History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CALIFORNIA-BOUND EMIGRANTS. 297
Among the causes that led to the prosperity of the
people of Utah at this period was the migration of
gold-seekers to California. Hundreds of emigrants,
turning aside to Salt Lake City, wearied and dispirited,
their cattle worn out and their wagons broken,
were glad to exchange them, together with their tools,
household furniture, and spare clothing, for provisions
and pack animals at very low rates. 23 Many were
glad to remain during winter, and work for their livelihood.
Though reports were freely circulated to the
contrary, there is sufficient evidence that as a rule
they were kindly treated, and not a few abandoned
their search for gold to cast in their lot with the
saints. 29
The arrival in November of the first pack-mule train
from California, laden with many luxuries and necessities,
was an important event. The people formed
in line, waiting hours for their turn to buy the limited
amount allowed. 30 When a sack of potatoes was
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.' Frontier Guardian, Sept. 18, 1850. Mention
of cholera on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in the spring of 18-49 is
made by Brigham. 'Many Mormon brethren and sisters emigrating on those
rivers died; 60 died going from St Louis to Kanesville, mostly from England
and Wales, under Capt. Ban. Jones.' Hist. B. Young, MS., 1849, 85.
28 Horses, harnesses, carriages, wagons, etc., were bought of eager emigrant?
at one fifth of their cost in the states. Utah Early Ilecords, MS., 113.
29 In the autumn of 1849 many emigrants, while resting in Salt Lake City,
wrote letters to their friends, in which they acknowledged the kindness and
hospitality shown them by the saints. Extracts from these letters were published
in newspapers throughout the states. Gunnison, The Mormons, 65,
says: • Their many deeds of charity to the sick and broken-down gold-seekers
all speak loudly in their favor, and must eventually redound to their praise.'
See also Kane's The Mormons, 76-7; Stansbury's Expedition to G. S. Lake, i.
134. In March 1851, numbers of emigrants were baptized, and most of them
remained in Utah. Id., 123. D. J. Staples, who remained at S. L. City for
two or three weeks with a Boston party bound for California in 1849, says:
'The Mormons showed their kindness in every possible way, supplying all
wants and taking care of the sick.' Incidents and, Inform., in Cat., MS., D.
1-3. See also Van Dyke's Statement, in Id., 1. Among later instances may
be mentioned that of John C. Fremont, who with nine white men and twelve
Indians arrived at Parowan Jan. 7, 1854, in a starving condition. He was
supplied with provisions and fresh animals, setting forth eastward on tht
20th.
30 Brown sugar was $1 a lb.; and everything else in proportion. No one
was allowed more than one pound of anything. Mrs Home's Migrations,
MS., 30.