Show I Martins Handcart Company 1856 n nI A I BY JOSIAH ROGERSON No 9 years ago today toda Sunday but It was then Nov 30 1856 the tho last of ot the decimated ranks of Captain Ed Edit Edard Eduard it ard Martins company arrived in this city with several sev ral famines families s from Hunts and Hodgetts wagon companies We had made camp the night before at the head of Emigration canyon near Father Killians ranch ten or twelve miles east of this city and be between between tween 10 and 12 10 wagons with horses and mules and 32 yoke of oxen that comprised the entire res rescuing rescuing cuing and relief party were in Main street in the tithing yard ard and around Presiding Bishop Hunters tithing of fice flee I merely mention this fact now and ahead of the completion of my m narra tive on account or ol the coincidence of the memorable Sabbath morning and the flocking around the wagons of the relatives and friends asking Is my father here naming or Is my mother here climbing on the wagon tongues and wheels to catch a look at the inmates with fear and doubt as to their being living or dead and which will be bc more fully told later Failing to find in General Burtons and Grants journal the names of the members of the rescuing party that I It left t eft ft Salt Lake under their command I Oct 7 1866 and the same lack in other diaries and journals without which my narrative would be Incomplete I Inter interviewed viewed Mewed Mr Benjamin Hampton of ot Salt Bait Lake one of ot the few surviving veterans of the he rescuers and one of the nineteen men who were left at Devils Gate that fearful tearful winter To supply this blank in the history he referred me to Daniel W Jones Jone Forty Years Year Among the Indians and herein I find these two lists with his narration of finding our company in the snowbound camp at Red Bluff or Red Buttes on the date heretofore mentioned and which I prefer to let him tell in his own words President Youngs Call CallI I attended the October conference of 1856 1556 When conference opened Pres ident Young arose amse and said There are a number of our people or orr the plains who have started to come with hand carts they will need help and I 1 want twenty teams to go out and meet them If the teams are not vol voluntarily voluntarily furnished there are plenty plent of ot o f good ones in the street and I shall call upon Brother J C Little the marshal to furnish them Now we will adjourn n tills this conference until tomorrow Brother Young was in earnest he h e seemed moved by b a spirit that would woul d admit of no delay delayA A few days da s before this a number of o f felders elders ciders had arrived from the old coun country try reporting that the hand cart people were on the road but did not know how ow far back they th were In those days were mere was no telegraph ana and mans malls irom the east only reached Utah monthly and which were many times delayed by high water Indians or other causes President Brigham Young called upon every one present to lend a hand In fn fitting up these th e teams As os I was going out with the crowd Brother Wells Yells President Daniel H Wells spoke to me saying You are a good hand for the trip get ready read Soon after Bishop Hunter said the same thinG thin to me also Brother Grant Captain George D met me and said I 1 want you on this trip I began to think it time to decide so I answered All right I had a saddle saddie horse We Ve were instructed to get every thing we could ready and rendezvous between the Big and Little mountains a n short days drive out from Salt Lake Next day da teams and volunteer men ware w re ready A better outfit and one more adapted to the work before us I do not think could possibly have been selected If a we w week k had bad been spent in fitting up As soon as R we were together we organized and moved on George D Grant was selected captain with Rob Robert Robert Robert ert T Burton and William Kimball I as assistants Cyrus H Wheelock chaplain Charles Decker guide I Iwas was as given gien the important position of chief cook for the head mess messI I 1 was quite proud of my m office for It made me the most moat sought after atter and popular man in the camp The rest of oftIe the tIe company was made up of the fol lowing persons parsons Joseph A Young Chauncey Webb ebb H H Cluff duff D P Kimball George W V Grant Ed Peck Joel Parrish Henry HEnr Goldsborough Thomas Alexander Benjamin Hamp r ton Thomas Ricks licks Abe Ahe Garr Charles Gray Gra Al AI Huntington Handsome Cu Cupid CuPid Cupid pid Stephen Staphen St phen Taylor Talor William K Broomhead Ira Reddick All Allred Allred Allred red Amos Fairbanks and Tom Bank flank head a colored man These are all the names that I remember if f there were more I have been unable to find them Captain Jones Story The first night after leaving Dev Devils Devils ils Gate going east we camped our horses followed a band of Buffalo sew sev several eral miles It was near noon the next day da when we returned with them We determined to get even een with them so rode at full gallop whenever the road would permit After riding about t elve miles milo we wo saw paw a white mans shoe track in n the therOld road rOld Brother Young called out Here they are We e put our animals to their utmost st speed and soon came in sight of the camp at Red fled Bluff This was Brother Edward Martins handcart company compan and Ben Hodgetts wagon company There was still wa wagon wagon wagon gon company down near the Platte crossing This company was In almost as bad a condition as a the first one Willies Wil lies h s company They had nearly given given en 0 up hype Their provisions were about exhausted and many of them worn out and sick When hen we rode in there was a general rush to shako shake hands I took look no part in Inthe the ceremony Many declared we were angels from heaven hf aven I told them I thought we were better than angels this occa occasion occasion occasion sion as we were good strong men come cometo cometo cometo to help them into the valley and that cur r ur company and wagons loaded with provisions were not far away awa I thought this the test consolation un under under under der the circumstances Brother Young told the people to gather up and move moe on at once as the only salvation was to travel a little every day da This was right and no doubt saved many lives Jives for tor we among so many some twelve hundred could do but little and there was danger of starvation before help could arrive unless the people made come fome headway toward the valley Next morning Brother Young Jo Joseph Joseph Joseph seph A and others went to Platte bridge leaving Brother Gear and me meto meto meto to get the company started according to agreement made the evening before be before before fore Referring to the two wagon com companies companies companies that were camped a few miles east of Martins hp says The clouds wore ware gathering thickly for storm this was on Oct 28 and andr c r t f I just as we v e were about to start it com commenced commenced commenced snowing very hard The Tho heavens heavens heavens ens were obscured by clouds excepting a small place about the shape of the gable end of or o a house ho se This opening was in the direction of the valley and the sun seemed to shine through with great brightness We Ve mounted our mules Brother Broth r Garr pointing to the bright spot in the heavens said Do you see that hole You had better get out of here before that closes close up for It is your our opening to the valley We Ve are going The people I believe bellee took this for a warning and soon started for their cat cattle cattle cattle tle Next morning they the moved on Brother Garr and I went back to where E Martins camp had been They had rolled out and Captain Hodgetts wa wagon wagon Wagon gon company was Just starting We Ye continued on overtaking the handcart company ascending a long muddy hill hUl A condition of distress here met my eyes that I never saw before or since The company was leas as strung I out for three or four tour miles There were old men pulling and tugging their carts sometimes loaded with a sick wife or pulling along sick husbands little Utile children six to eight years old struggling through the mud and snow As night came on the mud would freeze on their clothes and feet There were two of us and hundreds needing help What hat could we do We gath gathered gathered gathered ered on to some of the most helpless with our riatas tied to the carts and helped as many as we could into camp campon campon on Avenue hill This was a bitter cold night and we had no fuel except very ery small sage brush Several died that night Next morning Brother Young having come up we vve three started for our camp near nea r Devils Devil Gate AH AU were rejoiced to get ge rt t the news that we had found the emi emigrants emigrants emigrants grants The following morning most of o othe f the relief company moved down east meeting the handcart company at a t Greasewood creek Such assistance a awe as we could give was rendered to all aU until they finally arrived at Devils Gate fort about the 1st of ot November There were some twelve hundred in all about abou t with handcarts and the other lither r half with teams Captain Jones remained here five oh 01 o r six days He then says That night about Nov No 10 we were called together and organized as a branch Dan W Jones Thomas Alex Alexander Alexander Alexander ander and Brig Hampton were chosen chose n to preside with J W v Latey as clerk The rest of ot the company was com corn composed composed posed of the following John Cooper John Hardcastle John Shorten John Joh n Chapel John Galbraith John Ellis Ems John Whitaker William Handy Hand Wil William n liam ham Laty Edwin Summers Rossiter r Jenkins Elisha Manning Henry Henr Jake Jakeman Jakeman Jakeman man George Watt att George Watts atts and an d The last name Captain Jones said he could coul not remember and neither can Mr Hampton remember it today Captain Grant asked about our pro provisions provisions visions I told him they the were scant but as many man were suffering and some dying all aU we asked was an equal chance with the rest He told me there would be alot a lot of cat cattle cattle cattle tle left to gather them up and try tr and save them They consisted most mostly mostly ly I of yearlings and heifers someone was taking through The storm had now ceased to rage and great hopes were felt for a successful move mova W f were dally daily expecting more help and often wondered why it did not come Next ext day da all aU hands of the wagon companies with General Bur Burton Burton Burton ton and Grant pulled out most of them on foot After setting getting my camp regulated a little and and giving some in instructions instructions I got on my horse and rodeon rode rodeon on to see ee how the train was moving along alon All were out of sight when I started After Alter overtaking the train and see SM seeing seeing ing them on the move Captain Grant asked d me to go back bael with instructions ions for the th brethren left with me then to come como on next day da and camp with them overnight On calling th the company com company pany together at the fort that night I told them in plain words that if there was a man in camp who could not help hell lieu eat the last poor animal left with us hides and all aU suffer all manner manner of privations privations privations almost starve to death that he be could go on with me the next day and overtake the trains No one wanted to togo togo togo go All voted to take their chances On taking stock of provisions we found fou d about twenty tent days rations no salt or o bread excepting a few crack crackers ers There was at least five months of winter before us and nothing much to eat but a few perishing cattle and what game we might ml ht chance to kill The game was not very certain as th the e storms storm had driven everything away I 1 followed the train this day da to its it s second encampment and the next day traveled with them There was much muc h suffering death occurring often H re I leave Captain Jones narrative narra narrative tive tle as to his services and connection n with our oui company compan The history of th the e stopping at Devils DevUs Gate of those nine nineteen nineteen nine nineteen teen brave men during that fearful fearful I winter with over five months snow will bt bl hereafter written by Brother Brothe r John Cooper Coper of Utah a mem mein member member ber r of Captain John A Hunts wagon company com pan and one of ot the members that remained there and Burtons Journals I finished chapter No o 8 with two tw o paragraphs of Nov 12 and 13 from m General Burtons journal camping the thelast thelast thelast last night on the Sweetwater at the th e lower ed end of the drive and again resume Brother Bleak s diary ar Friday Nov ov K Traveled only about four miles mUes from the tile sweetwater today toda Weather getting more pleas pleasant pleasant pleasant ant cold abating Saturday Nov 16 1 Traveled eight miles mU s today toda Weather eather nice and warm warmer er cr Camped on the Sweetwater again tonight Here Recorder Bleak says s ys I 1 am 27 years ears of age today A slim celebration with eight ounces of flour for three meals Sunday Sunda Nov 16 Distance traveled today not given in either Journal but not less than twelve or fourteen miles was made and all camp made again in a little cottonwood grove Our rations were raised here today to one pound for adults and half haJ a pound to chil children children dren Monday Nov No 17 Brother Bleak says From this on we shall shan travel by mull mule and horse teams leaving the ox teams behind and expect to make twenty to miles per par day da till we reach the valley valle For Nov No 18 19 and 20 CO his jour journal journal journal nal is blank as to distance made and location of camping grounds Friday Nov 20 Reached Green river this tills evening Saturday Nov No 21 Blank Sunday Nov 23 Roadbed red ed Fort lort Bridger Wyoming Monday Nov 24 Traveled thirteen miles am suffering from an attack of mountain fever Tuesday Wednesday Thursday and Friday Fridl Nov No 25 2 26 27 and 28 Blank Saturday Nov No 29 Crossed the Big I o o mountain snow deep traveled several miles today Sunday Nov 30 Arrived in Salt gait Lake City Ct Utah General R T 1 Burtons Journal Friday Nov Nm 14 aThe The weather we ther now very ver pleasant All the companies moving moving moving ing on Camped on the drive about four miles from Sweet Sweetwater Sweetwater water Good feed not much wood No deaths in the camp tonight Captain Hunts Hunt wagon company ahead Cap Captain Captain Captain tain William B Hodgetts near Saturday Nov IS 15 Weather continues contin continues continues ues fine fin and warm Traveled on eight miles and alid camped on Sweetwater Not much wood nor very good feed Sunday Nov 16 Met ten teams from the valley valle Brother Cals compa company ny on the Rocky ridge west of Fort Bridger We Ve camped tonight in a lit little little little tle cottonwood grove Good wood and feed Monday Nov 17 ne warm day Camped on a branch of f the Sweetwater ter Distance traveled not given but must ha have hac e made fifteen to twenty miles Tuesday Nov 18 Cloudy dy snowed in the afternoon Met several relief teams William Kimball KimbaU James Fer Ferguson Ferguson Ferguson guson J Simmons H Stout and others Camped tonight at our station on Sweetwater Distance again not given but I remember that we traveled trav traveled tra al at a lively gait for several hours today and the distance covered could not have been less Jess than yesterday Wednesday Nov 19 Snowing in the morning Sent an express ahead to the city Salt Lake Company moved on Now all in wagons Three Captain George D Grant and R T Burton after seeing the ox teams moved on after the fhe company compan Camped tonight on Dry Sandy The writer remembers that this evening or the next at BIg |