The TREK - Wednesday Day 3

Oct 17:


Traveled 13 miles

Death: William Philpot, age 51

Paul Lyman Commentary

The company journal described travel through the “Three Crossings” portion of the trail. It required them to cross from the south side to the north side of the Sweetwater River. After about one and one-half miles the trail crossed the river to the south and then, due to the canyon walls, back to the north side.

After eating soup made from the bones of cows that had no fat on them, Sarah James, age 19, suggested to her parents that they make soup out of the tatters of her shoes. Her father smiled at her, while her mother impatiently told Sarah that she would “have to eat the muddy things” herself.

John Chislett's First Hand Account

“We had not travelled far up the Sweetwater before the nights, which had gradually been getting colder since we left Laramie, became very severe. The mountains before us, as we approached nearer to them, revealed themselves to view mantled nearly to their base in snow, and tokens of a coming storm were discernible in the clouds which each day seemed to lower around us. In our frequent crossings of the Sweetwater, we had really ‘a hard road to travel.’ The water was beautiful to the eye, as it rolled over its rocky bed as clear as crystal; but when we waded it time after time at each ford to get the carts, the women, and the children over, the beautiful stream, with its romantic surroundings (which should awaken holy and poetic feelings in the soul, and draw it nearer to the Great Author of life), lost to us its beauty, and the chill which it sent through our systems drove out from our minds all holy and devout aspirations, and left a void, a sadness, and—in some cases—doubts as to the justice of an overruling Providence.

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

Oct 18:

Traveled 8 miles

Deaths: Ann Rowley, age 2; Eliza Smith, age 40; John Kockles, age 66; Daniel Osborn, age 7; Rasmus Hansen, age 40

It snowed. The Saints met the advance party of the rescuers and five people died during the day.

Company Journal
The company rolled on again, & were soon met by Cyrus H. Wheelock & Joseph A. Young & two other brethren from the Valley, bringing us the information that supplies were near at hand, the camp halted, a meeting was called. Bro. Wheelock informed us of the liberality of the Saints in the Valley, of Bro. Brigham Young’s kindheartedness in speaking in behalf of the Handcart companies now on the Plains, & of himself fitting up ten teams & wagons & supplying them with flour, &c., & others in proportion.

Paul Lyman Commentary

Never before had five people died in one day. The 16 mile forced trek without a water break, in horrible weather, had exacted a terrible toll. All hope may have been lost, were it not for the advance party of rescuers finding them after the snowstorm.

Without the Willie Company knowing all of the details, President Franklin D. Richards and his companions had raced to the Valley. They arrived on October 4th. President Richards went immediately to President Brigham Young and reported the dire circumstances of the two handcart companies that were still on the plains. The two companies had no hope of making it to the Valley without additional supplies. Brigham Young went immediately into action. The next day was the first day of the Church’s fall general conference. Brigham Young called for wagons, teams, teamsters, food, and clothing to be driven to the east to provide essential aid to the unfortunate Saints. The response was immediate and, on the 7th, the first fully supplied rescue wagons left Salt Lake City.

The company was in serious trouble. Nineteen Saints had died since Fort Laramie. Shortly after leaving Fort Laramie, they had covered about 21 miles in one day, October 4th, and three people died. On October 19th they had walked 16 miles without water enduring a brief snowstorm and five people had died. Now it was snowing and they were out of food. They had only the promise of rescue to give them hope.


Oct 19:

Travel: 16 miles

Deaths: Ann Rowley, age 2; Eliza Smith, age 40; John Kockles, age 66; Daniel Osborn, age 7; Rasmus Hansen, age 40

Joseph A. Young knew Emily Hill, age 20, from his time in England. When he saw her pitiful condition, she reported that he burst into tears. He told her that it was because she looked “starved.” He then quietly gave her a small onion from his pocket and told her to eat it. Instead, she saved it. She saw a man lying on the ground near death by a fire. She felt so badly for him that she gave him the onion. He later credited her act of kindness with saving his life.

Oct 20

Travel: The Company was out of food and was stopped by the snow.

Death: Anna F. Tait, age 31

Paul Lyman Commentary

The Saints woke up to four inches of snow. It continued to snow all day. The company journal reported that the last of the food had been issued the night before, while Levi Savage reported that it was issued in the morning. It was the hard bread or crackers that President Willie had acquired at Fort Laramie. Due to the lack of food and the snowstorm, no effort was made to move from their camp at the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater River. They were out of food and had to hope and pray for the anticipated supplies.

Paul Lyman Commentary

During the morning President Willie decided to go on ahead and find the rescue wagons. He was joined by Joseph Elder. They took two mules and no bedding or other provisions. They intended to find the relief wagons, regardless of what time or effort it took. They did not know that, when faced with the same October 19th snowstorm, the rescuers had sought protection below the mouth of Willow Creek on the Sweetwater River, off the main trail. A rescuer, Harvey H. Cluff, had felt inspired to walk three miles north to the main trail and place a signboard on the trail pointing in the direction of the camp. He thought it would guide Cyrus H. Wheelock, Joseph A. Young, and the two others when they returned. Shortly after Cluff arrived back at the rescue company’s camp, near nightfall, President Willie and Joseph Elder rode into the rescuers’ camp. Had they not been guided by Harvey Cluff’s sign, they would have missed the camp and possibly perished, along with even more of their starving company

As the Saints huddled together in a storm enduring their forced fast, they may have been encouraged by memories of other miracles. Ann Jewell Rowley’s family recalled that, on an earlier night, her ten family members had nothing to eat but “two hard sea rolls.” She needed God’s help to feed the ten people. She placed the sea rolls in a Dutch oven, covered them with water, and prayed. Later, when she took the lid off, the Dutch oven was “filled with food.”


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