Mormon Caravan to Independence Rock

Mor: C mon caravan to Independence Rock By JOHN D. GILES Member of Y. M. M. 1. A. General Board AFTER keeping its lonely vigil in the heart of the desert for untold centuries before white men ventured into the west and for a full hundred years since Anglo-Saxons first climbed its sturdy sides, Indepen- dence Rock, or "Rock Indepen- dence" as it was known in early days, has at last been recognized as the outstanding landmark on the old Pioneer trail to the west and has been shown honor such as comes to few landmarks in his- tory. The "Sentinel of the Plains," or "Register of the Desert," as it was named in 1840 by Father De Smet, greeted nearly fifteen thousand persons at the celebration held from July 3 to 6 this year, although the nearest city is 55 miles away. When such a gather- ing will brave the summer sun in a desert valley to participate in exercises honoring the Pioneers who conquered the desert and made it "blossom as the rose," there is reason to believe that the pioneer spirit still lives. INDEPENDENCE ROCK is in . Wyoming. It is 66 miles north of Rawlins, now on the main high- way from East to West and 55 miles from Casper, the oil city built on the site of old Fort Cas- per, not far from the Fort Laramie of early days. Five miles west is Devil's Gate, frequently referred to in "Mormon" Pioneer journals, and still further West are Split Rock, Ice Spring, Rocky Ridge, Rock Creek Hollow, the famous South Pass and Pacific Spring. This celebration was sponsored by the Oregon Trail Memorial Association, with headquarters in New York, commemorating the starting of the first covered wagon train to the West. The Covered Wagon Centennial, made a Na- tional event by the proclamation of President Hoover, extended from April 10, anniversary of the date the first covered wagon train left St. Louis for the West, to De- cember 29, the birthday anniver- sary of Ezra Meeker, Oregon Pio- neer and organizer of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association. Re- presentatives of practically every state in the union gathered at the famous landmark and participated in one of the most unique and im- pressive celebrations in the history of the West. Joining with the sponsors was the National Council of Boy Scouts of America through the headquarters in New York, and from many states the finest speci- mens of young manhood imagin- able came to do honor to those early scouts who created and glori- fied the traditions the present-day scouts are so earnestly following. ~p ELIGIOUS, civic and business ^ groups also joined in the cele- bration, giving representation to all classes and creeds. For three days the novel celebration contin- ued, each day developing more and more reverence and respect of the participants for the noble achieve- ments of the Pioneers. The "Mormon" caravan, under the leadership of Elder George Al- bert Smith, of the Council of the Twelve and General Superintend- ent of the Y. M. M. I. A., ably assisted by Ruth May Fox, General President of the Y. L. M. I. A., gave representation at the ceremo- nies to the descendants of the "Mormon" Pioneers of 1847 and later years. The caravan, num- bering 93 persons, left Salt Lake City early July 2. The journey Hon. Geo. Albert Smith, Leader of the Mormon Pioneer Caravan to Independence Rock, Wyoming, July 5, 1930. started officially from the monu- ment at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, marking the spot where Brigham Young made the memor- able declaration, "This is the Place." Here pictures were taken and President B. H. Roberts, one of the greatest living authorities on "Mormon" Pioneer history, outlined the journey of the Pio- neers and laid a foundation for the information to be furnished the party later. A r Mountain Dell, in Parley's ^canyon, named for Parley P. Pratt, who pioneered that section and built the first roads, Andrew Jenson, assistant Church Historian and a walking encyclopedia of facts and information regarding the Pi- oneers and all Church history, pointed out the old trail as it leads from Big Mountain, down the Mountain Dell creek to the point, where it crosses Little Mountain and enters Emigration canyon.

740 The Improvement Era for September, 1930 Ruth May Fox on Glaus boulder, on top of Independence Rock, Wyoming, July 4, 1930. At Gorgorza, the historians de- tailed the journey through East Canyon and up Big Mountain where the Saints obtained their first glorious view of the Salt Lake valley. The caravan then pro- ceeded through Parley's Park, past Kimballs' ranch with its overland stage station and barn, down Sil- ver Creek canyon, which became the Pioneer trail in 1862, and into the valley of the Weber. The next stop, following lunch at Coalville, was at Echo canyon. Here President Roberts told the story of the early days on the trail, of the "echo" rocks, Pulpit rock, Redden's cave, Johnson's army and other important inci- dents. PORT BRIDGER, one of the ■*• best known of all the landmarks of the West, was the night stop, with ample time for a leisurely tour of the old fort grounds. With W. C. (Bill) Casto, manager of the camp grounds at the post, as the guide, the party visited the points of interest and listened to the story of the old landmark from one of the best informed men alive today. The presence of our historians, President Roberts and Andrew Jenson, with their wealth of in- formation, made the tour one of exceptional interest and members of the party left the spot reluc- tantly. Lying about five miles west of Lyman, Wyoming, in the heart of the beautiful Bridger valley, the fort has been an outstanding land- mark since .its ^establishment in 1834, as a trading post by Jim Bridger. In its early days, Fort Bridger was the western outpost. To it came trappers and traders from all parts of the mountain country. It is said of Bridger that he never turned away anyone in need and was friend to Indian and white alike. \7HEN the Pioneer trains began *y coming West, Fort Bridger took on new importance. Here the Pioneers could get first-hand information regarding the country, and in the summer months there was plenty of grass for the animals. By the time the "Mormon" Pi- oneers reached the West, Fort Bridger had been developed into a D To the Hand-Cart Pioneers Resting in Martin's Hollow in Wyoming, By Ruth May Fox REARY the way and long, Brave Hand-cart Pioneers; Cold were the winds and strong, Many their hopes and fears. And many saw Death's wraith Glide o'er the fateful spot ; But still they looked with faith To Him who faileth not. Fiercely the snows came down, Closing their eyes to the light, Weaving a shroud and crown, Ending the toilsome fight. Soft is their rest and sweet, Though distant they lie and lone; Angels their resting-place greet, God remembers His own. Prize-winning camp of troup 41, Yale Ward, Salt Lake City (right foreground), at Independence Rock, Wyo., July 4, 1930. Pathfinder reservoir in distance. trading post of some proportions. The caravan party visited the old home of Judge Carter, within the Fort, the buildings erected by Johnston's army in 1858, and then on the west side of the fort grounds were directed to the re- mains of the old "Mormon" wall built by the early Saints in 1853 after Brigham Young had pur- chased the property from Bridger for a price said to have been around $70,000. Nearby is the site of Bridger's old home, where he lived in the early days as a trapper with his Indian wives. Twelve miles up the creek is the site of old Fort Supply, established by Brigham Young as a point where Pioneer trains from the East could replen- ish their supplies for the balance of the journey to the valley. Fort Supply was the first Anglo-Saxon settlement in what is now Wy- oming. At that time the Post Office addresses of both Fort Bridger and Fort Supply were Green River County, Utah. In 1868 this portion of Utah was assigned to Wyoming. In all the history of Fort Bridg- er, during its ownership by its founder, by the "Mormons" or by the Government following the arrival of Johnston's army there is no record of it ever having been attacked by Indians. The Sioux and Shoshone Indians once had a bitter battle at this point, but from the time the place was estab-

The Improvement Era for September, 1930 741 lished by Bridger it was never at- tacked. /""NVER five hundred people from Lyman, Milburn, Mountain View, Carter and other towns in the Bridger valley joined in the spirited and impressive Pioneer campfire meeting at the Fort held that evening. In the group were four persons who had walked across the plains in early days, 28 whose parents came in 1847, near- ly 100 whose parents came before 1869, when the railroad reached Utah and nearly 200 whose grand- parents had been Pioneers. Under the direction of Elder George Al- bert Smith, our big scout chief, Oscar A. Kirkham, master of cere- monies par excellence, conducted the service around an Indian "star" fire. Stories and songs of the plains made up the program and cheer after cheer went up in honor of the Pioneers, including those present and those who had passed on. Early morning of July 3 saw us on our way, through Lyman, past Church Buttes and then off the old trail along the newer highway to the south of the original route to Green River, Rock Springs and Rawlins, where the caravan turned north to meet the old trail again near Devil's Gate. In the late afternoon of July 3, the party passed Devil's Gate, proceeded up the Sweetwater val- ley, crossed the river of the same name and reached the great mass of gray granite called Independence Rock. Elaborate preparations had been made for the historic gather- ing that was already under way when the party from Utah and Idaho arrived. Under the direc- tion of W. C. Wessell, assistant director of camping of the Na- tional Council of the Boy Scouts of America, a model camp had been prepared. Near the rock, in a huge circle the Boy Scouts were camped. Right here some space should be devoted to the scouts and the part they played in the celebration. From all parts of the United States they came, one of the finest groups of boys ever gathered together at one time in America. Under di- rection of the National Council, caravans had been organized to follow the old trails as nearly as possible and to stop at important historic points. "CROM each council rep- resented had come the "crack" troops, the fel- lows who were outstand- ing. A nation-wide com- petition in camping had added interest to the trek and each council was de- termined to carry home the trophy. The L. D. S. scouts were represented by Troop 41 from Yale ward in the Salt Lake Council, under Scout- master William A. Dunn, Assistant Scoutmaster Dr. D. L. Folsom, and Field Executive D. L. Roberts, Troop 61 from Cornish ward in the Cache Valley Council under Scoutmaster Leland Bopp and from Idaho Falls in the Teton Peaks Council under Willard Adams of Rigby. Mem- bers of the "Mormon" caravan were naturally anxious to learn how the scouts "from home" compared with others. There was no cause for disappointment. With 1105 scouts representing the pick of the nation, our troops were "right out in front." At the end of the first day's inspection, July 4, the scoring showed Yale ward first, Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, second and Idaho Falls third; two places out of three for the "Mor- mon" troops. In the final inspec- tion, the results were a trifle differ- ent but still a triumph for inter- mountain scouting. The final re- Oscar A. Kirkham, Bngham H. Roberts, Geo. Albert Smith and Andrew Jenson, at "This is the Place" monument, July 3, 1930 — Start of Mormon Pioneer Caravan to Independence Rock. suit showed Yale ward first, Den- ver second and Omaha third. Idaho Falls was not far behind. Scouts, officials and visitors were loud in their praise of the excellent show- ing of the prize-winning troop from the Salt Lake Council. The camp was a model in every respect and elicited unstinted praise from National scout officials. (Continued on page 760) Part of Independence Day camp at Independence Rock, Wyo., July 4, 1 9 3 C , showing the Sweetwater valley, Casper-Rawlins highway and Sweet- water river in center; Devil's Gate in distance at right.