinned on ; across these slabs 
 were fastened, running lengthwise of the canoes. With 
 a little iron work, rudder and oars were attached, and 
 they had a boat of sufficient strength to carry over a 
 loaded wagon of the emigrants. Captain Groves and 
 nine men were left in charge of this rude boat, and with 
 it a considerable business was done in crossing the Ore- 
 gon emigrants daily arriving in small companies and very 
 anxious to he crossed over without delay. Those in 
 charge of the ferry were instructed to come on with the 
 next company, who were expected to arrive there in a 
 month or six weeks. They were urged to take every 
 precautionary measure to protect themselves from 
 Indians. 
 
96 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 LEAVING THE PLATTE SALERATUS LAKE DEVIL's GATE- 
 VALLEY OF THE SWEETWATER WINTER AND SUMMER 
 
 MINGLED TOGETHER — THE SOUTH PASS INTERESTING 
 
 INTERVIEWS WITH MAJOR HARRIS AND COLONEL BRIDGER 
 
 ARRIVAL OF SAMUEL BRANNAN FROM THE BAY OF 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO — THE PUEBLO DETACHMENT OF THE 
 MORMON BATTALION MOUNTAIN FEVER. 
 
 AT THIS point the pioneers left the North Fork of 
 the Platte for the Sweetwater river, distant twenty- 
 seven and a half miles. Twenty miles of the distance 
 they traveled on the 21st of June. During the forenoon 
 drive of the 22 nd they passed the noted saleratus lake. 
 They found large quantities of this useful article in the 
 family economy. The Mormon emigration afterwards 
 hauled yearly supplies of this into the valley to use in- 
 stead of the better, but far more expensive commercial 
 article, on account of heavy freight charges across the 
 plains. Several bushels were gathered and taken along 
 by the pioneers. The morning drive of seven and a half 
 miles brought them to the right bank of the ^Sweetwater, 
 about one mile below Independence Rock, and within 
 one-fourth of a mile of the upper end of the Devil's Gate. 
 Early in the morning of the 22nd of June, Professor 
 Pratt ascended to the top of Devil's Gate rock. By 
 barometrical measurement he found the perpendicular 
 wall four huadred feet above the river which here runs 
 through a chasm nine hundred or one thousand feet in 
 length, and one hundred and thirty feet in breadth. In 
 this chasm the water tumbles and foams with the noise 
 of a cataract over massive fragments of rock which have 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 97 
 
 fallen from above. They found the valley of the Sweet- 
 water from five to ten miles In breadth, bounded on the 
 north and south by mountain ridges, isolated hills and 
 rugged summits of massive granite, varying from twelve 
 hundred to two thousand feet in height. In the afternoon 
 the first glimpse was caught of the Wind River mount- 
 ains north of the road, but the air was too smoky to 
 discover more than a faint, blue outline. They crossed 
 two or three small streams and, after making twenty and 
 
 INDEPENDENCE ROCK. 
 
 three-fourth miles over a sandy road, encamped on the 
 Sweetwater with good grass and wild sage for fuel. Two 
 companies of emigrants encamped a short distance above 
 the pioneers. We let Professor Pratt describe this 
 strange country where in the latter part of June, winter 
 mingled with summer. "The Wind River chain of mount- 
 ains, in the distance, exhibit their towering peaks 
 whitened by perpetual snow, which glittering in the sun- 
 beams, resemble white, fleecy clouds. 
 
95 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 ''June 24th: Traveled seventeen and three-fourdi 
 miles and again encamped on the Sweetwater. We 
 passed in the forenoon Sulphur Springs, sometimes called 
 Ice Springs. We took a spade and dug down about one 
 foot and found the ground frozen and large quantities of 
 ice. A few yards west of this we saw two or three small 
 lakes or ponds. The water in them was very salt and 
 of a bitterish taste. The soil is covered in many places 
 with saline efflorescences of a considerable depth." 
 
 June, 25th: Traveled twenty and one-fourth miles 
 and encamped upon a tributary of the Sweetwater, the 
 water clear and cold. Frequent banks of snow were 
 upon the hills in their vicinity. Just below was quite a 
 large and beautiful grove of aspen or poplar. The 
 evening was cold rendering overcoats quite a necessary 
 appendage. The perpetual snows which completely 
 covered the Wind River chain gives the scenery a cold, 
 wintry aspect. 
 
 June 26th: The grass was whitened with frost, and 
 the sudden change from the high temperature of the 
 sandy valleys below was most severely felt by man and 
 beast. Resumed the journey during the forenoon and 
 traveled eleven miles, crossing the main branches of the 
 Sweetwater which were quite high, the result of the 
 melting snows accumulated upon its banks, and in the 
 mountains. At the largest and last of the main branches 
 of the Sweetwater, the company halted for noon. Only 
 in high altitudes was such a scene possible, abundance of 
 good grass mingled with various plants and flowers upon 
 the bottoms of the stream and a few yards distant, large 
 banks of snow several feet in depth. We quote again 
 from Professor Pratt. "This is eight miles east of the 
 South Pass. Myself and several others came on in 
 advance of the camp, and it was with great difficulty that 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 99 
 
 we could determine the dividing point of land which 
 separates the waters flowing into the Atlantic from those 
 flowing into the Pacific. This country called the South 
 Pass, for some fifteen or twenty miles in length and 
 breadth is a gently undulating plain or prairie, thickly 
 covered with wild sage from one to two feet in height. 
 On the highest part of this plain, over which our road 
 passes, and which separates the waters of the two oceans, 
 is a small dry basin of fifteen or twenty acres, destitute 
 of wild sage but containing good grass. From this basin 
 about half a mile both to the east and to the west, the 
 road gently rises about forty or fifty feet, either of which 
 elevations may be considered as the highest on our road 
 in the Pass." 
 
 On the western elevation the barmometer gave the 
 altitude above the sea 7,085 feet. The distance of this 
 Pass from Fort Laramie, as measured by our mile 
 machine, is two hundred and seventy-five and a half 
 miles. Four miles west of the Pass, at Pacific or Muddy 
 Spring, were encamped a small company of men from 
 Oregon on their way to the states. They were perform- 
 ing the journey on horseback and had left the settle- 
 ments in Oregon on the 5th of May.' Major Harris, a 
 trapper and hunter, had resided in different parts of the 
 country twenty or twenty-five years. He had acquired 
 an extensive and intimate knowledge of it in all its main 
 features. The pioneers obtained much information from 
 him in relation to the interior basin of the Salt Lake, the 
 country of their destination. His report, like that of Col- 
 onel Fremont's, was rather unfavorable to the founding of 
 a colony in this basin, principally on account of the 
 scarcity of timber. He said he had traveled the whole 
 circumference of the lake and there was no outlet to it. 
 
 On the 28th of June the pioneers came to the forks 
 
lOO FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 of the Oregon road and took the southern one. They 
 halted at noon at the ford of Little Sandy. In the after- 
 noon they met Col. James Brldger who encamped with 
 them that evening. He was going on business to Lara- 
 mie with a small company. Being a man extensively 
 acquainted with the country, many inquiries were also 
 made of him in relation to the Great Basin, and the 
 country south. His information was rather more favor- 
 able for colonizing than that of Major Harris. While 
 partaking of breakfast with Mr. Young, Col. Bridger 
 remarked, "There is more bread on the table than I have 
 before seen for years." ''But, Mr. Bridger, how do you 
 live?" inquired Mr. Young. He replied, "We live entirely 
 on meat. We dry our deer and buffalo to eat, and also 
 cook fresh when we can obtain it. We usually have our 
 coffee, for that is easily obtained." 
 
 June 30th, the company arrived at the crossing of 
 Green river. The water was very high, from twelve to 
 fifteen feet deep and one hundred and eighty yards wide, 
 with a very rapid current. Two rafts were made and 
 each was rigged with a rudder and oars. The wagons 
 were safely crossed without taking out any of their con- 
 tents. The animals were made to swim over. 
 
 Towards sundown Mr. Samuel Brannan arrived in 
 camp from the bay of San Francisco. As before stated 
 he had been appointed to take charge of a company of 
 two hundred and fourteen Saints who sailed out of New 
 York harbor on the ship Brooklyn, on the 6th of Feb., 
 1846, for the Pacifie coast. The 31st of July, the same 
 year, the vessel entered the bay of San Francisco. The 
 colony were located on the San Joaquin river. Mr. 
 Brannan had left the bay of San Francisco on the 4th 
 of April, 1847, ten days earlier than the pioneers left their 
 place of rendezvous on the Elk Horn river, expressly to 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. lOI 
 
 meet the latter on their long anticipated journey to the 
 Rocky Mountains. He was accompanied by two men, 
 having left one at Fort Hall. He left California at a 
 season of the year when it was considered unsafe to 
 attempt to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains, on 
 account of deep snows. He had not only braved this 
 danger, but as well that from the savage bands of Indians 
 that roamed over the desert regions through which he 
 traveled. 
 
 He also, in crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains, 
 passed directly over the camping ground where forty or 
 fifty California emigrants had perished and been eaten 
 up by their fellow-sufferers, only a few days before. 
 Their skulls and carcasses lay strewn in every direction. 
 He also met the last of these unfortunates making his 
 way into the settlements. He was a German, and had 
 lived upon human flesh for several weeks. The following 
 letter of Mr. Brannan's to a friend, L. N. Scovil, gives 
 further insight into the character of this hazardous trip : 
 
 ''Fort Hall, June i8th, 1847. 
 " Brother Newell : 
 
 * * ''I left Captain Sutter's post in California on 
 the 26th of April last, and arrived here on the 9th inst. 
 I am on my way to meet our emigration. I am now 
 one thousand miles on my road, and I think I shall meet 
 them in a couple of weeks. I shall start on my journey 
 again in the morning with two of my men and part of my 
 animals, and leave one man here and the rest of the 
 horses to recruit until my return, and then it is my inten- 
 tion to reach California in twenty days from this post. 
 
 "We crossed the snowy mountains of California, a 
 distance of forty miles with eleven head of horses and 
 mules in one day and two hours ; a thing that has never 
 been done before in less than three days. We traveled 
 on foot and drove our animals before us, the snow from 
 twenty to one hundred feet deep. When we arrived 
 
102 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 througfa^ it was difficult for any of us to stand on our 
 feet. The people of California told us we could not cross 
 diere under two mondis^ Aere being more snow on die 
 mountains dian had ever been known before^ but God 
 knows best and was kind enough to prepare die way 
 before us. About a week before we entered the mount- 
 ains, die weather was extremely warm. This caused 
 the snow to setde more firmlj^ togedier. The weadier 
 then turned cold and there fell about eighteen indies 
 more of light snow. This kept the old snow from mdt- 
 ing during die heat of the day, and made the traveling 
 for our horses much better. 
 
 "During our journey we have endured many hard- 
 ships and much j^dgue in swimming rivers and chmbing 
 mountains, not being able to travel the regular route 
 o^-ing to the high waters. * * * * W^ 
 passed the cabins of those people who perished in the 
 mountains which by this dme tou have heard of It was 
 a heart-rending picture.'* * * » * ♦ 
 
 The evening of die 3rd of July the people were 
 called together. There were men in the company iriio 
 expected their families to foDow diem in die companies 
 that would leave Winter Quarters some time in June, 
 and whidi were supposed to be four or five hundred 
 miles on die road. They were gK^en the privilege of re- 
 turning to meet them. Five men \'olunteered on this 
 errand. They started on the morning of die 4th. taking 
 with them instructions to the Saints whom they expected 
 to meet also a short s^-nopsis from the records of the 
 camp containing distances firom one notable point to 
 another good camping place, etc. Should diey meet the 
 detadiment of die Mormon Battalion under Captain 
 Brown, if desired to do so, one was couns^ed to remain 
 with it as a guide. 
 
 The anniversar>' of die dedaration of American In- 
 dependence coming on Sunday^ the camp met for public 
 
FROM KIRTLAXD TO SALT LAKE CITY. IO3 
 
 worship under the presidency of the Bishops, some of the 
 Twelve hax-ing started back for the ferry on the Platte, 
 wirfi the brethren who returned to meet their families. 
 In the afternoon thirteen soldiers all belonginor to the 
 Church came into the camp, accompanied by those who 
 went back to the ferr\\ These thirteen men had been 
 detached by Captain Brown to go in ad\^ance of the main 
 body to regain possession of horses that had been stolen 
 from them at Pueblo. They had learned that the thieves 
 were at Bridger s trading post, on Muddy Fork, a few 
 miles south-west of the camp. These brethren were 
 greeted with three heart\- cheers. They were the first 
 representatives of the Battalion in the pioneer camp. 
 
 The follo\iTng day the company traveled along the 
 right bank of Green river, three and a half miles then 
 made a short halt to \i'ater their animals. Leavnnor the 
 river they gradually ascended the bluff skirting the river 
 bottoms, and traveled over a gendy undulating sandy 
 plain, destitute of grass and water, for sixteen and a half 
 miles, then descended to the left bank of Black's Fork 
 and encamped for the night. For a few days some 
 persons in camp had been slighdy afflicted with fever. 
 Several causes tended to produce this. There was a 
 great and somewhat sudden chano^e in climatic con- 
 ditions. In fact the general enWronment of the people 
 was changed. In traveling they were often enveloped 
 in clouds of suffocating dust which injuriously affected 
 the lungs and head. The changes of temperature were 
 sudden and extreme. The summer sun made the day 
 extremely warm, and the snowy mountains surrounding 
 the comj>any on all sides, rendered the air cold and un- 
 comfortable in its absence. A number of salmon trout 
 were caught in the streams west of the South pass, but this 
 fine species offish was not found east of the dividing ridge. 
 
I02 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 through, it was difficult for any of us to stand on our 
 feet. The people of California told us we could not cross 
 there under two months, there being more snow on the 
 mountains than had ever been known before, but God 
 knows best and was kind enough to prepare the way 
 before us. About a week before we entered the mount- 
 ains, the weather was extremely warm. This caused 
 the snow to settle more firmly together. The weather 
 then turned cold and there fell about eighteen inches 
 more of light snow. This kept the old snow from melt- 
 ing during the heat of the day, and made the traveling 
 for our horses much better. 
 
 ''During our journey we have endured many hard- 
 ships and much fatigue in swimming rivers and climbing 
 mountains, not being able to travel the regular route 
 owing to the high waters. * * * "^ We 
 passed the cabins of those people who perished in the 
 mountains which by this time you have heard of It was 
 a heart-rending picture." * * * ♦ * 
 
 The evening of the 3rd of July the people were 
 called together. There were men in the company who 
 expected their families to follow them in the companies 
 that would leave Winter Quarters some time in June, 
 and which were supposed to be four or five hundred 
 miles on the road. They were given the privilege of re- 
 turning to meet them. F'ive men volunteered on this 
 errand. They started on the morning of the 4th, taking 
 with them instructions to the Saints whom they expected 
 to meet, also a short synopsis from the records of the 
 camp containing distances from one notable point to 
 another good camping place, etc. Should they meet the 
 detachment of the Mormon Battalion under Captain 
 Brown, if desired to do so, one was counseled to remain 
 with it as a guide. 
 
 The anniversary of the declaration of American In- 
 dependence coming on Sunday, the camp met for public 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. IO3 
 
 worship under the presidency of the Bishops, some of the 
 Twelve having started back for the ferry on the Platte, 
 with the brethren who returned to meet their families. 
 In the afternoon thirteen soldiers all belonging to the 
 Church came into the camp, accompanied by those who 
 went back to the ferry. These thirteen men had been 
 detached by Captain Brown to go in advance of the main 
 body to regain possession of horses that had been stolen 
 from them at Pueblo. They had learned that the thieves 
 were at Bridger's trading post, on Muddy Fork, a few 
 miles south-west of the camp. These brethren were 
 greeted with three hearty cheers. They were the first 
 representatives of the Battalion in the pioneer camp. 
 
 The following day the company traveled along the 
 right bank of Green river, three and a half miles then 
 made a short halt to water their animals. Leaving the 
 river they gradually ascended the bluff skirting the river 
 bottoms, and traveled over a gently undulating sandy 
 plain, destitute of grass and water, for sixteen and a half 
 miles, then descended to the left bank of Black's Fork 
 and encamped for the night. For a few days some 
 persons in camp had been slightly afflicted with fever. 
 Several causes tended to produce this. There was a 
 great and somewhat sudden change in climatic con- 
 ditions. In fact the general environment of the people 
 was changed. In traveling they were often enveloped 
 in clouds of suffocating dust which injuriously affected 
 the lungs and head. The changes of temperature were 
 sudden and extreme. The summer sun made the day 
 extremely warm, and the snowy mountains surrounding 
 the company on all sides, rendered the air cold and un- 
 comfortable in its absence. A number of salmon trout 
 were caught in the streams west of the South pass, but this 
 fine species offish was not found east of the dividing ridge. 
 
I04 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF FORT BRIDGER START FOR SALT LAKE AS 
 
 EXPECTED, MANY DIFFICULTIES WERE ENCOUNTERED 
 
 RED MINERAL SPRING, TAR AND SULPHUR SPRINGS 
 
 SICKNESS OF PRESIDENT YOUNG O. PRATT WITH A DE- 
 TACHMENT, PIONEERS THE ROAD FROSTY NIGHTS 
 
 BEARS ON WEBER's FORK EAST CANYON CREEK THE 
 
 LABORS OF CAMP HUNTERS FIRST VIEW OF GREAT SALT 
 
 LAKE VALLEY THE ADVANCE CAMP IN EMIGRATION 
 
 CANYON. 
 
 JULY 7th the pioneers encamped on the right bank 
 of Black's Fork, in the vicinity of Fort Bridger. 
 Within a few rods were nine Indian lodges, occupied by 
 families of white trappers and hunters who had taken 
 wives from surrounding tribes of Indians. Half-breed 
 children were playing about these lodges. Bridger's 
 trading post was a half mile west of the camp on an 
 island, wi-th no other road to it than a footpath. Black's 
 Fork is here broken up into a number of rapid streams, 
 forming several islands containing in all seven or eight 
 hundred acres of excellent grass with considerable 
 timber. 
 
 The fort consisted of two adjoining log houses with 
 dirt roofs and a small fort enclosed with log pickets set 
 in the ground, and about eight feet high. These houses 
 and lodges were the home of fifty or sixty men, women 
 and half-breed children. The altitude of the place was 
 ascertained to be 6,665 ^^^^^ 4^0 feet lower than the 
 South Pass from which it was distant iog}4 miles by 
 road measurement. Notwithstanding the cold nights 
 mosquitoes were numerous and troublesome. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. IO5 
 
 The morning of the 8th of July the thermometer 
 stood at 66°. Ice had formed during the night, but it 
 soon disappeared under the warmth of the rising sun. 
 A brisk wind was blowing from the south-west. Several 
 fine speckled trout were caught with the hook. It was a 
 busy day with the blacksmiths, setting wagon tires, shoe- 
 ing horses and making general preparations for a rough 
 mountain road in a south-west direction towards Salt 
 Lake. 
 
 With a two days' rest for the teams in this paradise 
 for mountaineers and a general preparation for rough 
 roads, travel was resumed on the 9th of July. Mr. S. 
 Brannan, with a few others, returned towards the South 
 Pass to meet the main detachment of the Battalion. The 
 pioneers took Mr. Hastings' new route to the bay of 
 San Francisco. The trail was scarcely discernible, as 
 only a few wagons passed over it the previous year. 
 They traveled thirteen miles in close proximity to some 
 snow banks, and camped on a branch of Muddy Fork. 
 
 July loth they passed a small spring which they 
 named ''Red Mineral spring," from the redness of the 
 soil out of which it issued. The water had a very disa- 
 greeable taste and was supposed to contain alum in solu- 
 tion, also a large per cent, of copperas, which would 
 make it poisonous. Five miles from this spring the com- 
 pany attained the summit of a ridge between two 
 branches of Muddy Fork, the barometrical height of 
 which was 7,315 feet, 230 feet higher than the South 
 Pass. Nine miles further they reached the summit of 
 the dividing ridge between the waters which flow into the 
 Gulf of California and those that flow into the Great 
 Salt Lake, or the branches of Muddy Fork on the east 
 and of Bear river on the west. Where the road passed 
 over, the altitude was 7,700 feet, or 615 feet higher than 
 
I06 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the South Pass. This was the highest point over which 
 the trail of the pioneers passed between the Missouri 
 river and Great Salt Lake valley. The company traveled 
 eighteen miles and encamped five miles from the summit 
 of this high ridge. Professor Pratt, wandering in the 
 hills, discovered smoke about two miles distant. When 
 he returned to camp some horsemen rode over to it. 
 They found it came from the fire of a small party from 
 the bay of San Francisco on their way to the states. 
 
 The morning of July i ith was clear, calm and pleas- 
 ant, although considerable ice had formed during the 
 night. One and a half miles south of camp a mineral 
 tar spring was discovered, and a few rods north-east 
 some sulphur springs. At this point the road forked. A 
 few wagon tracks bore to the south, and a few others 
 took down a small stream, on which the company were 
 encamped. The next morning the company took the 
 right hand road down the creek. One and three-fourth 
 miles brought them to the ford of Bear river. Baromet- 
 rical measurement indicated this ford to be 6,836 feet in 
 height. There the road again forked, and the right hand 
 track, bearing a few degrees south of west, was taken. 
 Antelope, which had been rather scarce, began to appear 
 again in great numbers. Ten or twelve were brought 
 in by the hunters during the day. The road was very 
 difficult to find, except in places where the storms had 
 not defaced nor the grass obscured it. 
 
 At the midday halt Mr. Young, being sick, con- 
 cluded to stop a few hours and rest. Several wagons 
 remained with him ; by request the remainder of the 
 company moved on. In the evening they encamped 
 near a cave. It was explored about thirty feet, when the 
 passage becoming quite small no one seemed disposed 
 to go further. It was called Reddin's Cave, as that was 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. IO7 
 
 the name of one of the first of the company who ex- 
 plored it. Mr. Young, being still behind, on the morn- 
 ing of the 13th of July two messengers were sent back 
 to meet him. Unwilling to move on without their leader, 
 the camp waited. The messengers returned, accompan- 
 ied by Mr. H. C. Kimball. They reported that Mr. 
 Young was getting better but did not think of moving 
 that day. The Twelve, who were present, directed Pro- 
 fessor Pratt to take twenty-three wagons and forty-two 
 men. proceed on the journey and endeavor to find Mr. 
 Reid's route across the mountains, as the company had 
 been informed it would be impracticable to pass through 
 the canyon on account of the depth and rapidity of the 
 water. Mr. Pratt's detachment started at three o'clock 
 p. m. and traveled down Red Fork eight and three-fourth 
 miles and encamped. Altitude 6,070 feet. 
 
 The 14th of July Mr. Pratt's company traveled thir- 
 teen miles to the junction of Red and Weber Forks. He 
 says in his journal: "Our journey down Red Fork has truly 
 been very interesting and exceedingly picturesque. We 
 have been shut up in a narrow valley from ten to twenty 
 rods wide, while on each side the hills rise very abruptly 
 from eight to twelve hundred feet. The most of the 
 distance we have been walled in by vertical and over- 
 hanging precipices of red pudding stone. These rocks 
 are worked into curious shapes, probably by rains." 
 
 On the 15th two parties went in search of Mr. Reid's 
 trail across the mountains to the south-eastern shore of 
 Salt Lake. It was soon discovered, although so dimly 
 seen it could only occasionally be found. The grass had 
 grown up leaving scarcely a trace of the few wagons that 
 had passed there the previous year. Messrs. Pratt and 
 Brown followed this track about six miles up a ravine to 
 where it reached a dividing ridge leading down in a 
 
I08 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 southerly direction to another, and returned to camp. 
 Cottonwood trees and thick clusters of willows fringed 
 the banks of Weber's Fork making very close thickets 
 for bears. The many tracks seen, and the large holes 
 they had made in digging roots, indicated that they were 
 very numerous. For several days showers had been fre- 
 quent, and one occurred that morning, but too light to 
 lay the dust. 
 
 Mr. Rockwell was sent back to report to those of 
 the company in the rear, that the new route had been 
 discovered. The journey was resumed up a small stream 
 on Reid's route. A detachment of ten or twelve men 
 was sent in advance of the wagons with necessary tools 
 to make the road passable. This required considerable 
 labor. The detachment traveled about six miles, and 
 crossing the ridge began to descend another ravine. 
 They descended two and a half miles in about four hours 
 and encamped for the night. Mr. Newman and Pro- 
 fessor Pratt walked down the ravine to examine the 
 road. They found Mr. Reid's company had spent several 
 hours in labor and then concluded to take a more avail- 
 able route up the ravine at the mouth of which the 
 pioneers had encamped, going a circuitous course over 
 the hills. They had evidently crossed the Weber with- 
 out mentioning it. 
 
 July 17th we copy from O. Pratt's journal : 
 ** A severe frost during the night. Early this morn- 
 I started out alone, and on foot, to examine the country 
 back, to see if there was not a more practicable route for 
 the companies in the rear than the one we had come. I 
 was soon satisfied we had taken the best and only practi- 
 cable route. I returned to camp and counseled the 
 company not to go any further until they had spent 
 several hours' labor on the road we passed over yester- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. IO9 
 
 day afternoon. All who were able to work labored 
 about two-thirds of the day upon it. Leaving orders for 
 the camp to move on towards night, Mr. Brown and 
 myself rode forward to explore. About three and a half 
 miles brought us down upon the right bank of a creek 
 with a swift current and supposed to be about twenty 
 feet wide. This creek (East Canyon creek) passes 
 through a canyon about forty rods below, where, for a few 
 rods it is shut up by perpendicular and overhanging walls, 
 being a break in the mountains which rises several 
 hundred feet upon each side. The creek plunges under- 
 neath a large rock which lies in its bed near the foot of 
 the canyon, blockading the same and making it wholly 
 impassable for wagons or teams. We followed the dimly 
 traced wagon tracks, up this stream for miles, crossing 
 the same thirteen times. 
 
 "The bottoms along the creek are thickly covered 
 with willows from five to fifteen rods wide, making an 
 immense labor in cutting a road through for the Cali- 
 fornia emigrants last season. We still found the road 
 almost impassable and requiring much labor. The 
 mountains on each side rise abruptly from six hundred 
 to three thousand feet above the bed of the stream. 
 Leaving our horses we ascended to the summit of one 
 which appeared about two thousand feet high. We had 
 a prospect, limited in most directions by still higher peaks. 
 The country exhibited a broken succession of hills piled 
 on hills, and mountains on mountains in every direction. 
 We returned and met our camp about four and three- 
 quarter miles from where they were encamped in the 
 morning. They were about two miles above the canyon 
 on the left bank of Canyon creek. At this place is a 
 small rivulet which runs down from the mountains, the 
 water clear and cold." 
 
no 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 The pioneers were now fairly among the deep gorges 
 and towering peaks of the Wasatch mountains east of 
 Great Salt Lake valley. It was on Canyon creek that 
 the following circumstance occurred, illustrating the 
 excessive toil endured by the camp hunters in providing 
 
 food. There was no meat in camp and Joseph Hancock 
 left it early one morning to make an effort to supply the 
 want. He felt impressed that on the top of a high ridge 
 which loomed up in the distance, in the clear mountain 
 air, he would be successful. Arriving there, for the first 
 time he saw a portion of Salt Lake valley, and realized 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 his anticipations of the morning by killing a large elk. 
 Making it lighter by leaving the offal he got the carcass 
 
 on hib back and sLaried in the direction of the camp. 
 He traveled well into the night without finding it. 
 Attempting to cross a creek on a beaver dam, he broke 
 
112 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 through and found himself astride a large log with his 
 extremities in the water below. He was relieved of his 
 burden as it lay on the log at his back. Excessively 
 weary he felt content to rest. Unconsciously his head 
 dropped back on to the elk and he was sleeping as only 
 the weary can sleep. The first sound that greeted his 
 senses was the crowing of a cock. This was assurance 
 that he was not far from friends, and a little reflection 
 showed him that he had been thus detained by a kindly 
 Providence, instead of making fruitless exertions in the 
 darkness to find the object of his toil. As day was 
 breaking he dragged the elk across the dam and again 
 resumed his burden. By this time he was discovered by 
 some of the men who were stirring early in the 
 camp. 
 
 July 1 8th was Sunday. The morning was cold and 
 the ground whitened with frost. The men remained in 
 camp and attended meeting in the forenoon. The morn- 
 ing of the 19th was also cold and frosty. There was a 
 great change in the teqjperature from night to mid-day 
 when the air was warmed by the summer sun. Messrs. 
 Pratt and Brown started, soon after sunrise, to examine 
 the road and country ahead. They continued along the 
 road they had traveled over the day before, and ascer- 
 tained that it left Canyon creek near where they had 
 turned back, and run along in a ravine to the west. 
 They ascended this ravine four miles and found them- 
 selves on the top of a dividing ridge. There * they 
 secured their horses and ascended a mountain on their 
 right, several hundred feet. From the ridge where the 
 road crossed, and from this mountain peak, they could 
 see over a great extent of country. On the south-west 
 they discovered an extensive, level prairie, a few miles 
 distant which they thought must be near the lake. This 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I 1 3 
 
 was their first view of any part of Great Salt Lake 
 valley. 
 
 They returned to their horses and rode on down 
 the south-west side of the ridge. This has since been 
 known as the '' Big Mountain" to distinguish it from the 
 one just west of it, over which the road crosses, known 
 as the "Little Mountain." At first the descent was very 
 rapid. Several miles down, the small stream they were 
 traveling along passed through a very high mountain, 
 and it appeared impossible for wagons to pass in that 
 direction. Looking around they found that the wagon 
 trail ascended quite abruptly about a mile and a half, 
 passed over a mountain and down into another narrow 
 valley. This is Little Mountain before mentioned, and 
 the narrow valley has since been known as Emigration 
 canyon. Satisfied with their explorations, they returned 
 on their trail and met the company six and one-fourth 
 miles from their encampment the evening before. The 
 men had performed a great amount of labor. Mr. Rock- 
 well had returned bringing word that most of the pioneer 
 wagons in the rear were within a few miles of the advance 
 camp. The fresh track of a buffalo was discovered in 
 the ravine. He had left some hair on the brush in his 
 path, and was, evidently, a lonely wanderer and probably 
 the only one of his kind within hundreds of miles. 
 
 July 20th Professor Pratt's detachment moved six 
 miles and did much labor to improve the road. The 
 altitude of the Big Mountain was 7,245 feet, one hundred 
 and sixty feet higher than the South Pass. In the morn- 
 ing of July 2 1 St there was no frost but a heavy dew. 
 The leading division of the pioneers passed over the 
 Little Mountain and halted for noon in the head of 
 Emigration canyon. They called the swift running 
 creek on which they halted "Last creek." 
 
114. FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE ADVANCE OF THE PIONEERS ENTERS GREAT SALT LAKE 
 
 VALLEY DESCRIPTION OF THIS RESTING PLACE FOR 
 
 THE PILGRIMS ARRIVAL OF PRESIDENT YOUNG THE 
 
 CRICKETS AND CRICKET EATERS OF THE DESERT 
 
 THIEVING PROPENSITIES OF THE INDIANS ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 ELDER ERASTUS SNOW came from the wagons 
 in the rear and reported them only a few miles back. 
 He went with Professor Pratt in advance of the wagons 
 down Last creek, four and one-half miles, to where it 
 issues into the broad, open valley below. To avoid a 
 narrow gorge near this point, the wagons traveling the 
 route the season before passed over an exceedingly steep 
 and dangerous hill. Destined to be the first of their 
 people to arrive at the object of their long and tedious 
 journey, these two men ascended this hill from the top 
 of which a broad, open valley, twenty or thirty miles long 
 lay Stretched out before them. To the north-west the 
 waters of the Great Salt Lake glimmered in the bright, 
 noonday sunbeams, and from them rose high mountain- 
 ous islands twenty to thirty miles in extent. Before them 
 was a vast wilderness in which the genius of solitude 
 reigned. That profound silence was the assurance ot 
 room and rest for the wanderers who were about to take 
 possession of this unoccupied desert. 
 
 Professor Pratt says : "After issuing from the moun- 
 tains among which we had been shut up for many days 
 and beholding, in a moment, such an extensive scenery 
 open before us, we could not refrain from a shout of joy, 
 which almost involuntarily escaped from our lips, the 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I 1 5 
 
 moment the grand and lovely scenery was within our 
 view. We immediately very gradually descended into 
 the lower parts of the valley, and although we had but 
 one horse between us, yet we traveled a circuit of about 
 twelve miles before we left the valley to return to our 
 camp, which we found one and a half miles up the ravine 
 from the valley, and three miles in advance of the noon 
 halt. It was about nine o'clock in the evening when we 
 arrived. The main body of the pioneers were encamped 
 about a mile and a half above the advance while the sick 
 were still farther in the rear." 
 
 With what exhilaration of spirits, with what nerve 
 and energy this advance camp of the pioneers must have 
 arisen on the morning of the 22nd of July ! The life's 
 blood must have flowed with increased velocity through 
 their veins in anticipation of that day, realizing the object 
 of their toils and hopes. Apostles O. Pratt and George 
 A. Smith, accompanied by seven others, rode into the 
 valley to explore. They left the camp to follow on and 
 work the road which here required considerable labor to 
 make it passable. They discovered that by cutting out 
 the thick timber and under brush, and by some digging, 
 a much better road could be made through the canyon 
 than the old route over the steep hill before mentioned. 
 They l^ft a written notice to that effect and passed on. 
 
 We will let Professor Pratt describe this day's explor- 
 ations of Great Salt Lake valley : 
 
 *' After going down into the valley about five miles, 
 we turned our course to the north down towards the 
 Salt Lake. For three or four miles we found the soil of 
 most excellent quality. Streams from the mountains and 
 springs were very abundant, the waters excellent and 
 generally with gravel bottoms. A great variety of green 
 grass, and very luxuriant, covered the bottoms for miles 
 
I 1 6 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 where the soil was sufficiently damp, but in other places 
 although the soil was good, yet the grass had nearly 
 dried up for want of moisture. We found the drier 
 places swarming with very large crickets, about the size 
 of a man's thumb. 
 
 ''This valley is surrounded with mountains, except 
 on the north, the tops of some of the highest being cov- 
 ered with snow. Every one or two miles the streams 
 were emptying into it from the mountains on the east, 
 many of which were sufficiently large to carry mills and 
 other machinery. As we proceeded towards the Salt 
 Lake the soil began to assume a more sterile appearance 
 being, probably, at some seasons of the year overflowed 
 with water. We found, as we proceeded on, great num- 
 bers of hot springs issuing from near the base of the 
 mountains. These springs were highly impregnated 
 with salt and sulphur. The temperature of some was 
 nearly raised to the boiling point. We traveled about fif- 
 teen miles down after coming into the valley. The latter 
 part of the distance the soil being unfit for agricultural 
 purposes. We returned and found our wagons encamped 
 in the valley five and one-fourth miles from where they 
 left the canyon. 
 
 "The morning of the 23rd of July, two messengers 
 were sent to President Young, and those who were with 
 him, informing them of the discoveries and explorations 
 of the advance party. The camp removed its position 
 two miles to the north and encamped near the bank of a 
 beautiful creek of pure, cold water. This stream is suf- 
 ficiently large for mills and other machinery. Here we 
 called the camp together and it fell to my lot to offer 
 prayer and thanksgiving in behalf of our company, all 
 of whom had been preserved from the Missouri river to 
 this point, and, after dedicating ourselves and the land 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I 1 7 
 
 unto the Lord, and imploring His blessing upon our 
 labors, we appointed various committees to attend to dif- 
 ferent branches of business, preparatory to putting in 
 crops. In about two hours after our arrival we began to 
 plow, and the same afternoon built a dam to irrigate the 
 soil, which at the place where we were plowing was 
 exceedingly dry. ******* 
 
 ''Our two messengers returned bringing us word 
 that the remainder of the wagons were only a few miles 
 distant and would arrive the next day. At three o'clock 
 the thermometer stood at 96°." 
 
 The 24th of July has been celebrated as the anni- 
 versary of the arrival of the pioneers in the valley of the 
 Great Salt Lake from the circumstance that on that day, 
 1847, Brigham Young, who had been detained by sick- 
 ness, and those who had remained with him, first 
 emerged from the defile in the Wasatch mountains and 
 followed the track of the main body who preceded them. 
 It was the culmination of a long series of efforts to find 
 a place of rest, where the Saints could enjoy immunity 
 from the pursuit of enemies. 
 
 There is a slight elevation of table land a short dis- 
 tance in front of Emigration canyon. This hides the 
 valley from the traveler until the top of it is reached. 
 From this point Brigham Young and those who were 
 with him, among whom were his brother L. D. Young, 
 Apostles Wilford Woodruff and Heber C. Kimball, had 
 their first view of the object of their toils, the valley of 
 the Great Salt Lake. It requires no stretch of the imag- 
 ination to comprehend that a feeling of joy, of exhilara- 
 tion and thanksgiving filled to overflowing the hearts of 
 these weary pilgrims. The faith that had sustained them 
 through years of suffering and hope enabled them to 
 discern in the near future the attainment of the object of 
 
ii8 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 their sacrifices. They experienced the same impulse to 
 shout for joy of those who had preceded them. 
 
 President Young, still feeble from the effects of his 
 
 late illness, was riding under the cover of Elder Wood- 
 ruff's carriage. As the teams halted he came to the 
 front, took a general view of the country before him, 
 then uncovered his head, swung his hat and shouted with 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I I9 
 
 all the energy his feeble condition permitted, ''Hurrah! 
 Hurrah! ! Hurrah! ! ! " Then turning to Heber C. Kim- 
 ball who was near, he exclaimed, "Brother Heber, this 
 is the place!' The circumstances emphasized the expres- 
 sion with a world of meaning. "This is the place " that 
 has been prophesied of from the days of Kirtland, where 
 the Saints are to be gathered from the nations of the 
 earth and acquire strength to further contend for the 
 right. Here is the place where we will build temples to 
 the Lord our God and make greater preparations than 
 we have been able to do, surrounded by enemies, for the 
 redemption of our race. 
 
 President Young's party found the main body en- 
 camped by some cottonwood trees on the bank of a 
 branch of City Creek, about six miles from the mouth of 
 Emigration canyon. They had had their first sight of 
 the waters of the lake shimmering in the brilliant sun- 
 shine of an almost cloudless sky, also of Black Rock, 
 which has since become a familiar landmark to many 
 thousands of people. Not a cloud floated above them, 
 and the heavens had that peculiar blue seldom seen 
 except in a very rarefied atmosphere. Dark spots, indi- 
 cating forests, were visible in the distant, inaccessible 
 mountain tops, but the timber to be utilized by the col- 
 ony was mostly hidden from sight in the deep gorges 
 which debouched into the valley. The foothills which 
 skirted the valley afforded no timber except scattering 
 scrub cedar and pines. There were a few cottonwoods 
 and a clump or two of willows along City Creek. The 
 valley afforded no cooling forest shade, no green savan- 
 nahs relieved the monotony of desolation. The most 
 prominent varieties of vegetation were wild sunflowers 
 with large, yellow blossoms and a species of dwarf thistle 
 peculiar to the uplands. These grew thick on the dry 
 
I20 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 benches, contending with the wild sage for the scanty 
 nourishment afforded by the arid soil. 
 
 These plants were loaded with hideous crickets, 
 their black and brown bodies forming anything but a 
 pleasing contrast with the yellow tint of the sunflower 
 blossoms. As these ugly, ogling-eyed insects fed and 
 fattened on the juice of these plants, they were in a with- 
 ered condition. Being the prominent vegetation on the 
 bench lands at that season of the year, the appearance 
 of the landscape begat an indescribable feeling of deso- 
 lation. The air was almost painfully clear and the 
 ground dry and parched. There was none of the hazi- 
 ness of lower altitudes to modify the sun's rays, and 
 there was no shelter from them except under tents and 
 wagon covers ; still the heat was not so exhausting as in 
 lower regions. 
 
 The most prominent animals of this desert were the 
 howling and almost ever present wolf, the jack rabbit, or 
 American hare, and an occasional mountain lion. The 
 scattered specimens of humanity that wandered about in 
 this region were almost on a level with the sneaking, 
 thieving wolf. They were not only root diggers but 
 cricket- eaters. These ill-starred insects may be very 
 palatable to the cultivated tastes of the Indian in the 
 days when his existence depended on anything that 
 would sustain life, but the writer believes that the sight 
 of them would tend at least to modify the appetite of a 
 starving white man. 
 
 The Indian bands of these valleys at that time utilized 
 these crickets for food, in large quantities. The cricket 
 harvest commenced soon after the arrival of the pioneers. 
 It was after they had attained their full growth, were in 
 fine condition, and when their live weight was about one 
 ounce each. At such times they were very clumsy and 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 121 
 
 easily handled. The squaws and pappooses would 
 inclose a small piece of ground with stalks of sunflowers, 
 leaving an opening on one side for the admittance of the 
 game. They then surrounded a piece of ground, drove the 
 crickets on it together, and forced them into the pen, in 
 much the same manner that a flock of sheep are corraled. 
 In this pen they would often be several inches thick. The 
 entrance was closed, the fence fired, while some one in 
 the pen frightened the crickets into the blaze. It would 
 scorch their wings and legs and generally kill them. 
 They were gathered up, usually dried in the sun on skins 
 and if these were not available the ground was utilized 
 for that purpose. When properly prepared they were 
 packed in skin sacks and usually cached or buried in the 
 ground for winter food. The process completed, the 
 wings and legs, the only part considered ofTal, would be 
 pretty well cleaned off. The fact that they were a staple 
 article of food, evidences they were quite palatable and 
 nourishing to the cultivated taste of the Indian. 
 
 The following circumstance, illustrating the thieving 
 propensities of these aboriginal Americans indicates that 
 the Saints did not much improve their Indian associations 
 in changing their location from the vicinity of the thieving- 
 Pawnees and Omahas to the midst of the cricket eaters of 
 the desert. Towards evening after the arrival of Presi- 
 dent Young, the Indian chief, Wanship, to whose 
 people the surrounding country belonged, came into 
 camp. He was soon followed by twelve or fifteen braves. 
 Probably few of them had before seen a white man, 
 except mountaineers who more or less assimilated with the 
 barbarian in their habits. They had a human curiosity to 
 gratify, and a natural right to know something of their 
 new neighbors. A few ideas were exchanged by signs 
 and a little bread was distributed by the pioneers. While 
 
124 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 tained the elements of wealth it also required different 
 methods of developing that wealth to those they had 
 been accustomed to on the rich bottom lands and rolling 
 prairies of Illinois and Iowa. 
 
 In the forepart of the day, July 25th, Brigham 
 Young and others walked to the top of Ensign Peak, now 
 north of Salt Lake City. From there they had an excel- 
 lent view of the country west and south. Its apparent 
 facilities were freely discussed from that standpoint. 
 They then descended to camp where a team was brought 
 into service, driven by L. D. Young. With this they 
 visited various other points to obtain a more extended 
 idea of their surroundings. Then on foot they more par- 
 ticularly examined the ground now known as the temple 
 block. At the south-east corner of this piece of ground 
 President Young made a mark with his cane and said, 
 ** We will make this the initial point for the survey of the 
 country." 
 
 They were in the desert to found a state. Their 
 being there was the result of circumstances forced upon 
 them and the outgrowth of an all-absorbing religious faith. 
 The ruling idea was manifest in partitioning the soil. 
 Ten acres of land were first appropriated to sacred pur- 
 poses, the erection of buildings for religious worship, 
 and eventually a magnificent temple in which the higher 
 ordinances of their religion could be observed. 
 
 While the pioneers were engaged in plowing the 
 new soil, putting in seeds, taking their first lessons in 
 irrigation, and examining their surroundings, on the 27th 
 of July, three days after their arrival, the detachment of 
 the Mormon Battalion, under Captain James Brown, 
 accompanied by a company of Saints from the Southern 
 States, entered the valley. Following so closely on the 
 heels of the company from Winter Quarters they might, 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 25 
 
 very appropriately, be considered the rear division of the 
 first pioneers to the great basin. 
 
 To understand how a part of the Mormon Battalion 
 and a considerable company of Saints came to follow 
 the first pioneers so closely, it will be necessary to go 
 back to the march of the Battalion to the Pacific coast. 
 The previous year, when that notable body of men 
 arrived at the town of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the 
 1 5 th of October, their commander. Colonel Cooke, ordered 
 the men unfit for active service and the women with the 
 Battalion back to Pueblo on the Arkansas river to winter. 
 He considerately detailed the husbands of the women as 
 a guard to the invalids and women. This detachment 
 left Santa Fe on the i8th of October. Owing to the 
 feeble condition of many of the men and the weakness 
 of teams, there was much suffering on this march. 
 
 The 1 7th of November, 1 846, the detachment arrived 
 at Pueblo. There they found a company of Saints from 
 the state of Mississippi who were expecting to find the 
 Church on its way to the mountains, for thus had they 
 been advised by Elders who had ministered among them 
 before leaving their homes ; huts were built and consid- 
 ering the circumstances, the winter was spent quite com- 
 fortably. 
 
 The 18th of May, 1847, the detachment received 
 orders to march via Salt Lake to California. The 24th 
 of May it commenced its march by crossing the Arkan- 
 sas river. Owing to high water and other difficulties the 
 journey was a very fatiguing one. The 5th of June it 
 crossed the south fork of the Platte river. There it was 
 met by a party from the pioneers, who were only a few 
 days ahead of the detachment, on their way to Great 
 Salt Lake valley. The pioneers had received informa- 
 tion of the detachment, and of the Saints accompanying 
 
126 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 it, from a Mr. Crow whom they found at Laramie on their 
 arrival there, as we have before stated. There seems a 
 special providence that the general government should 
 have ordered these Mormon soldiers in the right direction 
 to so easily gather with their people. Apostle Amasa 
 Lyman, one of the party sent by President Young, 
 remained with the detachment. On the i6th of June it 
 encamped near Laramie. The pioneers had left there 
 about twelve days before. As these soldiers were now 
 on the trail of their migrating people, the long march 
 from Great Salt Lake valley to California, for the pur- 
 pose of being discharged, appeared no longer necessary. 
 They were at the crossing of Green river the day their 
 term of service expired. Thus by a chain of singular 
 providences this detachment, and the company of Saints 
 from Mississippi, became early pioneers of Utah, The 
 military were disbanded by Captain Brown and at once 
 commenced their labors to make a home in the desert. 
 The following extract from a letter written by Presi- 
 dent B. Young, dated January 6th, 1848, and addressed 
 to Elders Hyde, Pratt and Taylor in Europe, explains 
 how the detachment of the Battalion and the Saints who 
 wintered with them became fully posted as to the intended 
 movements of the Church in the spring of 1847, ^^^ ^^us 
 prepared to intercept the pioneers on their journey to 
 the mountains. President Young states in this letter 
 that on or about the 19th of October, 1846, John D. Lee, 
 Howard Egan and Lieutenant Pace left the Battalion at 
 Santa Fe to return to Winter Quarters. "On the route 
 Brother Lee met Elders Brown and Crosby of Missis- 
 sippi, on their return from the Arkansas river where they 
 had been with the camp this season, and not finding us, 
 as they had anticipated, had located their company on 
 that river for the winter, and were on their return for a 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 27 
 
 reinforcement to join them in the spring, hoping to fall 
 in with us and pass over the mountains together. They 
 had a joyful meeting and we have written them how and 
 when to unite their camps with ours at the foot of the 
 mountains next spring." 
 
 As John D. Lee and party left Santa Fe about the 
 same time as did the detachment for Pueblo, there is no 
 doubt he informed Messrs. Brown and Crosby of their 
 march for that place. 
 
 The Twelve, and several others went out on the 
 road to meet the men of the Battalion, numbering about 
 one hundred and fifty, and the emigrants from the state 
 of Mississippi. About the time the two parties met there 
 was a thunder shower, with sufficient rain to raise the 
 mountain streams very rapidly. After their arrival, the 
 camp on City Creek numbered between three and four 
 hundred souls. 
 
 The following extract from a letter of Mr. Thomas 
 Bullock will give a still better understanding of the im- 
 pressions made on the pioneers by their new surround- 
 ings : 
 
 ''After passing Fort B ridge r, a delightful camping 
 place, you can camp almost anywhere. The grass will 
 sustain your animals anytime in the year. When the 
 muskeet grass is dry it answers for corn, hay and grass 
 at the same time. Between Fort Bridger and the valley 
 the mountains are very high. The road winds through 
 the valleys, some of which are narrow, not more than 
 ten rods wide, while the rocks in places overhang the 
 road. The dividing ridge that we have to go over is 
 about 7,300 feet above the level of the sea. From this 
 ridge you will see the Twin Peaks covered with eternal 
 snow. Those peaks run into the valley and when you see 
 them you will sing out, ' I shall soon be at home now.' 
 
128 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 ''There is no fear of your traveling far out of the 
 way, for you are hemmed in by mountains on each side. 
 After crossing a small creek twenty-one times in five 
 miles, and between mountains a mile high, on making a 
 sudden bend in the road, you come into full view of the 
 Great Salt Lake and of a valley about twenty by thirty 
 miles. Although there is very little timber to be seen, 
 you will be sure to say, 'Thank God I am home at last.' 
 On this spot I am now talking to you about, the pioneers 
 arrived on the 24th of July last, at 5 p. m. The next 
 morning they removed to the spot where the city will be 
 built ; at noon consecrated and dedicated the place to the 
 Lord. The same afternoon four plows were turning up 
 the ground. Next day the brethren had planted five 
 acres of potatoes, and irrigated all the land at night. 
 
 "The following Sunday was a day of rest, a day of 
 rejoicing before the Lord. His spirit was poured out, 
 and peace dwelt in the valleys of the mountains. The 
 first Sabbath in the valley where a city is to be built unto 
 the Lord, by a holy people, will be long remembered by 
 that little band of pioneers who cried, Hosanna to the 
 Lamb of God!" 
 
 The following stanzas from a poem by W. W. Phelps, 
 chime in beautifully with the sentiment of the above: 
 
 A life in the desert plains, 
 
 A home in the mountain's breast, 
 Where the Indian rudely reigns 
 
 And the hell is farther west ; 
 Where the storm king sorely rides, 
 
 In his flying, cloudy car. 
 With his nimble windy guides. 
 
 O'er the snow-capped mountains far. 
 
 Behold, how the valley smiles! 
 The sky like a mirror's seen ; 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 29 
 
 And the spotted mountain wilds 
 
 Are a world of evergreen, 
 Where the hairy nations leap, 
 
 And the feathered gentry soar, 
 In the clear, blue upper deep 
 
 As the rushing waters roar. 
 
 When the pioneers arrived in Great Salt Lake valley 
 it was Mexican domain, held by right of conquest, await- 
 ing the fortunes of a war then pending between the 
 United States and Mexico. At the close of the war a 
 large tract of country, including what is now Utah Ter- 
 ritory, was ceded to the former. The Mormon Battalion 
 assisted in its conquest, and the Mormon people were 
 the first to colonize it. 
 
 There seemed no limit to the difficulties to be over- 
 come by these colonizers of the desert. Circumstances 
 were constantly changing and unavoidable issues as con- 
 stantly arising. To successfully grapple with them, 
 required experience and an enlightened judgment in the 
 leaders of the people, and in the people themselves, an 
 abiding faith in their God and those leaders. 
 
 The Saints were locating among the wild tribes ot 
 the desert, a thousand miles from a civilization that cast 
 them out, and from which they could expect neither 
 sympathy nor assistance in emergencies. They must 
 organize from the surrounding elements the means of 
 subsistence or perish. With policy or force, or both, 
 they must defend themselves from the aggressions of 
 the wild tribes by which they were surrounded or suffer 
 extinction at their hands. Wisdom dictated that they 
 should assume the best possible position for defence. 
 For this purpose ten acres of ground were surveyed one 
 mile south-west of the temple block, on which to build 
 
130 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 their houses in fort form. This was inclosed with an 
 adobe wall eight feet high and three feet thick at the 
 bottom, slanting gradually to the top. Inside of this 
 wall the houses were built, the fort wall forming one side 
 of the rooms. Rapid progress was made by these 
 pioneers in preparing shelter for their families. They 
 had been so much under tents and wagon covers, that 
 any house that would protect them from the elements 
 was a luxury. Besides, winter was approaching and bit- 
 ter experience had taught them the wisdom of making 
 the best possible preparation for it. 
 
 Under the great pressure of the season's operations, 
 one short month was all the time President Young could 
 spare to personally direct the infant colony. The much 
 desired^ haven of rest had been found and a beginning 
 made, but the great mass of the Saints expelled from 
 Illinois, were in a scattered condition at Winter Quarters 
 and east of the Missouri river. The gathering which 
 had now been inaugurated was yet to be thoroughly 
 systematized. 
 
 The order and rapidity with which this grand exodus 
 had so far been conducted, and with which it was com- 
 pleted, has historically marked the great executive abili- 
 ties of the quorum of Twelve Apostles, with Brigham 
 Young as a central directing power. The 25th of 
 August, 1847, accompanied by H. C. Kimball and forty 
 others, among whom was Elder Thomas Bullock, he left 
 Salt Lake valley, for Winter Quarters. 
 
 The following statements from a letter written by 
 Mr. Thomas Bullock to his friend, F. D. Richards, gives 
 us a general description of what the pioneers accomplished 
 in one month. They plowed and planted eighty-four 
 acres with corn, beans, potatoes, buckwheat, turnips and 
 a variety of garden vegetables. They irrigated all the 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I3I 
 
 land, surveyed and laid out a city with streets running 
 east and west, north and south, into blocks of ten acres, 
 subdivided into eight lots of one and a quarter acres each. 
 The streets eight rods wide designed for a walk on each 
 side twenty feet wide, to be ornamented with shade trees. 
 All the houses to be built twenty feet back from the 
 street fence, with flower gardens in front. One block 
 was reserved for a temple and three for public grounds ; 
 the latter designed for promenades, with fountains of the 
 purest water, and each square, ornamented with every- 
 thing delightful. *♦***♦* 
 They also built twenty-seven log houses, laid off a ten 
 acre lot for a fort, where one hundred and sixty families 
 could winter until they built on their own inheritances. 
 They manufactured one hundred and twenty-five bushels 
 of beautiful salt. We continue the description in Elder 
 Bullock's words. 
 
 "The water is so strong that I can walk in it without 
 touching bottom, I can float on it, yet in fresh water I 
 cannot swim a yard. It is most delightful to bathe in, as 
 is also the warm spring, a mile and a half north of the 
 city. Every person, who was sick, that bathed in this 
 spring recovered. My fingers rooted out the stones, 
 and a couple of brethren afterwards assisted me with 
 spades to dig out a place about sixteen feet square to 
 bathe in. Seven or eight persons often bathe in it at 
 a time. Those who once go there want to go again. 
 The water is 109° Fahr. with strong sulphur and salt 
 taste. Two miles further north is a hot spring with 
 water heated to 126°. The water rushes out of a large 
 rock, and I could not hold my fingers in it while I could 
 count eleven. * * * There are altogether 
 about fifty springs in three miles. * * * * 
 
 These springs, like the Pool of Siloam, heal all who 
 
132 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 bathe, no matter what their complaints. The air Is very 
 salubrious and with these warm springs I can truly say, 
 we have found a healthy country." 
 
 The pioneers seemed early to comprehend many of 
 the advantages of their new location ; immunity from 
 the oppression of mobs, air In which there was no ague 
 and fever, abundance of good land and water in the 
 valley, and of timber In the mountains, the latter out of 
 their way but available when needed, an inland sea 
 affording delightful bathing, an abundance of fine salt 
 with but little labor to obtain it, and a ''Pool of Siloam" 
 in which they could wash and be clean from diseases 
 engendered in the miasmatical atmosphere of Illinois 
 and Iowa ; all free as the invigorating air they breathed, 
 was, indeed a marvelous change of conditions. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE IMMIGRATION OF 1 847 ORGANIZATION AND METHOD 
 
 OF TRAVEL SUBLIME FAITH OF THESE SAINTS MAIL 
 
 FACILITIES FIRST LESSON IN STAMPEDES WRITING 
 
 ON A BUFFALO SKULL STAMPEDE AND LOSS OF TWENTY 
 
 YOKE OF OXEN P. H. YOUNG BRINGS NEWS FROM 
 
 THE PIONEERS SICKNESS AND DEATH THE ALKALI 
 
 LANDS — MgET RETURNING SOLDIERS AND PIONEERS 
 
 EXCITING STAMPEDE DEATH OF SISTER GRANT 
 
 ARRIVAL IN THE VALLEY. 
 
 WE WILL now leave the pioneers ; those in the val- 
 ley to pursue their urgent labors, and those return- 
 ing to Winter Quarters to continue their wearisome 
 journey under difficulties, and go back and bring up the 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 33 
 
 emigration who were expected in a short time, to follow 
 the trail of the pioneers. The wagons to make up these 
 companies began to gather on the west side of the Elk 
 Horn river about the 12th of June, 1847. C)n the 15th 
 about three hundred wagons having collected, a meeting 
 was called around a liberty pole erected to designate a 
 place for public gathering. Orson Spencer's company 
 was the first organized. It moved off the ground on the 
 1 8th of June. The 19th, Captain J. M. Grant's hundred 
 traveled fifteen miles and encamped in sight of Captain 
 Spencer's. The order of encampment was for the wag- 
 ons to form a circle with their front ends outside. At 
 one point a sufficient space was left between two wagons 
 to drive the catde in and out. This space was partially 
 closed by passing chains to the wagons on either side of 
 the passage. In this way a convenient corral was formed 
 in which to secure the cattle at night. Experience 
 proved this method to be better adapted to companies in 
 which all the wagons were built for heavy loads of freight, 
 strong and heavy enough to resist the pressure of the 
 cattle in the rush of a stampede. In time other expe- 
 dients were adopted in which there was not so much 
 danger to wagons and their occupants. 
 
 The writer has not been able to obtain very satis- 
 factory returns of the organization of this emigration, 
 but the five hundred and sixty or five hundred and sixty- 
 six wagons appeared to have been organized into five 
 hundreds, respectively, under the direction of Orson 
 Spencer, J. M. Grant, A. O. Smoot, John Taylor and P. 
 P. Pratt. The following from the autobiography of 
 Parley P. Pratt furnishes some information not found 
 elsewhere. He says: 
 
 "Arriving at Elk Horn river with a small company 
 we made a ferry of a raft of dry cottonwood timber and 
 
134 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 rafted over our own company of about fifty wagons. 
 We then organized for herding and grazing purposes, 
 and continued to aid others in crossing and organizing 
 until five hundred and sixty-six wagons were finally 
 crossed and organized ready for a march. In the final 
 organization of this vast company Father Isaac Morley 
 and Bishop Whitney assisted, or rather took the oversight 
 - being a committee appointed for that purpose by the 
 Presidency before they left. As Brother Taylor and 
 myself were present, we were appointed and invited to 
 take a general superintendency of this emigration. 
 
 ''The organization consisted of companies of tens, 
 fifties and hundreds, with a captain over each, and the 
 whole presided over by a president and two counselors, 
 a marshal, etc. President John Young was called to 
 preside, having been nominated by the Presidency before 
 their departure. John Van Cott was appointed marshal. 
 
 ''Thus organized, this large company moved on up 
 the Platte about the 4th of July. * * * 
 
 Arriving at the north fork of the Platte river, we con- 
 tinued up it quite a distance above the trail the pioneers 
 had made, as we could not ford the river in their track. 
 We at length found a ford, and, with some difficulty on 
 account of quicksand, forded the river, and made our 
 way over to the main Platte, re-entering the pioneer trail. 
 As we passed up the Platte on this trail the companies 
 in front had frequently to halt and build bridges, etc. 
 
 * * * * After journeying for several 
 
 hundred miles up the Platte, we at length met two 
 messengers from the pioneers under President Young, 
 from Salt Lake valley. These were O. P. Rockwell and 
 E. T. Benson, who had been sent out to find us and 
 report our progress and circumstances. Having visited 
 all the camps, they returned to the valley, or rather to 
 where they met the President and pioneers on their way 
 back to Winter Quarters on the Missouri. I accom- 
 panied them back nearly one day's ride on the way, and 
 then bade them God speed and returned to my own camp. 
 Soon after this our fifty met the President and company 
 of pioneers and camped with them one day." 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 35 
 
 Having given Parley P. Pratt's outlining of a part 
 of the journey, we will go back and fill it up with other 
 interesting items, many of them from Miss E. R. Snow's 
 journal. 
 
 On the 23rd the companies traveled two wagons 
 abreast. That night four organizations of hundreds, 
 respectively, under the command of captains John Tay- 
 lor, P. P. Pratt, J. M. Grant and A. O. Smoot camped 
 on the road within a distance of six miles. All who 
 expected to follow the pioneers this season were now 
 fairly on the way. 
 
 In this move was one of the grandest exhibitions 
 on record of the faith of a people in the divine inspi- 
 ration of their leaders. When ancient Israel followed 
 their Moses out of Egypt it was with doubts and com- 
 plaints. A more fitting parallel to the case of these 
 Latter-day Saints is found in that of the Jaredites. With 
 no other assurance of their safety than the assertion of 
 their leaders, that the Lord would guide them across 
 *'the great waters" to the goodly land which they and 
 their children should inherit, they embarked on vessels 
 without sails, compass or rudder to float out on, to them 
 a limitless ocean at the mercy of winds and ocean cur- 
 rents. Their faith in God and their leaders was evi 
 dently boundless. 
 
 These two thousand Saints set their faces towards 
 the setting sun, with their wives and their little ones with 
 no other guide in the vast and almost unexplored wilder- 
 ness than^the trail left by their leaders, who at the time 
 of their starting, had been gone over two months and 
 were then buried in the profound silence of the desert, 
 without the slightest intimation of their fate, of their 
 success or failure. They expected to find their leaders 
 somewhere in the great expanse of desert, plain, and 
 
136 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 mountain peaks and valleys, lying between the Missouri 
 river and the Pacific Ocean, two thousand miles distant. 
 In 1846, they planted a colony on the western ocean ; 
 about the same time in 1847, they planted another in 
 the heart of the continent. From the first colonizing of 
 the Atlantic coast the western frontier had been an im- 
 aginary line, constantly moving westward, with the log 
 cabins of the white man, until it reached the Mississippi 
 and Missouri rivers. With the march of the emigrating 
 Saints in 1847 the "Western Frontier" vanished and 
 became historical. 
 
 When the emigrating camps were getting under 
 way the pioneers were along by Independence Rock and 
 Devil's Gate. The wagons of the emigrating companies 
 were generally drawn by from four to eight oxen each, 
 and the rate of travel was from ten to fifteen miles per day. 
 The animals were sustained, solely by the grass the 
 country produced. On the ist of July, they crossed 
 Loupe Fork of the Platte. "They sometimes traveled 
 two, sometimes four, and sometimes six wagons abreast, 
 on roads and without roads. A Mr. Russell found a 
 bucket which he recognized as one he had given to H. 
 C. Kimball. The 5th of July the companies camped on 
 Grand Island where a board was found on which the 
 pioneers had written comforting words, marked the 
 distance two hundred and seventeen miles from Winter 
 Quarters." These way tokens indicating the welfare of 
 their leaders, and the great anxiety of those leaders for 
 their people who were to follow, were very cheering to 
 these emigrating camps. 
 
 In the morning of the 14th of July the camps re- 
 ceived their first lesson in stampedes on the plains. 
 They learned the terrible pressure of a mass of frightened 
 cattle upon the wagons of a corral which encloses them. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 37 
 
 The account of it is from the journal of Miss E. R. 
 Snow. 
 
 "This morning a fearful circumstance occurred. 
 Some one was shaking a buffalo robe at the back of a 
 wagon from which some of the cattle in the corral took 
 fright and started on the run ; those frightened others ; 
 they commenced bellowing ; and all in a huddle, ran for 
 the gateway of the enclosure, which being altogether too 
 narrow for the egress of the rushing multitude that 
 thronged into the passage, they piled one on top 
 of another until the top ones were above the tops of the 
 adjacent wagons, moving them from their stations while 
 the inmates at this early hour, being so suddenly and 
 unceremoniously aroused from their morning sleep, and 
 not knowing the cause of this terrible uproar and con- 
 fusion, were some of them almost paralyzed with fear. At 
 length those that could, broke from the enclosure, the 
 bellowing subsided and quiet was restored ; but the sad 
 effect of the fright caused much suffering to some whose 
 nerves were not sufficient for the trying scene. In the en- 
 counter two wagon wheels were crushed. Captain K's only 
 cow was killed, and several oxen had horns knocked off." 
 
 Captain Grant brought a buffalo skull into camp on 
 which the pioneers had written, ''AH well — feed bad — 
 are only three hundred miles from Winter Quarters," etc. 
 The writing was dated May 9th. Up to that point the 
 pioneers had made three hundred miles in twenty-six 
 days, and the emigrating companies had not done much 
 better. A large bear was killed and divided among J. 
 M. Grant's hundred. The cattle of Captain Smoot's 
 division broke out of the corral and in the morning 
 twenty yoke were gone. This was a serious loss and on 
 the 2 1 St, after much deliberation, several hunters were 
 sent after the lost cattle. 
 
138 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 July 23rd the cannon was fired In the first company. 
 The occasion was a visit from one hundred Sioux Indians. 
 The following day those sent in search of the lost cattle 
 returned with only four head. 
 
 The 25th of July Phineas H. Young and nine others 
 of the pioneers met the companies. A meeting was 
 called and a letter read from President Young, and one 
 from Willard Richards. This interesting circumstance 
 took place the 25th of July, the day after the pioneers 
 arrived in the valley. 
 
 As before stated, after the pioneers had crossed 
 Green river, five men were sent back on their trail on 
 the 4th of July to meet the advancing companies of 
 Saints and assist them as guides through the Black Hills. 
 Those selected were Phineas H. Young, Aaron Farr, 
 Rodney Badger, William Walker and Jonathan Pug- 
 mire. At the old Platte ferry, one hundred and twenty 
 miles west of Laramie, they were joined by hve more of 
 the pioneers. They expected to meet the companies 
 near the Black Hills but, instead, found them about three 
 hundred miles west of Winter Quarters. This unex- 
 pectedly long distance to travel, with the increase of 
 numbers at the ferry, nearly caused the starvation of the 
 whole company of guides. They had plenty of food to 
 Laramie, from there until they met the companies they 
 were almost destitute and suffered greatly. For five days 
 and nights, they had but two prairie dogs and a skunk to 
 divide among ten men. 
 
 They found no game. Of the armies of buffalo 
 met by the pioneers not one was to be seen, for the 
 Indians had driven them off and they had gone into the 
 hills. 
 
 It was not only a great relief to the guides when 
 they met the companies opposite Ash Hollow but, as 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 39 
 
 well, of the emigrating camps who were following cau- 
 tiously in the track of the pioneer band. The news 
 brought of the successful journey of the pioneers as far 
 as Green river; the certainty that they had already 
 reached the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, with the 
 presence of the guides sent to pilot the companies 
 through the Black Hills, gave great comfort and assur- 
 ance to the emigrating Saints, who could not but feel 
 some anxiety as to the result of the season's operations. 
 
 The 26th of July many Indians passed the compan- 
 ies with tents and baggage fastened to mules and horses, 
 and on drays formed of tent poles drawn by horses, 
 mules and dogs. Covers for litde ones were made by 
 fastening skins over bows which were attached to the 
 upper side of the drays. 
 
 On the morning of August 4th the people were 
 cheered by the arrival of fourteen Mormon soldiers of 
 the Battalion, who were an escort to General Kearney on 
 his way to Fort Leavenworth. There they expected to 
 get their discharge. They were husbands and sons of 
 women in the companies. To them more especially it 
 was a joyful meeting. 
 
 ''Death," says Sister Snow, "made occasional In- 
 roads among us. Nursing the sick in tents and wagons 
 was a laborious service ; but the patient faithfulness with 
 which it was performed is, no doubt, registered In the 
 archives above, as an unfailing memento of brotherly 
 and sisterly love. The burial of the dead by the way- 
 side was a sad office. For husbands, wives and children 
 to consign the cherished remains of loved ones to a lone, 
 desert grave, was enough to try the firmest heart-strings. 
 Today a Sister Ewing who had passed away after a 
 sickness of two weeks, was buried. The burial was 
 attended with all the propriety the circumstances would 
 
140 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 permit. After the customary dressing the body was 
 wrapped in a quilt and consigned to its narrow house. 
 It truly seemed sad and we sorrowed deeply as we turned 
 from the lonely grave." The 9th of August the com- 
 panies were fairly in the Black Hills. On the 12th, Mrs. 
 Mary Noble gave birth to a daughter in her wagon. 
 The same day charcoal was burned for the camp black- 
 smiths, and five gallons of tar was made by one of the 
 companies. 
 
 On the 19th a Sister Love was run over by a wagon 
 loaded with sixteen hundred pounds. One wheel ran 
 over her breast. She was administered to and was 
 around again in a day or two. 
 
 August 25 th. This was the day the pioneers left 
 the valley for Winter Quarters. The emigrating camps 
 passed the board marked one hundred and twenty miles 
 from Fort Laramie. When the herd was brouofht in on 
 the 28th, half the animals were missing. Those who had 
 their teams went on. Three horsemen and three foot- 
 men went back on the road for the lost cattle. However 
 they had taken the other direction, and were found by 
 the teams that had gone on. The party returning them 
 were met by boys sent in that direction from the wagons 
 that remained in camp. 
 
 August 30th the companies passed the ferryboat, 
 used by the pioneers in crossing the Sweetwater below 
 Independence Rock. The road along here passes 
 through the alkali lands. As this was the first exper- 
 ience of our emigration passing through this district, so 
 fatal to cattle, the losses were heavy. Their carcasses 
 were numerous along the wayside. The second fifty was 
 almost disabled. 
 
 These misfortunes developed the communistic charac- 
 ter of the Saints. The ist of September a meeting 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I4I 
 
 was called to take into consideration the best means of 
 modifying the difficulties of the situation. An effort was 
 made to equalize the strength of the companies. "It 
 was motioned that the captains be authorized to act for 
 the companies and yoke whatever in their judgment was 
 proper to be put to service, cows, heifers, calves, etc. 
 Some thought this motion oppressive, but it was carried 
 by a majority." 
 
 Of the meeting of soldiers and pioneers from the 
 valley Miss Snow writes. September 2nd: "Last eve we 
 had the pleasure of hearing from the valley and of tasting 
 salt from the Great Salt Lake by a small party of soldiers 
 and pioneers with three wagons, and on the 3rd met a 
 larger party with perhaps eighteen wagons. On the 4th 
 of September J. C. Little, a returning pioneer, took tea 
 with us with mutual satisfaction. The pioneers call our 
 present encampment three hundred miles from the valley. 
 
 "September 7th: Yesterday, we passed the two 
 hundred and forty mile board — snow-storm last night 
 and it continued to fall at intervals today. September 8th : 
 This morning as we were starting, Harvey Pierce, and 
 others, came up and informed us that the pioneers 
 were only eighteen miles distant, and would soon be 
 with us. It was decided to go two miles further to a 
 good camping place. The road went over a slough, the 
 bridge over which was so much out of repair that it was 
 thought impossible for wagons to cross, and a halt was 
 called to repair the crossing. The slough was at the 
 foot of a long gentle slope, and the teams two and three 
 abreast, were standing from the top nearly down to the 
 place where the men Were commencing to fix the bridge. 
 
 "At this time when many of the teamsters were loung- 
 ing at ease, two of our young men, riding at full speed 
 with blankets flying and whips in hand, rode up, and in 
 
142 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 passing the teams In the rear, so frightened them that 
 they started down the hill, and as they went they started 
 others until almost in a moment nearly all were in mo- 
 tion, increasing their rapidity until the scene was fearfully 
 alarming. Many of them crossed the slough in different 
 directions, and where the best of teamsters would not 
 dare to drive, not one team crossing on the bridge. 
 Many lives were exposed, but through the great blessing 
 of our Heavenly Father no one was much hurt. 
 
 " The writer of this sketch happened to be sitting on 
 the back seat of a two-seated carriage, holding a pair of 
 high strung horses with all the strength I could exert. I 
 prayed with all the fervency of my spirit. I knew full 
 well that if they once started nothing could stop them. 
 Sister Pierce and her daughter, with whom I was travel- 
 ing, after making ineffectual efforts to stop one of their 
 teams, came to the horses I was holding and took them 
 by the bits. So frightened were they, that although 
 they made no attempt to move, their flesh shook with a 
 tremor from head to foot. My arms were lame for 
 several days. We arrived at our encampment and spent 
 the day with the pioneers. President Young, H. C. 
 Kimball and A. Lyman took supper with us." 
 
 Of this joyful occasion Elder John Taylor writes in 
 a letter to the Saints in England, dated Great Salt Lake 
 City, December 7th, 1847. "Four hundred miles from 
 this place we received by express from the pioneers, the 
 pleasing intelligence of their arrival at this place which 
 they had selected for the Saints. On our arrival at the 
 South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, the hundred that I 
 was with met the pioneers on the return to Winter 
 Quarters, in company with a number of the Battalion 
 who had been engaged in the service of the United 
 States. We felt as though it was a time to rejoice. Our 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 43 
 
 hearts were gladdened and we prepared a feast for them, 
 and spread a table in the wilderness, on the tops of 
 the mountains, at which one hundred and thirty of them 
 sat down to partake. We mutually felt edified and re- 
 joiced. We praised the Lord and blessed one another, 
 and in the morning we separated ; they to pursue their 
 weary course and we to come to our present location." 
 
 The people of Captain Grant's company and the 
 pioneers were so delighted with the visit, and there was 
 such a sense of security, that the stock were left un- 
 guarded ; as a result, forty horses and mules were stolen. 
 On the 9th an armed company was sent on their trail. 
 Late in the evening one of the party returned with two 
 horses. In the evening there was preaching by the pio- 
 neers and the pioneer song was sung. The loth ot 
 September the company sent in pursuit of the stolen 
 animals returned with only three horses. 
 
 The pioneers and Captain Grant's company parted, 
 each going their ways with pleasant reminiscences of the 
 interview. President Young had advised the leaders of 
 the companies to keep them together until they arrived 
 at Green river. From there they might be permitted to 
 brake up into tens, as in this shape they could travel 
 better through the gorges and defiles of the Wasatch 
 mountains. On the 14th Captain Grant's company 
 was given leave to so break up. About this time Capt. 
 Grant's wife died. She had been failing sometime. 
 Sister Snow writes ; '' I was with her much, previous to 
 her death, which occurred so near Salt Lake valley, that by 
 forced drives night and day, her remains were brought 
 through for interment. Not so, however, with her 
 beautiful babe of eight or ten months, whose death pre- 
 ceded her's about two weeks ; it was buried in the 
 desert." 
 
144 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 The 29th of September Sister Snow first saw the 
 part of the valley visible from the Big mountain. For 
 the incidents of the last two days of the ten with which 
 she traveled, we copy from her journal. As the com- 
 panies were traveling in tens it will give a fair idea of 
 the experience of others: 
 
 ''October ist. This day we traveled through brush 
 and timber, but what was still worse, through black dust 
 with which we all were so densely covered that our iden- 
 tities might me questioned. When up the mount to 
 Bellow's Peak we met Brother John Taylor, who, having 
 reached the valley, was returning to meet that portion of 
 his company now in the rear. Riding on horseback, 
 through the interminable dust, his face was covered with 
 a black mask, and in his happy, jocular way, lest I should 
 compliment him, he hastened to ask me if I had lately 
 seen my face. Our appearance was truly ludicrous. It 
 mattered little to us as we went slash, mash, down the 
 mount, over stumps, trees, roots, ruts, etc., where no 
 one dared to ride who could walk. 
 
 '* October 2nd. Captain Pierce and most of his ten 
 arrived in the valley a little after ourselves. The general 
 order of travel having been discontinued for a few days 
 past as we neared the valley, small detachments 
 arrived according to circumstances. Many were in 
 before us, and perhaps as many after." 
 
 In the following from the letter of John Taylor of the 
 7th of December before referred to, he doubtless refers 
 to the arrival of all the emigrating Saints: 
 
 "We arrived here on the 5th of October, generally 
 enjoying good health. I have never in all my experience 
 known so little sickness and so few deaths among so 
 many people in the same space of time. There have 
 been from six to seven deaths. Two or three were 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 45 
 
 infants and the remainder were mostly, if not all, 
 severely indisposed before they started." 
 
 The first few days of October closed the season's 
 operations on the plains. The moving of families and 
 their effects one thousand miles under surrounding con- 
 ditions was a great experiment, but it was as eminently 
 successful as it first appeared venturesome. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW GATHERING PLACE ORGANIZA- 
 TION OF A FIRST PRESIDENCY THE FIRST GENERAL 
 
 EPISTLE TO THE SAINTS ORGANIZING THE GATHERING. 
 
 PRESIDENT YOUNG and company duly reached 
 Winter Quarters. Owing to the heavy loss of ani- 
 mals the men performed much of the journey on foot, 
 while they subsisted on the flesh of wild animals which 
 they killed by the way. 
 
 Of necessity, the Nauvoo exodus suspended the 
 work of gathering until a new location could be found. 
 Considering the world as the field from which the wheat 
 was to be gathered, Great Salt Lake valley was mnch 
 more a central point than any before occupied by the 
 Saints. About one thousand miles of desert, land 
 travel intervened between it and the Pacific Ocean, and 
 between it and the large navigable rivers flowing into the 
 Gulf of Mexico. The point was about equally protected 
 on all sides from the incursion of outside enemies, until 
 the colony should have time to grow and be better able 
 to struggle with antagonisms. 
 
146 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 On the return of President Young to Winter 
 Quarters the Apostles appear to have at once taken up 
 the labor of organizing the First Presidency, and of 
 systematizing the gathering. The better location of the 
 Saints made this practicable on a more comprehensive 
 scale than ever before. Their labors culminated in a 
 general epistle to the Saints throughout the earth, dated 
 Winter Quarters, December 23rd, 1847. This contained 
 general instructions to meet the conditions of the Saints 
 everywhere. It may be considered the great trumpet 
 call to the hosts of Israel throughout the world to gather 
 together to the place the Lord had appointed. 
 
 The epistle opens with a review of the condition of 
 the Church, the necessity of united effort under general 
 counsel, and a few items connected with the movement 
 from Nauvoo ; the difficulties encountered in crossing 
 Iowa, a distance of about three hundred miles, at a very 
 inclement season of the year ; the arrival of many of the 
 Saints near Council Bluffs ; their locating on the lands 
 of the Pottowatomie Indians, afterwards vacated in favor 
 of the United States ; the raising of the Mormon Bat- 
 talion and consequent weakening of the strength of the 
 ''camps of Israel" and then says: 
 
 ''When the strength of our camps had taken its 
 departure in the Battalion the aged, the infirm, the widow 
 and the fatherless that remained, full of hope and buoy- 
 ant with faith, determined to prosecute their journey, a 
 small portion of which went as far west as the Pawnee 
 Mission, where, finding it too late to pass the mountains, 
 they turned aside to winter on the banks of the Missouri, 
 at the mouth of Running Water, about two hundred 
 and fifty miles north-west of the Missouri settlements; 
 while the far more extensive and feeble numbers located 
 at this place, called by us Winter Quarters, where 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 47 
 
 Upwards of seven hundred houses were built In the short 
 time of about three months, while the great majority* 
 located on Pottowatomie lands." * * * * 
 
 Mention is made of the journey of the pioneers to 
 Great Salt Lake valley. A general description is given 
 of the country, which from that time was looked upon as 
 a haven of rest and peace by the Saints. 
 
 ''After tarr^ang four or five weeks, many of the 
 pioneers commenced their return, nearly destitute of pro- 
 visions, accompanied by a part of the Battalion, who 
 were quite destitute except a very small quantity of beef, 
 which was soon exhausted. The company had to depend 
 for their subsistence on wild beasts, such as buffalo, 
 deer, antelope, etc., which most of the way were very 
 scarce and many obtained were exceedingly poor and 
 unwholesome. Between the Green and Sweetwater 
 rivers we met five hundred and sixty-six wagons of the 
 emigrating Saints on their way to the valley, at" our last 
 encampment with whom we had fifty horses and mules 
 stolen by the Indians, and a few days after we were 
 attacked by a large body of Sioux who drove off many 
 of our horses, but most of these were recovered. 
 
 "Our route was by Fort Bridger, the South Pass, 
 Fort John (Laramie), and from thence on the north 
 bank of the Platte to Winter Quarters, where we 
 arrived on the 31st of October, all well, having per- 
 formed the long and tedious journey with ox as well as 
 horse teams, and with little food except wild flesh, with- 
 out losing a single man, although many were sick when 
 they left in the spring, insomuch that they were unable 
 to walk until we had traveled more than one-half of the 
 outward distance. 
 
 ''On the nth inst. (December) fifteen of the Bat- 
 talion arrived from California with a pilot from the valley. 
 
148 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 having suffered much on their return from cold and hun- 
 ger, with no provisions part of their way but a Httle 
 horse flesh of the worst kind." 
 
 This company of BattaHon men left a party of 
 about thirty men of the Battalion on the Sweetwater 
 searching for buffalo. They arrived at Winter Quarters 
 on the 1 8th of December in a very destitute condition. 
 They also had suffered much from cold and hunger, hav- 
 ing subsisted on their worn-out horses and mules. 
 
 The following expresses the universal desire of the 
 Saints to find shelter from their enemies and the demon 
 of persecution: "The Saints in this vicinity are bearing 
 their privations in meekness and patience, and making 
 all their exertions tend to their removal westward. Their 
 hearts and all their labors are toward the setting sun, for 
 they desire to be so far removed from those who have 
 been their oppressors that there shall be an everlasting 
 barrier between them and future persecution. * * * 
 
 "In compliance with the wishes of the sub-agents we 
 expect to vacate the Omaha lands in the spring. 
 
 "Thus, brethren, we have given you a brief idea of 
 what has transpired among us since we left Nauvoo, the 
 present situation of the Saints in this vicinity, and of our 
 feelings and views in general, as preparatory to the reply 
 which we are about to give to the cry, What shall we do?" 
 
 The answer to this all-absorbing question to the 
 watching, expectant Saints throughout the world we only 
 give so far as it is applicable to those scattered in the 
 United States and the Canadas. 
 
 "Gather yourselves together speedily near to this 
 place, on the east side of the Missouri river, and, if pos- 
 sible, be ready to start from hence by the i st of May 
 next, or as soon as grass is sufficiently grown, and go to 
 the Great Salt Lake City, with bread sufficient to sus- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 49 
 
 tain you until you can raise grain the following season. 
 
 ''Let the Saints who have been driven and scattered 
 from Nauvoo, and all others in the western states, gather 
 immediately to the east bank of the river, bringing with 
 them all the young stock of various kinds they possibly 
 can ; and let all the Saints in the United States and 
 Canada gather to the same place by the first spring navi- 
 gation, or as soon as they can, bringing their money, 
 goods and effects with them ; and so far as they can con- 
 sistently, gather young stock by the way which is much 
 needed here and will be ready sale ; ^nd when here let 
 all who can, go directly over the mountains, and those 
 who cafinot, let them go immediately to work at making 
 improvements, raising grain and stock on the lands 
 recently vacated by the Pottowatomie Indians and owned 
 by the United States, and by industry they can soon 
 gather sufficient means to prosecute their journey. In 
 a year or two their young cattle will grow into teams ; 
 by interchange of labor they can raise their own grain 
 and provisions, and build their own wagons, and by sale 
 of their improvements to citizens who will gladly come 
 and occupy, they can replenish their clothing, and thus 
 speedily and comfortably procure an outfit. All Saints 
 who are coming on this route will do well to furnish them- 
 selves with woollen or winter, instead of summer cloth- 
 ing, generally, as they will be exposed to many chilling 
 blasts before they pass the mountain heights. 
 
 "We have before named the Pottowatomie lands as 
 the best place for the brethren to assemble on the route, 
 because the journey is so very long that they must have 
 a stopping place, and this is the nearest point to their final 
 destination which makes it not only desirable but neces- 
 sary ; and as it is a wilderness country, it will not infringe 
 on the rights and privileges of any one; and yet it is so 
 
150 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 near western Missouri that a few days travel will give 
 them an opportunity of trade, if necessity requires, and 
 this is the best general rendezvous that now presents 
 without intruding on the rights of others. 
 
 "The brethren must recollect that from this point 
 they pass through a savage country, and their safety 
 depends on good firearms and plenty of ammunition, and 
 then they may have their teams run off in open daylight, 
 as we have had, unless they shall watch closely and con- 
 tinuously. 
 
 "The Saints in western California, who choose are at 
 liberty to remain ; and all who may hereafter arrive on 
 the western coast, may exercise their privilege of tarrying 
 in the vicinity or of coming to head quarters." 
 
 Apostle Orson Hyde was left in charge of affairs on 
 the Missouri during the absence of the pioneers in 1847. 
 At a feast and grand council held at his house on the 5th 
 of December, 1847, a First Presidency was chosen by the 
 Apostles. It consisted of Brigham Young as chief and 
 H. C. Kimball and Willard Richards as his counselors. 
 The choice of the Apostles was accepted by the people 
 at a conference in the log tabernacle in Kanesville, the 
 24th of December. Orson Hyde was installed, as 
 President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. From 
 that time until the culmination of the Nauvoo Exodus, 
 he held the important position of general manager of 
 affairs at the eastern end of the Mormon emigration 
 route to the mountains. The Church was now fully 
 organized according to the pattern given by the Prophet 
 Joseph, and during the winter of 1847-8 plans were well 
 matured for the important operations of the coming sea- 
 son. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I5I 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE MORMON BATTALION AFTER THEIR DISCHARGE AT LOS 
 
 ANGELES INCIDENTS OF THEIR TRAVEL TO SALT LAKE 
 
 VALLEY ABOUT FIFTY OF THEM CONTINUE THEIR 
 
 TRAVELS TO WINTER QUARTERS A WONDERFUL MARCH 
 
 OF FOUR THOUSAND MILES UNDER DIFFICULTIES IN 
 SEVENTEEN MONTHS. 
 
 A FITTING close of this season's operations is a 
 sketch of the travels of a part of the Mormon 
 Battalion after their discharge, which took place at Los 
 Angeles, California, on the i6th of July, 1847. So isolated 
 had these men been in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains 
 and in an enemy's country, that they had received no 
 news from their families, or of the movements of their 
 people since the arrival in their camp at Santa Fe of 
 John D. Lee and Howard Egan, in October, the previous 
 year. 
 
 When discharged the men had very indefinite ideas 
 of the country along the Pacific coast, and the sources 
 of reliable information were very limited. The idea was 
 prevalent among them that their people would emigrate 
 to the neighborhood of Bear Lake. They had some 
 conception of its location and it was the objective point 
 of their intended travels. The officers of the Battalion 
 met together and leaders were appointed to take com- 
 panies by different routes. Lieutenant Lorenzo Clark 
 was to take a company via Cajon Pass and the Muddy ; 
 Captain Jefferson Hunt one up the coast; other leaders 
 in other directions. Owing to dissatisfactions these 
 arrangments were not carried out, and all took their way 
 
152 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 according to chance or inclination. Captain Hunt took 
 a party up the coast. Lieutenant L. Clark, from whom 
 we have obtained the following incidents of its travels, 
 was one of this party. With this company of fifteen or 
 twenty men were also Philemon C. Merrill and James 
 Ferguson, respectively lieutenant and adjutant of the 
 Battalion. 
 
 The law in California at that time permitted a trav- 
 eler to kill beef for food, but required him to take the 
 brand with him, either cut out of the hide or its form on 
 a piece of paper. If overtaken by the owner with evi- 
 dence of ownership by being in possession of the same 
 brand, he was expected to pay the customary value of 
 the animal. This party killed four beeves, for two 
 of which they paid four dollars each. To this staple 
 article of food was added some bread as there were 
 opportunities to buy, and also fruit obtained at Spanish 
 missions along the route. 
 
 Many of the Battalion men not having means for 
 travel, scattered through the country for employment. 
 Near San Francisco was a hotel kept by a Mr. Skinner. 
 There the company rested three or four days. At the 
 same time a party of marines from a vessel lying in the 
 bay of San Francisco were there on a pleasure excur- 
 sion. They had heard much of the Mormon Battalion 
 and seemed pleased to make the acquaintance of men 
 who had belonged to it. The officers invited them to 
 dinner aboard their vessel. The invitation was declined, 
 as its acceptance would cause too much delay. Means 
 were too limited to purchase more in San Francisco than 
 a small supply of provisions. This party continued on 
 to Sutter's Fort, near where the city of Sacramento now 
 stands. There they connected with a party led by Cap- 
 tain Andrew Lytle, who had traveled a route near the 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 53 
 
 western base of the Rocky Mountains. From Los 
 Angeles to Salt Lake valley, Elisha Averett, ex-musician 
 of the Battalion, led a company of ten men as pioneers. 
 As such they pioneered the way of Captain Lytle's com- 
 pany to Sutter's Fort, and from there took the lead of 
 the much larger company that continued their journey 
 to Salt Lake valley. 
 
 Most of the following incidents in the journey of 
 Captain Lytle's command from Los Angeles to Winter 
 Quarters are from the History of the Mormo7i Bat- 
 talion. 
 
 On the 20th of July, 1847, the majority of those who 
 did not re-enlist were organized for traveling with 
 Andrew Lytle and James Pace captains of hundreds ; 
 Wm. Hyde, Daniel Tyler and Redick N. Allred captains 
 of fifties ; Elisha Averett captain of ten pioneers. 
 
 On the 2 1st the pioneers advanced not knowing 
 whither they went, only they had been informed that by 
 traveling northward under the base of the mountains, 
 Sutter's Fort might be reached in about 600 miles. 
 
 The second day's travel was over a high rugged 
 mountain, where two pack-animals lost their footing and 
 rolled down twenty or thirty feet before they could re- 
 gain it. They reached Francisco's ranch and remained 
 there four days awaiting the arrival of the other two 
 fifties who had tarried behind to complete their outfit. 
 If the fifties were full the entire company numbered one 
 hundred and sixty men, but Mr. Tyler who accompanied 
 the party furnishes no definite statement of the number. 
 
 At Francisco's ranch beef cattle were purchased for 
 all of the men who intended to return to their families 
 that year. The 27th, tRe rear companies joined the 
 advance. The company experienced some loss and 
 trouble from Californians, who sold them stolen animals, 
 10 
 
154 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 probably with the connivance of the owners, who would 
 afterwards replevy them. 
 
 A portion of the next three days of travel was over 
 very high, rugged mountains, in which they lost fifteen 
 of their beef cattle. They then concluded to rest, butcher 
 their beeves and dry the meat. The first of August they 
 encamped in a beautiful valley where they found cut in 
 the bark of a tree the name of Peter Lebeck, who was 
 killed by a grizzly bear on the 17th of October, 1837. 
 The bones of the bear, which was killed by Lebeck's 
 comrade, were lying on the ground near by. 
 
 A ride of fifteen miles the following day brought 
 them to Tulare river. They traveled up this stream 
 some twenty-three miles to find a ford, and finally crossed 
 a part of their goods on a raft while some of the men 
 forded it with their baggage on their heads. The night 
 of the 5th they were all night watering their animals out 
 of a few holes dug in damp places. The 9th of August 
 they found a large stream of water in a beautiful valley, 
 over which they rafted themselves and baggage and 
 swam their animals. On the 1 1 th they crossed a dry 
 plain. In the afternoon the weather was excessively warm, 
 there was but little air stirring, and that litde was hot 
 and suffocating. Two men gave out and others made 
 little progress. For a time it almost seemed that all 
 would perish. Those first in camp drank, filled their 
 canteens and hurried back to relieve their thirsting com- 
 rades. All finally reached camp. The party agreed it 
 was the hottest day they ever experienced in any country. 
 
 The 1 2th and 13th the pioneers made an effort to 
 find Walker's Pass over the mountains to the east. The 
 effort was fruitless, and the company soon after decided 
 to follow, as near as practicable, Fremont's trail to Sutter's 
 Fort, then a lone military post in the wilderness. The 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 55 
 
 15th of August they encamped on what was supposed to 
 be the San Joaquin river. On the 20th they arrived at 
 the Sacramento river, where were several small farms 
 cultivated by Indians. On the 22nd they crossed a 
 beautiful valley and encamped on a fine mountain stream. 
 From there three men were sent ahead to Sutter's Fort 
 to engage a supply of provisions. The following day 
 they passed some Indian wigwams. The men being 
 absent the women and children fled and hid in the brush. 
 A few of the males visited the camp at night. 
 
 On the 24th of July the company were overjoyed to 
 find a colony of Americans, the first they had seen since 
 leaving Fort Leavenworth the previous year. The best 
 of all was news brought by a man named Smith, who 
 said he had accompanied Samuel Brannan on his trip to 
 meet the pioneers. He informed them that the Saints 
 were settling in Great Salt Lake valley, and that five 
 hundred wagons were on their way there. This was the 
 first intelligence received by the Battalion of the move- 
 ments of the Church since the news brought by J. D. 
 Lee and party the previous October. Their objective 
 point was now well defined. The following day was one 
 of rest with a meeting in the evening. Some men having 
 a poor outfit wished to remain until spring, as wages 
 were good. The fact that there was a settlement of 
 Saints who had sailed from New York in the ship Brook- 
 lyn within a few miles made the situation seem less 
 isolated. 
 
 At Sutter's Fort there appears to have been a fusion 
 of the men of the different companies who wished to 
 travel on to Great Salt Lake. Tender-footed animals 
 were shod and unbolted flour, the kind manufactured at 
 that time in California, bought for the journey. The 
 27th of August Captain Averett with his pioneers and 
 
156 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 about thirty other men started out, while the main body 
 remained to complete preparations. About eighteen 
 miles from Sutter's Fort the route changed from a north- 
 ern to an eastern course. 
 
 On the 28th the company arrived at Captain John- 
 son's mill on Bear Creek. It was said he was one of 
 Fremont's battalion, and his wife one of the survivors of 
 the ill-fated company who were snowed in at the foot of 
 the Sierras. Her mother, Mrs. Murray, was among the 
 number who perished. The company crossed the plains 
 in the summer of 1846. They passed through Great 
 Salt Lake valley around the south end of the lake. They 
 split up into factions, each party taking its own course. 
 The few who remained with the persevering Captain 
 Hastings pushed through to California ; the others were 
 caught in the snows of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 
 Mrs. Murray was with the party immediately in the rear of 
 the captain, and consequently nearest the source of relief. 
 After several had died with hunger and others were sub- 
 sisting upon their flesh, a few of them, one of whom was 
 Mrs. Murray's eldest daughter, afterwards Mrs. Johnson, 
 resolved to attempt to cross the mountains for relief 
 Fitting themselves out with snow-shoes they proceeded 
 some distance and were met by Captain Hastings and a 
 relief party from Sacramento valley with provisions. 
 
 At the camp the relief party found Mrs. Murray 
 dead and others ravenous from hunger. Children were 
 crying for the flesh of their parents while it was being 
 cooked. There were suspicions that Mrs. Murray had 
 been foully dealt with, as she was in good health when her 
 daughter left her and not likely to have perished from 
 hunger during the brief period of her absence. 
 
 Leaving Johnson's mill the company followed Gen- 
 eral Kearney's trail. He had preceded them for the 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 57 
 
 States with an escort of Battalion men. In Bear valley 
 were three wagons and a blacksmith's forge, abandoned 
 by the unfortunate emigrants. There the company had 
 a fine treat of huckleberries. The 3rd of September 
 they passed other wagons where General Kearney's 
 party had buried the remains of some of the emigrants. 
 At night they reached the spot where the rear wagons of 
 the unfortunate Hastings' company were blocked by the 
 snow. There a terrible scene was presented. A skull 
 still covered with hair lay here, a mangled arm or leg 
 yonder, with bones broken to obtain the marrow they 
 
 A SCENE OF HORROR. 
 
 contained. A whole body covered with a blanket occu- 
 pied another place, and portions of other bodies were 
 scattered around. It had evidently been a , scene of 
 intense human suffering and of some of the most fiendish 
 acts that man, frantic with the cravings of hunger, could 
 perpetrate. 
 
 Leaving this scene of horrors on the morning of the 
 6th of September, in a short time the company met 
 Samuel Brannan returning from his trip to meet the 
 Saints. He informed them that the pioneers had reached 
 Salt Lake valley in safety, but his description of the 
 facilities of the place were not favorable for colonization. 
 
158 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 He considered it no place for an agricultural people, and 
 expressed his confidence that the Saints would emigrate 
 to California the next spring. On being asked if he had 
 given his views to President Brigham Young, he answered 
 that he had. On further inquiry as to how his views 
 were received, he said, in substance, that he laughed 
 and made some rather insignificant remark; "but," said 
 Brannan, ''when he has fairly tried it, he will find that I 
 was right and he was wrong, and will come to Cali- 
 fornia." 
 
 The company camped with Mr. Brannan. After he 
 left the following morning Captain James Brown of the 
 Pueblo detachment arrived from Salt Lake valley. Nearly 
 every soldier received one or more letters from family 
 and friends. Some received cheering news, others were 
 saddened with the loss of a parent, wife or child. Cap- 
 tain Brown also brought an epistle from the Twelve 
 Apostles counseling those who had not the means of 
 subsistence to remain, labor in California and bring their 
 earnings with them in the spring. One half or more of 
 the company returned to California in accordance with 
 this counsel. 
 
 There, also, the advance of the company was over- 
 taken by those left at Sutter's Fort, and by a few others 
 who had traveled slowly with Brother Henry Hoyt who 
 was sick. He had gradually failed but to his death, 
 which occurred on the 3rd of September, 1847, ^^ man- 
 ifested a stern resolution to go on. Just before his death 
 he was asked if he did not wish to stop and rest; his 
 answer "No; go on," were the last words he spoke. 
 He was buried as well as circumstances permitted. In 
 the absence of tools with which to dig his grave it was 
 rather shallow, but timbers and brush were piled upon it 
 to protect his remains from the wolves. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 59 
 
 The 1 6th of October the company arrived in Salt 
 Lake valley, overjoyed to meet friends and relatives. 
 Many of the men were very destitute of clothing. Their 
 necessities were partially relieved by some of the influen- 
 tial brethren, among whom were Apostle John Taylor 
 and Bishop Edward Hunter, taking up a collection among 
 the settlers of such articles of clothing as they could 
 spare for the benefit of the "Battalion boys." The men 
 in some instances presented almost a ludicrous appear- 
 ance after donning the additions to their wardrobes, but 
 with them comfort was a first consideration, and they 
 were thankful to get anything that would promote it. 
 The Battalion men benefitted the colony by bringing in 
 a variety of garden and fruit tree seeds, also seed grain, 
 of which there were scanty supplies. Captain J. Hunt 
 packed through two bushels of seed wheat. James Pace 
 introduced the club-head wheat and Daniel Tyler the 
 California pea, now the general field pea of Utah. We 
 may as well add here the soldiers who wintered at Pueblo 
 brought with them the taos wheat now so common in 
 Utah. 
 
 A few of the Battalion found their families in the 
 valley and had no farther to go ; others were so worn 
 down with fatigue and sickness that they were unable to 
 go farther at that time; and still others preferred to remain 
 until the following spring and endeavor to prepare a 
 home for their families. Thirty-two of the number, how- 
 ever, determined to make an effort to spend the winter 
 with their wives and children in Winter Quarters, and 
 nerved with this hope were prepared to take the chances 
 of the cold and storms of approaching winter in the 
 mountains and on the plains. 
 
l60 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Captain p. c. Merrill's company leaves salt lake 
 for winter quarters excessive cold diffi- 
 culties in crossing loupe fork suffering for 
 
 food misfortune of alpheus haws horse beef 
 
 pawnee indians dividing food under diffi- 
 culties a turkey for supper providential sup- 
 ply of food — arrival in winter quarters capt. 
 
 LYTLE's COMPANY LIVE MOSTLY ON WILD MEAT DIF- 
 FICULTIES AT LOUPE FORK SUPPER ON A DONKEY's 
 
 BRAINS ANOTHER ON THE CONTENTS OF A MULE's 
 
 HEAD A FEAST ON RAWHIDE SADDLE BAGS MULE 
 
 BEEF FOR TEN DAYS ARRIVAL AT WINTER QUARTERS. 
 
 SOON after the arrival of the Battalion men in Salt 
 Lake City a company of fifteen men started for 
 Winter Quarters, led by P. C. Merrill who was accom- 
 panied by a nephew. In addition the company was made 
 up as follows : Lorenzo Clark, who has furnished the 
 items of this sketch, John Thompson, Wm. Hyde, 
 Philander Colton and son, Wm. Robinson, Geo. P. 
 Dykes, Alpheus P. Haws, Luther T. Tuttle, Samuel 
 Clark, Geo. W. Oman, Sterling Davis, and Ira Miles 
 acting as guide, but not a Battalion man. 
 
 From the understanding these men had obtained of 
 the route, they expected to cross the plains in about 
 thirty days, whereas, they were sixty. An extension of 
 time which greatly increased difficulties and prolonged 
 suffering. In places Indians had burned the grass. This 
 weakened animals and compelled slow traveling. The 
 weather became very cold. They encamped at P^ort 
 Bridger over night where Captain Lytle's company 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. l6l 
 
 overtook them. This circumstance would indicate that 
 Captain Merrill's company may have left Salt Lake the 
 day before Captain Lytle's. Captain Merrill's company 
 went ahead in the morning and saw no more of the other 
 until its arrival in Winter Quarters. 
 
 The weather was very cold to Laramie, with occa- 
 sional snow. The company crossed the Platte on the 
 ice, then for seventy miles had no other fuel than 
 *' buffalo chips " found under about a foot of snow. There 
 being but little grass they were obliged to hunt feed for 
 the animals on islands in the river. So severe was the 
 cold one night, that the mules' ears were frozen half way 
 down to the head and afterwards dropped off. The 
 weather moderated some a few days before reaching 
 Laramie. They had killed buffalo along as needed, and 
 one day decided to lay by the following day and kill and 
 dry a supply of meat, but when the morrow came they 
 found themselves suddenly off the buffalo range. This 
 neglect or miscalculation caused much suffering for food 
 afterwards. 
 
 Arriving at the Loupe Fork they found ice running 
 in the current, but solid some distance from each bank. 
 The quicksand bottom changed so rapidly that when they 
 had crossed an animal or two in one place they were 
 obliged to hunt up another. In making these changes 
 and contending with difficulties, they traveled eight miles 
 up the river and were eight days in getting across. The 
 last day Alpheus Haws lost the last animal of five with 
 which he left California, and with it a part of his outfit. 
 He involuntarily left his only shoes in the quicksand 
 and, standing on the ice barefooted, saw about all he had 
 rolling down stream in the turbulent waters. 
 
 A poor, sore-backed horse mired in the quicksand 
 standing up. The ensuing night the ice froze firmly 
 
62 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 around him. In the morning he was cut out, dragged 
 ashore, dressed and the meat jerked for future use. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 63 
 
 They might have fared worse without the horse beef. 
 It helped to keep soul and body together. 
 
 The day after these events the company arrived at 
 what was known as the " Pawnee Station," where they 
 found an old cornfield. The pioneers had gleaned it, 
 but these starving men gleaned it a little closer ; found 
 a few nubbins from which they ate the corn raw and pro- 
 nounced it delicious. Continuing their journey, the 
 next day they were met by about 200 Pawnee Indians. 
 At first they appeared hostile. As Sterling Davis was 
 leading his mule an Indian seized it by the bit. He 
 raised a stick he carried in his hand to strike the Indian, 
 but Captain Merrill perceived the motion in time to check 
 it, telling him it would be the signal for the massacre of 
 the company, as the Indians had surrounded them with 
 bows drawn. Mr. Haws had sufficient knowledge of 
 their language to make them understand. He informed 
 them who the company were. The men had on white 
 blankets tied around their necks and bodies the same as 
 they were often worn by Indians, and the Pawnees 
 claimed they thought them a band of Sioux who had 
 come to prevent them from killing buffalo. When told 
 some of them recollected the circumstance of the Bat- 
 talion being mustered at Council Point the previous year. 
 As the Indians became satisfied with the idehtity of the 
 men, they at once began to manifest a friendly disposi- 
 tion. They invited Mr. Haws and three or four others 
 to their camp, unsaddled their animals, gave the men 
 food, principally dried beaver and venison, and by them 
 sent food to last the party a day or more. When 
 that was exhausted the company halted a day to rest 
 animals and hunt for food. Wm. Robinson killed a 
 small deer in the forenoon and brought it to the camp 
 where it was eaten for dinner. 
 
164 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 The company had agreed in the morning that a part 
 should take care of the animals and share with the 
 hunters in the anticipated food supply. Mr. D. wished 
 to hunt. He went out an hour or two returned to camp 
 where he lay around for the rest of the day. The sun 
 about half an hour high Mr. Lorenzo Clark killed a doe. 
 It was the custom in camp, when food was scarce, to 
 divide as equally as possible a parcel to each man. 
 Then one of the company stood with his back to the 
 parcels while another man touched each parcel in succes- 
 sion asking, "Who shall have this?" When it was handed 
 to the one named. That evening Mr. D. was left out as 
 he would neither "fish nor cut bait." It was believed he 
 went sufficiently hungry to feast on a deer skin that he 
 had used under his saddle. 
 
 The following day the party traveled without food 
 except a little some may have saved by shortening their 
 supper. Towards evening a single turkey was killed and 
 divided as was customary. The entrails fell to the lot of 
 Mr. Lorenzo Clark. He threw them on to the coals as 
 he received them and, when sufficiendy roasted, de- 
 voured them for supper. 
 
 At this camp a council was called. The guide 
 had made some error, and thought the company was 
 further from their destination than events afterwards 
 proved. It was proposed that a man take the best 
 animal in the company, go ahead and have some pro- 
 visions sent out ; but Wm. Hyde suggested that they 
 were soldiers and thought they had better remain to- 
 gether, trust in God and not send in. After traveling a 
 short distance the following morning, the men were much 
 surprised to find the Liberty pole which had been erected 
 on the bank of the Platte river. They had been informed 
 in Salt Lake that this was only twelve miles from the 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. . 1 65 
 
 crossing of the Elk Horn river. There was a shout of 
 joy at the sight of this waymark, that gave them the 
 assurance they were near their destination. The snow 
 was about a foot deep, and it continued to fall during the 
 day. That evening their camp fire near the crossing of 
 the Elk Horn, was hardly kindled before a drove of 
 turkeys came along from which five were killed. These 
 made supper and breakfast and a little to take along. 
 The next day, nerved up with the expectation of reaching 
 home, they traveled the thirty miles to Winter Quarters 
 with daylight. There they found what they sadly needed 
 frieftds, food and rest. 
 
 The Salt Lake colony, with a reasonable prospect 
 of semi-starvation before them, could not furnish flour to 
 the Battalion men, but they were informed that flour was 
 for sale at Fort Bridger, one hundred and fifteen miles 
 on their journey. With this expectation the largest 
 party of the Battalion men, about thirty, left Salt Lake 
 valley the i8th of October, 1847, probably the day after 
 that under Captain Merrill. They arrived at Fort 
 Bridger in the first severe snow-storm of the season, and 
 there learned that the flour on sale had all been disposed 
 of to Oregon and California emigrants. Captain Bridger 
 thought they would find what they wanted at Laramie on 
 reasonable terms. They left Salt Lake with ten pounds 
 of flour per man and were not yet entirely without. A 
 little beef was purchased to last them until they could 
 find game and they pushed on. 
 
 At the upper crossing of the Platte river, one hun- 
 dred miles west of Laramie, they baked their last cake, 
 the ten pounds of flour per man having been eked out 
 for sixteen days. Between Bridger and Laramie they 
 killed two buffalo bulls, an elk and some small game. In 
 fact, the Battalion men in their travels from Sutter's Fort 
 
1 66 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 to Winter Quarters depended principally on their guns 
 for subsistence. They reached Fort Laramie about the 
 loth of November and were again disappointed in get- 
 ting flour. Captain Andrew Lytle bought one pound of 
 crackers for 25 cents, the only breadstuff purchased. 
 There was a little dried buffalo meat for sale, and those 
 who had money purchased what meat they could afford 
 and divided with the company. Twelve miles below 
 Laramie a few men crossed to the south side of the 
 Platte river and purchased of a trader one hundred 
 pounds of flour for $25. There being about three 
 pounds per man and five hundred miles to travel without 
 any hope of a further supply, it was decided to use it 
 only for making gravy or thickening soup. 
 
 The trader warned them that if they killed buffalo 
 they might have trouble with the Indians. Sixty or 
 seventy miles below Laramie their supply of meat was 
 exhausted and around them were a few scattering buffalo. 
 The gnawings of hunger will force men to run some 
 risks to obtain food. They killed a bull and calf While 
 dressing them a smoke and some Indians were discov- 
 ered on the south side of the river. The hunters with 
 their buffalo beef reached camp sometime after dark 
 unmolested. Awaking one morning about one hundred 
 and fifty miles below Laramie the men found themselves 
 under about a foot of snow. From there to Winter 
 Quarters, three hundred and fifty miles, they broke their 
 trail through snow from one to two feet in depth. 
 
 Just before crossing the Loupe Fork the company 
 lost a few animals, supposed to have been stolen by the 
 Pawnee Indians. Near the crossing of this stream was 
 found the head of a donkey which Captain Merrill's com- 
 pany had killed for beef. Captain Allred opened the 
 skull and with his messmates made a supper of the brains. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 67 
 
 About the same time Martin Ewell opened the skull of a 
 mule killed for food the day before by Captain Pace's 
 company and feasted on the contents. The day of their 
 arrival at Loupe Fork the company divided and ate the 
 last of their food, which consisted chiefly of rawhide 
 ''saddle bags," which had been used from California for 
 carrying provisions. This feast was partaken of during 
 a cold storm which lasted several days. The next food 
 was a young mule of Captain Lytle's, which was too 
 much exhausted to go further. This was the first domes- 
 tic animal killed for food by this company since leaving 
 California. The company had many times looked wist- 
 fully upon a small female dog belonging to Mr. Joseph 
 Thorne, who with his wife and children had accompanied 
 it from Bridger. The temptation was soon removed by 
 Mr. Thorne trading the canine to the Pawnee Indians for 
 a small piece of dried buffalo meat. 
 
 Owing to floating ice they were unable to cross the 
 Loupe Fork for five days. During this time they trav- 
 eled a few miles down the river and found Captain Pace's 
 company just in time to save them from the danger of 
 being robbed by Pawnee Indians. The two parties after- 
 wards traveled together. Captain Pace and seven other 
 men got in a hurry soon after passing Laramie and 
 pushed on. The event proved they had overrated their 
 ability to travel faster than the main company. They 
 were overtaken near the Loupe Fork and soon after con- 
 cluded to remain with their former companions. 
 
 On the opposite side of the river was an Indian 
 farm. With the hope of obtaining a little corn a few 
 men ventured to ford the stream. The field had been 
 twice gleaned before by other travelers, and these 
 gleaners were rewarded with only a few decaying ears. 
 It was probably the same field gleaned by the pioneers 
 
1 68 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKK CITY. 
 
 in the spring and a few days before by P. C. Merrill's 
 company. Captain Pace and William Maxwell visited 
 an Indian camp to purchase food, but failed to get any as 
 the Indians had none to spare. They, however, remained 
 over night, were furnished a good supper and breakfast, 
 and otherwise treated kindly. 
 
 The night of the fifth day after their arrival on its 
 banks the cold was intense and the river froze over, so 
 that on the morning of the sixth day the company began 
 to cross on the ice, which bent and cracked. Holes 
 were made in it, but with perseverance everything was 
 safely deposited on the other bank. As the rising sun 
 warmed the atmosphere, thus weakening the ice, the last 
 few trips were extremely dangerous. Soon after the ice 
 broke up and the stream was covered with floating frag- 
 ments. Truly a kindly providence had favored them. 
 From the killing of Captain Lytle's mule to their arrival 
 in Winter Quarters, about ten days' travel, this company 
 subsisted on mule meat alone, without salt. 
 
 On the Elk Horn river, thirty miles from Winter 
 Quarters, they found a ferry boat with ropes stretched 
 across the stream, ready to step into and pull over. The 
 company understood this boat was built by the pioneers 
 and first used by them. It served the companies who 
 followed their trail, then the pioneers, then Captain Mer- 
 rill's company on their return to Winter Quarters, and 
 Captain Lytle's company were fortunate to find it availa- 
 ble to them. They crossed the stream the 17 th of 
 December, 1 847. Hoping the next day to end their exces- 
 sive toils and sufferings, the men arose early in the 
 morning and were soon on the march for the goal that 
 they had been long struggling for. 
 
 The foremost men arrived in Winter Quarters about 
 sundown, those in the rear a little after dark. The com- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 69 
 
 pany was just two months journeying from Salt Lake to 
 the Missouri river. We may in part imagine the joy of 
 families and friends, but to sense the fruition of long- 
 cherished hopes and the pleasing satisfaction of these 
 men, one would need to pass through a similar bitter 
 experience. No doubt, however, the joys of some were 
 tinged with sadness as they found vacant places never 
 to be filled in this life in their circle of loved ones. All 
 the soldiers, although generally highly respectable, were 
 unavoidably dirty and ragged, but they found only warm 
 hearts to receive them, from President Young to the 
 least child who knew what the words ''Mormon Bat- 
 talion" meant. They knew that that valiant corps had 
 been offered a living sacrifice for the Church and the 
 nation. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE ON THE SHORES OF THE GREAT- 
 SALT LAKE GREAT SCARCITY OF FOOD THE SITUA- 
 TION AS SHOWN BY L. D. YOUNG's NARRATIVE, 
 
 BEFORE commencing the history of the emigrating 
 Saints in 1848, it will be interesting to look in upon 
 the colony in the wilderness and see how they were far- 
 ing for food — the one essential to existence. When man 
 has the opportunity and skill to construct shelter and to 
 gather from the elements food to sustain him, his preser- 
 vation is reasonably sure. While the Saints in the valley 
 
 lacked no inherent qualifications for making homes in 
 11 
 
170 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the desert, from unavoidable conditions there was otten 
 a serious want of food. 
 
 The Saints who crossed .the plains in 1847, designed 
 to take breadstuff to sustain them until they could har- 
 vest the ensuing year, but they were not prepared for 
 emergencies that might arise from unforseen circum- 
 stances. Probably about two hundred Battalion men 
 were in the valley during the winter of 1847-48. They 
 were men who had been forced by circumstances into 
 many very straitened conditions. Their energies and 
 endurance had been taxed to the utmost for two years. 
 These fiery trials developed in them the noblest attri- 
 butes of manhood — faith in God and a sublime fortitude. 
 Only a community of interest and feeling saved many of 
 these men, and others, from death by starvation during 
 the first year after the arrival of the pioneers on the 
 shore of the Great Salt Lake. By way of illustration 
 let Lorenzo D. Young who sacrificed and suffered tell 
 the story of his experience ; he says : 
 
 ''Oliver G. Workman, a Battalion man, without 
 family, came to Salt Lake with others from California in 
 the autumn of 1847, ^"^ there he met his brother Jacob 
 and family and assisted in providing food. The follow- 
 ing spring, flour became so scarce that it was very diffi- 
 cult for the needy to obtain even a moiety. Mr. Work- 
 man came to me twice and stated that he had tried to 
 get a little and could not. I told him I had none to sell 
 at any price, but I let him have a few pounds each 
 time. 
 
 'Tn a few days he came to me the third time and 
 stated that he had tried to get a litde flour until he was 
 discouraged. He expressed his regret at being under 
 the necessity of coming again but, said he, * What can I 
 do? My brother's wife is famishing!' I remarked that 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 171 
 
 I had only a little flour left and I stepped into another 
 room where Mrs. Young lay on the bed sick. I stated 
 the case to her and asked, 'What shall we do?' The ques- 
 tion was quite as important to us as to Mr. Workman ; but 
 she replied, "We cannot see anyone starve. Divide to 
 the last pound.' I weighed what I thought we might 
 spare. It was seven pounds. As I handed the sack 
 containing it to Mr. Workman he put his hand into his 
 pocket, and, without counting handed out a handful of 
 gold. I again told him I had no flour to sell ; that I 
 would not exchange him a pound of flour for a pound of 
 gold. He returned the gold to his pocket, and, as he 
 turned to go away he was overpowered by his feelings 
 and shed tears. 
 
 "Soon after this occurrence myself and family were 
 entirely out of food. It had been necessary to work my 
 oxen very hard through the winter, and all my cattle 
 were too poor for food. I heard of a man on Mill Creek 
 who had a three-year-old steer which he was keeping 
 for beef, with the design of going to California in the 
 spring. I succeeded in trading him a pair of large oxen 
 by agreeing to give him one quarter of the animal after 
 it was dressed. I drove the steer home, butchered it 
 and hung the hide on the fence with the flesh side out. 
 This furnished a feast for the magpies as they picked off 
 what little meat remained on it. My share of the beef, 
 with what little food could be gathered from other 
 sources, kept us along for several weeks. During that 
 time I made every possible exertion to obtain more food, 
 but without success. 
 
 "Circumstances again seemed desperate. I took 
 the hide off the fence and put it to soak in City creek. 
 When it became soft and pliable I cut it into strips for 
 convenience in handling. I labored on it about two days, 
 
172 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 scraping the flesh side clean and getting the hair off the 
 other. After I became satisfied with its condition, I 
 turned it over to Mrs. Young. To prepare a meal, a 
 piece of raw-hide was boiled until it became a glue soup, 
 when salt was added to season. This being a native 
 product was abundant while other condiments were as 
 scarce as the food they were intended to season. 
 
 ''From the wreck of affairs in Nauvoo Mrs. Young 
 saved a favorite set of china. I never knew more need 
 of an inviting looking table than in those days of glue 
 soup. Mrs. Young decked it out in the most in- 
 viting manner possible ; the center piece, a pan of glue 
 soup, with a ladle for dipping and conveying it to our 
 plates. The Lord was always asked to bless the scanty 
 fare. We satisfied our appetites as best we could, with 
 a thankful feeling that we had that much to sustain life. 
 Mrs. Young's health was generally poor, and on that 
 diet she daily grew weaker. I felt that something must 
 be done or she would die for want of nourishment. I 
 went to a man that I understood had considerable flour 
 and offered him a horse for a few pounds. He was one 
 of a few Saints who had but little faith that we could 
 remain in the country, and he designed going to Califor- 
 nia when spring was sufficiently advanced. His fears 
 that he might be short prevented him from letting me 
 have any flour. I met Bishop E. Hunter and made 
 known my situation. Said he, T have but little flour, 
 but Sister Young must not die for want of some.' He 
 let me have seven pounds. Mrs. Young ever after 
 believed that the kindness of Brother Hunter saved her 
 life. On her dying bed, and about an hour and a half 
 before she expired, she spoke of the circumstance and 
 blessed him. 
 
 '* On the bottom lands along the river Jordan, this- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 73 
 
 ties grew in abundance. The roots of these afforded con- 
 siderable nourishment. As the large, dry top usually 
 remained attached to the root until a new growth in the 
 spring, they could be found and dug in the winter. They 
 were a great help to the Saints in times of scarcity. In 
 the spring of 1848 many acres of bottom land had been 
 dug over. I, at times, as well as others, was compelled 
 to avail myself of this means of sustaining life. As veg- 
 etation grew in the spring, other roots and herbs were 
 used for food. Segoes for a time were in considerable 
 demand, but several persons were poisoned by eating 
 the wrong variety. Three persons died in as many 
 weeks from this cause. After the sad occurrence they 
 were not much used as edibles. 
 
 *' One morning I met Brother Welcome Chapman 
 with a basket of cowslips. As I had been accustomed 
 to these for early spring greens in my youth, to me at 
 that time they seemed a great luxury. That they grew 
 in this mountain region surprised me. Only those who 
 have longed for something palatable and refreshing can 
 appreciate the feelings that caused me to exclaim with 
 considerable enthusiasm, 'Brother Chapman, where on 
 earth did you get them?' He replied, ' I have found a 
 little spot up the canyon where they grow, and I go and 
 get a basket of them in the morning to last us during 
 the day.' I asked him if the supply was sufficient to let 
 me have some. He thought so, and gave me what 
 he then had. When cooked we enjoyed them very much. 
 They were a change, a variety. Brother Chapman con- 
 tinued to furnish a few greens, from which we realized 
 much benefit. In those times faith was an important 
 factor in our lives. The prayer that the Lord would 
 bless our food that it might strengthen us, was made up 
 of no idle words. It came from the heart, and in return 
 
174 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the blessing was often realized. With the meager fare I 
 was able to accomplish considerable labor." 
 
 Elder Young's experience, with some variation, was 
 that of hundreds of the early colonizers of Salt Lake 
 valley. Strangers who now visit the country cannot 
 properly sense its primitive barrenness, and the priva- 
 tions endured from being a thousand miles from outside 
 resources. The youth born in the country can never 
 realize, without a similar experience, the toil and priva- 
 tion with which was laid the foundation for the comfort 
 and luxury they enjoy. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE EMIGRATION OF 1 848 ORGANIZATION OF THE COM- 
 PANIES GOING WITH PRESIDENT YOUNG — GOOD NEWS 
 
 FROM THE VALLEY THE LAST COMPANIES UNDER 
 
 ELDERS RICHARDS AND LYMAN SPECIAL EPISTLE FROM 
 
 PRESIDENT YOUNG ; HIS ARRIVAL IN THE VALLEY 
 
 ARRIVAL OF THE LAST COMPANIES REMARKABLE PROPH- 
 ECY LETTER OF P. P. PRATT, A REIGN OF PEACE WHAT 
 
 OTHERS THOUGHT OF THE MORMONS IN GREAT SALT 
 LAKE VALLEY, 
 
 THE LAST day of May 1848, President B. Young 
 commenced organizing the people into hundreds, 
 fifties and tens, and appointing the officers necessary for 
 managing so large a body of people. We are indebted 
 to Elder Thos. Bullock for the census of the companies 
 organized under his suspervision. Wagons, 623 ; souls, 
 1891 ; horses, 131 ; mules, 44; oxen, 2012; cows, 983 ; 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 75 
 
 loose cattle, 334 ; sheep, 654 ; pigs, 237 ; chickens, 904 ; 
 cats, 54; dogs, 134; goats, 3; geese, 10; beehives, 5; 
 doves, II ; squirrels, i ; ducks, 5. 
 
 "(Jn the I St of June, Lorenze Snow's company 
 moved off the ground to the Liberty Pole on the Platte, 
 to make room for other waggons that came pouring in 
 from Winter Quarters. ***** 
 
 ''The 2nd "of June Zera Pulsipher's camp followed 
 on the trail, and we received a visit from Elders Hyde, 
 Woodruff, Benson and others, by whom we learned that 
 the Pawnee and Otoe Indians had a fight in rear of 
 Winter Quarters, in which several were killed." 
 
 The third of June W. G. Perkin's company left the 
 place of rendezvous, and President Young's company on 
 the 5th. Lucy, wife of Elisha H. Grove's was run over by 
 her wagon which broke her leg. The company traveled 
 twelve miles. June 6th, after a travel of thirteen and a 
 quarter miles, the company encamped on the Platte river. 
 The organization of the camp was perfected, and a night 
 and day guard arranged. The 29th of June the company 
 first came in sight of buffalo. The 1 2th of July, it was 
 on Crab creek, a little over four hundred and nine miles 
 from Winter Quarters. It rested ten days, travelled 
 twenty-seven days, averaging fifteen miles per day. 
 
 Between ten and eleven o'clock in the evening of 
 the 1 2th of July, John Y. Green, Isaac Dunham, Joseph 
 W. Young and Rufus Allen, arrived from the valley 
 bringing news up to the 1 8th of May, the day of starting. 
 Soon after another mail arrived with a few letters with 
 dates up to the 9th of June. News from the valley was 
 of deep interest to these traveling camps. Prosperity 
 there meant future sustenance and comfort to them. 
 Thos. Bullock the clerk of the camps, summed up the 
 news as follows : 
 
176 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 The health of the people was good. A large 
 amount of spring crops had been put in. They were 
 planting until within a few days of the starting of the 
 mail, when the crickets had done considerable damage to 
 the wheat and corn, but the gulls came and swept away 
 the plague. From the arrival of the pioneers to the de- 
 parture of this mail, there had been but fifteen interments. 
 To balance these deaths, In one row of eight houses 
 adjoining each other, in one week there were seven 
 births, and it was thought there had been one hundred 
 and twenty births during the residence of the people in 
 the valley. Several saw and grist-mills were in opera- 
 tion, and in process of erection. Twelve miles of fence 
 inclosing a large field for farming purposes, was nearly 
 complete. 
 
 With President Young and company well on their 
 way to the valley, we will return to Winter Quarters. 
 About the 25th of June, Elders Willard Richards and 
 Amasa Lyman left the Elk Horn with about three 
 hundred wagons, making a little more than nine 
 hundred, comprising the season's emigration. As was 
 intended. Winter Quarters was evacuated. The first 
 companies averaged about three persons to the wagon. 
 At this rate about two thousand eight hundred people 
 went from the Missouri river to the Mountains In 
 1848. 
 
 The first general epistle of the Presidency of the 
 Church, from Great Salt Lake valley, furnishes some 
 further Information concerning the emigration of this 
 year. During the winter and spring of 1848, efforts 
 were made for the removal of the Church from Winter 
 Quarters to Salt Lake valley. The effort was finally 
 facilitated by a loan of teams, by the brethren on the 
 Pottowatomie lands and friends in an about camp. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 77 
 
 Young and Kimball left Winter Quarters in May and 
 Brother Richards in July. * * * At the Elk Horn 
 a portion of Brother Kimball's camp was fired on by a 
 band of Otoes and Omahas. Three men were wounded 
 of which two were maimed for life." No other serious 
 losses of lives and property are reported of this season's 
 emigration. 
 
 A special epistle signed by Brigham Young, dated 
 Great Salt Salt Lake City, October 9th, 1848, and 
 addressed to the presiding authorities and Saints in 
 Pottowatomie county and adjacent regions, explains 
 under what circumstances the teams loaned the emigra- 
 tion, by their friends on the Missouri river, were returned, 
 and also contains other items of interest. 
 
 The document opens with warm expressions of 
 gratitude for deliverance from enemies, their arrival at 
 the haven of rest for the Saints, and says, "On the 28th 
 of August last, we wrote you an epistle from the Sweet- 
 water, from which place we returned those wagons and 
 teams that the brethren in Iowa had kindly loaned us to 
 assist us on our journey, considering it wisdom that they 
 should have an early start, make the best of their way 
 while the weather and feed were in tolerable condition, 
 so that they may reach their destination before the 
 severity of the weather would be likely to set in upon 
 them — while we remained at Sweetwater with our goods 
 and families on the ground, exposed to the keen, frosty 
 nights and storms that are so prevalent in that country. 
 On the 30th of August we were glad to meet with a 
 number of brethren from the valley, with forty-seven 
 wagons and one hundred and twenty-four yoke of oxen, 
 being three yoke of cattle over and above replacing the 
 wagons and teams that we had previously sent back to 
 the Saints in Iowa, towards filling the vacancy of the 
 
178 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 great number of cattle that had unfortunately died on 
 our hands, and beent^left by the wayside. * ♦ * * 
 
 "Our hearts fainted not; but, relying on the arm of 
 Jehovah, we reloaded our wagons and continued our 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. IJg 
 
 journey. On the ist of September, we went through 
 the South Pass to the waters that flow into the Pacific, 
 and had a miserable evening's journey of it. The next 
 day we had a mizzling rain, and only removed about a 
 mile in order to find feed to sustain our cattle. At night 
 a snowstorm passed over us and on Sunday, the 3rd of 
 September, the entire Wind river chain of mountains 
 was covered with snow. The weather was then severe, 
 but afterwards cleared up with pleasant days and frosty 
 nights, which continued with us nearly the whole of our 
 journey, with the exception of showers which were of 
 frequent occurrence, but never so heavy as in the states, 
 and we considered ourselves the highly favored of the 
 Lord. We were under the necessity of traveling from 
 this place in small companies on account of the many 
 narrow canyons, crossings of creeks and scanty feed, so 
 as to expedite our journey." 
 
 President Young arrived in the valley on Saturday, 
 the 20th of September. He was escorted into the city 
 by Bishop Edward Hunter and others, who guided them 
 through the grain fields to the west side of the fort. 
 President Kimball arrived in the afternoon of Sunday 
 the 2 1 St. The usual Sabbath meeting was adjourned 
 two hours to give him, and company, an opportunity of 
 being present. Many of the people went out to welcome 
 him into the valley. At the meeting in the Bowery, a 
 beautiful hymn of welcome, composed by Miss Eliza R. 
 Snow, was sung by the choir. 
 
 On the arrival of the Presidency in the valley, they 
 found the people living in four forts, composed mostly of 
 houses. These inclosed about forty seven acres of land. 
 The companies of Willard Richards and Amasa Lyman 
 arrived in the valley the i8th and 20th of October. With 
 the season's emigration of 1848, the people on the shores 
 
l8o FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 of Salt Lake numbered about five thousand souls. Con- 
 sidering the recent losses of the Saints by persecution, 
 the distance of the colony from the Missouri river and 
 the great difficulties encountered on the route, this was 
 an immense immigration within eighteen months after 
 the pioneers left Winter Quarters. This was the year in 
 which the growing crops of the people on the shores of 
 Salt Lake were saved from destruction by crickets by 
 immense flocks of white gulls. Mr. Alma Eldredge, 
 then a mere youth, thus speaks of this kindly providence: 
 
 ''The crickets, in immense swarms, appeared to be 
 sweeping away all hopes of bread for the coming year. 
 As the people were in a state of semi-starvation, their 
 anxiety to save their growing crops was intense. They 
 had fought the crickets on a warm summer day until 
 weary and discouraged and had started for their homes 
 to rest, but before arriving there they saw immense 
 flocks of gulls settling down on their fields. It was a 
 query whether they were friends or enemies, but they 
 were left undisturbed. In the morning a committee was 
 sent to the field to see what the birds had done. To 
 their great joy they found the crickets mostly destroyed 
 and their crops saved." 
 
 Although the Saints had to contend with many diffi- 
 culties incident to settling a new and desert country, 
 among the most prominent of which were frosts, 
 crickets and drought, yet sufficient was accomplished to 
 give t*hem an assurance of future success. On the return 
 of a portion of the Mormon Battalion, through the north- 
 ern part of western California, they discovered an exten- 
 sive gold mine which enabled them, by a few days delay, to 
 bring sufficient of the dust to make money plentiful for all 
 ordinary purposes in Salt Lake valley. In exchange, the 
 dust was deposited with the Presidency who issued bills 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. l8l 
 
 or a paper currency, and the "KIrtland Safety Fund " bills 
 re-signed was on a par with gold. It was significant of 
 great changes that the obsolete bills of the Kirtland bank 
 should find a circulation on the shores of Salt Lake. 
 
 It was after the arrival of this season's emigration 
 in the valley that Heber C. Kimball, in view of the great 
 destitution of his people for clothing and many other 
 necessaries of life, declared to them, that States goods 
 would be sold in the streets of Salt Lake City as cheap 
 as in New York, and the people be abundantly provided 
 with clothing. Nothing in the changing routine of 
 human life could have appeared to that isolated people 
 more improbable. After the spirit of prophecy had left 
 him, his remarks to his friends indicated that he, himself, 
 had but little faith in its fulfillment. 
 
 The reader will recollect that Parley P. Pratt entered 
 the valley with the companies that followed the pioneers 
 in 1847. After residing there nearly a year he wrote 
 a letter, expressing his sentiments and views to his 
 brother, O. Pratt and the Saints in England. It is a 
 beautiful pen picture of the reign of peace in the valley, 
 and a witness that the Saints had found the haven of 
 rest they had been seeking. 
 
 ''September 5th, 1848. 
 
 ''Dear Brother Orson: — ♦ ♦ * * "I have 
 now resided almost a year in this lone retreat, where 
 civilized man has not made his home for the last 
 thousand years, and where the ripening harvest has not 
 been enjoyed forages until the present season. During 
 all this period the sound of war, the rise and fall of empires, 
 the revolution of States and kingdoms — the news of 
 any kind has scarcely reached my ears. 
 
 "It is but a few days since we heard of the revolu- 
 tions and convulsions which are agitating Europe. No 
 elections, no police reports, no murders, no wars, in our 
 
t82 from kirtland to salt lake city. 
 
 little world. How quiet, how still, how peaceful, how 
 happy. How lonesome, how free from excitement we 
 live. The legislation of our High Council, the decision 
 of some judge or court of the Church, a meeting, a dance, 
 a visit or exploring tour, an arrival of a party of trappers 
 and traders, a Mexican caravan, a party arrived from the 
 Pacific, from the States, from Fort Hall or Fort Bridger, 
 a visit of Indians or perhaps a mail from the distant world 
 once or twice a year is all that breaks upon the monotony 
 of our peaceful and busy life. 
 
 "Our old firelocks have not been brushed up, or our 
 swords unsheathed because of any alarm. No police- 
 men or watchmen, of any kind, have been on duty to 
 guard us from external or internal danger. The drum 
 has beat to be sure, but it was mingled with merry-mak- 
 ing, or its martial sound was rather to remind us that 
 war had once been known among the nations, than to 
 arouse us to tread the martial and measured step of those 
 who muster for war, or march to the battle field. Oh 
 what a life we live ! It is the dream of the poets actually 
 fulfilled in real life. Here we can cultivate the mind, 
 renew the spirits, invigorate the body, cheer the heart, 
 and ennoble the soul of man. Here we can cultivate 
 every science and every art calculated to enlarge the 
 the mind, accommodate the body, or polish and advance 
 our race. And here we can receive and extend that 
 pure intelligence which is unmingled with the jargon o 
 mystic Babylon, and which will fit a man after a long life 
 of health and usefulness, to enjoy the mansions of bliss 
 and the society of those who are purified in the blood of 
 the Lamb." 
 
 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet 
 of him that bringeth glad tidings," is beautifully in 
 harmony with the sentiments and spirit of the fore- 
 going. 
 
 About this time the following excerpts appeared in 
 eastern papers. This wonderful move of a religious 
 body of people whose singular and powerful doctrines and 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 83 
 
 organization had, in the short space of sixteen years, 
 greatly weakened the orthodox rehgion of the highest 
 civilization of the continent, was already attracting marked 
 attention. When its enemies supposed it in the very 
 throes of dissolution it suddenly developed wonderful 
 vitality and power. 
 
 "THE MORMON SETTLEMENTS IN THE GREAT SALT 
 LAKE VALLEY. 
 
 "We wish to call the readers attention to the new 
 and most extraordinary condition of the Mormons. 
 Several thousands of them have found a resting place in 
 the most remarkable spot on the North American conti- 
 nent. Since the children of Israel wandered through the 
 wilderness, or the crusaders rushed on Palestine, there 
 has been nothing so historically singular, as the emigra- 
 tion and recent settlement of the Mormons. Thousands 
 of them came from the Manchesters and Sheffields of 
 England, to join other thousands congregated from 
 Western New York and New York and New England — 
 boasted descendants of the pilgrim fathers — together to 
 follow after a New Jerusalem in the west. 
 
 "Having a temple amid the churches and schools of 
 Lake County, Ohio, and driven from it by popular 
 opinion, they built the Nauvoo of Illinois. It becomes a 
 great town. Twenty thousand people flock to it. They 
 are again assaulted by popular persecution, their prophet 
 murdered, their town depopulated, and finally their 
 temple burned ! Does all this persecution to which 
 they have been subjected, destroy them ? Not at all. 
 Seven thousand are now settled, in flourishing circum- 
 stances, on the plateau summit of the North American 
 continent. Thousands more are about to join them from 
 Iowa, and thousands more are coming from Wales. The 
 spectacle is most singular and this is one of the singular 
 episodes of the great drama of the age. The spot on 
 which the Mormons are now settled is, geographically, 
 one of the most interesting in the western world." — Cin- 
 cinnati Atlas. 
 
184 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 **The Mormon Saints after enduring all the suffer- 
 ings of persecution in Missouri and Illinois, many of their 
 leaders and Apostles having been slain, and the whole 
 body of the survivors having been hunted from place to 
 place, have at last, found a New Jerusalem, or holy land, 
 in the Great Salt Lake valley, situated between the 
 Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada which belongs 
 to the Territory of California, and may be called Eastern 
 California. This is one of the most remarkable regions 
 on the globe, * * * 'f j^^y ^.re an industrious race, 
 and are well qualified to develop the resources of the 
 rich region in which they have located themselves. This 
 is, indeed, probably their New Jerusalem, where they 
 will be able to build up a city with pillars of gold, slated 
 with silver and paved with rubies and emeralds. Who 
 knows? According to the observations of that region 
 made by Fremont and Abert, and Kearney and others, 
 some portions of that great country are really wonderful. 
 It seems to be a sort of Holy Land on a large scale. It 
 has the Salt Sea in it, much larger than that of Palestine; 
 and it has also a Jordan, a Mount Horeb, and almost all 
 the great features of the ancient Holy Land, but on a 
 tremendously large scale. 
 
 "Brigham Young seems to be the Moses of the 
 whole concern. This expedition of the Mormons has 
 some analogy to that of the exodus of the Israelites from 
 Egypt. Illinois and Missouri and Iowa have been to the 
 Mormons the land of bondage from which they have 
 escaped, and in which their leaders and Saints were shot 
 down in the way that we shot down the mob in Massacre 
 place up town. Now they promise to become a free, 
 powerful and prosperous people." * * ♦ 
 
 — New York Herald. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 85 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 CONDITION OF THE SALT LAKE COLONY IN THE WINTER OF 
 1848-49 THE FRONTIER GUARDIAN A LOCAL GOV- 
 ERNMENT ORGANIZED REVIEW PRESIDENCY OF THE 
 
 CHURCH TRANSFERRED TO SALT LAKE APOSTLES AND 
 
 ELDERS ON THE MISSOURI RIVER THE EMIGRATION OF 
 
 1849 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS ANXIETY AS TO THE 
 
 FATE OF THE SALT LAKE COLONY. 
 
 THE winter of 1848 49 was severe. The 5th of Feb- 
 ruary the mercury fell to 33° below the freezing 
 point. The surrounding mountains were difficult of 
 access on account of deep snow. This, with the poor 
 condition of the working animals, from the scarcity of 
 feed and extreme cold, made It difficult at times to obtain 
 sufficient fuel for the comfort of the people. In the fore- 
 part of February the Bishops took an Inventory of the 
 bread stuff In the valley. They reported a little more 
 than three-fourths of a pound per day for each person 
 until the 9th of the following July. Since harvest the 
 previous year, corn had been two dollars per bushel, 
 while some had sold for three. Wheat had ranged from 
 four to five dollars per bushel. 
 
 The first number of the Frontier Guardian was 
 published at Kanesvllle, Iowa, the 7th of February, 1849. 
 It was the first paper published by the Saints after their 
 evacuation of Nauvoo. The principal object of Its pub- 
 lication was to spread information among the Saints and 
 defend their interests. With regard to education, the 
 
 editor says : 
 12 
 
1 86 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 "It affords unmeasured pleasure to see the favor- 
 able results of some limited exertions, not long since 
 made, in favor of education. Two flourishing schools in 
 our little town, of about eighty scholars each, conducted 
 by a principal and an assistant to each one, with many 
 others in various parts of the county that have sprung 
 into being, may be continued with increased zeal and 
 numbers, by giving to the subject of education that atten- 
 tion which we trust it may be in our power to bestow." 
 
 The paper was a semi-weekly and declared its pur- 
 poses in a prospectus as follows: 
 
 **The Guardian is not intended to enter the field of 
 political strife and contention. Still it will reserve the 
 right and privilege of recommending such men to the 
 suffrages of the people as the editor may think will prove 
 true and faithful guardians of the national peace and 
 honor, and of the persons and property of her citizens. 
 It will be devoted to the news of the day ; to the signs of 
 the times ; to religion and prophecy, both ancient and 
 modern; to literature and poetry; to the arts and 
 sciences, together with all and singular whatever the 
 spirit of the times may dictate. It will strongly advocate 
 the establishing of common schools along the frontier, 
 and also in various settlements in the interior, and will 
 try, by all lawful and honorable means, to accomplish so 
 desirable an object." 
 
 The unredeemed character of the country is well 
 illustrated by the results of a winter's hunt, of two rival 
 parties of one hundred men each. There were killed 
 about seven hundred wolves and foxes, two wolverines, 
 twenty minks and pole cats, five hundred hawks, owls 
 and magpies and one thousand ravens in Salt Lake val- 
 ley and vicinity. 
 
 The following, from the first general episde of the 
 First Presidency of the Church sent east from Salt Lake 
 City, indicates the necessity of organizing a local govern- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 87 
 
 ment, and also gives assurance that, In the hearts of these 
 persecuted colonizers of the desert, there was no lack of 
 patriotism ; that they had no conception of becoming 
 independent of the general government. 
 
 "In consequence of Indian depredations on our 
 horses, cattle and other property, and the wicked con- 
 duct of a few base fellows who have come among the 
 Saints, the inhabitants of this valley, as is common in 
 new countries generally, have organized a temporary 
 government, to exist during its necessity, or until we can 
 obtain a charter for a Territorial government, a petition 
 for which is already in progress." 
 
 This petition was perfected and sent to Washington, 
 D. C, per Dr. J. M. Bernhisel, agent for the people of 
 Great Salt Lake valley. The following from the bio- 
 graphical sketch of Alma Eldredge in Tullidge s History 
 of Northern and Eastern Utah, gives some idea of the 
 suffering for food in the summer of 1849: 
 
 "The summer of 1849 told hard on the masses of 
 the people. The land for miles around the settlements 
 was literally dug over by persons in search of segoes 
 and thistles, articles which were used for food to assist in 
 keeping soul and body together. Weeds of various 
 kinds were used in like manner, and all sorts of economy 
 were practiced, to the fullest extent, to alleviate the pangs 
 of hunger and modify the suffering condition of the wan- 
 derers. Finally harvest came and the exiles began to 
 prosper. I saw mothers with infants at the breast which 
 were nursing their life's blood, as it were, on account of 
 the reduced condition which privation and hunger had 
 brought them to. Their strength was so far exhausted 
 that they would reel and tremble when attempting to 
 walk, and often could proceed only by artificial means." 
 
 The Presidency of the Church was now transferred 
 from the Missouri river to Great Salt Lake valley. 
 
1 88 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 Between It and the people, still scattered in the United 
 States, were the vast plains along the Platte river, and a 
 wilderness of mountains with towering peaks and rugged 
 defiles. The denizens of this wilderness of plains and 
 mountains were wild beasts and the little less wild and 
 savage Indian. The latter bore the white man but little 
 good will, and was by heritage a wandering robber. The 
 most rapid means of communication across this forbiding 
 country was with horses and mules. To take along feed 
 for animals was to overburden them and neutralize its 
 benefits. They must subsist, as best they could, on the 
 grasses that grew on the route. Under these conditions 
 it was practicably impossible to make the journey between 
 these points, with the same animals, in less than thirty 
 days, and it usually required more than this time. 
 
 There was no government postal service, no tele- 
 graph line for rapid communication across the plains, 
 hence the great necessity of that care and efficiency in 
 fitting out the emigration which can only result from 
 good, executive ability combined with experience. 
 
 Under these natural disadvantages great care was 
 necessary on the part of the Presidency of the 
 Church to select competent agents to carry out their 
 general instructions in detail. The President of the 
 Apostles, O. Hyde, was selected as the presiding genius 
 at the east end of the emigration route. There was a 
 large corps of experienced and capable elders to assist 
 him when he needed. To aid him in the emigration 
 of 1849 he had with him Apostles George A. Smith and 
 E. T. Benson. 
 
 These leaders of a gathering dispensation, issued 
 their instructions for the march of their people to the 
 west, with that clearness and precision of detail which, 
 in all important operations, is a token of success. They 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 89 
 
 were published in the Frontier Guardian February 21st, 
 1849. The spirit of them foreshadows the general 
 instructions from the valley the following spring. 
 
 "SALT LAKE EMIGRANTS. 
 
 'Tt is intended for companies to start from this 
 point, to emigrate to the great valley of Salt Lake, so 
 soon as grass is sufficiently grown to sustain cattle and 
 teams. Whenever a company of fifty wagons have 
 assembled at the camping ground, on this side of the 
 river near this place, (the precise place will be designated 
 in due time,) they will forthwith be organized and start 
 on their journey. This number can travel with much 
 more ease, comfort and speed than any greater number. 
 Our experience has proven this to us. The men and 
 boys that will naturally go with fifty wagons, will be quite 
 sufficient to protect themselves on the journey against 
 the Indians. Every man and boy capable of using a rifle 
 or musket should, by all means have one and a good 
 one. If any are deficient in this respect, we will furnish 
 every company with what they may lack, provided the 
 captain and principal men of each company will become 
 responsible for the arms, and deliver them safely to the 
 High Council in the valley, as there are quite a lot of 
 arms here that belong there, and we wish to forward 
 them on. 
 
 "The organization of companies will be strictly mil- 
 itary, and every one should be amply provided with arms 
 and ammunition adequate to any and every exigence. 
 Our experience last year on the Elk Horn river with the 
 Omaha Indians, abundantly shows the importance of a 
 rigid observance of the above. The bill of particulars, 
 embracing provisions, and other articles to be taken, will 
 appear in the Guardian in due time. 
 
 "Every wagon, before starting, will be examined to 
 see if it contains the requisite amount of provisions, 
 utensils and means of defense. If they are delinquent 
 in these they will not be allowed to cross the river to 
 proceed with our companies. The severity of the winter 
 
190 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 here, awakens some fears that they have had a severe 
 winter in the valley, and it will be, most likely, thought 
 better to take a greater amount of provisions than was 
 at first anticipated. A few extra barrels of flour will do 
 no harm." 
 
 The following editorial appeared in the Frontier 
 Guardian of May 1 6th, 1 849 : 
 
 ''The valley of the Salt Lake is in north latitude 40° 
 '30', and in longitude west from London 112°. The alti- 
 tude of that place is 4,300 feet above the level of the 
 sea. From the unfavorable accounts given from the 
 regions west and south of the Salt Lake valley, the 
 severely cold weather and very deep snows, we fear 
 somewhat for the safety of our friends in the valley. * * 
 * * We have received no mail from them, as yet, but 
 are in daily expectation of one. We are very anxious 
 to hear from that quarter, yet are almost afraid to hear 
 lest the very severe winter has seriously affected that 
 infant settlement. Yet we hope for the best." 
 
 This indicates the great anxiety of the Saints on the 
 Missouri river to learn the situation of their friends in 
 the valley. The long, tedious winter and almost the 
 entire spring had passed without any news from the infant 
 colony environed in the mountain snows, with no other 
 resource, in case of misfortune, than the God in whom 
 they trusted and their own exertions and powers of en- 
 durance. 
 
 Isolated among bands of savages, with a scanty 
 supply of food, it is no wonder that to the anxious 
 hearts of friends in the United States, vague rumors of 
 disaster seemed to float around in the elements fore- 
 shadowing evil. With great expectancy the spring mail 
 was waited for to give assurance of safety and peace. 
 
 The general epistle sent out in the spring arrived 
 in Kanesville in time for publication, May 30, 1849, and 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. I9I 
 
 it would seem none to soon for the guidance of those 
 preparing to cross the plains that season. The council 
 it contained concerning the emigration was almost en- 
 tirely based on their present and prospective food supply 
 in the valley. There was evident necessity for those 
 already there making great efforts to raise food for those 
 who were coming. President Young left the direction 
 of affairs on the Missouri river entirely to his capable 
 agents. 
 
 "For the future, it is not wisdom for the Saints to 
 leave the states or California, for this place, unless they 
 have teams and means sufficient to come through with- 
 out any assistance from the valley, and that they should 
 bring breadstuff's sufficient to last them a few months 
 after their arrival, for the harvest will not be gathered nor 
 the grain ready for grinding. The inhabitants of the 
 valley will be altogether dependent on the crop of this 
 season for their support, and will have no time to leave 
 their tillage with their teams to bring in emigrating 
 camps as they have hitherto done." 
 
 To meet the counsel given in the epistle the follow- 
 ing instructions to the Saints appeared in the Frontier 
 Guardiait of May 13, 1849: 
 
 "Emigrants will eat about one pound of breadstuff 
 per day on the road to Salt Lake besides, milk, butter, 
 beans, dried fruit, bacon and various other little com- 
 forts if they can get them ; say one hundred pounds of 
 breadstuff" for one person, old and young, on the road, 
 and two hundred pounds to a person after he gets there 
 to last six months, in all three hundred pounds of best 
 breadstuff to start from here with, besides all the cows 
 he can take, and as many little necessaries and comforts 
 as he can procure and haul." 
 
192 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 GREAT RUSH OF PEOPLE TO CALIFORNIA SICKNESS AND 
 
 DEATH ALONG THE PLATTE RIVER CAPTAIN EGAN's 
 
 COMPANY GREAT WASTE OF PROPERTY THE LAST 
 
 TRAIN PEACE AND PROSPERITY ON THE SHORES OF 
 
 SALT LAKE KEY NOTE OF THE GATHERING FOR 185O 
 
 THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP THE POOR 
 
 NEWS FROM THE CAMPS OF ISRAEL. 
 
 IN THE year 1849, there was a great rush of people 
 to California. The gold fever was evidently increasing 
 in intensity. These people mostly traveled on the south 
 side of the Platte river. A few of the Saints, also, 
 unfortunately took that road. Many deaths occurred 
 principally from cholera but some from other causes. 
 While there was sickness on the pioneer route 
 north of the Platte, the mortality was quite limited com- 
 pared with that on the south side of the river. Captain 
 Howard Egan took the latter route, with a company of 
 Saints, about the middle of May. It consisted of 57 
 souls, 22 wagons, .46 yoke of oxen, 21 cows, 6 horses, 5 
 mules, 3 head of young cattle, 2 1 fowls, 6 dogs and i 
 cat. This return indicates that this third year of the 
 emigration, there was not quite as extensive a supply of 
 domestic animals taken as at first. 
 
 In a letter of June 19, 1849, to the Frontier 
 Guardian, Captain Egan gives some interesting facts 
 concerning the California emigration. 
 
 "May 2 1 St., the company met three wagons on 
 their way back to Missouri. They reported having lost 
 a number of their company by measles. An old man 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1^3 
 
 Stated that one of his sons was then very sick in his 
 wagon. They had left their company sixty-five miles 
 west of the Missouri river. The same day Captain 
 Egan passed a company from Missouri with five cases of 
 cholera. 
 
 "May 27th. Ten miles west of the Pawnee village, 
 we heard that a company from Pittsburg had quarreled and 
 killed one man. They were heaving out sugar, coffee, 
 tools of all kinds and breaking up into small companies. 
 
 "May 29th. Passed a company from Missouri who 
 had lost a man with the measles. Yesterday met a 
 lieutenant from Fort Kearney. He reports that many 
 belonging to companies from Missouri had had the 
 cholera^ and that sixty had died between Independence 
 and Grand Island. 
 
 "May 31st. Eight miles east of the head of Grand 
 Island passed where the St. Joseph and Independence 
 road intersects this road. There is one continual string 
 of wagons as far as the eye can extend, before and 
 behind us. All seem to be moving on peaceably and 
 quiet. They reported a great deal of sickness in the 
 companies for the first two or three weeks, but now 
 mostly enjoying good health. In the evening there 
 were twenty-nine camps in sight, numbering from fifteen 
 to forty wagons each. 
 
 June 1st. Arrived at Fort Kearney. Ascertained 
 that up to the last of May, 4, 1 3 1 wagons had passed, 
 headed for the west, and there are probably 2,000 
 behind us. It is reported there are 2,000 wagons at the 
 crossing of the South Fork of the Platte, waiting, as the 
 river is too high to cross. Some of the companies are 
 selling their wagons and packing from this place. 
 Wagons which cost one hundred and twenty-five dollars 
 in the states sold for from ten to twenty dollars. Bacon 
 has been sold for one cent per pound, flour from one 
 to two dollars per hundred; other articles in propor- 
 tion. It seems impossible for all the wagons which are 
 on the road to get over the mountains this season." 
 
 The third season's effort to get off to the mountains 
 
194 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the victims of the Nauvoo persecutions, closed by the 
 departure of the last company about the middle of July. 
 The Frontier Guardian, of July 25, notices the event as 
 follows : 
 
 ''THE LAST TRAIN. 
 
 ''On Saturday, the 14th, about noon, the last 
 wagons left Winter Quarters and began to bend their 
 way westward over the boundless plains that lie between 
 us and the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Slowly and 
 majestically they moved along, displaying a column of 
 upwards of three hundred wagons, cattle, sheep, hogs, 
 horses, mules, chickens, turkeys, geese, doves, goats, 
 etc., etc., besides lots of men, women and children. 
 
 "In this company was the Yankee with his 
 machinery, the Southerner with his colored attendant, 
 the Englishman with all kinds of mechanic's tools, the 
 farmer, the merchant, the doctor, the minister, and 
 almost everything necessary for a settlement in a new 
 country, provisioned for nine months from the time of 
 starting. They were led by Messrs. George A. Smith 
 and E. T. Benson. They have our best wishes for their 
 prosperity and safety on their journey, and we hope 
 they may be able to make for themselves comfortable 
 homes in the distant and secluded valleys of our 
 American Piedmont." 
 
 A short but lively picture of scenes in Salt Lake 
 valley in the summer of 1849, is found in a letter of P. 
 P. Pratt to his brother Orson, who was then in England. 
 It is dated Great Salt Lake City, July 8th. 
 
 " Scores or hundreds of people now arrive here 
 daily, and all stop to rest and refit. After crossing the 
 great prairie wilderness for a thousand miles, where 
 nothing is seen like civilization or cultivation, this spot 
 suddenly bursts upon their astonished vision like a 
 paradise in the midst of the desert. So great is the 
 effect that many of them burst forth in an ecstacy of 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 95 
 
 admiration on emerging from the canyon, and gaining a 
 first view of our town and its fields and gardens. Some 
 shed tears, some shout, some dance and skip for joy, 
 and all, doubtless, feel the spirit of the place resting 
 upon them, with its joyous and heavenly influence, bear- 
 ing witness that here live the industrious, the free, the 
 intelligent and the good. 
 
 '*In truth our town presents a plateau of several 
 square miles, dotted with houses, and every foot of it 
 except the broad and pleasant streets, enclosed and 
 under cultivation. Fields of yellow wheat are waving 
 in the breeze ; corn, oats, fiax and garden vegetables 
 fill the vacuum and extend every way as far as the eye 
 can distinguish objects." 
 
 The following excerpt from an epistle of the First 
 Presidency to the authorities of the Church in Potto- 
 watomie county, Iowa, shows that the gathering of the 
 poor of their people, who were still on the Missouri 
 river, was a leading purpose in the minds of Brigham 
 Young and his co-workers. It was a prelude to the 
 great effort made the ensuing conference for the attain- 
 ment of this object, which resulted in sending to the 
 Missouri river Bishop Edward Hunter, as agent for 
 gathering the poor, backed with the leverage of 
 ^30,000 in gold. This epistle was the keynote of the 
 gathering in 1850. 
 
 '' Great Salt Lake City, 
 
 ''July 20th, 1849. 
 
 *<* * * * * 'pj^g brethren in Pottowatomie 
 county, Iowa, in Missouri, Nauvoo and vicinities must 
 remember, pause and reflect that we came to this valley 
 when there was no house, nor fence, and no corn nor 
 wheat, save what we brought with us; and that our 
 every nerve and all our energies will be exerted to sus- 
 tain ourselves, to build houses, fences, and raise grain, 
 
196 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 which from all appearances must command as high a 
 price as from five to ten dollars per bushel for wheat, 
 and from two to six dollars for corn, and other things in 
 proportion. 
 
 ''When these small matters of journeying more 
 than a thousand miles over the sage plains, and settling 
 and preparing to live, and sustain ourselves with the 
 common necessaries of life are overcome, then the poor 
 shall feel our helping hand to assist them to remove to 
 this valley." 
 
 As the emigration is now fairly on the way, news 
 from their moving camps in the form of letters to their 
 friends will be of deep interest to the readers of the 
 succeeding generation. 
 
 "Camp of Israel, near Fort Childs, two hundred 
 and eight miles from winter quarters, 
 
 "Sunday, August 5th, 1849. 
 "Brother Orson Hyde: 
 
 "While the bright and glorious luminary of day is 
 mounting up from his eastern temple and the camps of 
 Israel are corraled in the open prairie, with the canopy 
 of heaven for their covering, except their canvas, and 
 the herdsmen are guarding the cattle with their rifles in 
 hand, and the camps are busy doing the duty devolving 
 upon them, by our request our clerk has seated himself 
 to write a hasty sketch to you for the Guardian, and to 
 all others whom it may concern. 
 
 "We received with joy, on the morning of the 2nd 
 inst., the letters you sent us by Captain Cane, and we 
 wish you to embrace every opportunity of doing the like, 
 and we will cheerfully return the compliment. 
 
 "We have had no serious accidents in our camps. 
 All have enjoyed good health, with one or two excep- 
 tions. We have met with no losses of catde. Indeed, 
 in everything we have been blessed, for which we feel to 
 raise our hearts in prayer, thanksgiving and gratitude to 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 97 
 
 our Father in heaven. Surely the angel of mercy has 
 gone before us, and round about the camps of Israel. 
 We had two or three stampedes before we adopted the 
 plan of chaining and tying up our cattle. Since then 
 none have occurred in our camp, but our cattle rest in 
 peace and quietness. We corral our loose cattle, horses 
 and sheep inside and tie our oxen outside, which we 
 think the safest plan in case of fright or stampede, and 
 we find it answers well. ***** 
 
 "In Captain Richards' company a stampede took 
 place last Sabbath evening, but without loss. They cor- 
 raled. This company we expect is at Elm creek, thir- 
 teen miles ahead of us. On our journey thus far we 
 have passed seven graves. Some of gold-diggers, others 
 of Saints. All but one, an infant, died of cholera, as the 
 head boards inform us. Among others we see the name 
 of A. Kellogg, at Prairie creek, one hundred and eighty- 
 seven miles from Winter Quarters. Died of cholera, 
 23rd of June last. Also Samuel Gully, captain of a 
 hundred in Brother O. Spencer's company of Saints, lies 
 one hundred and eighty-five miles from Winter Quarters 
 in the open prairie, his grave is neatly turfed over. He 
 died of cholera, July 5th, 1849, ^g^^ thirty-nine years. 
 * * * * So you perceive the destroyer is on the 
 vast plains as well as in the cities and towns. * * 
 
 "Since we wrote you concerning our organization 
 at the Elk Horn, we have had a re-organization at the 
 Platte liberty pole, which we deemed advisable. The 
 rules of the camps are the same as those adopted by 
 President Young's company last year. The camps are 
 denominated G. A. Smith's, including the Welsh com- 
 pany, and E. T. Benson's, including the Norwegian com- 
 pany. It was thought best to divide thus on account of 
 numbers, and so separate the camps but keep close to 
 each other. Isaac Clark, president of both camps in G. 
 A. Smith's company. Elisha Everett, captain of hun- 
 dred. Charles Hopkins, captain of fifty in E. T. Benson's 
 company. 
 
 "The reason we are anxious for all companies com 
 
98 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 ing this way to tie up their cattle is because of loss and 
 danger. Indeed, there are few that can comprehend the 
 terrors of a stampede. Picture to yourselves three or 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 1 99 
 
 four hundred head of frightened oxen, steers, cows, etc., 
 running, bellowing, roaring, foaming, mad and furious, 
 the ground shaking beneath their feet like an earthquake; 
 chains rattling, yokes cracking, horns flying and the cry 
 of the guard, 'Every man turn out.' Horses mounted 
 and, in the darkness of night, through high grass, 
 sloughs, mud and mire, pursue the bellowing and furious 
 herd, leaving the women and children frightened, with a 
 few guards with rifles to guard the camp. After an hour 
 or two, perhaps, the cattle will begin to get weary and 
 quiet, and if luck and good fortune attend the horsemen 
 they will head them and drive them back to camp, except 
 those that sometimes swim rivers, etc. The terrors of a 
 stampede are not soon forgotten. Good chains and 
 ropes to tie up will prevent this. * * * 
 
 "Signed, William J. Appleby, 
 
 " Clerk. and Historian of the camps." 
 
 Another communication from Messrs. Smith and 
 Benson to Elder Hyde followed the above, headed : 
 
 "Camp OF Israel, Spring Creek, three hundred and 
 
 "FORTY-FIVE MILES FROM WiNTER QUARTERS, 
 
 "August 2 1 St, 1849. 
 " Brother Hyde: 
 
 u* * * * Another opportunity favors us this morn- 
 ing of writing you by Brother Babbitt, who came into 
 camp a few hours ago, twenty-six days from Salt Lake. 
 
 "We have sustained no losses, no serious accidents 
 of any kind. The destroyer has not laid any of us low; 
 but, indeed, in everything we have been blessed and 
 prospered, and the angel of peace and mercy, it appears, 
 has been our shield and Joseph's God our protector, for 
 which we feel truly thankful to Him whose we are and whom 
 we desire to serve and obey. To be sure, we have had 
 our trials in wet, muddy, miry roads, sand bluffs, sloughs, 
 rivers, etc., also quite frequent and heavy showers of 
 
200 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 rain, thunder, lightning, wind and great hail, but it has 
 caused where last year no grass grew and no water was 
 to be found, plenty of each for us the present year, and 
 the buffalo, antelope, ducks, etc., supply the camps with 
 meats which are excellent and plenty. 
 
 ''So you will perceive we are happy and contented, 
 and blessed with the spirit of the Lord. We surely 
 rejoice, and oft is the time the camps resound with the 
 songs of Zion, and fervent aspirations to heaven for the 
 mercies and blessings we enjoy, including protection 
 from the Indians. They have not molested us. Indeed, 
 we have not seen half a dozen Indians since we left 
 Winter Quarters. The cholera, it appears, has 
 frightened them and they have deserted the path of the 
 white man. Scores of them have already died with it 
 and been left on the prairie, covered over with a few 
 skins, and the wolves have come and devoured the flesh 
 from their bones. ***** 
 
 "We have been visited with two or three severe 
 hail storms. One took place last Friday evening. A 
 description of it we copy from Elder Appleby's journal 
 of the camp. 
 
 "August 1 8th. Last evening we experienced 
 another heavy shower. It came on as the camps were 
 tying up their cattle. A dark cloud had been observed 
 lying off south of the Platte, near which we were 
 encamped. After sometime it appeared to separate ; 
 one part passed east of us, the other, a short time 
 after came over us, and saturated our canvas well, and 
 made those who were tying up their cattle expedite the 
 business or else take the large, cold drops. However, 
 it soon passed over and appeared to follow the one gone 
 east, as if to wage a battle, as both seemed prepared. 
 
 "After a little they appeared to meet and, united, 
 they bent their way to give the camp a round of their 
 artillery. On they came, riding upon the wind with the 
 speed of the llama over the prairies, roaring and tum- 
 bling, charged with electricity, the lightning flashed its 
 vivid glare through the darkness of the night and storm. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 20I 
 
 Sometimes a shaft would descend to earth followed by 
 rumbling peals of thunder that caused the earth to 
 tremble. At length they reached the camp, and, as 
 if to defeat us If we undertook to keep them at bay, 
 they first gave us a fine drenching, perhaps to wet our 
 ammunition. * * After a few minutes their batteries 
 were opened Indeed ; first canister^ then grape, after- 
 wards the half pounders, not hot shot, but cold and 
 hard, was poured Into our camp. The plains and dis- 
 tant hills reverberated with the sound of the artillery of 
 heaven. The cattle being made fast withstood the storm 
 without seeking for shelter, except some horses that 
 broke loose, and loose cattle in the corral. 
 
 "The guard, in the midst of the battle, cried the 
 hour as the hail fell upon them, sometimes striking them 
 on the head nearly stunning them. * * * * However, 
 after a while, appearing to have spent their fury they 
 retired, leaving the camp master of the field, and a con- 
 siderable quantity of their large shot behind lying In 
 and around It. * * * The camp after their 
 retreat reposed in sleep. The sentinels paced the dark, 
 and in the morning all was well ; no one killed nor 
 wounded ; no cattle missing, and not an enemy lying on 
 the batde field." 
 
 On the evening of September 3rd, 1849, Hon. A. 
 W. Babbitt, bearing the above letter, arrived in Kanes- 
 ville. He was thirty-six days on the road and water 
 bound eight days of that time. He went safely through 
 with one man, Oliver G. Workman, seven horses and a 
 light wagon In whichhe took the mail. 
 
 13 
 
202 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 SYNOPSIS OF NEWS FROM SALT LAKE GREAT SACRIFICE OF 
 
 PROPERTY BY CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS CURIOUS HIS- 
 TORY OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GULLY SECOND 
 
 GENERAL EPISTLE FROM GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY 
 
 NEWS FROM EMIGRATING COMPANIES — FOOD SUPPLY IN 
 
 THE DESERT COME ! FROM THE NATIONS, COME 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE P. E. FUND COMPANY ANOTHER 
 
 LETTER FROM SMITH AND BENSON TREMENDOUS SNOW 
 
 STORM — SIXTY ANIMALS PERISH PIGS AND CHICKENS 
 
 FREEZE TO DEATH REMARKABLE PRESERVATION OF 
 
 HUMAN LIFE GRAVES OF THE GOLD DIGGERS. 
 
 THE following is a synopsis of the news from Salt 
 Lake, furnished by Colonel Babbitt to the Frontier 
 Guardian of September 5th, 1849. The prophecy of 
 Heber C. Kimball, in the autumn of 1848, that goods 
 would be sold cheaper in the streets of Salt Lake City 
 than they could be purchased in the eastern cities, was 
 amply fulfilled in the summer of 1849. The valley had 
 been a place of general deposit for the surplus property 
 of the California emigrants. When they saw a few bags 
 and kegs of gold dust which had been brought from 
 California by returning Mormons, they became wild with 
 enthusiasm. Pack mules and horses, worth in ordinary 
 times, twenty-five or thirty dollars, readily brought two 
 hundred dollars in valuable property at low prices. Good 
 property was daily offered at auction in all parts of the 
 city. 
 
 Sometimes three or four heavy wagons, with a yoke 
 of oxen thrown in, would be offered for a light one- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 203 
 
 horse wagon. Common domestic sheeting sold for 
 from 5 to 10 cents per yard by the bolt; the best of 
 spades and shovels for 50 cents each ; vests, that cost 
 in St. Louis $1.50, for 37^ cents; full chests of joiner 
 tools worth $150 in the east, sold for ^^25. Almost every 
 article, except sugar and coffee, sold on an average, 
 50 per cent, below wholesale prices in the eastern cities. 
 
 "Through the alkali belt, east of the South Pass, 
 their losses in cattle were enormous. Many of the men 
 would pay no attention to the warning of the Saints, not 
 to let their cattle drink water strongly impregnated with 
 saleratus. They said it was all a * Mormon humbug' 
 about the alkali being strong enough to kill their cattle. 
 As the result more than 2,000 carcasses of oxen lay 
 strewn along the road in the alkali district, and the 
 offensive smell made it almost impossible to travel in the 
 vicinity." 
 
 The cholera had been very fatal among the Indians. 
 Mr. Babbitt reported passing, in one place, ten deserted 
 lodges with many dead Indians lying about, and the 
 bodies torn and half eaten by wolves. 
 
 Livingston and Kinkead's company, and Captain 
 William Miller, were met two hundred miles west of 
 Laramie, at the time all well. Captain Howard Egan 
 and company were met at the Weber river, about forty 
 miles from the valley. Messrs. Hickman and Hatch 
 west of the South Pass ; Perkin's hundred, of Captain 
 Allen Taylor's and Enoch Reese's fifties, still east of 
 Laramie. 
 
 Apostles George A. Smith and E. T. Benson's com- 
 panies were well but getting along slowly on account of 
 constant rains and high water. But four of our people 
 had died of cholera on the road. We copy the follow- 
 ing verbatim from the Frontier Guardian : 
 
204 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 *'Mr. Babbitt certainly deserves our thanks for his 
 perseverance in swimming rivers and towing over his 
 wagon on rafts made with a hatchet and tied together 
 with lariats. It cannot be a very pleasant job to freight 
 a rude sort of raft with a wagon, push off into a rapid 
 current, pull out about one-fourth of the distance across, 
 then take one end of a rope in your teeth, while the 
 other end is attached to a raft and plunge into the stream, 
 like a spaniel, and swim over with raft and cargo in tow, 
 being swept down streams over snags and sawyers, for a 
 quarter or half a mile, as Mr. B. informs us has been his 
 lot in two or three instances. 
 
 "But, Oh! the sacrifice of property thrown out and 
 left by the road side, by the Californians between Lara- 
 mie and the valley, is beyond calculation. ***** 
 
 ''Mr. B. thinks that Livingston and Kinkead will be 
 broken merchants because of so many goods getting 
 into the valley before theirs and having been sold for less 
 than prime cost. The market is glutted." 
 
 Mr. Babbitt's surmises that Salt Lake was over- 
 stocked with goods proved not to be well founded. 
 Livingston and Kinkead soon disposed of their stock of 
 merchandise ; sugar and coffee at 40 cents per pound, 
 calico 25 cents per yard, and other goods at propor- 
 tionately high prices. 
 
 The following papers not only give some items of 
 historical interest but are as well a curiosity. The 
 writer evidently expected they would fall into the hands 
 of Messrs. Smith and Benson but they forded the Loupe 
 Fork lower down the stream. They were found on the 
 grave of a gold-digger and, through a Mr. Reed who was 
 hunting with the Indians, they found their way into the 
 hands of the editor of the Frontier Guardian. As before 
 stated Captain Gully died with the cholera and was buried 
 by the wayside. 
 
from kirtland to salt lake city. 205 
 
 "Upper Crossing of the Loupe, 
 
 "June 26th, 1849. 
 " Bros. Geo. A Smith and E. T. Benson : 
 
 "My Dear Sirs : We arrived here on the 22nd and 
 23 rd, all in tolerable health. Soon after the arrival of 
 Brother Wm. Miller's fifty, Brother Nelson McCarthy 
 was attacked with cholera and is buried at this point. 
 
 * * * We have waited here three 
 
 days with but little prospects of crossing until today 
 about twelve o'clock, when the Disposer of all good 
 seems to have ordered a place for us to cross. * * * 
 We have found the road very heavy. Yet our cattle 
 have improved. * * * ^5 y^^- j have not been 
 able to send back the report of our numbers, but have 
 them ready for the first opportunity. I leave them here 
 hoping you may receive this. I do it short as I am 
 in feeble health. Wagons, 120 ; souls, 352 ; oxen, 480 ; 
 cows, 315 ; loose cattle, 17 ; horses, 29; mules, sheep, 
 102 ; pigs, 31 ; chickens, 62 ; cats 25 ; dogs, 25 ; geese, 
 2; ducks, 2 ; doves, 7 ; hives of bees, i. 
 
 "Most respectfully your Friend and Servt, 
 
 Samuel Gully." 
 
 Considering this was the third season's emigration, 
 this company was well fitted out with animal life for the 
 benefit of the new colony. 
 
 With the wonderful changes of forty years, it seems 
 like a dream of the past that the writer crossed the plains 
 in 1849, with Enoch Reese's fifty, of Captain Perkins' 
 hundred. At one time stampedes were so frequent and 
 dangerous that there seemed but little room for choice 
 between hostile Indians and stampeding cattle. 
 
 So subject to panic did the cattle become, that the 
 leaders of the people thought it advisable for the com- 
 panies to break up into tens long before reaching Lara- 
 mie. The following morning, after this was done, the 
 cattle of Captain Lorenzo Clark's ten to which the 
 
206 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 writer belonged, stampeded with quite serious loss. He 
 arrived in Great Salt Lake valley on the 1 6th of October. 
 He found a destitute but cheerful people, struggling with 
 the sterile elements for existence. Nature had poorly- 
 remunerated the labors of the husbandman ; the country 
 was nearly destitute of game available for subsistence, 
 and the scarcity of cattle rendered their preservation 
 necessary for the future prosperity of the increasing 
 population. The people were a thousand miles from 
 outside resources, and necessity compelled the utmost 
 economy in the preservation of food, until time permitted 
 them to organize the means of subsistence from the 
 elements, and learn the invaluable lesson how to turn 
 deserts into gardens and desolate places into fruitful 
 fields. Baptized in the fires of persecution, tempered to 
 bear oppression and wrong to the limit of human endur- 
 ance, practically outlawed and expelled from the soil of 
 Missouri and Illinois by their fellow citizens for their re- 
 ligious belief, the principles of liberty and equality, em- 
 bodied in the constitution of their country, had become 
 indelibly stamped on their hearts by the brand of afflic- 
 tion. Here in the fastnesses of the mountains they hoped 
 to be free from oppression, until they were able to 
 struggle successfully for the right. 
 
 There are few instances in modern history where a 
 people so few in number, so oppressed by enemies, so 
 crippled in resources had been of so much practical 
 benefit to their country, and fewer still who received so 
 little care and so many insults from their government. 
 
 Taught self relience by the necessity of self pre- 
 servation ; accustomed to hardship and toil from the 
 force of circumstances ; indifferent alike to the attacks of 
 slander and to the sneers of contempt, through implicit 
 confidence in the divinity of their principles, they were, 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 207 
 
 at the time of which we speak, masters of the situation 
 into which their enemies had forced them. 
 
 The second general epistle of the Presidency of the 
 Church, from Great Salt Lake valley dated October 
 1 2 th, 1849, w^s published in the Frontier Guardian of the 
 ensuing 26th of December. Of the emigration not yet 
 arrived in the valley it says : — 
 
 "Elder Dan Jones, from Wales, is within a few days 
 travel, accompanied by a portion of the Welsh brethren 
 and the remainder are located on Pottowatomie lands. 
 " Elders Geo. A. Smith and E. T. Benson are in the 
 same vicinity, with Dan Jones, accompanied by their 
 families and a large company of Saints, from whom we 
 received an express five days since, which left them in 
 universal health and prosperity. They will probably be 
 here in two weeks. We have sent teams to help them 
 on their journey. 
 
 •'The direct emigration of the Saints to this place will 
 be some five or six hundred wagons this season, besides 
 many who came in search of gold have heard the gospel 
 for the first time, and will go no further, having believed 
 and been baptized " * * * * * * 
 
 The epistle states that the grain crops had been 
 good, but late crops of corn, buckwheat, vegetables, etc., 
 had been injured by the frosts, but it speaks very en- 
 couragingly of the food supply for the ensuing year. 
 
 "We have great occasion for thanksgiving to Him 
 who giveth the increase, that He has blest our labors so 
 that, with prudence, we shall have a comfortable supply 
 for ourselves and our brethren on the way who may be 
 in need, until another harvest ; but we feel the need of 
 more laborers, for more efficient help, and multiplied 
 means of farming and building at this place. We want 
 men ; brethren come from the States, from the nations, 
 
2o8 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 come ! and help us build and grow, until we can say 
 enough ; the valleys of Ephraim are full." « 
 
 We have seen by a letter from the Presidency to 
 the authorities in Potto watomie county, written on the 26th 
 of the previous July, that a great effort for gathering the 
 poor was then in contemplation. This epistle gives an 
 account of that important organization the Perpetual 
 Emigration Fund Company, and outlines its operations 
 for the year 1850. 
 
 '' About one month since we suggested the propriety 
 of creating a perpetual fund for the purpose of helping 
 the poor Saints to emigrate to this place, agreeably to 
 our covenants in the temple that we would never cease 
 our exertions, by all the means and influences within our 
 reach, till all the Saints who were obliged to leave Nau- 
 voo shall be located at some gathering place of the Saints. 
 The Council approved the suggestion and a committee 
 was immediately appointed to raise a fund by voluntary 
 contribution to be forwarded east next mail. 
 
 "The October Conference sanctioned the doings of 
 the committee, and appointed Brother Edward Hunter, 
 a tried, faithful and- approved Bishop, a general agent to 
 bear the Perpetual Emigrating Funds to the States, to 
 superintend the direction and appropriation thereof and 
 return the same to this place, with such poor brethren as 
 shall be wisdom to help. 
 
 "We wish all to understand that this fund is to be 
 Perpetual, and is never to be diverted from the object of 
 gathering the poor to Zion while there are Saints to be 
 gathered, unless He whose right it is to rule shall other- 
 wise command. ***** 
 
 "This Perpetual Fund is to be under the direction 
 of the Presidency at all times, and as soon as Bishop 
 Hunter shall return with the same and his freight of 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 209 
 
 Saints to this place, the cattle and teams will be disposed 
 of to the best advantage, and the avails with all we can 
 add to it, will be sent forth immediately on another 
 mission and we want you all prepared to meet it, and 
 add to it, and so would we continue to increase it, from 
 year to year, until when ' a nation is born in a day ' they 
 can be removed the next if the Lord will. Therefore ye 
 poor and meek of the earth, lift up your hearts and re- 
 joice in the Holy One of Israel, for your redemption 
 draweth nigh : but in your rejoicings be patient, for 
 though your turn to emigrate may not be the first year, 
 or even the second, it will come, and its tarryings will be 
 short, if all Saints who have been assisted will be as 
 liberal as those in the valley." 
 
 This organization continued its beneficent operations 
 in gathering many thousands of poor Saints from the 
 nations, opening to them a way of temporal salvation 
 from poverty and oppression, until it was throttled by 
 congressional enactment in 1887. 
 
 The following is another interesting letter from the 
 emigrating companies on the plains. 
 
 *'Camp of Israel, Muddy Fork, 930 Miles from Win- 
 ter Quarters, 
 
 "October i8th, 1849. 
 ''Elder O. Hyde, 
 
 ''Dear Brethren: * * * * The last 
 we wrote you was at Fort Laramie, since then no oppor- 
 tunity of sending letters to the States has presented 
 itself. After leaving Laramie we continued our journey 
 slowly as heretofore, but making progress every day, 
 keeping a vigilant eye to the welfare of our cattle. The 
 first three hundred miles of our journey nearly was 
 through mud and mire, after that heavy sand for a con- 
 siderable distance, but pasture was first-rate. Our cattle 
 
2IO FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 withstood the journey well, and up to our arrival at 
 Laramie, we believe,' neither our camp nor Brother Ben- 
 son's had lost a single head with the exception of one or 
 two cows that got killed in the yoke. 
 
 "After we passed Laramie the feed became inferior, 
 but we found a sufficient supply for our cattle. Indeed, 
 we have found a plenty all the while, with the exception 
 of two or three days in the neighborhood of the Willow 
 Springs, where the alkali or poisonous springs abound. 
 Through these wild plains lie the bones of hundreds of 
 cattle that have died the past summer. No less than the 
 bones of nine head were counted in one heap, belonging 
 to the gold diggers bound for California. Through this 
 desolate part of our journey we lost but a few head of 
 our cattle, and those that died were chiefly worn down 
 by the journey. When we arrived at the Sweetwater 
 river, about six miles below Independence Rock, a recruit 
 of some sixty yoke of cattle, together with several wagons 
 and teamsters from the valley, met us. They had been 
 sent by the President to our relief under the charge of 
 Brothers David Fullmer and Joseph Young. This was a 
 welcome meeting to us, as our cattle were much fatigued 
 and needed respite. 
 
 ''The cattle thus sent were divided between the 
 three camps, viz. : E. T. Benson's, Captain Richard's and 
 ours. This relieved us much, and the weather being 
 pleasant we rolled along with ease. At Independence 
 Rock some twenty-five or thirty head strayed away, but 
 we recovered them all, except one cow, after following 
 thirteen head about one hundred miles. 
 
 "We crossed over Rocky Ridge on the 2nd of this 
 month, near the summit of the South Pass, with the 
 Wind River chain of mountains on the north. Towards 
 night it began to snow and blow quite hard and fast 
 from the north-east. The weather increased in coldness, 
 which obliged us to encamp the best way we could with- 
 out corraling, on a branch of the Sweetwater. E. T. 
 Benson's and Captain Richard's camps were ten or twelve 
 miles ahead of us on Willow Creek. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 2 1 I 
 
 ''We turned our cattle loose and drove them into 
 the willows near by to do the best they could and share 
 their fate. Such a storm of wind and snow as we exper- 
 ienced, we think, was never exceeded in severity in Pot- 
 towatomie. For thirty-six hours it continued to howl 
 around us, unceasingly blowing nearly a hurricane, drift- 
 ing the snow in every direction. The snow froze to 
 whatever it touched. Being unable to keep fires, except 
 a few who had stoves in their wagons, we had to be con- 
 tent without them and do the best we could. 
 
 "Many were the mothers and infants who were 
 obliged to be in bed under their frail coverings that shel- 
 tered them from the pitiless blast and kept them from 
 perishing, with, perhaps, only a dry piece of bread or a 
 few crackers to subsist upon. * * * yj^^ snow 
 drifted around us in some places to the depth of three 
 or four feet. Many were the reflections that passed 
 through our minds in regard to our situation and the 
 welfare of our cattle during the storm ; but we felt 
 resigned to our fate and Heaven's will. 
 
 ''On the morning of the third day the storm abated. 
 We turned out in the chilling blast from off the everlast- 
 ing snow-capped mountains, ourselves at an altitude of 
 7,000 feet, to look for our famishing, perishing cattle. 
 As we wended our way down the stream among the wil- 
 lows, it was, indeed, a sorrowful sight to behold our dead 
 cattle, one after another, cold and stiff, lying in the 
 snow banks, food for wolves, ravens, catamounts, mag- 
 pies, etc., that inhabit these mountainous regions in 
 countless numbers and live on prey. 
 
 "The greater part of our cattle had made their way 
 during the storm about five miles off, to the Sweetwater, 
 where they obtained pasture and fared quite, well, not 
 one being found dead, while those that tarried behind 
 fell a prey to hunger and the merciless storm. Upwards 
 of sixty head of cattle perished in the three camps. 
 Those that survived the storm did not recover from its 
 effects for several days, others died in consequence, and 
 some show the effects yet, although they are improving 
 
2 12 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 at present as we find plenty of mountain grass, and that 
 hearty and good. We are in tolerable good rolling 
 order, making from twelve to fifteen miles per day. We 
 hope, if we are prospered, to reach the valley in eight 
 or ten days from this time. ♦ * * * 
 
 ''Not a solitary death has occurred, of man, woman 
 or child, in our camp, although we have experienced 
 storms and endured cold weather. It was so cold during 
 the storm and after, that chickens, pigs, etc., froze to 
 death and men crossed over the Sweetwater on the ice. 
 
 "Many have been the graves we have passed on 
 our journey, some of friends near and dear, others of 
 strangers that have fallen by the shaft of the destroyer 
 while traveling over these boundless plains of sage and 
 mountains of rock, where the buffalo, elk, antelope, 
 bear, ravenous wolf, etc., range undisturbed, except by 
 the red man or the journeying emigrant. We have seen 
 many graves of gold-seekers whose bodies have been 
 disinterred by wolves, and the bones, pantaloons, hose 
 and other things strewed around, with the headboard 
 lying near, informing the traveler who had been buried, 
 where from, the day they died, age, disease, etc. But 
 we have not seen a solitary tomb of the Saints disturbed 
 by the wolves. 
 
 "Among the graves of those whose bones lie 
 around bleaching in the sun, their flesh consumed by 
 the ravenous wolves, we recognize the names of several 
 noted mobocrats from the states of Missouri and Illinois 
 who took an active, prominent part in persecuting, mob- 
 bing and driving the Saints from these states. Among 
 others we noticed at the South Pass of the Rocky 
 l^Iountains, the grave of E. Dodd, of Gallatin, Missouri, 
 died on the 19th of July last, of typhus fever. The 
 wolves had completely disinterred him. The clothes in 
 which he had been buried lay strewed around. His 
 under jaw bone lay in the grave with the teeth complete, 
 the only remains that were discernible of him. It is 
 believed he was the same Dodd who was a prominent 
 mobocrat and who took an active part in the murder of 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 213 
 
 the Saints at Haun's Mill, Missouri. If so, it is a right- 
 eous retribution. Our God will surely inflict punishment 
 upon the heads of our oppressors in His own due time 
 and way. * * * * 
 
 ''As ever, we remain your brethren in Christ, 
 
 "George A. Smith, 
 "W. I. Appleby." 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 BISHOP HUNTER AGENT FOR GATHERING THE POOR CHAR- 
 ACTERISTIC ANECDOTES INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EMI- 
 GRATION OF 1850 THE CALL FOR THE GATHERING 
 
 OF THE CAMPS OF ISRAEL DEARTH OF NEWS IN GREAT 
 
 SALT LAKE VALLEY NEWS FROM PARTIES SNOWED IN 
 
 IN THE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 THE first company of Elders sent on foreign missions 
 from Utah left Great Salt Lake City on the 19th of 
 October and carried the last mail sent east in 1849. It 
 was under the leadership of Jedediah M. Grant. 
 
 With this company went Edward Hunter, Bishop of 
 the thirteenth ward of Great Salt Lake City. He was 
 sent by the chief authorities of the Church to the Mis- 
 souri river as agent of the P. E. Fund Company, with 
 $30,000 in gold to gather up as many as possible of the 
 Saints remaining of the Nauvoo exodus and bring them 
 to Utah. His character peculiarly adapted him for the 
 work of gathering the poor. 
 
 Aside from his excellent business qualifications 
 nature had endowed him with humane and self-sacrific- 
 
2 14 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 Ing principles. Under the unavoidable hardships of 
 traveling, in that early period, he not only manifested a 
 kindly regard for the comfort of others but, as well, ever 
 carried his full share of the general burden. What was 
 said of the Prophet Joseph Smith was, as well, applica- 
 ble to him, "He was always willing to carry his part of 
 the burden, and to share in any suffering or deprivation 
 inflicted upon his friends." 
 
 The following incidents, related by Charles F. 
 Decker who traveled with him illustrate this trait of his 
 character and also his detestation of ''camp shirks." 
 
 He had a good natured way of making such charac- 
 ters ashamed rather than angry. It was necessary to 
 cross the Platte river. The quicksand was bad and it 
 was thought necessary for those in a condition to do so 
 to wade the river and thus lighten the loads. It was, no 
 doubt, a chilling operation at that altitude in the month 
 of November. It appeared to require a general lively 
 effort to insure the crossing of the teams in safety. 
 Some persons in poor health, whom the strong brethren 
 proposed should remain in the wagons, refused to do so, 
 while others, in good health seriously objected to wetting 
 their lower extremities. 
 
 The brethren began to roll at the wheels of a wagon, 
 the team of which appeared to have more than it could 
 contend with in the quicksand. In the wagon was a 
 Brother J. who, although enjoying very good health, 
 objected to getting out for fear of catching his death 
 cold. Bishop Hunter, having hold of one of the hind 
 wheels, quietly remarked, "Brethren, I think this wagon 
 will have to be tipped over before it will go out." Suit- 
 ing action to the idea he raised his side of the wagon 
 until it appeared to be going over. Mr. J., inside, antic- 
 ipating such a catastrophe, cried out, with some energy 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 215 
 
 '*Oh let me get out first!" and sprang into the water. 
 The Bishop quietly remarked, ''Well, well, brethren, I 
 think the wagon will go along now, suppose we 
 try it." 
 
 One cold evening the company encamped on the 
 bank of the Platte river. Wood for camp purposes 
 could only be obtained by crossing a considerable branch 
 of the river on to an island. It was very unpleasant to 
 ford the stream, but of two evils this seemed the least. 
 The more ambitious of the men took their axes and 
 started, at once, for the island. Mr. J. and another sim- 
 ilar character remained on the bank to take wood from 
 those who might bring it through the water. Bishop Hun- 
 ter discovering the situation, as he came from camp 
 passed between them, seized one with each arm and took 
 both with him into the water, good naturedly remarking, 
 "Come brethren, we are wet now, let us go and get some 
 wood." 
 
 This company arrived in Kanesville December i ith, 
 1849. It carried the following letter of instructions con- 
 cerning the emigration of 1850. It emphasizes the fact 
 that the spirit of gathering the scattered Saints burned 
 in the bosoms of the First Presidency of the Church 
 and the Apostles, and that, by their teachings and exam- 
 ples they were spreading the fire until it was reaching 
 the heart of every person, endowed with the spirit of 
 the latter-day work in the United States. 
 
 "Great Salt Lake City, 
 
 "October i6th, 1849. 
 "President Orson Hyde: 
 
 '' Beloved Brother : The Lord has been devising, or 
 rather making manifest, ways and means to facilitate the 
 gathering of His Saints in these last days, and we lose 
 no time in cheering your heart with the intelligence, and 
 
2l6 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 offering such suggestions as may be wisdom for you to 
 follow in helping to roll on this glorious work of gather- 
 ing Israel. ******** 
 . "We write you more particularly at this time, con- 
 cerning the gathering, and the mission of our general 
 agent for the Perpetual Emigration Fund for the coming 
 year. Bishop Edward Hunter, who will soon be with you, 
 bearing the funds already raised in this place, and we 
 will here state our instructions to Bishop Hunter, so that 
 you may the more fully comprehend our designs. 
 
 "In the first place this fund has been raised by 
 voluntary donations, and is to be continued by the same 
 process, and by so managing as to preserve the same 
 and then to multiply. 
 
 "Bishop Hunter is instructed to go direct to Kanes- 
 ville and confer with the general authorities at that place, 
 and, by all means within his reach, procure every inform- 
 ation so as to make the most judicious application of 
 the funds in the purchase of young oxen and cows, that 
 can be worked effectually to the valley, and that will be 
 capable of improving and selling after their arrival, so 
 as to continue the fund the following year. 
 
 "We will give early information to those whom we 
 have directed to be helped, and such others as he shall 
 deem wisdom, being aided in his judgment by the 
 authorities among you, so that they may be preparing 
 their wagons, etc., for the journey. 
 
 "Wagons are so plenty here that it is very desirable 
 not to purchase with the Perpetual Fund ; but let those 
 be assisted who will make wagons of wood, when they 
 cannot get iron, such as will be strong and safe to bring 
 them here, so that all the funds may be appropriated to the 
 purchase of such things as will improve in value by 
 being transferred to this place. 
 
 "The poor can live without the luxuries of life on 
 the road and in the valley, as well as in Pottowatomie 
 and other places, and those who have means to purchase 
 luxuries, have monies to procure an outfit of their own 
 and need no help. Therefore, let such as are helped 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 217 
 
 receive as little in food and clothing, wagons, etc., as can 
 possibly make them comfortable to this place, and when 
 they arrive they can go to work and get their outfit of 
 all things necessary for comfort and convenience better 
 than where they are, and even luxuries. 
 
 ''As early in the spring as it will possibly do, on 
 account of feed for cattle. Brother Hunter will gather 
 all his company, organize them in the usual order, and 
 preside over the camp, traveling with the same to this 
 place ; having previously procured the best teamsters 
 possible, such as are accustomed to driving, and be 
 gentle, kind and attentive to their teams. When the 
 Saints, thus helped, arrive here, they will give their obli- 
 o^ation to the Church to refund to the amount of what 
 they have received, as soon as circumstances will permit, 
 and labor will be furnished to such as wish on the public 
 works, and good pay ; and as fast as they can procure 
 the necessaries of life, and a surplus, that surplus will be 
 applied to liquidating their debt, and thereby increasing 
 the Perpetual Fund. By this it will be readily discovered 
 that the funds are to be appropriated in the form of a 
 loan, rather than a gift ; and this will make the honest 
 in heart rejoice, for they love to labor and be independ- 
 ent by their labor, and not live on the charity of friends, 
 while the lazy idlers, if such there be, will find fault and 
 want every luxury furnished them on their journey, and 
 in the end pay nothing. The Perpetual Fund will help 
 no such idlers ; we have no use for them in the valley ; 
 they had better stay where they are ; and if they think 
 they can devise a better way of appropriating the emi- 
 grating funds than we propose let them go to work, 
 get the funds, make the appropriation, set us a better 
 pattern, and we will follow it ; and by that time we are 
 confident they will have means of their own and will need 
 no help. 
 
 "Brother Hunter will return all the funds to this 
 place next season, when the most judicious course will 
 be pursued to convert all the cattle and means into cash, 
 that the same may be sent abroad as speedily as possible 
 
 14 
 
2l8 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 on another mission, together with all that we can raise 
 besides to add to it ; and we anticipate the Saints at 
 Pottowatomie and in the states, will increase the funds 
 by all possible means the coming winter, so that our 
 agents may return with a large company. The few 
 thousands we send out by our agent, at this time, is like 
 a grain of mustard seed in the earth ; we send it forth 
 into the world, and among the Saints, a good soil, and 
 we expect it will grow and flourish, and spread abroad 
 in a few years, so that it will cover England, cast its 
 shadow in Europe, and in process of time compass the 
 whole earth. That is to say, these funds are designed 
 to increase until Israel is gathered from all nations, and 
 the poor can sit under their own vines and inhabit their 
 own house and worship God in Zion." * * * * 
 
 On the 23rd of January, 1850, the Frontier 
 Guardian sounded the call for the gathering of the 
 camps of Israel for the march across the plains. It was 
 in the spirit of the general epistle and it was no uncer- 
 tain sound. 
 
 ''The friends abroad throughout the states will do 
 well to gather to this point as early in the spring as they 
 can. * * * Come early to this place, and, if 
 you are unable to go on you will be in time to put in 
 crops ; and if you are able to go on, you may start with 
 the first companies. Let all prepare that can and be off 
 to the valley. But we want every nook, corner, and 
 field, put into spring grain before you start. It will 
 probably be a forward spring, and much small grain may 
 be put in during the month of March. The first com- 
 pany will pfobably leave here for the mountains about 
 the I St of May, one about the middle of May, one 
 about the ist of June, and one about the 15th of June — 
 none later. Every company of emigrants will have 
 experienced guides who know the route^ who know the 
 Indians, and who well understand the mode and manner 
 of traveling on the plains." 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 2I9 
 
 The third general epistle from the valley was dated 
 April 1 2th, 1850. It reached Kanesville in time for the 
 Frontier Guardian of June 12th. It states that the 
 colony in the Great Salt Lake valley had had no news 
 from abroad since the previous September, a period of 
 seven months. The chief interest of the following 
 excerpt is the news concerning the parties caught in the 
 snows of the Wasatch mountains in the beginning of 
 the previous winter. 
 
 "Some emigrants from Michigan arrived at this 
 place on the 15th of November, accompanied by Mr. 
 Vasques, bringing letters from Elders then going east, 
 who were at Little Sandy, October 30th, all well. And 
 on the 22 nd of the same month snow covered the valley 
 from one and a half to two inches deep ; and on the 
 24th it was about three and a half feet in Mill Creek 
 canyon ; on the same day Elder P. P. Pratt, with a 
 company of about fifty men, left the most southern settle- 
 ment of this valley, where they had rendezvoused the 
 day previous for the purpose of exploring the south 
 country to learn its geography, history, climate and loca- 
 tions for settlements. 
 
 "Nineteen emigrants arrived December ist, in a 
 very destitute situation, having left their wagons more 
 than forty miles back, and their teams about twenty ; 
 themselves without provisions. They reported having 
 left the states on the 24th of September, and having 
 passed Elder Taylor's company at Independence Rock, 
 November 6th, but so closely were they pressed by the 
 snow, they did not bring us one newspaper, though they 
 said they had many in their wagons. * * * 
 
 "On the 30th of January, four men arrived from 
 Fort Bridger, having left their goods and remaining pack 
 animals in Weber canyon ; a portion of their horses 
 having died on the way before reaching the canyon. 
 This was the second attempt of the same company to 
 pass from the fort to the valleys, and their goods 
 remained in the canyon on the 30th of March." 
 
2 20 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY WAGONS START UP THE SOUTH 
 SIDE OF THE PLATTE IMMENSE EMIGRATION TO CALI- 
 FORNIA PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF THE SAINTS THE 
 
 "DESERET news'" PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE EMIGRA- 
 TION RAVAGES OF THE CHOLERA THE DISEASE IN 
 
 ITS MOST FEARFUL STAGES GRAVES BY THE WAYSIDE 
 
 THE LAST OF THE MORMON EMIGRATION ON THE 
 
 WAY O. HYDE ON HIS WAY TO THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 HIS ACCOUNT OF THE EMIGRATION GOOD CROPS AND 
 
 FOOD ABUNDANT IN THE VALLEY "RICH AND POOR 
 
 GATHER TO THE STATE OF DESERET" THE SAINTS 
 
 COUNSELED TO TRAVEL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 
 PLATTE. 
 
 THE Frontier Guardian of June 12th, 1850, has the 
 following interesting summary of the season's 
 Operations up to date, under the head of 
 
 "EMIGRATION. 
 
 *'We have attended the organization of three hun- 
 dred and fifty wagons of Salt Lake emigrants, up to 
 Saturday the 8th inst. Captain Milo Andrus is ahead 
 with fifty wagons. Next follows Captain Benjamin Haw- 
 kins with one hundred, Thos. S. Johnson, captain ist 
 division and captain — of second division. We left them 
 at Council Grove, twelve miles from Bethlehem, west of 
 the Missouri river, on the morning of the 7th. Next in 
 succession is Bishop Aaron Johnson with a train of one 
 hundred wagons, Elisha Averett, captain of first division 
 and Matthew Caldwell,. captain of second division. Next 
 in order is Captain James Pace with one hundred, 
 Richard Sessions, captain of first division, and David 
 Bennett, captain of second division. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 22 1 
 
 ''The emigrants are generally well fitted out with 
 wagons and teams, provisions, etc., etc. * 
 
 "The number of California wagons that have crossed 
 at this point, is about 4,500, averaging three men to the 
 wagon, making 13,500 men, and about 22,000 head of 
 horses, mules, oxen and cows. Our own emigration to 
 Salt Lake valley will amount to about seven hundred 
 wagons as nearly as we, at present, can determine. They 
 take two new carding machines, in addition to one sent 
 last year, besides much other valuable machinery. They 
 also take about 4,000 sheep and 5,000 head of cattle, 
 horses and mules." 
 
 Another congratulatory editorial follows in the 
 Guardian of June 25th, under the same heading of 
 
 "EMIGRATION. 
 
 "We feel highly gratified to see our emigration so 
 well fitted out as they are. They generally have two 
 good yoke of oxen, and from one to three yoke of cows 
 to eacli wagon. The average freight of each wagon is 
 1,850 pounds. The average amount of breadstuff to the 
 person, old or young, is one hundred and twenty-five 
 pounds — bacon, sugar, coffee, tea, rice, dried fruit, and 
 other little necessaries in proportion. 
 
 "To see a people who, three or four years ago, had 
 to sell their all to get bread to last them until they could 
 raise it, and now see them with from one to four wagons 
 each, with plenty of good teams, thousands of sheep and 
 loose cattle, horses, mules, and machinery of every kind ; 
 wagons all new and stock all young and thrifty, is grati- 
 fying in the extreme." 
 
 This is another recorded evidence of the wonderful 
 recuperative powers of the Latter-day Saints. There were 
 many personal experiences that would be interesting as 
 illustrating remarkable providences which opened the way 
 for individuals to obtain the means of gathering to the 
 mountains. It is in accordance with the whole history of 
 
52 2 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 this people, that almost miraculous blessing has often 
 attended the efforts of individuals when working under 
 untoward circumstances for the accomplishment of some 
 specific purpose, in the line of duty and progress. 
 
 From the evacuation of Nauvoo until the publica- 
 tion of the Frontier Guardian in February, 1849, the 
 Church had no representative periodical on the Ameri- 
 can continent. The first number of the Deseret Nezvs 
 appeared June 15th, 1850, in Great Salt Lake City. The 
 first was evidently intended to forward the emigration 
 interests at the eastern end of the route across the plains, 
 then to be abandoned. The Deseret News was as evi- 
 dently designed to be the leading periodical of the 
 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
 
 As seen to-day the first volume of the Deseret News 
 bears the impress of the difficult circumstances under 
 which it saw the light. Its editor was Willard Richards, 
 one of the First Presidency of the Church. The pros- 
 pectus of the News is replete with the straight-forward, 
 honesty and love of truth which characterized this man. 
 Probably the peculiar circumstances surrounding the 
 issuing of this paper will not find a parallel in the history 
 of the continent. The first volume is already an his- 
 torical curiosity, and, with the rapidity the world has 
 been moving, may be considered already ancient. Its 
 motto, *' Truth and Liberty," was characteristic of a 
 people who were under the ban of Christian civilization, 
 for attempting to solve important social problems through 
 the power of divine inspiration ; and for this had 
 endured a long series of vindictive persecutions. 
 
 The following excerpt was doubtless written with a 
 prophetic view of what the miniature sheet was to 
 become in the future. We ''designed originally to 
 record the passing events of our state, and in connec- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 2 23 
 
 tion, refer to the arts and sciences, embracing general 
 education, medicine, law, divinity, domestic and political 
 economy, and everything that may fall under our obser- 
 vation which may tend to promote the best interest, wel- 
 fare, pleasure and amusement of our fellow citizens." 
 For forty years the paper has been considered so far the 
 organ of the Church as to usually indicate its policies. 
 
 The following account of the journeying of a com- 
 pany from Great Salt Lake City to Kanesville, is from a 
 letter of Elder Robert Campbell's published in the 
 Frontier Guardian July 7th, 1850. Its chief interest in 
 this connection, is the excellent panoramic view it affords 
 of the emigration, as it was met in the mountains and 
 on the Platte river. 
 
 There was considerable mortality from the cholera 
 in 1849, on the south side of the Platte, and several 
 deaths from it among emigrants on the north side. In 
 1850, this terrible scourge swept out on to the plains in 
 the majesty of its power, as it had not before done. 
 Perhaps it had more to feed it, as the emigration to Cali- 
 fornia was immense. 
 
 The company with which Mr. Campbell traveled left 
 Great Salt Lake City on the 20th of April, 1850. May 
 15th, they met S. B. Crow's company of California emi- 
 grants, from Kendall county, Illinois, near Dry Sandy, 
 the people well, and to the astonishment of the company, 
 their animals in good condition. They had been fed 
 on grain until the supply was exhausted, after that flour, 
 as their owners depended on replenishing their stock of 
 provisions in Salt Lake valley. 
 
 The evening of May i6th, they found Denison's 
 company of two hundred people from Ohio, encamped 
 at the first crossing of the Sweetwater. A few minutes 
 later another company of emigrants rolled across the 
 
2 24 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 • 
 
 river to the west side and encamped. The animals of 
 this company were in poor condition. The 21st of May, 
 a few ox teams were met that had wintered at Laramie. 
 Also a man, said to be a Dutchman, with a wheelbarrow. 
 Several men had offered to haul his bedding and provi- 
 sions. He thanked them kindly and wished to be excused, 
 as he could not wait on the slow movements of a camp. 
 He seemed to appreciate the fact that he had no horses 
 for Indians to steal, and that he never lost any rest 
 through dread of a stampede. Three hundred miles 
 from Salt Lake City, the road was thronged with emi- 
 grants for the land of gold. 
 
 The 25th of May, the company arrived at the 
 Upper Platte ferry and ford. From this point the road 
 was nearly covered with emigrant wagons. Laying 
 around on camp grounds were harness, casks, axes, 
 augurs, stoves, etc., but these were but small in amount 
 compared with the articles thrown away by the emi- 
 grants the year previous. These had evidently learned 
 some wisdom from what friends had experienced who 
 preceded them. They fitted out with light wagons 
 and good teams and had taken no surplus property to 
 throw away on the plains. 
 
 At the ferry was met a Mr. Hickman and others 
 from Missouri. They were running a boat. Some of 
 the mail company assisted the old pioneer ferryman who 
 had come out with them, build and launch two good, sub- 
 stantial boats. Some of the company, going through 
 also traded oxen for horses and refitted up a little for 
 their journey. They left the Upper Platte ferry on the 
 3rd of June. They met almost a continuous train of 
 emigrant wagons and arrived at Laramie the loth of the 
 month. At Laramie, a Mr. Sommerville, employed by 
 the government to keep an account of the passing emi- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 2 25 
 
 gratlon, furnished the company with the following items : 
 "Total number of emigrants passed this post up to June 
 loth, 1850, inclusive, 16,915 men, 235 women, 242 chil- 
 dren, 4,672 wagons, 14,974 horses, 4,641 mules, 7,425 
 oxen, 1,653 cows. Signed, 
 
 "Calvin C. Sommerville, Clerk." 
 
 The 1 2th of June, the company encamped by Robi- 
 dau's trading post near Scott's Bluff's. There the 
 cholera was met among the emigrants. They were 
 informed that the Sioux Indians had gone to White 
 river, for fear the white men would bring the cholera 
 among them as they had done the year before. The 
 1 8th of June the animals and wagons forded the South 
 Fork of the Platte, but the goods were boated over. 
 Several of the company were attacked with disease but 
 recovered through the administration of Elders. They 
 were daily meeting cholera in its most fearful stages. 
 Graves by the wayside were common, sometimes several 
 in a group. They were estimated at an average of one 
 per mile. Two places were seen where bodies were dis- 
 interred by the wolves, and the bones lay bleaching in 
 the sun. The companies in which cholera had made its 
 most direful ravages were mostly from Missouri, with a 
 few from Illinois. They were late and generally had ox 
 teams. 
 
 The 20th of June, the emigrant teams were more 
 scattering. The people called themselves Oregon emi- 
 grants. Captain Haight bought tea of a woman who 
 stated she had seen her father, mother and sister interred 
 within a few days. A lone wagon was on the river bank. 
 Death had taken all who traveled with it. A gentleman 
 was met with, who said he was alone in his mess, his two 
 companions having died. There was thought to be 
 many graves out of sight from the road in camping 
 
2 26 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 places on the river bank. The emigrants called this part 
 of the route, "The Valley of Death." 
 
 The 24th of June, they passed an unorganized com- 
 pany of Saints and encamped in the evening with 
 Messrs. Lorenzo D. Young and Charles F. Decker. 
 The 25th, at Fort Kearney, they found Livingston and 
 Kinkead's teams and Captain Lake's fifty of Saints. 
 From this post was met the main body of the 
 Mormon emigration of about eight hundred wagons. 
 They were generally in good condition though cholera 
 had made inroads among them. Mr. Appleton Harmon 
 thought that sixty-two deaths had been reported to him. 
 The party arrived in Kanesville about the 6th of 
 July. 
 
 The Frontier Guardian of July loth, 1850, gives us 
 the first details of the departure of our people across 
 the plains. It says : "By the arrival of Messrs. John- 
 son and Hall from the Indian country, we are informed 
 that Elder Orson Hyde and company, of this place, left 
 Platte river camp on the morning of the 6th inst, on a 
 visit to the valley of Great Salt Lake. This is the last 
 company of the season, all others being in advance. 
 Bishop Hunter with his company, also a small com- 
 pany of California emigrants from Michigan, are 
 a few miles in advance, all well. We are informed 
 the cholera followed the California and all other emi- 
 grants for several hundred miles out, which proved 
 very fatal. Several hundred died with the epidemic. 
 It has, however, nearly or quite subsided, and all are 
 moving forward." 
 
 With the season's emigration on the way across 
 the plains, followed by Elder O. Hyde, the following 
 letter will indicate to the reader the stirring times on the 
 shores of Salt Lake. 
 
from kirtland to salt lake city. 227 
 
 '' Great Salt Lake City, Deseret. 
 
 ''July 28th, 1850. 
 ''Dear Brother Orson Hyde: 
 
 "The emigration poured in here to such numbers 
 that they raised provisions to a very high price. Flour 
 sold for one dollar pe*r pound, which was sufficient to 
 induce some of our speculators to sell the last morsel 
 and go without. Harvest commenced with the 4th of 
 July, and has continued until the present. * * * 
 It is a general time of health with the Saints, and peace, 
 and plenty of hard work, as every one has been so busy 
 that they can hardly get time to eat or sleep. You 
 speak about hurry and bustle at Kanesville ; but if you 
 were here, to see, feel and realize the burdens, labors 
 and responsibilities which are daily, hourly, momentarily, 
 rolling, piling, tumbling and thundering upon us, you 
 would at least conclude that there was no danger of our 
 getting the gout from idleness or too much jollity. * * 
 
 ''Brigham Young, 
 *'H. C. Kimball, 
 '' WiLLARD Richards." 
 
 Further interesting details of the movements of the 
 emigrating companies is furnished by Elder Hyde, in a 
 letter to Mr. Mcintosh, who was temporary editor of 
 the Frontier Guardian. • 
 
 ''Upper Crossing of the Platte, 
 
 July 30th, 1850. 
 ''Brother Mcintosh : 
 
 "Dear Sir — We crossed the Platte yesterday. 
 Ferried over wagons and swam our horses, leaving Cap- 
 tain Milo Andrus and company on the banks crossing. 
 All well. ****** 
 
 "Grass is very scarce though the rains through the 
 Black Hills have been constant and powerful. But how 
 the vast multitudes of cattle and horses are to get 
 through, God only knows. There will be no lack of 
 
228 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 water, but grass is eaten up root and branch ; and In 
 many cases the animals have eaten out the wild sage. 
 
 "August I St, at Independence Rock on the Sweet- 
 water, all well. We have just passed through the "valley 
 and shadow of death," a country of about fifty miles in 
 extent, where the waters are deeply impregnated with 
 nitre, saleratus, sulphur, etc., etc. • There is little or no 
 grass at all through this region, but is mostly a sandy 
 desert. The carcasses of cattle and horses lying along 
 the roadside are very numerous, having perished through 
 fatigue, hunger and through drinking poisonous waters. 
 
 "This country lies between the upper crossing of 
 the Platte and the Sweetwater river on the banks of 
 which we are now comfortably encamped. * We are 
 now beginning to overtake the California and Oregon 
 emigration. They have suffered much in the loss of 
 teams and animals ; and oh ! the sacrifice of wagons, 
 clothing, firearms, beds, bedding, buffalo skins, trunks, 
 chests, harness, and in the loss of life. The road to gold 
 is strewn with destruction, wretchedness and woe, and 
 yet thousands and tens of thousands follow on the way 
 with the hope of securing the wealth of this world. * 
 
 "There are about five hundred new graves on the 
 south side of the Platte and but three deaths are reported 
 at Laramie as having occurred on the north side. * 
 If wood were as plentiful as tools, wagon tire and iron 
 in general, on the road, we could have our hot dodger, 
 coffee and fried or boiled bacon whenever we pleased. 
 
 "Big Sandy, August 8th, 1850. 
 
 "The eight or ten hundred wagons of emigrants' 
 and merchants' trains behind us have but a sorry pros- 
 pect. Much of their stock must and will unavoidably 
 perish. Cows already give but little milk, because they 
 have but Uttle to eat, and families whose chief depend- 
 ence for food on the journey is milk and butter from their 
 cows, will be cut short of their expectations in some, 
 respects. But if they can stand it through to Green 
 river they will find plenty of grass, in my opinion. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 229 
 
 "There are three hard places for stock and teams 
 to cross over. First from Laramie across the Black 
 Hills to the upper crossing of the Platte, a distance of 1 20 
 miles. The road is mostly over rocks, sharp gravel and 
 flint. This is severe on cattle's feet. * * * 
 
 The second hard place is from the upper crossing of the 
 Platte to Independence Rock on the Sweetwater, a dis- 
 tance of fifty miles. Through this section the alkali or 
 poisonous waters may be mostly found. * On the 
 Sweetwater there is generally some grass ; but there is 
 more or less alkali from the upper crossing of the Platte 
 to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and whenever 
 emigrants discover the road white with saleratus, also 
 the banks and breaks in the land, they should be careful 
 about letting their animals drink from the standing pools. 
 
 "The third trying part of the road for stock is from 
 the South Pass to Green river, a distance of 65 miles. 
 Sand and sage, sage and sand, dead horses, mules, cows, 
 and oxen, with snow-capped mountains on your right 
 and left, are about the variety which the eye meets in 
 passing through this section. I would give a more flat- 
 tering account of this section if I could, conscientiously. 
 I have this assurance, however, that those who travel 
 this road hereafter will testify to the truth of what I have 
 written." 
 
 The following important items are from an Epistle 
 of the First Presidency of the Church, dated Great Salt 
 Lake City, September 27th, 1850: 
 
 "The crops have been abundant in all the settle- 
 ments of Deseret this season ; and we have made every 
 exertion to have them secured for the benefit of all ; and 
 although from the best information obtained, we have 
 reason to expect that our population will be strength- 
 ened nearly, if not quite 15,000 this season, yet we are 
 confident, if all will be prudent, there will be seed grain 
 and bread sufficient to sustain the whole, till another har- 
 vest. The estimated population of 15,000 inhabitants in 
 Deseret the past year, having raised grain sufficient to 
 
230 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 sustain the 30,000 for the coming year, inspires us confi- 
 dently to believe that the 30,000 the coming year can 
 raise sufficient for 60,000 the succeeding year, and to 
 this object and end our energies will be exerted to dou- 
 ble our population annually, by the assistance of the 
 Perpetual Emigrating Poor Fund, and otherwise provide 
 for the sustenance of that population. 
 
 "Viewing the gathering of Israel, which produces 
 our increased population in the valleys of the mountains, 
 an important part of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and one 
 of the most important at the present time, we shall send 
 few, or no Elders abroad to preach the gospel this fall ; 
 but instruct them to raise grain and build houses, and 
 prepare for the Saints, that they may come in flocks, like 
 doves to their windows ; and we say, arise ! to your wag- 
 ons and your tents, O scattered Israel ! ye Saints of the 
 Most High! rich and poor, and gather to the State of 
 Deseret, bringing your plows and drills, your reapers 
 and gleaners, your threshers and cleaners of the most 
 approved patterns, so that one man can do the labor of 
 twenty in the wheat field, and we will soon send the 
 Elders abroad by hundreds and thousands to a harvest of 
 souls among the nations, and the inhabitants of the earth 
 shall speedily hear of the salvation prepared by Israel's 
 God for His people." 
 
 The Epistle also recommended the route on the 
 north side of the Platte as the best for the Saints. 
 
 The Deseret News thus briefly notices the arrival of 
 the last companies of the season's emigration. Bishop 
 Hunter and company arrived on Sunday, October 13th, 
 1850; ElderWoodruff and company on Monday, the 14th. 
 Both companies were east of the second mountain on 
 Thursday during the snow-storm, and passed through 
 considerable snow in coming in, though they arrived in 
 health and most joyfully are the last camps of the Saints 
 welcomed in the valley, and particularly after so long an 
 absence our old friend and pioneer, Brother Woodruff. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 23 1 
 
 The Frontier Guardian of December nth, 1850, 
 emphasizes the counsel of Brigham Young for the Saints to 
 travel on the north side of the Platte the ensuing season. 
 "The awful scenes of cholera and death on the south 
 side of the Platte last season should be a warning to 
 those concerned louder than thunder, to avoid a late 
 start, and to avoid the south side of the river. More 
 than five hundred fresh graves on the south side of the 
 Platte between the Missouri and Fort Laramie, while 
 from the thousands who traveled on the north side only 
 three graves can be found that were made this season." 
 
 The efficient and arduous labors of Elder Orson 
 Hyde, in managing Church and Emigration affairs at 
 the eastern terminus of the route to Salt Lake valley, 
 cannot be fully appreciated. This season the 5th of July, 
 before the last company of emigrants were fairly on the 
 way, he left Kanesville for Salt Lake valley, arrived 
 there on the 15th of August, attended to the important 
 business for which the trip was undertaken, and was 
 welcomed back to Kanesville by his numerous friends 
 the 1 8th of the following November. 
 
 Jos. E. Johnson under date of February 2d, 1851, 
 reports his return trip from the valley. He evidently 
 accompanied Elder Hyde, although the fact is not stated. 
 '' Started for states the last day of September with the 
 addition to company of twelve men. Met the last of the 
 emigrating companies, Bishop Hunter's, on the mountains 
 west of Bear river. Met an unpleasant snow storm near 
 the South Pass, and another gale of snow at the upper 
 crossing of the Platte. From here kept the north side 
 of the river the entire way down. Found the north side 
 much better route than the south side to Laramie. From 
 there down found many advantages on the north side ; 
 .better water for camp use, more feed and better road, 
 
232 
 
 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 * * 
 
 buffalo abundant down as low as Fort Kearney 
 We found no hostile Indians but they stole all the small 
 articles they could conceal which they could not beg. 
 We arrived in Kanesville on the i8th of November, 
 occupying fifty days in our return, being absent from 
 home four and a half months." 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 233 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 THE EMIGRATION OF I 85 I NEWS FROM COMPANIES ON THE 
 
 PLAINS THE FIRE OF THE GATHERING^HAND-CARTS 
 
 FORESHADOWED ELDERS EZRA T. BENSON AND J. M. 
 
 GRANT SENT TO SUPERINTEND THE EMIGRATION OF 
 
 1852 ELDER MARGETTS' TRIP FROM SALT LAKE TO 
 
 KANESVILLE. 
 
 NEITHER the Frontier Guardian at the eastern end 
 of the route to Salt Lake, nor the Deseret News 
 at the western terminus, furnish much news of the emi- 
 gration for the year 1851. President Hyde made 
 another flying trip to Salt Lake, doubtless to thoroughly 
 post himself in the views and counsels of the First Presi- 
 dency. He left Kanesville the 28th of June, and arrived 
 in the valley the 17th of August attended by Albert 
 Carrington, and a few others, all of whom were plundered 
 by the Pawnee Indians. Elder Hyde, after a successful 
 trip arrived in Kanesville the 17th of October, 1851. 
 
 The following from the Frontier Guardian of August 
 22nd, 1 85 1, furnishes a few items of interest: 
 
 ''A party of seven men arrived in Kanesville from 
 Salt Lake on the 19th of August, 1851. They left there 
 the 1 5th of July, making the trip in thirty-four days. They 
 met Phineas Young and General Brown five miles east of 
 the valley. President Hyde and company thirty-three 
 miles west of Laramie, getting along well. * Captain 
 
 and his company were, on the first of August, 
 
 four miles west of Fort Laramie; Stevens' company five 
 miles east of the fort ; Captain Day's company in sight ; 
 Captain Cummings and company of one hundred wagons 
 
 15 
 
2 34 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 ten miles west of Ash Hollow; Shurtliff's company of 
 fifty wagons five miles in rear of Cummings' train ; Cap- 
 tain John Brown, with the emigrating poor twenty-two 
 miles east of Ash Hollow ; Wilkins' merchandise train of 
 ten wagons, with a Scotch company in the rear, were 
 met near Brown's company. Gordon's company were 
 met the next day. They met Father Allred's company 
 the west side of Cold Springs, and Elder O. Pratt's com- 
 pany at the Springs." 
 
 The General Epistle of October, 1851, says of the 
 emigration : 
 
 ''Elder Orson Pratt is on the way from the States; 
 and about five hundred wagons, mostly of these who are 
 emigrating to this place ; but they started too late, were 
 hindered by heavy rains and floods, and it will be very 
 late before the last company will arrive." 
 
 The general epistle sent out in the autumn of 1851 
 as usual also gives instructions for the gathering of 1852. 
 It is full of the fire of the gathering and says : " The 
 voice of the good Shepherd is to all Saints, even to the 
 ends of the earth ; gather yourselves together, come 
 home ; and more especially to the Saints in Potto- 
 watomie, the United States, Canada and the British 
 Isles ; come home ! come home ! ! " In the following we 
 see the future hand-cart companies foreshadowed: 
 
 ''Some of the Saints, now in our midst, came hither 
 with wagons or carts made of wood, without a particle 
 of iron, hooping their wheels with hickory or rawhide, 
 or ropes, and had as good and safe a journey as any in 
 the camps with their wrought iron wagons ; and can you 
 not do the same ? Yes, if you have the same desire, the 
 same faith. Families might start from Missouri river, 
 with cows, hand-carts, wheelbarrows, with little flour and 
 no unnecessaries, and come to this place quicker, and 
 with less fatigue, than by following the heavy trains with 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 235 
 
 their cumbrous herds, which they are often obHged to 
 drive miles to feed. 
 
 "Elders Ezra T. Benson and Jedediah M. Grant 
 will repair to Kanesville, immediately after conference, 
 and superintend the emigration the coming season. 
 They are sent expressly to push the Saints to the valley." 
 
 It was evidently the intent by the epistle that the 
 Nauvoo exodus should culminate with the emigration of 
 1852, by the removal of all the Saints on the Missouri 
 river to Great Salt Lake valley. President Orson Hyde, 
 who, for nearly five years had the presidency of affairs at 
 the eastern end of the road across the plains, was 
 directed to move his family to the valley. Elder F. D. 
 Richards, president of the European missions was 
 directed to send two ship-loads of Saints as early as 
 April. 
 
 The following from the St. Louis Weekly Union of 
 October 7th, 1851, indicates the interest with which 
 many were watching the growth of the Mormon colony 
 in the mountains : 
 
 '' No body of people in the whole world, not greater 
 in number, seems to us, to occupy a position so peculiarly 
 prominent and powerful, whether considered in reference 
 to religion, politics or commerce, as these people who 
 have founded their Zion in the bosom of the Salt Lake 
 country." 
 
 A letter from Elder Thos. Margetts to the Millen- 
 nial Star, Liverpool, England, dated Kanesville, July 4th, 
 1852, furnishes the earliest information of that season's 
 emigration that the writer has been able to find. It is a 
 sketch of a trip across the plains with a party of Elders. 
 It states that this party left Salt Lake on the 5th of May, 
 1852. At the Sweetwater, six miles above Devil's Gate, 
 they met a small company of emigrants for California 
 
236 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 with mule teams ; a few hours after a company of 
 packers. At Independence rock a large company with 
 horse teams crossing the Sweetwater. From the ford of 
 Sweetwater the emigration grew more numerous daily, 
 until it seemed almost a continuous string of teams. 
 This was on the north side of the Platte, for they traveled 
 the entire distance on that side, without crossing the 
 river at all. At every point where they could see the 
 road on the south side they discovered that it was also 
 lined with wagons. They all looked well. They had 
 light loads, light wagons and strong teams. No horses 
 were seen left, but few cattle, and only eight or ten 
 wagons and they were broken up. 
 
 The company rolled along, answering questions, 
 cracking jokes with the emigrants. There was a general 
 opinion among the latter that Mormons and Indians 
 were united in bands on the road for the purpose of 
 robbing companies. The Elders talked and sang with 
 them and in this way convinced them of the folly of such 
 reports, when they would often show the change in their 
 sentiments by the expression, "Well, the Mormons are 
 
 d d good fellows, and bring good things from their 
 
 wagons and invite all to partake of the excellent fare." 
 
 At Wolf creek the company met the first sickness 
 and saw the first graves. The number increased until 
 they reached Wood river. From there the graves 
 gradually lessened as they neared the Missouri river and 
 sickness disappeared. They did not see over two hun- 
 dred graves, which they thought few considering the 
 great number of people who were traveling the road. 
 
 They met the first Mormon train. Captain Higbee's 
 fifty, two hundred and fifty miles from Winter Quarters, 
 and after that companies of Saints almost daily. When 
 circumstances permitted they stopped in their camps. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND .TO SALT LAKE CITY. 237 
 
 After the good news from the valley were told and a 
 thousand and one questions answered they would all 
 turn in, in true Mormon style, to dance and sing. 
 Including those waiting at the Ferry they met about 
 1,400 Mormon teams, with which traveled not less than 
 10,000 people. It is stated in the editorial of the 
 Millennial Star of November 13th, 1852, that twenty-one 
 companies of Saints, averaging sixty wagons or upwards 
 each emigrated on the north side of the Platte river, and 
 two companies besides the company with the sugar mill 
 machinery on the south side. These estimates indicate 
 a very heavy emigration that season. Evidently the 
 able management at Kanesville make a very successful 
 one. 
 
 The following items from an editorial in the Deseret 
 News of July loth, 1852, make up a vivid picture of 
 the ravages of death on the lower Platte: "From 
 observations made by travelers, it is supposed a thousand 
 graves have been called into existence between the 
 Missouri river and the South Pass, previous to the 4th 
 of July. Bishop Smoot, with a company of English 
 Saints, was on the south side of the Platte in the midst 
 of cholera at the latest dates. Some cases of cholera 
 had appeared on the north side of the river, but its 
 ravages appear to correspond with the amount of emi- 
 gration which was much greater on the south side. 
 
 "The emigrating Saints commenced leaving Kanes- 
 ville about the 25th of May. The first week in June the 
 first company, which was from St. Louis, was near the 
 Loupe Fork. While the Saints in these valleys are 
 enjoying the richest blessings of heaven and earth, let 
 them not be unmindful of their brethren and sisters and 
 their little ones who are now passing the valley of death 
 on the Platte river. Not through ' the valley of the 
 
238 FROM KiRtLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 shadow of death,' but through the valley of death itself, 
 where men, women and children have been left on the 
 ground where they died, if travelers tell the truth, with 
 no other change or covering than a few loose clods 
 thrown over them, to hide them from the light of day, 
 while the tent that should shelter them was hurriedly 
 forced from its fastenings, so that the survivors might go 
 their way. And why? For fear that death would leave 
 the departed and cleave to themselves and not, as 
 humanity would hope, from any want of respect to the 
 departed." 
 
 The 2nd of June, 1852, A. W. Babbitt left Kanes- 
 ville for Salt Lake, and made the trip in twenty-seven 
 and a half days. He passed Captain John Higbee's 
 company, at Shell Creek, the 5th of June, and A. O. 
 Smoot's company above Fort Kearney, June 9th. Cap- 
 tain Higbee's company crossed the Missouri river the 
 30th of May. It arrived in Great Salt Lake valley about 
 the 20th of August, the first of the season's emigration. 
 
 Ezra T. Benson and J. M. Grant returned to Salt 
 Lake, August nth, 1852, from the mission of gathering 
 the Saints from Potto watomie. They left the country 
 almost vacated. The last family that wanted to come 
 was brought along. The last companies of this season's 
 emigration were late. Snowstorms in the mountains 
 retarded their progress and made them short of provis- 
 ions. Two hundred teams went from the valley with 
 40,000 or 50,000 pounds of flour and large supplies of 
 vegetables which enabled them to come in safety. 
 
 The following list of names of men who led fifties 
 across the plains in 1852, is from the Deseret News oi 
 September i8th. It is evidently not complete. Abram 
 O. Smoot, captain of the Perpetual Emigration Fund 
 emigrants from Great Britain ; John Higbee, James W. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 239 
 
 Bay, James J. Jepson, F. C. D. Howe, Joseph Outhouse, 
 John Tidwell, David Wood, H. B. M. Jolley. Isaac M. 
 Stewart, James McGaw, Harmon Cutler, John B. 
 Walker, Robert Weimer, Uriah Curtis, Isaac Bullock, 
 James C. Snow, Eli B. Kelsey, H. W. Mille, Allen 
 Weeks, Wm. Lang, Joel Edmonds. There were probably 
 about 6,000 people in these organizations. 
 
 The writer has found no record of the captains of 
 hundreds. Elder Warren Foote led a hundred of which 
 Elder Samuel Mulliner was historian. The latter gave 
 his journal to Captain Foote, and from this and the auto- 
 biography of the latter, the following narrative of the 
 travels of this hundred has been compiled. It is the 
 best illustration that has come to hand of the travels of 
 the Saints across the plains in 1852. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 CAPTAIN FOOTE's HUNDRED ITS HISTORY ILLUSTRATES THE 
 
 DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY THE EMIGRATING SAINTS 
 
 IN 1852 THE CULMINATION OF THE NAUVOO EXODUS 
 
 THE OPENING OF A NEW ERA GATHERING THE POOR 
 
 FROM EUROPE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PERPETUAL 
 EMIGRATION FUND COMPANY. 
 
 WHILE the Saints have been repeatedly plundered 
 by the Gentiles, the latter have been often com- 
 pelled, by circumstances over which they had no control, 
 to minister to their necessities. This was the case in 
 Potto watomie county in the spring of 1852. The 
 
240 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 weather was cool, grass late in starting, the emigration 
 for California very numerous, and they were compelled 
 to wait on the frontier for grass to grow on the Platte 
 bottom. This made farm products in good demand. 
 Corn went up to $2.00, and wheat to $2.25 per bushel. 
 Everything the Saints had to sell they cashed at good 
 prices. 
 
 For some reason the most of the Mormon emigra- 
 tion traveled the south side of the Platte. They crossed 
 the Missouri river eighteen miles below Kanesville, at an 
 insignificant hamlet called Bethlehem. This hundred 
 was organized by Apostle O. Hyde before crossing, 
 with Warren Foote captain, Otis L. Terry captain of 
 first fifty, and Wm. Wall captain of second fifty. The 
 hundred comprised 105 wagons; 476 persons; 743 
 cattle; 19 horses; 273 sheep. June 17th, the hundred 
 camped three miles west of the Ferry. The officers met 
 and adopted the following by-laws for the regulation and 
 good order of the camps. As they probably did not 
 differ materially from rules generally adopted by the 
 companies of emigrating Saints, we give them in full : 
 
 ''Resolved, first — The horn shall be blown at 4 
 o'clock in the morning, when the people will arise, and, 
 after the necessary preparations for starting, the horn 
 will be blown again for the people to come together for 
 prayers, and at half past eight at night the horn will be 
 blown again for evening prayers, which each family will 
 attend in their wagon. 
 
 " Resolved, second — That if any person while on 
 guard at night shall neglect his duty by sleep or other- 
 wise, for the first offence he shall be reported publicly, 
 and if afterwards found guilty of neglect he shall again 
 be reported and be subjected to extra duty in the day 
 time herding cattle. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 24I 
 
 ''Resolved, third — That any member of this camp 
 who shall indulge in profane language shall be reported 
 by his captain of ten, and if he shall afterwards persist in 
 profanity he shall be published publicly. 
 
 ''Resolved, fourth — That if any persons practice un- 
 necessary cruelty to their animals, and after being 
 reproved by their captain of ten, shall still persist in 
 such cruelty, they shall be brought before the captains 
 of the camp, who shall levy such fine or punishment as 
 they may deem just." 
 
 These resolutions were afterwards submitted to the 
 whole company for their approval. Accidents, births 
 and deaths characterized human life here as elsewhere. 
 
 The 1 8th of June a child was born, and a boy run 
 over by a wagon, but not seriously injured. There was 
 much rain, making the roads muddy and creating great 
 discomfort. 
 
 The 20th, a number of California emigrants were 
 met returning home discouraged. They reported the 
 cholera terrible in companies ahead. There were 
 several cases of cholera in the second fifty. Alfred 
 Brown died of this disease and was buried in the morn- 
 ing before starting. 
 
 The 2 1 St and 22nd of June four children of Thomas 
 Spafford died of cholera in the second fifty, and a girl 
 had her leg broken. This was taking a family pretty 
 rapidly, and the event must have spread a deep shadow 
 over the company. For some unknown reason there 
 was much more sickness and death in the second than 
 in the first fifty. Severe storms were frequent, and a 
 matter of considerable dread to emigrants. 
 
 The 24th, several more deaths were reported in the 
 second fifty. A meeting was called by Captain Foote, 
 and the Lord besought to turn the destroyer away. 
 
242 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 The 26th, there was another death in the second 
 fifty. 
 
 The 27th of June Elder Moses Clawson, and 
 several others going on missions, were met. Up to this 
 time the first fifty had enjoyed comparative immunity 
 from the general sickness. 
 
 The 27th, about noon the company came on to the 
 Platte bottom. That night there was a severe thunder- 
 storm, and the next day the ground was so soft that if 
 teams were stopped wagons often settled down to the 
 hubs of the wheels. Water was scarce for the animals, 
 and the sun shone very warm. Owing to almost con- 
 stant exposure to wet some of the company complained 
 of sickness in the first fifty. In traveling the third and 
 fifth tens fell behind but came up late at night and, for 
 the first time, the power of death was felt in the camp. 
 A little boy belonging to John Dart, who started out in 
 the morning to drive loose stock, died in the afternoon, 
 of the 28th with the cholera, and a sister of the lad's died 
 early in the morning of the 29th. This threw another family 
 into the depths of affliction. Franklin Cunningham was 
 nearly drowned in swimming the Platte to get wood. 
 Elders Campbell and Crosby, with a mail from the valley, 
 were met by the company. After this visitation of the 
 Dart family the health of the first fifty was again very 
 good. 
 
 July 2nd, a child of Sister Hart's died. The graves 
 of a brother Sergeant and son, from Kanesville, were 
 passed. Brother Smallham, who was well in the morn- 
 ing, was brought into camp sick with the cholera. He 
 died and was buried the following morning. 
 
 July 5th, a California emigrant, by the name of 
 King, who traveled with the company, died of cholera. 
 He was from Illinois and without relatives along. 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 243 
 
 Captain Wall, of the second fifty, came into camp 
 and reported three deaths in the company within a few 
 days. Mrs. Dart died in the evening. About lo o'clock 
 a. m., July 6th, the company passed Fort Kearney. 
 
 The 7th, the second ten of the first fifty wished to 
 stop to take care of the sick. 
 
 On the loth, buried a Sister Proctor who died the 
 night before. Owing to much wet weather the cattle 
 were badly crippled with sore necks and feet. 
 
 The 15th of July the company passed about twenty 
 graves of California emigrants, and three or four of our 
 people. From dates on head-boards these deaths 
 occurred between the 3rd and 17th of June. Several 
 men came into camp loaded with buffalo meat. It was 
 the first obtained. The next day the company laid by for 
 the hunters to bring in a good supply of meat. Apostle 
 O, Hyde and party passed the company on their way to 
 Salt Lake. 
 
 The 17th of July, Father Rose, who had died of 
 cholera, was buried. The company were passing 
 through large herds of bufialo. 
 
 July 1 8th, the company had passed many graves in 
 the previous few days. They were mostly of people 
 from Missouri, and had been made between the 5th and 
 15th of June. Scarcely a grave that had not been rob- 
 bed of its contents by wolves, and the bones of its occu- 
 pant lay bleaching on the prairie. Beds and bedding 
 were strewn around unfit for use without cleansing. 
 
 August 7th found the company in the Black Hills, 
 west of Laramie. In the morning they started a half 
 mile east of what is called in the guides **The Bend in 
 the Road," near Dead Timber creek, and as the last ten 
 were coming into line on the road a stampede occurred 
 with the last teams. A brother Clemens ran in before 
 
244 FRPM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 them to stop them, but he was knocked down, trampled 
 on and a wagon ran over his bowels. Also Wm. 
 McDonald, who was on horseback a little ahead of the 
 stampeding teams, rode in forward of them at the risk 
 of his life, and succeeded in stopping them before they 
 came up to the main body of the company. The first 
 wagons had arrived at the gulch, which caused the bend 
 in the road, and if the stampede had not been checked, 
 there is no doubt but the whole company would have 
 been plunged into the gulch, which was eight or ten feet 
 deep. Elder Clemens was so badly hurt that he died 
 before night. A sacrifice in a noble effort to save his 
 friends. 
 
 August 17th, the company was met by Elders 
 Stratton and George Madsen, who had been sent out by 
 President Young^ to assist the companies in finding feed 
 for their animals, which was very scarce in some places, 
 owing to the immense overland emigration. They also 
 brought a very cheering letter from President Young. 
 
 Aug. 1 8th, the company crossed the north Fork of the 
 Platte river. On account of heavy rains it was rising 
 rapidly. Soon after the company were over, it became 
 impassable. 
 
 August 19th, the company did not move. The 
 cattle suffered with cold and hunger. It was supposed 
 to be the last time the hundred would camp together. 
 A meeting was called and difficulties were amicably 
 settled. As a result all felt well. Heavy storms and 
 poor feed were very hard on animals. 
 
 The 24th of August the company remained in camp 
 to repair wagons, hunt buffalo for a supply of meat, and 
 rest the weary and hungry cattle. The company did 
 not move until the 28th. 
 
 September 25th, the company camped on Last 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 245 
 
 creek at the west foot of the Little Mountain. The 
 people were again called together and all difficulties 
 settled. The next day they arrived in Salt Lake City. 
 
 The following remarks of Elder John Taylor, in 
 Salt Lake City, August 22nd, 1852, concerning what he 
 saw in Kanesville and the surrounding country on his 
 way home in the early part of the season, is a fitting 
 close to this outline sketch of the Nauvoo exodus. It 
 shows the season's operations to have been the crown- 
 ing effort to gather the exiles and complete the fulfill- 
 ment of the covenants made in the Nauvoo Temple. 
 
 Elder Taylor says, *Tt gave me great joy on 
 my way home to find the Saints leaving Kanesville. It 
 almost seemed as though they were swept out with a 
 besom. When I was there I rode out in my carriage 
 one day to a place called Council Point. I though I 
 would go and visit some of the folks there, but when I 
 got there behold there were no folks to see. I hunted 
 around and finally found a place with something like 
 ' Grocery ' written upon it. I alighted and went into the 
 house and asked a person who presented himself, if he 
 was a stranger there ? ' Yes,' says he, T have only just 
 come.' 'And the people have all left, have they?' *Yes,' 
 was the answer. I next saw a few goods standing at 
 the side of a house, but the house was empty. These 
 were waiting to be taken away. I went to another house 
 and there were two or three people waiting for a boat to 
 take them down the river. These were all the inhabit- 
 ants I saw there. 
 
 ''When I reflected upon this removal my heart felt 
 pained. I well knew the disposition of many in those 
 frontier counties, and I thought that some miserable 
 wretches might come upon them after the main body of 
 the Saints had removed, and abuse, rob and plunder the 
 
246 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 widow, the orphan, the lame, halt, blind and destitute 
 who might be left as was done in Nauvoo. * * * 
 But thank God they are coming, old and young, rich and 
 poor." 
 
 Scarcely had the last victims of the Nauvoo exodus 
 arrived in the valley, when the first company of Saints 
 emigrated from Europe by the Perpetual Emigrating 
 Fund company, were welcomed home with discharges of 
 artillery, with feasting and music. They arrived in the 
 afternoon of the 3rd of September, 1852. ''They were 
 the poor gathering up to Zion. For this reason much 
 interest was manifested in their arrival. The train con- 
 sisted of thirty-one wagons under Captain A. O. Smoot. 
 Captain Pitt's band met the company at the mouth of 
 Emigration canyon, where aged Saints of both sexes, 
 danced and sang for joy. 
 
 ''The luxuries of melorts and cakes were distributed. 
 The band joined the escort and enlivened the scene with 
 music. Following these in the procession came a band 
 of women and children. They were weather beaten but 
 not forlorn. The lightness of their hearts was manifest 
 in their countenances. After these followed the wagon 
 train, the good condition of which did credit to the excel- 
 lent management of Bishop Smoot. As the procession 
 passed the temple block it was saluted with nine rounds 
 of artillery, while thousands of people gathered from all 
 parts of the city to swell the joyful welcome." 
 
 There are some interesting resemblances In the 
 histories of ancient and modern Israel. The first Israel 
 suffered from monarchial despotism. The modern one, 
 after thirty-three centuries, from the ignorance and 
 prejudice of a free people ; both alike destructive and 
 cruel. Both have been hated for their religion, their 
 social institutions, and feared for their cohesiveness, 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 247 
 
 their policies and their rapid increase. Both fled from 
 their oppressors into a desert. The former conquered 
 a populous country for an inheritance, the latter created 
 one. In a short time the Saints learned that to take an 
 active part in breaking up old landmarks of religion and 
 social conditions, was to take upon themselves as a 
 heritage, the world's opposition. 
 
 The Saints driven from Illinois had previously experi- 
 enced little else than antagonisms in the form of annoy- 
 ances, plunderings and drivings. A strange thing had 
 appeared among men. A people had arisen who claimed 
 that the heavens had condescended to commune with 
 men. A Prophet was among them clothed with Divine 
 inspiration. In these facts there was power to awaken 
 mankind from the slumber of ages, and break chains of 
 darkness that had bound the race for centuries. 
 
 Suffering begat in the hearts of the Saints an 
 intense desire for rest, for refuge from unrelenting ene- 
 mies. As we have seen, prophetic declarations early led 
 them to look to the Rocky Mountain region, to the un- 
 explored deserts of the west, for the fruition of their 
 hopes. When the route was marked out, and the place 
 for gathering located, the getting there became a ques- 
 tion simply of ability. On arriving there they exerted 
 themselves to provide for their own needs, and for the 
 sustenance of those who were to follow. In the mean- 
 time the latter struggled to make an outfit and gather 
 to the assistance of those who had preceded them. As 
 we have endeavored to show from the beginning of the 
 Exodus there was a general and very efficient organiza- 
 tion for carrying out one grand purpose, the gathering 
 of the people to the shelter prepared for them, where 
 they could develop the purposes of their life's mission. 
 In this comprehensive sense they were all pioneers of 
 
248 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 the highest type. Those who afterwards gathered for 
 the first time, assisted in building the grand superstruc- 
 ture of which the Nauvoo exiles laid the foundation. 
 
 The gathering to Kirtland, the move westward to 
 the frontiers of Missouri, the Exodus from there to Nau- 
 voo, from there across the prairies of Iowa, all origin- 
 ating and culminating under unusual difficulties, were so 
 many lessons in nomadic life. They afforded leaders 
 and people a vast experience in the best methods of 
 outfitting and of traveling with wagons, with families 
 and domestic animals. The force of circumstances made 
 them at home in journeying during the day, and in mak- 
 ing camp by the wayside at night. It cultivated the 
 habit of suiting themselves to a great diversity of circum- 
 stances and conditions, and if possible of profiting -by 
 those diverse conditions. 
 
 These experiences were a grand educational process 
 which fitted the Saints for great changes without any 
 weakening effect on their organization as a religious 
 body. Constant efforts of enemies to weaken their 
 union only drew the band more tightly. 
 
 The old adage, "A rolling stone gathers no moss," 
 has been reversed in the history of the Latter-day Saints. 
 The '* rolling stone" has constantly increased in velocity 
 and in the same ratio, in power to contend with antago- 
 nisms. In each succeeding change the foundation has 
 been laid for greater expansion, for accellerated growth. 
 From a country village in Ohio they held the balance of 
 political power in counties in Missouri. In six years 
 they built a fine city and ruled a county in Illinois. 
 
 Within six months after the commencement of the 
 Nauvoo exodus, they moved 300 miles to the western 
 frontier of the United States to the lands of the Pottowa- 
 tomie Indians on the Missouri river. In less than eight- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 249 
 
 een months they so nearly obHterated it, by planting a 
 colony midway between the Missouri river and the Paci- 
 fic ocean, that it became a reminiscence of the past. In 
 what was then a vast, unexplored region they laid the 
 foundations of empire and made practicable a highway 
 for the locomotive to cross the continent, to bind together 
 the natural eastern and western divisions of the repub- 
 lic. 
 
 In these moves leaders and people displayed a 
 masterly energy. The power of Providential circum- 
 stances behind them, and an intense desire to be free from 
 their enemies which welled up in their afflicted souls 
 together, constituted a motive power sufficient to rouse 
 every latent energy. The successful results of their 
 movements, many of which, from a practical stand- 
 point, appear like daring the fates, evidences they were 
 led by an inspiration that made no mistakes, and that a 
 kindly Providence overruled temporal and spiritual in- 
 fluences to favor them. 
 
250 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE WAYMARKS OF THE SAINTS ALONG THEIR ROUTE OF 
 
 TRAVEL FAIRVIEW CEMETERY THE GRAVE OF SOLOMON 
 
 HANCOCK RELICS OF WINTER QUARTERS. 
 
 IT is worthy of record that the main body of the 
 .Latter-day Saints, in all their forced and voluntary 
 movements, in their journeyings from Seneca county, 
 New York, to the Great Salt Lake, have remained in a 
 geographical belt of about 300 miles in breadth, and 
 quite uniformly between 2,7 and 44 degrees north latitude, 
 and within the climatic belt which is generally supposed 
 to be adapted to developing the best capabilities of the 
 race. 
 
 Some notice of waymarks they have left along this 
 route the writer believes will be a fitting conclusion 
 of this sketch. The Temple in Kirtland, the first edi- 
 fice dedicated in these latter times to the performances 
 of the ordinances of the Holy Priesthood, is still stand- 
 ing. Around it are numerous marks of the labors of 
 the Saints, and in an adjoining grave-yard lie many of 
 their remains. The land along the ordinary early routes 
 of travel is also consecrated by their sleeping dust. 
 
 The writer visited Independence in December, 1875. 
 He was shown the dilapidated remains of cabins occu- 
 pied by the Saints when they were driven from Jackson 
 county. He was informed there was considerable real 
 estate in the county to which the present claimants had 
 no legal tide, it being still vested in Mormons who had 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 25 1 
 
 purchased the lands from the general government, and 
 been afterwards driven from their possessions. 
 
 The spot where the corner-stone of the Temple was 
 said to have been laid was still unmolested, except being 
 used as a play-ground by the youth of the surrounding 
 families. 
 
 The writer did not visit other portions of Missouri 
 which had been occupied by the Saints, but, doubt- 
 less, there are many marks of such occupancy, and 
 many places where their dead were deposited now 
 known only to the angels. We have already quoted 
 Colonel Thomas L. Kane's unparalleled description 
 of desolated Nauvoo. The Liverpool Route, speak- 
 ing of the visit of its artist, Mr. Frederick Piercy, in 
 1853, says of Nauvoo and the Temple: ''After the 
 surrender of Nauvoo by the Saints, it gradually dwindled 
 away in importance until it became what our artist found 
 it. On the loth of November, 1848, the Temple was 
 fired by an incendiary, and on the 27th of May, 1850, a 
 tornado blew down the north wall, and so shook the 
 building that the Icarians, who had been engaged in re- 
 building the edifice for their use, deemed it advisable to 
 pull down the east and south walls, leaving only the west 
 wall. This beautiful ruin is all that is left of what was 
 once a work the most elegant in its construction, and the 
 most renowned in its celebrity, of any in the whole west, 
 and which had been built by the Latter-day Saints in the 
 midst of poverty and persecution." bfinCTOft Libltt^ 
 
 When the Mormons arrived at Council Bluffs, on 
 the Missouri river, the country was Indian Territory. 
 They were the "van of empire" rolling westward in 
 that direction. The remains of their pioneering labors 
 are fast disappearing, as well as the knowledge of them 
 among the people who have been their successors. The 
 
252 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 writer was on a mission in that section of the country 
 in 1876. Some of his observations will be of interest in 
 this connection. 
 
 At the time, Utah flour was worth 50 cts. more per 
 hundred than the home article, on account of its superior 
 quality. Walking along the main street of Council 
 Bluffs he noticed this difference in price marked on sacks 
 exposed for sale. He asked the vendor what made this 
 difference in price. He replied, "He did not know, un- 
 less it was that Utah had been settled longer than Iowa, 
 and, therefore, had better flouring mills." This man, 
 although of average intelligence, had no idea that the 
 Mormons had opened farms and built the pioneer grist- 
 mill of that country, before pioneering their way to 
 Utah. 
 
 The writer remembers the country around Council 
 Bluffs as quite romantic and inviting in appearance. 
 The railroad depots, many dwellings, and most of the 
 business houses of the city were located on the level 
 bottom land of the Missouri river. 
 
 The great majority of dwelling houses lined streets 
 that ran up into coves and romantic glens between the 
 high bluffs. Many of these dwellings were fair speci- 
 mens of architectural elegance, and of the refined tastes 
 of their occupants. They afforded the advantages of a 
 suburban residence in close proximity to the business 
 centre of the town. 
 
 Through the western portion of the town ran 
 Indian, alias Lousy creek. The latter name was sug- 
 gestive of unpleasant reminiscences. Surmising there 
 must be a cause for so unromantic a name, on inquiry, 
 he was informed that the stream was very fickle and 
 changeable. Today murmuring along, a harmless 
 rivulet, perhaps tomorrow an angry, billowy flood, wash- 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 253 
 
 ing away portions of its banks, regardless of man's profit 
 or convenience. Running along its western bank about 
 half a mile was Greene street, so named in honor of Mr. 
 
 Evan M. Greene, who was one of the first residents in 
 the locality. He was an early pioneer, and the first 
 post master of the place, then called Kanesville, in honor 
 of Col. Thos. L. Kane, the philanthropist. 
 
2 54 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 In the Immediate vicinity, but on the east side of 
 Indian creek, was the residence of Mr. Wm. Powers and 
 his amiable lady. From their garden the latter pointed 
 out the location of this primitive post office, and also 
 that of the Log Tabernacle, in which the Priesthood of 
 the Church of Jesus Christ organized its second First 
 Presidency, soon after the return of B. Young and 
 others of the pioneers from Great Salt Lake valley, in 
 December, 1847, and also in which the writer was 
 ordained a Seventy in the spring of 1849, under the 
 hands of President Joseph Young. 
 
 On the south-east side of the town is a cove which, 
 in the early days, was occupied by Apostle George A. 
 Smith and family. It is still known by many as *' George 
 A's Hollow." In 1876 it was occupied 'by a couple of 
 fine brick residences. 
 
 Twice he strolled into Fairview cemetery. This is 
 a well-laid-out, modern cemetery on the slope of a high 
 bluff just out of town, on the north-west side of Indian 
 creek. He had been informed that the " Old Mormon 
 burying ground" was on this hill. Rambling over the 
 inclosure he failed to recognize it. Inquiring of a 
 laborer on the grounds, he was informed that he would 
 find the object of his search on the summit of the hill, 
 and that modern improvements had not encroached on 
 the sacred place. 
 
 The summit affords a fine view of the city and sur- 
 rounding country. The surface of the ground was in 
 such a shape that no reliable estimate could be formed 
 of the number buried. The boards and billets of wood 
 which had been placed at the heads of graves, the for- 
 mer in some instances with the indistinct remains of 
 lettering in memory of the departed, were gradually dis- 
 appearing, leaving only little knobs of earth covered 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 255 
 
 with rank grass, scarcely distinguishable from the sur- 
 rounding surface, to indicate where weary wanderers 
 found a resting place. 
 
 No carving was found in memory of the dead dat- 
 ing farther back than 1850. The corroding influence of 
 the elements had obliterated everything of earlier date. 
 One inscription on a head board, which had decayed at 
 the surface of the ground and fallen over, on account of 
 family ties and personal friendship, interested him more 
 than the few others. It bore the following inscription ^ 
 ''John P. Greene, infant son of Evan M. and Susan 
 Greene, died March 3rd, 1852, aged 8 months and 16 
 days." Memory reminded him that the grandfather, and 
 namesake of this little waif, Was prominently connected 
 with the early history of the Church. Inquiring of one 
 who was a citizen of Nauvoo at the time of the exodus, 
 he was informed that Mr. Greene sank under excessive 
 labor and exposure in protecting the Saints during their 
 persecutions, and that he found a resting place on the 
 bank of the Mississippi. Perilous times were the heri- 
 tage of the little one that bore his name, aijd we trust 
 it was a kindly Providence that early released it from 
 sorrow which it was not fitted to endure. 
 
 One more reminiscence of Fairview cemetery. 
 This city of the dead had its pioneer as well as the 
 neighboring one of the living. A marble headstone, 
 broken off near the surface, and lying on the ground, 
 marks the place of deposit. The erasure of the name 
 and date, from the inscription and general appearance of 
 the stone, indicated that it was a stray from some other 
 locality. Malicious reports were once in circulation that 
 it had been stolen from another grave. Whoever circu- 
 lated them failed to give due weight to the consideration 
 that one who would incur considerable expense and 
 
256 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 trouble to gratify the impulses of affection, might be ex- 
 pected to have a proper regard for the tender sentiments 
 of others. 
 
 A person was found who had previously made some 
 inquiries concerning this grave, and was informed that 
 the headstone was purshased at Trader s Point, some ten 
 miles below Council Bluffs, of the owner of an old burial 
 place that had been ploughed and its monuments re- 
 moved. The grave was the resting place of a daughter 
 of Elder Silas Richards. Mrs. Mary Powers informed 
 the writer that she visited the ground in an early day 
 when this was the only grave there. The epitaph on the 
 stone would alike be appropriate over a grave near a 
 frontier trading post, or over the resting place of a Mor- 
 mon pilgrim on the top of a high bluff on the bank of the 
 Missouri river, 40 years ago. 
 
 '' Here, lonely and sad, in this wilderness land, 
 
 Thy parents, resigning, deplore thee ; 
 Sweet, sweet be thy rest, till thy Savior's command, 
 In beauty and youth shall restore thee." 
 « 
 The 1 2th of May, 1876, the writer visited Elder 
 John Mahood and family, about six miles east of Council 
 Bluffs. The prairies were becoming green with the fresh 
 verdure of spring. The wild fruit-trees and shrubs were 
 in full bloom, and forest trees in all stages of develop- 
 ment from the bursting bud to nearly the full-grown 
 leaf. Mr. Mahood's residence was enveloped in the 
 forest. From sunset until early dawn, whenever sleep 
 gave way to consciousness, might be heard the echoing 
 notes of the whip-poor-will with a peculiar curt accent on 
 the last note, as if the wakeful night-bird was angry with 
 itself for the everlasting monotony of its song. When 
 at early dawn it retired from active life, it was succeeded 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 257 
 
 by the ceaseless twitter and merry-making of such a 
 variety of birds that every tree and shrub of the forest 
 seemed ahve with the music of their song. It was 
 an earthly paradise, well fitted for the activities of life or 
 for a resting place when its energies were exhausted. 
 On a farm, then owned by Mr. Joshua Gregg, a little 
 over a mile from Mr Mahood's, was a quiet cove, open 
 on the east but otherwise quite surrounded with timber. 
 Abruptly jutting out into this vale, on the south side, 
 was a prominent, well-defined point. The ground 
 between and around a few large linn trees that had lived 
 through the storms and prairie fires of a century or 
 more, was covered with a thick growth of small timber. 
 About half-way up the point was a large linn tree with 
 several smaller ones growing from its roots. About ten 
 feet south-east of these were the remains of a black wal- 
 nut head-board. It had decayed at the surface of the 
 ground and fallen over. The following inscription, 
 carved in the wood, was still legible: 'Tn memory of 
 Solomon Hancock, who died December 2nd, 1847." 
 Although his name is historical, as he was an active Elder 
 in the Church, it is probable that this passing notice is 
 the only record of the place of his sepulture. There 
 were indications of several other interments on the spot. 
 Two or three stakes, indicating places of burial, were 
 still standing, and several more, partially decayed, were 
 lying around. 
 
 Several families of exiles from Nauvoo built their 
 cabins in this sheltered nook, and mutually assisted each 
 other in raising food with which to recruit their wasted 
 energies. Evidently quite a heavy per centage of them 
 found a resting place in this lonely, romantic spot. 
 
 This little mausoleum, now being rapidly hidden in 
 the growth of a young forest and its annual fall of leaves, 
 
258 FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 is a silent and impressive way mark of these pioneers 
 of western civilization. There are, doubtless, many sim- 
 ilar burial places in the country, the signs of which are 
 obliterated by the plough or covered in a new forest 
 growth, beyond the recognition of the living. 
 
 The following sequel to this story was learned from 
 the aged widow of Solomon Hancock, Mrs. Phebe Han- 
 cock, in the autumn of 1888. She informed the writer 
 that her husband went west from Winter Quarters with 
 the company of Miller and Emmett and, with them, went 
 into camp for the winter near the mouth of Running 
 Water river, late in the autumn of 1846. He and his fam- 
 ily did not remain there long, being advised by those 
 in authority to go, with others, to Rush Valley on the 
 Missouri river to assist in taking care of the cattle 
 belonging to the Saints in Winter Quarters. It was har- 
 rassing business, as the Indians were troublesome and 
 stole a large number of cattle. 
 
 Elder Hancock had been much afflicted with chills 
 and fever and continued to suffer, more or less, with the 
 disease when herding the cattle. In the spring of 1847 
 the camp of herders was broken up and Elder Hancock, 
 with his family, located near the secluded spot where he 
 was buried, in company with twelve or more families. 
 The hamlet was presided over by Elder Brownell and it 
 was called Brownell's Settlement. After planting some 
 crops of vegetables for his family to look after during 
 the summer, Elder Hancock's health being much im- 
 proved, and the necessities of his family great, went 
 down into Missouri to seek labor. 
 
 He took a job of chopping timber, labored very 
 hard, and when he had nearly completed it he was again 
 taken sick. The Missourian, under the plea that he had 
 not completed the job, refused to pay him anything for 
 
FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 259 
 
 his labor. He returned home as destitute as he left it, 
 and after a sickness of about three months found rest; 
 his spirit in the abode of the faithful, his worn-out body 
 in the lonely but lovely spot we have described. The 
 black walnut board, which had fortunately served to per- 
 petuate his memory and the place of his sepulture, was 
 cut from the headboard of the bedstead where he had 
 rested during life, and where he had breathed his last. 
 He was a member of Zion's Camp, a faithful preacher of 
 the gospel, shared with the Saints the persecutions of 
 Missouri and Illinois and now rests beneath the luxuriant 
 growth of a modern forest. 
 
 The 1 6th of May, 1876, the writer visited Florence, 
 on the west bank of the Missouri river, six miles above 
 Omaha. It occupies nearly the same ground as the 
 Winter Quarters of 1846-47. For several years after the 
 culmination of the Nauvoo Exodus, it continued to be 
 the outfitting point for the emigrant road on the north 
 side of the Platte. It became quite a flourishing village. 
 When no longer an outfitting point it went rapidly to 
 decay. In 1876 the few tenements, the appearance of 
 which indicated thrift in their occupants were generally 
 the residences of successful cultivators of the soil. 
 
 To meet the storms of the coming winter of 1846-47 
 log cabins, "dugouts" and shelter in any and every 
 available form were hastily constructed by the exiled 
 Saints. These very imperfectly sheltered their inmates 
 from the severe cold and storms of that latitude. In the 
 bodies of many the seeds of disease had been already 
 sown by hunger, exposure to the elements and excessive 
 toil. To obtain food severely taxed their slender 
 resources, and when obtained it was often inadequate 
 for their needs both in quantity and quality. The only 
 observable mark of this dark period of the history of the 
 
26o FROM KIRTLAND TO SALT LAKE CITY. 
 
 Saints was the cemetery over the hill west of the town. 
 About all that indicated their use of it were the many 
 little inequalities of the ground showing that it had been 
 disturbed. Those were no times for chiseled urns or 
 marble momuments in honor of the departed. Many of 
 the weak, debilitated survivors were barely able to per- 
 form the rights of burial, and an unhewn stake, or rude 
 headboard was all they could afford to mark the spot 
 where remains of loved ones were deposited. Decay 
 and prairie fires had destroyed nearly the last vestige of 
 these. The piece of ground has been designated as a 
 burial place by the citizens of Florence and in 1873, they 
 inclosed about two and a half acres of it with a good 
 fence. It is supposed that several hundred of the Saints 
 found a resting place there. In addition to the thousands 
 who found rest on the prairies of Iowa between the 
 Mississippi and Missouri rivers and at Winter Quarters 
 many laid down their lives along the road "To the West" 
 where lay the final object of their toils— a place of refuge 
 from their enemies. Well might the Prophet Joseph 
 when he saw the valleys of the mountains in vision, and 
 the sufferings of his people in getting there exclaim in 
 anguish of spirit, '*Oh, the dead that will lay between 
 here and there!" 
 
 Erratum.— On page 27 instead of Section 1 10 read Section 105. 
 
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