Mower County transcript., 1907-02-27

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"keep in Ny Sinful Heart the Face Of
Her Who Has Left to Dwell Among
the Gentiles."
to break way for the main body of
the Saints consisted of 143 men, three
women, and two children. They were
to travel in q wagons, drawn by
horses and oxen. They knew not
where they were to stop, but they
were men of eager initiative, fearless
and determined; and their consola-
ton was that, while their exodus into
the desert meant hardship and grtev-
GUS suffering, it also promised them
freedom from Gentle interference.
It was not fat land into which they
were venturing; but at least it was
a land without a past, lying clean as
it came from the hand OF its maker,
where they could be free to Worship
God without fearing the narrow judg-
ment of the frivolous. Instructed in
the sacred mysteries revealed to
Joseph Smith through the magic light
of the Urim and Thummim, and sus-
tanned by the divine message en-
graved on. the golden plates he had
dug up from the hill of Cumorah, they
were now ready to feel their way
|, across the continent and blaze a trail
to the new Jerusalem.
They went in military style with
due precautions against surprise by
the Lamanites-the wretched red
remnant of Abraham's seed-that
swarmed on every side. .,.
Brigham Young was lieutenant gen.
eral; Stephen Markham was colonel;
the redoubtable John Pack was first
major, and Shadrach Roundy, second.
There were two captains OF hundreds
and fourteen captains of tens The
orders of the lieutenant general re-
Quired each man to walk constantly
beside his wagon, leaving it only by
his officers 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 flintlock, the filling was
to be taken out and the pan filled
with tow or cotton. -. ~H. So,
Their march was not only cautious
but orderly. At five a. m. the bugle
sounded for rising, two hours being
allowed for prayers and breakfast.
At night each man had to retire to
bis wagon for prayer at eight-thirty,
and to rest at nine. II they camped
by river they drew the wagons into
semicircle with the river at it's
base. Other times the wagons made
circle, fore-wheel of one touching
rear wheel of the next, thus pro-
viding corral for the stock. In, such
manner was the wisdom of the Lord
concerning this hegira supplemented
in detail by the worldly forethought
Of his servant Brigham. ts
They started along the north bank
of the Platte river under the auspic-
ious shine of an April sun. A better
route was along the south bank
where grass was more plentiful and
the Indians less troublesome. But
along the south bank parties OF
migrating Gentiles might also be met,
and these sons of perdition were to-
be avoided at any cost-"at least for
the present" said Brigham, in tones
Of sage significance.
And 50 for. 200 miles they broke
new way over the plains. to be known
years after as the old Mormon trail.
to be broadened later BY the gold
seekers Of forty nine, and still later
/ to be shod with steel, when the mira
Gle Of Z railway was worked in the
desert
Joel Rae. walking beside his wagon,
meditated chiefly upon the manner in
which his Witness would nrst mani
fest itself The wonder came, IN :
Sway, while ke thus mo.dttated. Late
sns afterhoon the scouts thrown IN
advance came hurryinx back TO re-
port large band Of Indians strung
..out Ia battle array q few. miles ahead.
The Wagons were ats once formed nYe
Abroad, their one cahn6n WaSNAs
% front, aud ~ hnfsny M
Iss1(dc6d q setose formal a1essv-
80. HAnA - =,