The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-07-04

gate Of that civilization flaming sword of hate
had been forged, which was turned every way
against the refugees. All ties of the past had
been sundered. They were so poor that their
utmost hope was to secure the merest necessi-
ties of life. If ever a dream of anything like
comfort or luxuries came to Them they made
grave in their hearts for that dream and buried
it that it might no longer vex them. Such was
their condition as they took up their western
march. :.
DAY by day the train toiled on its weary way.
There was the same Iimitless expanse Of wilder
ness around them at dawn and at sunset. The
same howl of wolves was their only lullaby as
they sank to sleep at night. Only the planets and
the far-off stars rolling ON their sublime courses
and smiling down upon them from the upper
deep, were nightly symbol that God still ruled,
commanded order and would not forget In sun
shine and storm they pressed onward for five
hundred miles, then followed five hundred miles
more over the rugged mountains which make the
backbone of the continent. Their teams grew
steadily weaker, more and more distractions
interposed in their path, but they never
faltered."
Included In the story of the Mormon migra-
ton is the story of the 'handcart pioneers" who
in the Sos walked the 1900 miles over prairies
and mountains pulling or pushing handcarts
piled high with their belongings. 1.-The story Of
this pilgrimage is as remarkable record Of
pioneer suffering as the story of the Inflated
Bonner party or the Jayhawkers Of Kansas who
went through Death valley, yet it has received
scant attention from Western historians" says
one writer. And another declares There is no
more dramatic chapter in history than that tell
ing of the march of these pioneers. No story is
filed with more heroism, pathos and loyalty and
devotion to cause than is that Journey"
After the main bodies of the Mormons had
made their way to Utah and had drained the
Middle West of virtually all its horses and oxen
to pull their wagons, there were still others de-
termined to go. Especially was this true of Eng
lish and other European emgrants who had be-
come converts to the Mormon faith.
The first of these handcart companies, led by
Edmund Ellsworth and Daniel D. Macarthur, lert
Iowa City, Iowa, then the Mormon QUILTING post
early in June, 1885, and reached Utah late In
September. Each had about 500 people with 100
handcarts, five wagons "a oxen, four mules and
% tents. The third. led by Edward Bunker, left
late in June and arrived in October. Despite
some deaths among the aged and sickly, the
majority of the emigrants reached their destina-
ton safely.
But not so fortunate were the companies led
by James G. Willie and Edward Martin which
set out from Iowa in July and August For win
ter set in early and they were soon beset by
journey toward the Rockies became more and
more trail of misery Hearing Of the plight
of the emigrants Brigham Young organized a
rescuing expedition which set out with food. bed
ding and medicines to help them over the rough
est part of their journey, that of crossing the
mountains.
The full story Of these and other pioneers in
the great Mormon migration yet remains to be
written. Survival of the religious prejudice and
the intolerance which marked the era in which
the Mormon church was founded has blinded
many Americans to the heroic qualities of these
people and the magnitude of their achievement
In transforming desert into prosperous COM
monwealth. But to anyone who thinks of them
as American pioneers, rather than as members
OF religious sect, these words of Judge Good
win cannot seem inappropriate wore out
their lives in toll They suffered without plant
From nothing they created glorifed state
Honor and reverence and glory everlasting BE-
theirs"
eWesteru Newspaper Unien-