Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-11-04
HANDCART SQUADS
CROSSED PLAINS
AIORMONS BOUND FOR UTAH
MADE TRIP ON FOOT FROM
NAUvOO, I'LL, IN 1856
By EvALYN WALL

When the MOrmonS were ex-
PEELED from Eauvoo in Illinois
they decided to set up their COM
monwealth in the state of Deseret,
later to become Utah territory,
which at that time belonged to
Mexico. Many groups of Mormon
refugees with Ox-carts and COW
cred wagons made their way to
their new Zion. But as time went
on money for the migration began
to give out and at this time Brig
ham Young, their famous leader con-
ceived the idea of having his people
come with handcarts. They could walk
and pun their few belongings. driving
their COWS and get there just as fast
and a great deal cheaper.
The carts provided were Of the same
TYNE used in the cities as pushcartS
today. They weighed about IS pounds
and were made of oak and hickory.
The wheels had iron tires. Some OF the
carts were open and some were COW
cred.
The first handcart company started
June 9. 1856 and although the second
didn't start until a day later, they
travelled together most OF the way.
walking became tireSome and the
people got footsore. There we're In
dian scares and buffalo stampedes be-
sides the usual changing climatic con-
dftions. But the first three handcars
companies reached Utah safely.
However. the fourth and fifth COM
panies didn't do so well. They were
made up mostly Of people from Eng
land and Scandinavia, and after cross
Ctnfac
upon arriving at Iowa City that there
were no tents and handcarts ready as
they had expected. AS a consequence
carts were built in hurry OF unSea- /
soned wood Later on when they got
out on the hot dessert their vehicles
dried out and fell TO pieces. Another
obstacle encountered was the Chey-
enne Indians who were on the war
path. These people were easy prey Tor /
the Indians and several were maSSa-
cred. Buffalo stampeded through the
camps and the cattle followed them I
to be lost forever from their owners.
AS there was only one handcart to /
every four or five persons 1t was I'M
possible to carry enough provisions
in addition to the other necessary
equipment for such a journey. Food
began to give out. BY the time they
got to Fort Laramie the allowance OF
flour for each person was cut down
from one pound for each person TO
three-fourths of a pound per day and
later it was cut down to 10 ounces,
until as time passed it was all gone.
Many of the emigrants traded their
watches and other valuables for pro-
visions.
But the worst calamity was yet to
come. The companies had not been
able to start until July. This did not
give them time to make the trip before
winter set in. BY the time they got
to the Sweetwater river in what is
now Wyoming, the nights began 10 gee
colder Finally the snow came. Inc
first Snowstorm brought snow a foot
deep. More cattle were lost in the
storms. The people, among whom were
old people, nursing mothers and little
tried to wallow through the !
snow pushing their handcarts. Emil
grants were dying so fast from lack
squad was appointed to prepare the s
graves each night for those who died {
during the day. In one camp more '
than 100 persons died in nine days. I
When the ground became too frozen {
70 dig graves, the corpses were wrapped {
IN blankets, piled together and COW s
red with snow.
1t was finally decided to camp and
;end messengers on to Salt Lake In
JIuSF 10 ScCu1e all At I1Ae IA1lS b1lhS I
word reached Brigham Young Of the {
distressing condition of his followers,
he big semiannual conference was in !
esSion and he Immediately stopped all
he other business called for volun- :
GERS, organized rescue trains and went 5
o their assistance. And thus with the
lelp of the relief trains the remnants 9
# the companies reached Salt Lake
Jity five months after leaving Iowa y
Jity. Z