History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

EMIGRANTS IN DISTRESS. 425
burdens without frequent repairs. Some shod the
axles of their carts with old leather, others with tin
from the plates and kettles of their mess outfit; and
for grease they used their allowance of bacon, and even
their soap, of which they had but little. On reaching
Wood River, the cattle stampeded, 62 and thirty head
were lost, the remainder being only sufficient to allow
one yoke to each wagon. The beef cattle, milch cows,
and heifers were used as draught animals, but were of
little service, and it was found necessary to place another
sack of flour on each hand-cart. The issue of
beef was then stopped, the cows gave no milk, and the
daily ration was reduced to a pound of flour, with a little
rice, sugar, coffee, and bacon, an allowance which only
furnished breakfast for some of the men, who fasted
for the remainder of the day.
While encamped on the north fork of the Platte,
the emigrants were overtaken by F. D. Richards, W.
H. Kimball, G. D. Grant, and a party of elders, returning
from foreign missions, who gave them what encouragement
they could. "Though it might storm
on their right and on their left, the Lord would keep
open their way before them, and they would reacn
Zion in safety." After camping with them for one
night, the elders went on their way, promising to leave
provisions for them at Fort Laramie if possible, and
to send aid from Salt Lake City. On reaching Laramie
no provisions were found, and rations were again
reduced, men able to work receiving twelve ounces of
flour daily, women and old men nine ounces, and children
from four to eight ounces.
As the emigrants travelled along the banks of the
Sweetwater, the nights became severe, and their bedcovering
was now insufficient. Before them were the
mountains, clad almost to the base with snow, where
already the storms of winter were gathering. Gradually
the old and infirm began to droop, and soon
deaths became frequent, the companies seldom leaving
62 At this point the country was alive with buffaloes.