History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

424 MISSIONS AND IMMIGRATION.
was not in motion until the middle of July, and the
last that season, under Captain Edward Martin, not
until the end of that month. They were divided, as
usual, into hundreds, Willie's company being somewhat
below that number; and for each hundred were furbished
twenty hand-carts, five tents, three or four
•.milch cows, and a wagon with three yoke of oxen to
.convey the provisions and tents, the quantity of clothing
and bedding being limited to seventeen pounds per
capita, and the freight of each cart, including cooking
utensils, being about one hundred pounds.
Willie's company reached Winter Quarters, or Florence,
as it was now termed, near the middle of August,
and here a meeting was held to decide whether they
should continue their journey or encamp for the win-
ter. They had yet more than a thousand miles to
travel, and with their utmost effort could not expect
to arrive in the valley until late in November. The
matter was left with the elders, all of whom, except
one named Levi Savage, counselled them to go forward
and trust in the Lord, who would surely protect
his people. Savage declared that they should trust
also to such common sense as the Lord had given
.them. From his certain knowledge, the company,
containing as it did so large a number of the aged
and infirm, of women and children, could not cross the
mountains thus late in the season, without much suffering,
sickness, and death. He was overruled and
rebuked for want of faith. "Brethren and sisters,"
he replied, "what I have said I know to be true; but
•seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you.
May God in his mercy preserve us."
The company set forth from Florence on the 18th,
and on each hand-cart was now placed a ninety-eightpound
sack of flour, as the wagons could not carry the
entire load. At first they travelled about fifteen miles
a day, although delays were caused by the breaking
of wheels and axles, the heat and aridity of the
plains and mountain country speedily making many of
the cart-wheels rickety, and unable to sustain their