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History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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JOURNEY ACROSS THE PLAINS. 421<br />

slowly along with its endless train <strong>of</strong> vehicles and its<br />

hundreds <strong>of</strong> cattle, sheep, horses, and mules, formed a<br />

picturesque and motley spectacle. Among the members<br />

<strong>of</strong> the party were to be found the New England<br />

man with his stock <strong>of</strong> trading goods, the southerner<br />

with his colored attendant, the Englishman with his<br />

box <strong>of</strong> mechanic's tools, the Dane, the Swiss, and the<br />

Scandinavian with their implements <strong>of</strong> agriculture.<br />

There were few trades and few nationalities not represented,<br />

and few pr<strong>of</strong>essions save that <strong>of</strong> the lawyer.<br />

Among the proselytes were university graduates, physicians,<br />

ministers, army and navy <strong>of</strong>ficers, school-masters,<br />

merchants, storekeepers, and even pawnbrokers.<br />

Yet amidst all this heterogeneous gathering, throughout<br />

all the hardships and privations <strong>of</strong> the march,<br />

there was little strife or discord ; and never did it happen,<br />

as was <strong>of</strong>ten the case with parties bound for the<br />

gold-fields, that a Mormon company broke up into<br />

fragments through the dissension <strong>of</strong> its members. 57<br />

Those who set forth early in the season—not later<br />

than the middle <strong>of</strong> June—seldom met with any serious<br />

disaster; and it was recommended that none should<br />

leave Council Bluffs after that time <strong>of</strong> year, on account<br />

<strong>of</strong> the severe snow-storms that sometimes prevailed<br />

in the mountains during autumn. In October<br />

1849, for instance, while crossing Rocky Ridge, near<br />

the summit <strong>of</strong> South Pass, a party in charge <strong>of</strong><br />

George A. Smith, the prophet's cousin, encountered<br />

a storm, in which more than sixty <strong>of</strong> their cattle per-<br />

ished. Toward night on the 2d a strong wind set in<br />

from the north-east, accompanied with driving snow.<br />

The company encamped on a branch <strong>of</strong> the Sweet-<br />

and turkeys had been conveyed in coops the whole distance without apparent<br />

damage. . .The appearance <strong>of</strong> this train was good, most <strong>of</strong> the wagons having<br />

from three to five yoke <strong>of</strong> cattle, and all in fine condition. The wagons<br />

swarmed with women and children, and I estimated the train atone thousand<br />

head <strong>of</strong> cattle, 100 head <strong>of</strong> sheep, and 500 human souls.' Exped. to G. S. Lake,<br />

223.<br />

57 For letters and news from emigrants on their way across the plains and<br />

matters concerning the organization <strong>of</strong> emigrant bands, see Frontier Guardian,<br />

Dec. 16, 1849, June 12, July 10, 24, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, 1850, Jan. 22, March 21,<br />

July 11, Aug. 8, 1851.

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