Me Thinks

158 years ago,  the Martin and Willey Handcart Companies were struggling along the trail headed for Salt Lake City.  At October General Conference in 1856, Brigham Young challenged the saints in Salt Lake City to "save the people" on the plains.  Rescue supplies were quickly gathered and wagons with capable drivers departed in search of the companies.  I would like to highlight what was happening during a couple of weeks in October in 1856, when the saints in the companies were in dire circumstances and the rescuers had not yet arrived yet.

Travelled about 12 1/4 miles and camped; the road was hilly.  

Several of our cows gave out that were hauling wagons; 

one died on the road or was killed by wolves.  

Willie Company Journal October 11, 1856

Up to this time the daily pound of flour ration had been regularly served out, 

but it was never enough to stay the stomachs of the emigrants, and the longer they were on the plains and in the mountains the hungrier they grew. It was an appetite that could not be satisfied.  At last that was the experience of the handcart people.  You felt as if you could almost eat a rusty nail or gnaw a file.  Eating was the grand passion of the pedestrian on the plains, an insatiable passion, for he never got enough to eat.  As the necessities of man and beast increased, their daily food diminished.  The fourth pound of flour alloted each day was used by many people in the making of gruel.

 Martin Handcart Company, John Jaques, October 9, 1856

Owing to the growing weakness of emigrants and teams, the baggage including bedding an dcooking utensils, was reduced to 10 pounds per head, children under 8 years, 5 pounds.  Good blankets and other bedding and clothing were burned as they could nto be carried further, though needed more badly than ever, for there was yet 400 miles of winter to go through.

Martin Handcart Company,John Jaques, October 17, 1856

The outlook was certainly not encouraging, but it need not be supposed that the company was in despair, notwithstanding the situation was rather desperate.  Oh!  No!  A hopeful and cheerful spirit pervaded the camp, and the "Songs of Zion" were frequently heard at this time, though the company was in the very depths of privation.  Though the bodies of the people were worn down, their spirits were bouyant, while at the same time they had become so accustomed to looking death in the face that they seemed to have no fear of it.

Martin Handcart Company, John Jaques, October 22, 1856