The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-19
VICTIMS OF A FATAL MARCH
Fearful Experiment in Emigration by
Followers of the Mormon Church.
The Story Of How the Distance from North
Platte to Devils Gate Became Vast Grave
yard of the Fanatics Who Perished.

San Francisco Chronicle.
Outside of Utah few people have ever
heard of the great "handcart" emigration
schemes one of Brigham Young's plans for
conveying his dupes TO the Zion of the
Latter-day Saints, on the shores of the
great Salt lake. Briefly. this plan was
that the emigrants should make their
way across the plains on foot. carrying
the greater portion of their food and bag
gage in hsndcarts. drawn or pushed by the
ignorant creatures who began tie journey
without the faintest conception of its ex-
tent or bsrdships. Several parties made
the trip in safety, but the last handcarf
outfit, whose trials are briefly related be-
low. met with such disaster that the idea
was abandoned.
On May %, 1856. the packet ship Horizon
left Liverpool for Boston with $50 Mormon
emigrants en- route to their new Zion. All
ages and both sexes were represented.
Some were wealthy. many were helped by
their friends. others were brought out by
the church. but most were In poverty and
many were deformed in body. This was
the last contingent of the now historical
handcart emigration one OF the many G0r-
TOR filled episodes of Mormon history.
On June 30 the ship reached Boston, and
here occurred the first blunder OF the
series which was to bring woe upon these
deluded people, No proper cars had been
provided TO take them to Iowa City. then
the most westerly point reached by rail-.
which had been selected 0s the place from
which they were to start on their west
ward journey. A number OF open cat
tie cars were secured, and huddled In
discriminatory in these filthy convey ances
the party started on its way TO Zion. On
the 4th of July the emigrants passed
through Buffalo. and many a poor wretch
looked out from those dirty. crowded cattle
cars and wished that his journey could END
there. But worse was TO come. and they
were hurried through to the outnttlng
point.
CHERRIES OUTLOOK.
Itwa expected that tents. handcarts.
wagons and provisions would be awaiting
them on their arrival. and that they would
make an immed late start. But here again
was disappointment; nothing was there.
On the evening of their arrival the rain
poured down in torrents. 1t was evident
that there was gross misman-
agement somewhere. and 1t developed
afterward that a quarrel over ques-
tion of precedence and division OF the
spoils had exposed these poor people to
untold hardshlps. consigned hundreds of
them TO premature graves. leaving the
greater part of those who survived Grip.
pies or sufferers for life. 1t was the rule and
one that was never violated. for the man.
ager of the emigration To receive commits
sions from the shipping companies, the rail-
roads and firms from which wagons. ma
terial and supplies were purchased. This
amounted TO considerable sum. Apostle
Franklin ID. Richards attended to- the
Liverpool end OF the business. and claimed
the right TO manage all the Affairs OF the
Immigration from that end. Apostle John
Taylor held a higher position In the church
and was stationed at New York. He claimed
the control-and the spoils-by virtue of
his position, and while these two were quar-
reIinQ over the right to the commissions
the Door wretches they should have guarded
were exposed.
At last some green timber was procured,
and the converts were set to work to make
their own handcarts. Rough things they
were, made with unseasoned timber. the
only iron about them being hoop-iron tires
nailed on the felioes, and in some in
stances bands of rewhide took the place
of these. The axles were wood, the hubs
without boxes. although in some cases
the axles were wrapped with pieces OF
leather or rawhide to lessen the friction
1t was hard work to- move one OF them
without load. and all that strong man
~ould do to pull one on level ground when
loaded. Yet with these rickety vehicles
Laeso infatuated people started on jour
ney OF over 1900 miles of wild country
through deserts and over mountains.
BEGAN THE FATAL MARCH.
On July % the party broke camp for the
fatal trip. The company was divided into
two divisions. one under the direction of
Edward Martin. the other in charge of
Jesse Haven. The trip across Iowa demon
strated the weakness of the bandcarts.
Numerous breakdowns occurred. and many
of the emigrants began to grow dis
couraged as they toiled along the dusty
road under the summer sun. After nearly
four weeks the company had covered the
three hundred miles across Iowa. were
ferried over the Missouri river and made
camp at Florence, about six miles north
of Omaha. The people were tired.
the carts were in bad shape and it
was decided to remain here for
for the longer journey. Some of those pos
sessed of more sound sense than religious
enthusiasm. objected to further progress
that year, and urgently advised the max
Ing OF winter camp at that point. But
the people had too much faith In the Lord,
In whose special care they believed they
were. and some of the brethren from
ZIon," whose word was the echo of divin-
ity. assured them that as the God or Israel
had opened ND the Red sea Tor the passage
of the Hebrews so now he would cause the
snow to fall on the right and on the left.
while their road wonld be open and sunny.
Another one OF the leaders" promised to
eat all the snow that would fall on the
road to Salt lake before they got there.
And the people actually believed them.
OU Aug. 20 the tourney OF one IQOuS8DQ
miles was begun Civilization was left
behind and the wilderness was entered.
The outfit for each cart was: Baggage for
seven persons at seventeen pounds q head,
one hundred pounds of -four, tent and tent
poles aud cooking utensils. Children
able TO walk were distributed among the
carts and added to the loads.
At Iowa City a large part of the personal
belongings of the emigrants was thrown
away TO reduce the weight of the baggage,
and q second tightening took place at Flor
ence. but they were not destined to get
through with even the little left them.
Things went smoothly for the first half of
the trip, except for the occasional breaking
of n cart. The pilgrims had no lubricants
and the rude vehicles saueaked and
shrieked as they moved on. The saints be-
lieved that those who advised them to stay
were croakers and those who urged them
on truly inspired prophets of the Lord. But
the second half was TO come.
THE RATIoNs REDUCED.
On Oct. s the emigrsnts arrived at Fort
Laramie. Up to this time daily ration of
one pound of -four To each adult had been
served out. Even this had not been enough
to satisfy the appetires of men toiling in
the open air from early dawn till dark, but
it was discovered that the provisions we:a
growing short and the ration was educed
TO three-fOurths OF pound. The altitude
was increasing. the work more laborious
the days were cooler and the nights frosty.