History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

426
MISSIONS AND IMMIGRATION.
their camping-ground without burying one or more of
the party. Then able-bodied men began to succumb,
a few of them continuing to pull their carts until the
day before they died, and one or two even on the day of
their death. On the morning when the first snowstorm
occurred, the last ration of flour was issued, and
a march of sixteen miles was before them to the nearest
camping-ground on the Sweetwater. The task
seemed hopeless; but at noon a wagon drove up, containing
Joseph A. Young and Stephen Taylor, from
Salt Lake City, who told them that a train of supplies
was on the way, and would reach them in a day or
two. Young and Taylor immediately went on to
meet Martin's company, which it was feared was even
in worse plight than that of Captain Willie. Thus
encouraged, the emigrants pushed forward, and by
doubling their teams, while the strongest of the party
helped the weak to drag along their carts, all reached
the camping-ground, though some of the cattle per-
ished, and during the night five persons died of cold
and exhaustion.
In the morning the snow was a foot deep; and now
there remained only two barrels of biscuit, a few pounds
of sugar and dried apples, and a quarter of a sack of
rice. Two of the disabled cattle were killed, their
carcasses issued for beef, and on this and a small dole
of biscuit the emigrants were told that they must
subsist until supplies reached them, the small remnant
of provisions being reserved for the young children
and the sick. It was now decided to remain in camp,
while Captain Willie with one of the elders went in
search of the supply trains. The small allowance of
beef and biscuit was consumed the first day, and on
the second day more cattle were killed and eaten
without biscuit. On the next day there was nothing to
eat, for no more cattle could be spared, and still the supplies
came not, being delayed by the same storm which
the emigrants had encountered. During these three