The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-05-31
CHAPTER TX.
Into the Wilderness.

IL
= oeaS'S' OF deserts, of shifting sand
ana Whirlw'uds of dust, of cactus an
prairie dogs"
The little band of pioneers chose,
, 10 break way for the main body O
the Saints consisted of l43 men. thre
g., women, and two children. They wer,
10 'raVel IN Is wagons, drawn b,
horses and oxen. They knew no
"hefe they were to stop, but they
were men Of eager initiative, fearles,
and determined; and their consola
tlon was that, while their exodus into
the desert meant hardship and griey
GUS suffering, it also promised them
freedom from Gentle interference
IL was not fat land into which they
were Venturing; but at least II was
land without past, lying clean az
IL came from the hand Of its maker.
"here they could be free to worshiD
God without fearing the narrow iudg.
ment OF the frivolous. Instructed I'm
the sacred mysteries revealed to
Joseph Smith through the magic light
OF the Trim and Thummim, and Sis.
tanned by the divine message on.
graVed on the golden plates he had
aug up from the hill of Cumorah. they
were now ready to feel their way
across the continent and blaze a trail
70 the new Jerusalem.
They went in military STYLE with
due precautions against SUNRISE nv
the Lamanites-the wretched red
remnant of Abrahams seed-that
sWarmed on every side.
Brigham Young was lieutenant gen.
eral; Stephen Markham was colonel.
the Tedoubtable John Pack was first
MAJOR, and Shadrach Roundy. second.
Ihere were two captains of hundreds
ana fourteen captains of tens. The
orders of the lieutenant general re.
CURED each man TO walk constantly
beside his wagon, leaving it only bv
HIS OlhcerS commands. To make the .
force compact, the wagons were to
move TWO abreast where they could. |
Every man was to keep his weapons
loaded. If the gun was a caplOck. the
cap was to be taken off and a piece
OF leather put on to exclude moisture
and dirt; If a fiintlock, the filling was
10 De taken out and the pan filled
with tow or cotton.
Their march was not only cautious
but orderly. At five a. m. the bugle
sounded for rising, two hours being
for prayers and breakfast,
AT night each man had to retire to
MS wagon for prayer at eight-thirty,
ana 10 rest at nine. If they camped
by river they drew the wagons into
q semlcircle with the river at its
base. Other times the wagons made
circle, a fOrewheel of one touching
rear wheel of the next, thus pro.
'lding a corral for the stock. In such
manner was the wisdom OF the Lord
concerning this hegira supplemented
n detail by the worldly forethought
If his servant Brigham.
They started along the north bank
II the Platte river under the auspic.
Gus shine of an April sun. A better
QUITE was along the south bank
where grass was more plentiful and
he Indians less troublesome. But
long the south bank parties OF
Migrating Gentiles might also be met,
nd these sons of perdition were to
e avoided at any cost-"at least for
he present" said Brigham, in tones
f sage significance.
And so for 200 miles they broke
ew way over the plains, to be known
ears after as the old Mormon trail"
be broadened later by the gold
eekers of forty-nine, and still later
be shod with steel, when the mira.
e of a railway was worked in the
esert.
Joel Rae, walking beside his wagon,
editated chiefly upon the manner in -
hich his Witness would first mani. =
st itself. The wonder came, in s
ay, while he thus meditated Late q
lie afternoon the scouts thrown in
Vance came hurrying back to re-
,rt q large band Of Indians strung
It in battle array few miles ahead. /
he wagons were at once formed five
reast, their one cannon was wheeled
the front, and the company ad.
need in close formation. Perceiv-
g these aggressive maneuvers, the II
dians seemed to change their plan
d, instead of coming on to attack.
IRE seen to be setting fire to the
airie.
The result might we'll have been
sastrous, as the wind was blowing
ward the train. Joel Rae saw it:
W that the time had come for a
racle if the little company of Saints
is to be saved a serious rebuff. He
ickly entered his wagon and began
pray. He prayed that the Lord
ght avert this calamity and permit
handful of faithful ones to pro.
ed in peace to fashion His temple