History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

STARVATION AND DEATH. 427
days many died and numbers sickened, some expiring
in the arms of those who were themselves almost
at°the point of death, mothers clasping with their
dying clutch the remnants of their tattered clothing
around the wan forms of their perishing infants, and,
most pitiful sight of all, strong men begging for the
morsel of food that had been set apart for the sick and
helpless.
It was now the evening of the third day, and the
sun was sinking behind the snow-clad ranges, which
could be traced far to the west amid the clear, frosty
atmosphere of the desert. There were many who,
while they gazed on this scene, did not expect to see
the light of another day, and there were many who
cared no longer for life, having lost all that makes life
precious. They retired to their tents, and commending
themselves to their maker, lay down to rest,
perchance to die. But presently a shout of joy was
raised, as from an eminence near the western portion
of the camp covered wagons were seen approaching,
with Willie at their head. In charge of the train
were Kimball and Grant, who distributed to the companies
about half of their provisions, together with a
quantity of warm clothing, blankets, and buffalo-robes,
the remainder being sent forward under charge^ of
Grant for the use of Martin's company, while Kimball
now took command of Willie's detachment.
But the troubles of the hand-cart emigrants were
not yet at an end. Some were already beyond all
human aid; some had lost their reason, and around
others the blackness of despair had gathered, all
efforts to rouse them from their stupor being unavailing.
Each day the weather grew colder, and many
were frost-bitten, losing fingers, toes, or ears, one sick
man who held on to the wagon-bars, to avoid jolting,
having all his fingers frozen. At a camping-ground
on Willow Creek, a tributary of the Sweetwater,
fifteen corpses were buried, thirteen of them being