In 1855 the crops in Utah were almost a failure, and the church
authorities found themselves very much embarrassed by their debts. A
report in the seventh General Epistle, of April 18, 1852, set forth
that, from their entry into the valley to March 27, of that year, there
had been received as tithing, mostly in property, $244,747.03, and in
loans and from other sources $145,513.78, of which total there had been
expended in assisting immigrants and on church buildings, city lots,
manufacturing industries, etc., $353,765.69. Young found it necessary
therefore to cut down his expenses, and he looked around for a method of
doing this without checking the stream of new-comers. The method which
he evolved was to furnish the immigrants with hand-carts on their
arrival in Iowa, and to let them walk all the way across the plains,
taking with them only such effects as these carts would hold, each party
of ten to drive with them one or two cows.
Although Young tried to throw the result of this experiment on others,
the evidence is conclusive that he devised it and worked out its
details. In a letter to Elder F. D. Richards, in Liverpool, dated
September 30, 1855, Young said: "We cannot afford to purchase wagons
and teams as in times past. I am consequently thrown back upon MY OLD
PLAN--to make hand-carts, and let the emigration foot it." To show what
a pleasant trip this would make, this head of the church, who had three
times crossed the plains, added, "Fifteen miles a day will bring them
through in 70 days, and, after they get accustomed to it, they will
travel 20, 25, or even 30 with all ease, and no danger of giving out,
but will continue to get stronger and stronger; the little ones and
sick, if there are any, can be carried on the carts, but there will be
none sick in a little time after they get started."*
* Millennial Star, Vol. VII, p. 813.
Directions in accordance with this plan were issued in the form of a
circular in Liverpool in February, 1856, naming Iowa City, Iowa, as the
point of outfit. The charge for booking through to Utah by the Perpetual
Emigration Fund Company was fixed at 9 pounds for all over one year old,
and 4 pounds 10 shillings for younger infants. The use of trunks
or boxes was discouraged, and the emigrants were urged to provide
themselves with oil-cloth or mackintosh bags.
About thirteen hundred persons left Liverpool to undertake this foot
journey across the plains, placing implicit faith in the pictures of
Salt Lake Valley drawn by the missionaries, and not doubting that the
method of travel would be as enjoyable as it seemed economical. Five
separate companies were started that summer from Iowa City. The first
and second of these arrived at Florence, Nebraska, on July 17, the
third, made up mostly of Welsh, on July 19, and the fourth on August 11.
The first company made the trip to Utah without anything more serious to
report than the necessary discomforts of such a march, and were received
with great acclaim by the church authorities, and welcomed with an
elaborate procession. It was the last companies whose story became a
tragedy.*
* The experiences of those companies were told in detail by a
member of one, John Chislett, and printed in the "Rocky Mountain
Saints." Mrs. Stenhouse gives additional experiences in her "Tell it
All."
The immigrants met with their first disappointment on arriving at Iowa
City. Instead of finding their carts ready for them, they were told that
no advance agent had prepared the way. The last companies were subjected
to the most delay from this cause. Even the carts were still to be
manufactured, and, while they were making, many a family had to camp in
the open fields, without even the shelter of a tent or a wagon top. The
carts, when pronounced finished, moved on two light wheels, the only
iron used in their construction being a very thin tire. Two projecting
shafts of hickory or oak were joined by a cross piece, by means of which
the owner propelled the vehicle. When Mr. Chislett's company, after
a three weeks' delay, made a start, they were five hundred strong,
comprising English, Scotch, and Scandanavians. They were divided, as
usual, into hundreds, to each hundred being allotted five tents, twenty
hand-carts, and one wagon drawn by three yokes of oxen, the latter
carrying the tents and provisions. Families containing more young men
than were required to draw their own carts shared these human draught
animals with other families who were not so well provided; but many
carts were pulled along by young girls.
The Iowans bestowed on the travellers both kindness and commiseration.
Knowing better than did the new-comers from Europe the trials that
awaited them, they pointed out the lateness of the season, and they did
persuade a few members to give up the trip. But the elders who were in
charge of the company were watchful, the religious spirit was kept up by
daily meetings, and the one command that was constantly reiterated was,
"Obey your leaders in all things."
A march of four weeks over a hot, dusty route was required to bring them
to the Missouri River near Florence. Even there they were insufficiently
supplied with food. With flour costing $3 per hundred pounds, and bacon
seven or eight cents a pound, the daily allowance of food was ten ounces
of flour to each adult, and four ounces to children under eight years
old, with bacon, coffee, sugar, and rice served occasionally. Some of
the men ate all their allowance for the day at their breakfast, and
depended on the generosity of settlers on the way, while there were any,
for what further food they had until the next morning.
After a week's stay at Florence (the old Winter Quarters), the march
across the plains was resumed on August 18. The danger of making this
trip so late in the season, with a company which included many women,
children, and aged persons, gave even the elders pause, and a meeting
was held to discuss the matter. But Levi Savage, who had made the trip
to and from the valley, alone advised against continuing the march that
season. The others urged the company to go on, declaring that they were
God's people, and prophesying in His name that they would get through
the mountains in safety. The emigrants, "simple, honest, eager to go to
Zion at once, and obedient as little children to the 'servants of God,'
voted to proceed." *
* A "bond," which each assisted emigrant was required to sign in
Liverpool, contained the following stipulations: "We do severally
and jointly promise and bind ourselves to continue with and obey the
instructions of the agent appointed to superintend our passage thither
to [Utah]. And that, on our arrival in Utah, we will hold ourselves,
our time, and our labor, subject to the appropriation of the Perpetual
Emigration Fund Company until the full cost of our emigration is paid,
with interest if required."
As the teams provided could not haul enough flour to last the company to
Utah, a sack weighing ninety-eight pounds was added to the load of
each cart. One pound of flour a day was now allowed to each adult, and
occasionally fresh beef. Soon after leaving Florence trouble began with
the carts. The sand of the dry prairie got into the wooden hubs and
ground the axles so that they broke, and constant delays were caused by
the necessity of making repairs., No axle grease had been provided, and
some of the company were compelled to use their precious allowance of
bacon to grease the wheels. At Wood River, where the plains were alive
with buffaloes, a stampede of the cattle occurred one night, and thirty
of them were never recovered. The one yoke of oxen that was left to
each wagon could not pull the load; an attempt to use the milch cows
and heifers as draught animals failed, and the tired cart pullers had to
load up again with flour.
While pursuing their journey in this manner, their camp was visited one
evening by Apostle F. D. Richards and some other elders, on their way
to Utah from mission work abroad. Richards severely rebuked Savage for
advising that the trip be given up at Florence, and prophesied that
the Lord would keep open a way before them. The missionaries, who were
provided with carriages drawn by four horses each, drove on, without
waiting to see this prediction confirmed.
On arriving at Fort Laramie, about the first of September, another
evidence of the culpable neglect of the church authorities manifested
itself. The supply of provisions that was to have awaited them there was
wanting. They calculated the amount that they had on hand, and estimated
that it would last only until they were within 350 miles of Salt Lake
City; but, perhaps making the best of the situation, they voted to
reduce the daily ration and to try to make the supply last by travelling
faster. When they reached the neighborhood of Independence Rock, a
letter sent back by Richards informed them that supplies would meet them
at South Pass; but another calculation showed that what remained would
not last them to the Pass, and again the ration was reduced, working men
now receiving twelve ounces a day, other adults nine, and children from
four to eight. Another source of discomfort now manifested itself. In
order to accommodate matters to the capacity of the carts, the elders in
charge had made it one of the rules that each outfit should be limited
to seventeen pounds of clothing and bedding. As they advanced up the
Sweetwater it became cold. The mountains appeared snow-covered, and
the lack of extra wraps and bedding caused first discomfort, and
then intense suffering, to the half-fed travellers. The necessity of
frequently wading the Sweetwater chilled the stronger men who were
bearing the brunt of the labor, and when morning dawned the occupants
of the tents found themselves numb with the cold, and quite unfitted to
endure the hardships of the coming day. Chislett draws this picture of
the situation at that time:--
"Our old and infirm people began to droop, and they no sooner lost
spirit and courage than death's stamp could be traced upon their
features. Life went out as smoothly as a lamp ceases to burn when the
oil is gone. At first the deaths occurred slowly and irregularly, but in
a few days at more frequent intervals, until we soon thought it unusual
to leave a camp ground without burying one or more persons. Death was
not long confined in its ravages to the old and infirm, but the young
and naturally strong were among its victims. Weakness and debility were
accompanied by dysentery. This we could not stop or even alleviate,
no proper medicines being in the camp; and in almost every instance it
carried off the parties attacked. It was surprising to an unmarried
man to witness the devotion of men to their families and to their faith
under these trying circumstances. Many a father pulled his cart, with
his little children on it, until the day preceding his death. These
people died with the calm faith and fortitude of martyrs."
An Oregonian returning East, who met two of the more fortunate of these
handcart parties, gave this description to the Huron (Ohio) Reflector in
1857:--
"It was certainly the most novel and interesting sight I have seen for
many a day. We met two trains, one of thirty and the other of fifty
carts, averaging about six to the cart. The carts were generally drawn
by one man and three women each, though some carts were drawn by women
alone. There were about three women to one man, and two-thirds of the
women single. It was the most motley crew I ever beheld. Most of them
were Danes, with a sprinkling of Welsh, Swedes, and English, and were
generally from the lower classes of their countries. Most could not
understand what we said to them. The road was lined for a mile behind
the train with the lame, halt, sick, and needy. Many were quite aged,
and would be going slowly along, supported by a son or daughter. Some
were on crutches; now and then a mother with a child in her arms and
two or three hanging hold of her, with a forlorn appearance, would
pass slowly along; others, whose condition entitled them to a seat in a
carriage, were wending their way through the sand. A few seemed in good
spirits."
The belated company did not meet anyone to carry word of their condition
to the valley, but among Richard's party who visited the camp at Wood
River was Brigham Young's son, Joseph A. He realized the plight of the
travellers, and when his father heard his report he too recognized the
fact that aid must be sent at once. The son was directed to get together
all the supplies he could obtain in the city or pick up on the way,
and to start toward the East immediately. Driving on himself in a light
wagon, he reached the advanced line, as they were toiling ahead through
their first snowstorm. The provisions travelled slower, and could not
reach them in less than one or two days longer. There was encouragement,
of course, even in the prospect of release, but encouragement could not
save those whose vitality was already exhausted. Camp was pitched that
night among a grove of willows, where good fires were possible, but in
the morning they awoke to find the snow a foot deep, and that five of
their companions had been added to the death list during the night.
To add to the desperate character of the situation came the announcement
that the provisions were practically exhausted, the last of the flour
having been given out, and all that remained being a few dried apples, a
little rice and sugar, and about twenty-five pounds of hardtack. Two of
the cattle were killed, and the camp were informed that they would have
to subsist on the supplies in sight until aid reached them. The best
thing to do in these circumstances, indeed, the only thing, was to
remain where they were and send messengers to advise the succoring party
of the desperateness of their case. Their captain, Mr. Willie, and one
companion acted as their messengers. They were gone three days, and
in their absence Mr. Chislett had the painful duty of doling out
what little food there was in camp. He speaks of his task as one that
unmanned him. More cattle were killed, but beef without other food did
not satisfy the hungry, and the epidemic of dysentery grew worse. The
commissary officer was surrounded by a crowd of men and women imploring
him for a little food, and it required all his power of reasoning to
make them see that what little was left must be saved for the sick.
The party with aid from the valley had also encountered the snowstorm,
and, not appreciating the desperate condition of the hand-cart
immigrants, had halted to wait for better weather. As soon as Captain
Willie took them the news, they hastened eastward, and were seen by the
starving party at sunset, the third day after their captain's departure.
"Shouts of joy rent the air," says Chislett. "Strong men wept till tears
ran freely down their furrowed and sunburnt cheeks, and little children
partook of the joy which some of them hardly understood, and fairly
danced around with gladness. Restraint was set aside in the general
rejoicing, and, as the brethren entered our camp, the sisters fell upon
them and deluged them with kisses."
The timely relief saved many lives, but the end of the suffering had not
been reached. A good many of the foot party were so exhausted by what
they had gone through, that even their near approach to their Zion and
their prophet did not stimulate them to make the effort to complete the
journey. Some trudged along, unable even to pull a cart, and those who
were still weaker were given places in the wagons. It grew colder, too,
and frozen hands and feet became a common experience. Thus each day
lessened by a few who were buried the number that remained.
Then came another snowstorm. What this meant to a weakened party like
this dragging their few possessions in carts can easily be imagined.
One family after another would find that they could not make further
progress, and when a hill was reached the human teams would have to
be doubled up. In this way, by travelling backward and forward, some
progress was made. That day's march was marked by constant additions to
the stragglers who kept dropping by the way. When the main body had
made their camp for the night, some of the best teams were sent back
for those who had dropped behind, and it was early morning before all of
these were brought in.
The next morning Captain Willie was assigned to take count of the dead.
An examination of the camp showed thirteen corpses, all stiffly frozen.
They were buried in a large square hole, three or four abreast and three
deep. "When they did not fit in," says Chislett, "we put one or two
crosswise at the head or feet of the others. We covered them with
willows and then with the earth." Two other victims were buried before
nightfall. Parties passing eastward by this place the following summer
found that the wolves had speedily uncovered the corpses, and that their
bones were scattered all over the neighborhood.
Further deaths continued every day until they arrived at South Pass.
There more assistance from the valley met them, the weather became
warmer, and the health of the party improved, so that when they arrived
at Salt Lake City they were in better condition and spirits. The date of
their arrival there was November 9. The company which set out from Iowa
City numbered about 500, of whom 400 set out from Florence across the
plains. Of these 400, 67 died on the way, and there were a few deaths
after they reached the end of their journey.
Another company of these hand-cart travellers left Florence still later
than the ones whose sufferings have been described. They were in charge
of an elder named Martin. Like their predecessors, they were warned
against setting out so late as the middle of August, and many of them
tried to give up the trip, but permission to do so was refused. Their
sufferings began soon after they crossed the Platte, near Fort Laramie,
and snow was encountered sixty miles east of Devil's Gate. When they
reached that landmark, they decided that they could make no further
progress with their hand-carts. They accordingly took possession of half
a dozen dilapidated log houses, the contents of the wagons were placed
in some of these, the hand-carts were left behind, and as many people as
the teams could drag were placed in the wagons and started forward. One
of the survivors of this party has written: "The track of the emigrants
was marked by graves, and many of the living suffered almost worse than
death. Men may be seen to-day in Salt Lake City, who were boys then,
hobbling around on their club-feet, all their toes having been frozen
off in that fearful march." * Twenty men who were left at Devil's Gate
had a terrible experience, being compelled, before assistance reached
them, to eat even the pieces of hide wrapped round their cart-wheels,
and a piece of buffalo skin that had been used as a door-mat. Strange to
say, all of these men reached the valley alive.
* "Rocky Mountain Saints," p. 337.
We have seen that Brigham Young was the inventor of this hand-cart
immigration scheme. Alarmed by the result of the experiment, as soon as
the wretched remnant of the last two parties arrived in Salt Lake City,
he took steps to place the responsibility for the disaster on other
shoulders. The idea which he carried out was to shift the blame to F. D.
Richards on the ground that he allowed the immigrants to start too
late. In an address in the Tabernacle, while Captain Willie's party was
approaching the city, he told the returned missionaries from England
that they needed to be careful about eulogizing Richards and Spencer,
lest they should have "the big head." When these men were in Salt Lake
City he cursed them with the curse of the church. E. W. Tullidge, who
was an editor of the Millennial Star in Liverpool under Richards when
the hand-cart emigrants were collected, proposed, when in later years he
was editing the Utah Magazine, to tell the facts about that matter; but
when Young learned this, he ordered Godbe, the controlling owner of the
magazine, to destroy that issue, after one side of the sheets had been
printed, and he was obeyed.* Fortunately Young was not able to destroy
the files of the Millennial Star.
* "Rocky Mountain Saints," p. 342.
There is much that is thoroughly typical of Mormonism in the history of
these expeditions. No converts were ever instilled with a more confident
belief in the divine character of the ridiculous pretender, Joseph
Smith. To no persons were more flagrant misrepresentations ever made by
the heads of the church, and over none was the dictatorial authority of
the church exercised more remorselessly. Not only was Utah held out to
them as "a land where honest labor and industry meet with a suitable
reward, and where the higher walks of life are open to the humblest and
poorest," * but they were informed that, if they had not faith enough
to undertake the trip to Utah, they had not "faith sufficient to endure,
with the Saints in Zion, the celestial law which leads to exaltation
and eternal life." Young wrote to Richards privately in October, 1855,
"Adhere strictly to our former suggestion of walking them through across
the plains with hand-carts";** and Richards in an editorial in the Star
thereupon warned the Saints: "The destroying angel is abroad. Pestilence
and gaunt famine will soon increase the terrors of the scene to an
extent as yet without a parallel in the records of the human race. If
the anticipated toils of the journey shake your faith in the promises of
the Lord, it is high time that you were digging about the foundation
of it, and seeing if it be founded on the root of the Holy Priesthood,"
etc.
* Thirteenth General Epistle, Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, p. 49.
** Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, p, 61.
The direct effect of such teaching is shown in two letters printed in
the Millennial Star of June 14, 1856. In the first of these, a sister,
writing to her brother in Liverpool from Williamsburg, New York,
confesses her surprise on learning that the journey was to be made with
hand-carts, says that their mother cannot survive such a trip, and
that she does not think the girls can, points out that the limitation
regarding baggage would compel them to sell nearly all their clothes,
and proposes that they wait in New York or St. Louis until they could
procure a wagon. In his reply the brother scorns this advice, says that
he would not stop in New York if he were offered 10,000 pounds besides
his expenses, and adds "Brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers, when they
put a stumbling block in the way of my salvation, are nothing more to me
than Gentiles. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, and when
we start we will go right up to Zion, if we go ragged and barefoot."
Young found himself hard put to meet the church obligations in 1856,
notwithstanding the economy of the hand-cart system; and the Millennial
Star of December 27 announced that no assisted emigrants would be sent
out during the following year. Saints proposing to go through at their
own expense were informed, however, that the church bureau would supply
them with teams. Those proposing to use hand-carts were told of the
"indispensable necessity" of having their whole outfit ready on their
arrival at Iowa City, and the bureau offered to supply this at an
estimated cost of 3 pounds per head, any deficit to be made up on their
arrival there.*
* "The agency of the Mormon emigration at that time was a very
profitable appointment. By arrangement with ship brokers at Liverpool,
a commission of half a guinea per head was allowed the agent for every
adult emigrant that he sent across the Atlantic, and the railroad
companies in New York allowed a percentage on every emigrant ticket. But
a still larger revenue was derived from the outfitting on the frontiers.
The agents purchased all the cattle, wagons, tents, wagon-covers, flour,
cooking utensils, stoves, and the staple articles for a three
months' journey across the Plains, and from them the Saints supplied
themselves."--"Rocky Mountain Saints," p. 340.