Remembering the rescue that was happening 158 years ago...
October 27, 1856--Martin Handcart Company Daily Account, Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson Kingsford
It will be readily perceived that under such adverse circumstances I had become despondent. I was six or seven thousand miles form my native land, in a wild, rocky, mountain country, in a destitute condition, the ground covered with snow, the waters covered with ice, and I with three fatherless children with scarcely nothing to protect them from the merciless storms. When I retired to bed that night, being the 27th of Oct., I had a stunning revelation. In my dream, my husband stood by me and said--"Cheer up, Elizabeth, deliverance is at hand." The dream was fulfilled.
October 28, 1856--Hodgett Wagon Company, John Bond
Joseph A. Young, Daniel W. Jones, and Abraham Garr came into camp with a small dun colored pack mule packed with supplies which caused much rejoicing throughout the camp with Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! again and again. The broken hearted mothers ran, clasping their emaciated arms around the necks of the relief party, kissing them time and time again as do the brethren also, rushing up in groups to fall on their necks, the tears falling from their eyes in profusion. "God bless Brigham Young and the rescuing parties sent out to help all to the valleys over the snowclad Rocky mountains," was heard all over the camp.
Joseph A. Young's Report given in the Taberncale
A condition of distress here met my eyes that I never saw before or since. The train was strung out for 3 or 4 miles. There were old men pulling and tugging their carts, sometimes loaded with a sick wife or children--women pulling along sick husband--little children six to eight years old struggling through the mud and snow. As night came on the mud would freeze on their clothes and feet. There were two of us and hundreds needing help. What could we do? We gathered on to some of the most helpless and helped as many as we could into camp.
Ephraim Hanks in the Improvement Era
I killed many buffaloes, and distributed the meat among the hungry Saints. The most remarkable thing about it was that I had traveled that road more than fifty times, and never before saw so many buffaloes in that part of the country.
Since reading a couple of pioneer books that included specific timelines and daily journals, this time of year brings pioneer stories to mind. When the leaves are falling, I remember the horrible suffering the handcart companies were going through and then I think of the rescue and the joy that filled the hearts of the pioneers as they saw men that were sent to help them. The journey had not yet ended for them, as there were still hundreds of miles to go, but their hope was restored.
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