--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Kimball, Solomon F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 17 number: 4 published: 1914-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Solomon F. Kimball, "The Belated Emigrants of 1856—IV," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 4 (February 1914): 287–298.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1704unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1704unse start_page: 287 end_page: 298 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1704unse publication_year: 1914 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Belated Emigrants of 1856—IV Belated Emigrants of 1856 BY SOLOMON F. KIMBALL IV To describe conditions surrounding the old fort at Devil's Gate during the first few days of November, 1856, would be a difficult task. About twenty-five out of the nine hundred emigrants who had arrived there since the 2d of the month, had already perished, and others were lying at the point of death. Their food supply was nearly exhausted, and there were no signs of help. The snow was eighteen inches deep on the level, and the weather intensely cold. Feed was scarce, and cattle were dying by the score. Wood was almost out of the question, and the more feeble among the Saints were literally freezing to death. Unless immediate steps were taken to relieve the situation, all would perish together. Captain Grant, thoroughly conversant with these facts, ordered his men to make a start for the west in charge of the Martin company even if they accomplished no more than to find a better camping ground where wood and feed could be secured in greater abundance. Those of the handcart people who were unable to walk were crowded into the overloaded wagons, and a start was made ; the balance of the company hobbling along behind with their carts as best they could. When the boys came to the first crossing of the Sweetwater west of Devil's Gate, they found the stream full of floating ice, making it dangerous to cross, on account of the strong current. However, the teams went over in safety and continued on their way until they came to a sheltered place, afterwards called "Martin's Hollow." Here they camped for the night and, after burying a number of Saints who had died during the day, busied themselves in getting ready to receive the remainder of the company who were expected at any moment. When the people who were drawing carts came to the brink of this treacherous stream, they refused to go any further, realizing what it meant to do so, as the water in places was almost waist deep, and the river more than a hundred feet wide by actual measurement. To cross that mountain torrent under such conditions to them meant nothing short of suicide, as it will be remembered that nearly one-sixth of their number had already perished from the effects of crossing North Platte, eighteen days before. They believed that no earthly power could bring them 288 IMPROVEMENT ERA through thai place alive, and reasoned that if they had to die it was useless to add to their suffering by the perpetration of such a rash art as crossing the river here. They had walked hundreds of miles over an almost trackless plain, pulling- carts as they went, and after making such tremendous sacrifices for the cause • •f truth, to lav down their lives in such a dreadful manner was awful to contemplate. They became alarmed, and cried mightily unto the Lord for help, but received no answer. All the warring elements of nature appeared to be against them, and the spirit of death Itself seemed to be in the very air. \fter they had given up in despair, after all hopes had vanished, after every apparent avenue of escape seemed closed, three eighteen-year-old boys belonging to the relief party came to the rescue, and to the astonishment of all who saw, carried nearly every member of that illfated handcart company across the snowbound stream. The strain was so terrible, and the exposure so -ie.it. that in later years all the boys died from the effects of it. When President Brigham Young heard of this heroic act, he wept like a child, and later declared publicly, "that act alone will ensure C. Allen Huntington, George W. Grant and David P. Kimball an everlasting salvation in the Celestial Kingdom of God, worlds without end." On the morning of November 6, Captain Grant had the rooms in the old fort, at Devil's Gate, cleaned out, and during the next three days about forty loads of baggage were stored in them. The remainder of the wagons were banked, just back of the building, where they remained until spring. These eightythree loads of baggage belonged to that year's emigration which Captains Hunt and Hodgett had contracted to haul across the plains. During the afternoon of the 9th, the best oxen belonging to the two trans were hitched to the forty empty wagons, and as soon as the emigrants and their belongings were loaded into them, another start for the valley was made. They reached Martin's Hollow that evening and camped for the night. Three of the relief party, and seventeen of the wagon train teamsters remained at Devil's Gate in charge of the baggage left there. The provisions that could be spared, and all the cattle that were unable to travel, were left for them to subsist upon until other arrangements could be made. The next morning the Hodgett and Hunt train picked up all emigrants who were unable to walk, and continued on their way, the balance of the three companies following along behind. This ended the pulling of carts for that season, the wagon train having taken their place. On the evening of the 11th, the food supply was found to be nearly exhausted, and no signs of relief in sight. A half do.^en _*h> IMI'ROYKMKNT KRA or more deaths were occurring daily, and the strongest emigrants in camp were fast becoming discouraged. The snow was badly drifted, and the weather bitter cold. Not a word from the Valley had reached the ears of Captain Grant since the company of rescuers left there thirty-six days before, and unless substantial aid reached them within the next few days, that region of country would become a veritable grave-yard. Just before sundown, a dark something in the distance, was seen working its way through the deep snow. It was thought to be a wild beast of some kind. At first but little attention was paid to it, but as it drew nearer, all eyes were turned in that direction. It finally took the form of a man, and two animals, which caused a general sensation throughout the camp. Everybody by this time was on the tiptoe of expectancy and in a few moments their surprise was complete when the chief scout of all scouts, Ephraim K. Hanks, came limping into camp with two horses loaded with buffalo meat. In substance the following is the story told by Elder Hanks and verified in many instances by those wrfo were well acquainted with most of the circumstances: "I was down to Provo on a fishing expedition, and felt impressed to go to Salt Lake, but for what reason I knew not. On my way there, I stopped over night with Gurney Brown at Draper. Reing somewhat fatigued after the hard day's journey, I retired to rest early, and as I lay wide awake in my bed, I heard a voice calling me by name and then saying: "The handcart people are in trouble, and you are wanted; will you go and help them?' I turned instantly in the direction from whence the voice came, and beheld an ordinary-sized man in the room. Without any hesitation I answered, 'Yes, I will go.' I then turned over to go to sleep, but had slept only a few minutes when the voice called a second time, repeating almost the same words as on the first occasion. My anewer was the same as before. This was repeated the third time. "When I got up the next morning, I said to Brother Brown, 'The handcart people are in trouble, and I have promised to go out and help them.' "After breakfast I hastened on to Salt Lake and arrived there on the Saturday preceding the Sunday on which the call was made for volunteers to go and help the last handcart company in. When some of the brethren responded by saying that they would be ready to start in a few days, I spoke out at once, saying, 'I am ready now.' "The next day I was wending my way eastward over the mountains with a light wagon, all by myself. About ten miles east of Green river. I met quite a number of teams that had been sent to the relief of the belated companies but had turned back on account of the deep snow. Those in charge had come to the conclusion that GROUP OF RESCUERS Top row: C. Allen Huntington, George W. Grant and David P. Kimball. Middle row: Ephraim K. Hanks and Charles F. Decker. Bottom row: Stephen H. Taylor, Amos Fairbanks, and Edward Peck. 292 IMPROVEMENT ERA the emigrants wis well as the twenty-seven heroes who had gone to tluir relief, had all perished, and they did not propose to risk their lives by going any further. "I helped myself to such things as I was in need of, and continued on my way. Just before I reached South Pass, I was overtaken by <>ne of the worst storms that I ever witnessed. Near the summit, I came to a wagon partly loaded with provisions in charge <>f Redick N. Allred. After enjoying a needed rest, I secured from him a saddled horse and pack animal, and continued on my way in snow almost to my waist. "After traveling for a day or two, I met Joseph A. Young and one of the Garr boys on their way to Salt Lake with important messages for President Brigham Young. The next evening as I was making my bed. 1 thought to myself, how nice it would be to have a buffalo robe to lie on., and some fresh meat for supper. I kneeled down and asked the Lord to send me a buffalo. Looking around, imagine my surprise when I beheld a big, fat, buffalo bull within fifty yards of my camp. As soon as I could get my gun I brought him down with the first shot. After eating tongue and tenderloin to my heart's content, I went to sleep while my horses were loading up on sagebrush. "The next day I reached Ice Spring Bench, about sixty miles west of Devil's Gate, and killed another big, fat, buffalo. I cut the meat into long, thin, strips, anid lashed it onto my horses. I traveled on until towards evening when I spied in the distance a black streak in the snow. As I drew nearer, it seemed to move, and then I knew what it was. "About sundown, I reached the illfated handcart camp, and the sight that met my eyes was enough to rouse the emotions of the hardest heart. The starving forms and haggard looks of those poor, dejected creatures can never be blotted from my mind. Flocking around me, on.e would say, 'Please give me some meat for my hungry children.' Shivering urchins with tears streaming down their cheeks would cry out, 'Please, mister, give me some,' and so it went. In less than ten minutes the meat was all gone, and in a short time everybody was eating bison with a relish that did ones eyes good to behold. "During the evening, a woman passed by the fire where I was sitting and seemed to be in great trouble. Out of curiosity I followed her to Daniel Tyler's tent, some distance away. She asked him if he would please come and administer to her sick husband. Brother Tyler accompanied her, and when he looked at the man he said, '1 cannot administer to a dead man,' and returned to his tent, as he was almost sick himself. T went over to the campfire where Captain Grant and Heber P. Kimball were sitting, and asked them if they would assist me for a few moments, which they consented to do. We washed the man from head to foot with warm water, % BUFFALO SENT TO ELDER EPHRAIM HANKS IN ANSWER TO PRAYER (From a sketch by Lee Greene Richards) 294 IMPR0VEMEN1 ERA and then administered to him. During the administration I commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to breathe and live. The effect was almost instantaneous, and he immediately sat up in bed and sang a mhi^. Mis wife was so overjoyed that she ran through the camp crying, 'My husband was dead, but the man who brought the meal has healed him.' "This event caused a general sensation throughout camp, and many drooping spirits took fresh courage from that very moment. After that the mosl of my time was spent in looking after the sick and afflicted, Si mie days I anointed and administered to as many as one or two hundred and in scores of instances they were healed almost instantly. "Notwithstanding these wonderful manifestations of God's power, many of the Saints lost their limbs either whole or in part. Many I washed with warm water and castile soap until the frozen parts would fall off, after which I would sever the shreds of flesh from the remaining portions of their limbs with my scissors. Some lost toes, some lingers, and others whole hands and feet. One woman lost both of her lower limbs to her knees. "As the company moved on from day to day, I would leave the road with my pack animals and hunt game. On these trips I killed many buffaloes, and distributed the meat among the hungry Saints. The most remarkable thing about it was that I had traveled that road more than fifty times, and never before saw so many buffaloes in that part of the country. There was not a member of the party but what believed that the Lord had sent them to us in answer to prayer." On the 17th, the emigrants were filled with delight when they met William IT. Kimball at the head of another relief party. It will he remembered that Elder Kimball took charge of the Willie company, at Rocky Ridge, on the morning of October 22, and remained with it until it reached the Valley on the 9th of November. After remaining in Salt Lake one day, he started hack with several light wagons loaded with provisions. clothing and medicines. Brothers James Fnrgnson, Hosea Stont and Joseph Simmons, were among those who came with him. The company reached South Pass on the 18th, after facing a terrible snow storm all day. There was considerable wailing among those <>f the emigrants who were compelled to walk, as their feet, by this time, were in a dreadful condition. From there on, they met teams almost every day and soon had wagons enough to carry them all. On November M). the four hundred and thirteen survivors of tlie Martin company reached Salt Lake, and the emigrants that belonging to the Hunt and Hodgett wagon trains, came straggling along until the middle of the next month. Nearly all the MEMBERS OF THE HODGETT AND HUNT COMPANIES Top row: James M. Stewart, George Sinnett, George May. Middle row: James K'. Steele, and Elizabeth Ann Player Raleigh. Bottom row: Lmily Player Raleigh, Barnard White ami Elizabeth White Stewart MEMBERS OF THE MARTIN AND WILLIE COMPANIES Top row: John Chislett, Marian Stockdale Chislett, and Emily II. Woodmansee. Middle row: Elizabeth Horroeks Jackson Kingsford, and Isaac J. Wardle. Bottom row: Thomas Porritt, John Cooper and Alfred Gadd. WILLIAM HENRY KIMBALL Son of Heber C. and Yilate M. Kimball, was born in Mendon, Monroe county, New York, April 10, 1825. He was one of the most successful Indian scouts this western country lias ever known, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. He died December 29, 1907, at the ripe age of eighty-two. At his funeral, which was held at the Coalville stake house, the large room was packed with old-time Indian scouts and pioneers who came from far and near to get a farewell look at their brave leader who had on many occasions directed them against the savage foe.