158 YEARS AGO TODAY
A day to remember . . . for both handcart companies
Sunday, November 9, 1856 the Willie Handcart Company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
Sadly, a young girl of 11 died that very day, bringing to remembrance all those who had suffered and perished along the way . . .
. . . those who were found frozen . . .
. . . those who had wanted so desperately to see Zion . . .
. . . those who helped others . . .
. . . those who gave their precious food to save the life of another.
Even Brigham Young was brought to tears by their suffering.
325 miles to the east, the Martin Handcart Company had suffered through five freezing days camped in a little ravine or cove to get out of the storms and the wind.
With their flour ration severely cut, hunger pangs wracked everyone and it looked like they would all die.
About 50 people did die during those five days and were covered with snow because the ground was too frozen to dig graves for them.
Finally on November 8, the weather broke a little and it was decided to unload the freight from the Hunt and the Hodgetts' wagons, store it at Fort Seminoe for the winter, and carry the most needy pioneers in those now empty wagons.
Only about one-third of the company were able to walk as the Martin company left the little cove and continued west on November 9, 1856.
One day after they left Martin's Cove they were met by Ephraim Hanks carrying buffalo meat.
He remained with them, ministering to them all the way into the Salt Lake Valley.
Ten days later on November 18, the Martin company reached South Pass where there were finally enough wagons that all could ride in them, although it was very crowded.
Reddick Newton Allred, one of the initial rescuers, had developed pleurisy just one day after leaving the Salt Lake Valley, but instead of turning back he continued on and endured severe weather for weeks as he waited with all the supply wagons at his South Pass camp for word of the missing handcart and wagon companies.
Because he remained faithful to his assignment in spite of others who left their posts and returned to the valley,
he earned the nickname of "The Bulldog."
He is my great, great grandfather.
Hunger, cold, exhaustion, and death would plague the Martin Handcart Company for weeks as they continued their 325 mile journey to the Salt Lake Valley.
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