History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

JOURNEY ACROSS THE PLAINS. 421
slowly along with its endless train of vehicles and its
hundreds of cattle, sheep, horses, and mules, formed a
picturesque and motley spectacle. Among the members
of the party were to be found the New England
man with his stock of trading goods, the southerner
with his colored attendant, the Englishman with his
box of mechanic's tools, the Dane, the Swiss, and the
Scandinavian with their implements of agriculture.
There were few trades and few nationalities not represented,
and few professions save that of the lawyer.
Among the proselytes were university graduates, physicians,
ministers, army and navy officers, school-masters,
merchants, storekeepers, and even pawnbrokers.
Yet amidst all this heterogeneous gathering, throughout
all the hardships and privations of the march,
there was little strife or discord ; and never did it happen,
as was often the case with parties bound for the
gold-fields, that a Mormon company broke up into
fragments through the dissension of its members. 57
Those who set forth early in the season—not later
than the middle of June—seldom met with any serious
disaster; and it was recommended that none should
leave Council Bluffs after that time of year, on account
of the severe snow-storms that sometimes prevailed
in the mountains during autumn. In October
1849, for instance, while crossing Rocky Ridge, near
the summit of South Pass, a party in charge of
George A. Smith, the prophet's cousin, encountered
a storm, in which more than sixty of their cattle per-
ished. Toward night on the 2d a strong wind set in
from the north-east, accompanied with driving snow.
The company encamped on a branch of the Sweet-
and turkeys had been conveyed in coops the whole distance without apparent
damage. . .The appearance of this train was good, most of the wagons having
from three to five yoke of cattle, and all in fine condition. The wagons
swarmed with women and children, and I estimated the train atone thousand
head of cattle, 100 head of sheep, and 500 human souls.' Exped. to G. S. Lake,
223.
57 For letters and news from emigrants on their way across the plains and
matters concerning the organization of emigrant bands, see Frontier Guardian,
Dec. 16, 1849, June 12, July 10, 24, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, 1850, Jan. 22, March 21,
July 11, Aug. 8, 1851.