LEAVE NEW YORK--ARRIVAL AT WYOMING--INCIDENTS ON THE PLAINS.
I slept that night in the office. The next day Brother H. P. Folsom
procured lodgings for me at Sister Mary I. Worthington's, in Brooklyn,
with whom I stayed till the next Tuesday, the 17th of June, when, in
company with her and her family, we left New York about midnight.
Our company consisted of about seven hundred Scandinavians (a ship
having arrived on the 17th) and about one hundred English.
On the 29th of July, about noon, we arrived at Wyoming, a small
settlement in Nebraska Territory. At a short distance the tents of the
Saints attracted my attention, and I soon wended my way there, finding
quite a number of those who had sailed in the _American Congress_. We
were pleased to greet each other.
After dinner I took a stroll over to one of the stores in the
settlement, where I assisted in serving customers and was given my
board as a recompense.
Early in the afternoon of August 2nd, we started on our long journey.
Our train consisted of about sixty-five wagons. The captain's name was
Rawlings, and Brother John Nicholson was chaplain.
About twenty miles was an average day's journey. The emigrants walked
most of the way, riding only in the wagons at intervals to rest
themselves. Each morning, before sunrise, we were aroused by the
sound of the bugle. Then could be witnessed a scene of activity; all
were bustling around, some going for wood, others carrying water and
lighting fires.
While camping at night, after supper had been prepared and disposed
of, we enjoyed good times, especially in listening to singing, in
which some young ladies excelled. Groups of elder ones could have been
seen seated around large fires, conversing about days gone by and
forecasting the future.
Following are some incidents which happened on the plains:
Reaching the North Platte River, and after being camped there two or
three hours, one of our company appeared with two loaded guns, one of
which he hurriedly handed to a young man. We asked what was the matter.
He replied:
"We are surrounded by Indians!"
I then rushed to our wagon to get a pistol which I thought our teamster
had left in the wagon, but could not find it. All the men left camp
to ascertain what was going on. Women and children began to cry and
the scene was heartrending. Those of us left in camp were eagerly
looking around, expecting every minute to be attacked by Indians. Our
camping place was in a lonely spot. On one side, close to us, was the
North Platte River, and on the other, about the same distance, were
mountains. Not a house in sight; in fact, we were a great many miles
away from one. We afterwards learned that the alarm was a false one.
The captain called the company together and chided the men for leaving
the camp without anyone to defend it.
One snowy morning, when probably about a hundred miles from Salt Lake
City, I started out, as usual, on foot. My shoes were considerably worn
out, and one of them was badly used up and so hurt me that, despite
the snow, I had to throw it away and walk barefoot. Approaching our
teamster, I besought him to let me ride, telling him my deplorable
condition. He refused to grant my request. After walking awhile I again
asked permission to ride, but was again denied. The snow came down in
heavy flakes and very few of our company were walking. I trudged along
for about three miles with only one shoe on, when my strength failed--I
could go no farther--and was about to sit down in the snow, at the same
time fervently praying to my Heavenly Father for His divine assistance.
As soon as I had uttered my prayer a shoe came flying out to me. Our
wagon was just passing by and Sister Worthington was the person who
threw it. It was small for me, but with difficulty, after rubbing some
skin off my heel, I managed to get it on and went limping on my journey.