158 Years Ago TODAY - NOVEMBER 4, 1856

Tuesday, November 4, 1856

REFUGE FROM THE STORM

 

The Express Riders who finally located the missing Martin Handcart Company had virtually nothing to give them but HOPE and the knowledge that if they could continue on to the area of Devil's Gate - a distance of about 50 more miles -  supply wagons would be waiting there for them.

So after 5 days of being bogged down in the snow at Bessemer Bend and losing about 56 of their company, they pushed on.

They were met at Greasewood Creek by supply wagons and fires that warmed them and boosted their spirits.

Then they continued on to the area of Devil's Gate . . .

. . . and camped close to Fort Seminoe, a trading post that had been abandoned earlier in 1856 because of Indian troubles.

Rescuers had hoped to put the freezing pioneers inside the fort to protect them from the storm, but it was not large enough to hold them.

The Hodgetts Wagon Company also arrived at Devil's Gate . . .

. . . and several days later the Hunt Wagon Company arrived, making the number of people nearly 1000 - too many to fit into the tiny fort.

Some of the rescuers had taken shelter from the blowing winds of the storm in a little ravine in the mountains, and it was decided to take the freezing handcart pioneers there. 

 
Nothing could warm the temperature of -11 degrees nor melt the 18" of snow, but the ravine could protect them from the wind.

Today that ravine is known as Martin's Cove. 

 It is NOT where the Martin Company was found - it is where they were taken for refuge. 

 In order to get to this little ravine or cove, they first had to cross the Sweetwater River, which by now was filled with ice and snow.

  Remembering the 14 people who had died earlier at the last crossing of the Platte River, many adult men and women sank down to their knees in tears, afraid to attempt another crossing.

It was then that young men from the Rescue Party - the "Valley Boys" - bravely went into the water to help and began carrying them across the river.  

At this time we know the names of 5 of those young men, but there were many more whose names were not recorded. 

None of the Valley Boys died that day, but many suffered the effects of being in that icy water for the rest of their lives.

Today, three beautiful and touching statues represent those "Valley Boys" and their courageous sacrifice in behalf of the Martin Handcart Company.