Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-11

purpose making these questions the
subject OF my lecture. Since the ex-
pulslon of the Mormons. to the pres
ent date, | have been intimately con-
versant with the details Of their his
tory. But I shall invite your atten-
ton most particularly to an account
OF what happened to them during their
first year In the wilderness. because
at this time more than any other, be-
ing lost to public view. they were the
subjects OF fable and mlsconception.
Happily, II was during this period 1
myself moved with them, and earned
at a dear price. as some among you
are aware, my right to speak with
authority Of them and their character,
their trials. achievements, ana inten-
lions.
The party encountered by me at the
river shore were the last OF the Nor
mons that left that city. They had
all OF them engaged the year before.
that they would VLcate their Tones,
ana seek some other place OF refuge IL
had been the condition OF a truce be-
tween them and their assailants, and
as an earnest of their good faith, the
chief elders and some others Of OBJ
noxious standing, with their families.
were TO set out for the west in the
spring Of 1916. 1t had been stipulated
in return that the rest OF the Mormons
might remain behind In the peaceful
enjoyment OF their / nOis abode, until
their leaders, with their exploring par
~. could with all diligence select for
them q new place of settlement beyond
the Rocky Mountains, IN California, or
elsewhere, and until they had oppor-
tunity to dispose t. the best advan-
tase. OF the property which they were
then to leave.
some renewed symptoms Of hostile
feeling had however. determined the
pioneer party to begin their work be-
tore the spring 1t was OF course an
ttcipated that this would be a perllous
service; but II was regarded as a mat
ter OF self-denying duty. The ardor
and emulation Of many, particularly
the devout and the young, were stimu-
lated by the difficulties 1t involved; and
the ranks of the party we're therefor,
filled up with volunteers from among
the most effective and responsible
members Of the sect. They began their
march In midwinter; and by the begin
ming OF February. nearly all OF them
were ON the road many OF their wag-
ons having crossed the Mississippi on
the ice.
COLD AND HUNGER.
Under the most favoring clrcum-
stances, an expedition OF this sort, un-
dertaken at such a season of the year
could scarcely fail 10 be disas trous. But
the pioneer company had 10 set out in
haste, and were very mperfectly sup
piled with necessaries. The cold was
intense They moved I'm the teeth OF
keen-edged northwest winds. such az
sweep down the Iowa peninsula from
the ice-bound regions OF the timber
shaded Slave Lake and Lake OF tho
Woods; on the bald prairie there moth
ing above the dead grass breaks their
free course over the hard rolled hills
Even along the scattered water courses.
where they broke the thick ice to give
their cattle drink, the annual autumn
fires had left little wood OF value. The
party, therefore, often wanted for good
camp fires. the first luxury of all traV-
elers; but to men insufficiently fur
nished with tents and other appliances
of shelter, almost an essential to life;
after days OF fatigue their nights were
often passed In restless efforts to save
themselves from freezing. Their stock
OF food also proved inadequate: and
their systems became Impoverished,
their suffering from cold increased.
ADVANCE AT ALL COSTS.
ITO return to Nauvoo was apparently
the only escape: but this would have
been 10 give occasion for fresh mis-
trust. and so TO bring new trouble to
those they had left there behind
them. They resolved at least to hold
their ground, and to advance as they
might. were IL only by limping through
the deep SHOWS a few slow miles a day.
Fhey found n sort OF comfort in CON-
pairing themselves to the oxiles of 81
Deria and sought cheerfulness in earn
est praying for the spring -longed for
as morning by the tossing sick.
THE spring came at last. II overlook
them in the Sac and Fox country, still |
On the naked prairie, not yet half way |
over the trail they were following be-
tween the Mississippi and Missouri |
rivers. But IL brought its own share |
" troubles with H. Tie months with |
which II opened proved nearly as try |
ng as the worst OF winter.
The snow, and sleet, and rain which |
ell, as II appeared TO them. without |
made the road over the |
'ich prairie soil as impossible as one |
vast bog OF heavy black mud. Some
lines they would fasten the horses
md oxen Of four or Ave wagons to
me, and attempt TO get ahead in this
way taking turns: but at the close |
md their cattle, they would find them
ielves "A quarter or half a mile from
he place they left I'm the morning
rhe heavy rains raised all water cours-
IS. tho most trifing streams We're i'm
,assable Wood Mt for bridging was
rot often TO be had, and i'm such
asses the only recourse was TO halt
or the freshet to subside-a matter in
he case OF the headwaters of the Char
ton for instance, OF over three weeks
elay
1.-THE people OF Iowa have told me. that
rom morning TO night they passed
westward like an endless procession.
hey did not seem greatly out OF
cart, they said: but. at the top of
avery Hill before they disappeared.
'ere 90 be seen looking back. like
nnished Moors. on their aba ndoned
oines. and the far-seen temple and
t. gllttering spire.
Delayed thus by their own wants.
nd by their exertions 10 provide for
no wants OF others. II was not until
he month If June that the advance OF
he omigrant companies arrived at the
flssouri
AT COUNCIL BLUFFS.
This landing. and the large fat or
ottom on the east side of the river
we're crowded with covered carts and
wagons, ana each one OF the Council
,luff hills opposite was crowned with
Is own great camp gay with bright
White canvas. and alive with the busy
tir of swarmng occupants. In the
lear hue morning air. the smoke
troamed up from more than thou
and cooking fires. Countless roads
nd by-paths checkered all manner
Z geometric figures on the hillsides.
ierd bows were dozing upon the slopes:
heep and horses, cows and oxen, were
eeding around them. and other herds
n the lux,irinnt meadow OF the then
wollen river From n single point
ounted 1000 head OF cattle in view at