The tragedy of the Willie and Martin handcart companies was caused by a series of missteps that cumulatively resulted in the suffering and death of many British and Scandinavian members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Handcarts were a low-cost, quicker way for the early Saints to travel across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley.
What caused the Willie and Martin handcart companies to fail?
The tragedy of the Willie and Martin handcart companies was caused by a series of missteps that cumulatively resulted in the suffering and death of many British and Scandinavian members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
When did the Willie Handcart Company arrive in New York?
On May 4, 1856, The Thornton sailed from England, carrying most of the people who comprised the Willie handcart company. The Thornton arrived in New York City on June 14, 1856.
Is there a musical about Willie and Martin Handcart?
A musical called 1856, produced by Cory Ellsworth, a descendant of Edmund Ellsworth, was performed in Mesa, Arizona and Salt Lake City in July 2006. Filmmaker Lee Groberg and historian Heidi Swinton created a documentary for PBS called Sweetwater Rescue: The Willie & Martin Handcart Story and first broadcast on December 18, 2006.
How long did the Willie and Martin Handcart journey take?
After approximately four to six weeks at sea, traveling on four different ships, most of the individuals who would make up the Willie and Martin handcart companies arrived in New York and Boston; they then faced a roughly 1,000-mile journey to Iowa City, where they were outfitted with handcarts.
What happened to the Willie Handcart Company?
Most of the handcarts are left behind, but many people still have to walk. The companies leave the cove and travel about five miles toward Salt Lake City. Daniel W. Jones and 19 other men stay at Fort Seminoe to guard the belongings of the people in the Hodgetts and Hunt companies until spring.
How many people are in the Willie and Martin handcart company?
Responsibility for the tragedyHandcart companyCaptainNumber of peopleFourth or Willie CompanyJames G. Willie~500 left Iowa City; 404 left FlorenceFifth or Martin CompanyEdward Martin576
How many were in the Martin Handcart Company?
The company consisted of 575 people, 145 handcarts, and 8 wagons, which were lead by Edward Martin. Due to the late start in the season, the company was caught in snow storms in Wyoming in October. The group was rescued after taking shelter in a small cove, which was later called Martin's Cove.
Why did pioneers use handcarts?
Handcarts were cheaper and faster because they wouldn't have to deal with harnessing animals or chasing them if they got loose at night. From 1856 through 1860, Mormon pioneers used handcarts for their journey from Iowa to Utah.
Is Martin's Cove Wyoming Open?
Martin's Cove and Sixth Crossing are now open for tours. COVID 19 visitor information Updates. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates three historic sites in central Wyoming: Martin's Cove, Sixth Crossing, and Rock Creek Hollow.
How many died on the Mormon Trail?
Bashore and Tolley analyzed 56,000 records of pioneers who traveled to Salt Lake City between 1847 and 1868. The researchers found 1,900 deaths during the journey or within the calendar year of arrival in Salt Lake, making the overall mortality rate 3.5 percent.
How far did the Martin Handcart Company travel?
The climb took place during a howling snowstorm through knee-deep snow. That night 13 emigrants died. On October 19, the Martin Company was about 110 miles (180 km) further east, making its last crossing of the North Platte River near present-day Casper, Wyoming.
How many miles did the handcart pioneers walk each day?
We were allotted one tent and four handcarts to twenty persons. Our company [Edmund Ellsworth, captain] consisted of 274 members, the other passengers of the ship were in the second company [Daniel D. McArthur, captain]. We traveled from ten to twenty-eight miles each day.
How far did the Mormon pioneers walk?
The Mormon Trail is the 1,300-mile (2,100 km) long route from Illinois to Utah that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled for 3 months.
Why did the Mormons leave Iowa?
Many of the members moved to Ohio and then to Missouri, where they were living when Iowa became a territory. The people of Missouri did not like to have the Mormon people as neighbors. They quarrelled with them and finally drove them out of the state. Some of the Mormons then settled in southeastern Iowa.
What was the cause of the tragedy of the Willie and Martin handcart companies?
The tragedy of the Willie and Martin handcart companies was caused by a series of missteps that cumulatively resulted in the suffering and death of many British and Scandinavian members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Who was the President of the Martin Handcart Company?
Some years ago President David O. McKay (1873–1970) told of the experience of some of those in the Martin handcart company. Many of these early converts had emigrated from Europe and were too poor to buy oxen or horses and a wagon. They were forced by their poverty to pull handcarts containing all of their belongings across the plains by their own brute strength. President McKay related an occurrence which took place some years after the heroic exodus:
What happened to the handcarts in the Wyoming winter?
The handcarts they traveled with had been made a short time previously so the wood was green and after a short time the handcarts began to shrink and crack. This brought them to Wyoming at the time that winter was setting in, and they encountered a heavy, early storm on October 19.
How many people used handcarts in 1869?
Of the 60,000 or so emigrants who traveled to Utah across what’s now Wyoming before the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869, about 3,000 used handcarts. Still, the image of a pioneer family pulling a handcart has become a symbol central to the [Church’s] sense of the power of its faith.
Where did the Willie and Martin rescuers wait?
There, the rest of the rescuers waited for them at some abandoned traders’ cabins called the Seminoe Fort. Exhaustion, exposure and lack of food had weakened the emigrants of both the Willie and Martin companies, and many died even after rescue efforts had begun.
How many companies traveled by handcart?
Those traveling by handcart were limited in what they could carry. Only 10 of the more than 350 emigrating companies traveled by handcart. [1] Both the Willie and Martin handcart companies left England late and consequently left Iowa City, Iowa, and Florence, Nebraska, late.
Where did the Willie and Hunt ship arrive?
The ship arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on June 30 and the Martin, Hodgetts and Hunt companies arrived in Iowa City on July 8. [3] The Deseret News provided a timeline of the overland journey of the Willie and Martin Companies. The Hodgetts and Hunt wagon companies traveled behind the two handcart companies and suffered similar hardships.
Where did the Martin Company rescue the Willie group?
Meanwhile, the rescuers were traveling east. On October 19, they found the stalled and starving Willie group camped in the snow on the Sweetwater River near South Pass. Half the rescue party stayed with the Willie Company. The other half pushed on, and on October 28, three scouts for the rescue party found the Martin company about 100 miles further east, at Red Buttes on the North Platte. In the nine days since the freezing river crossing, the Martin Company, exhausted and nearly out of food in the bitter cold, had moved only a few miles. One of the scouts later noted that fifty-six people in the Martin Company died during that desperate time.
What was Edward Martin's handcart made of?
Edward Martin is on the extreme right of the middle row. Families pushed and pulled two-wheeled, shallow-boxed handcarts, built out of green lumber a short time before. The hot sun and wind were hard on the emigrants and the handcarts. After a few weeks, the green wood began to shrink and crack.
Why did church leaders in 1856 urged emigrants to use handcarts?
To save money and time, church leaders in 1856 urged emigrants use handcarts. The carts were far cheaper than wagons and ox teams, and people pulling handcarts could move more quickly when they didn’t have to wait daily for their livestock to graze.
How big were handcarts?
The handcarts consisted almost entirely of green lumber and had been built in Iowa by the emigrants themselves. They were shallow, three feet wide and five feet long, and held skimpy supplies of food, plus 17 pounds of luggage—clothes, blankets, and personal possessions—for each person.
How many people died in the Willie Company?
A modern historian counted 67 deaths in the Willie Company, a rate of around 14 percent, and 135 to 150 in the Martin Company, a rate of around 25 percent of the company’s members. It was by far the worst non-military disaster on the emigrant trails.
How many men stayed at Devil's Gate?
Twenty men stayed at Devil’s Gate to guard the wagon-train goods for the rest of the winter. With the help of more rescue parties sent east, the Willie Company finally reached Salt Lake City on November 9 and the Martin Company on November 30.
How much baggage did the Martin Company have to reduce?
To help speed the party, the captain ordered his company to reduce personal baggage from 17 to 10 pounds per person.
Where did the handcarts leave?
Most of the handcarts are left behind, but many people still have to walk. The companies leave the cove and travel about five miles toward Salt Lake City. 9 November 1856. Daniel W. Jones and 19 other men stay at Fort Seminoe to guard the belongings of the people in the Hodgetts and Hunt companies until spring.
Who was in charge of the Willie Company in 1856?
22 October 1856. George D. Grant’s rescue team divides, and he places William Kimball in charge of leading the Willie company to Salt Lake City. Six of the rescue wagons and several rescuers stay to help the Willie company.
When did the Martin and Hunt leave Iowa?
8 July 1856. The Martin, Hunt, and Hodgetts company members who traveled on the Horizon arrive in Iowa City, Iowa. 15 July 1856. The Willie company leaves Iowa City. 22 July 1856. The first members of the Martin company leave Iowa City, with others following on July 25.
When did the Martin and Hodgetts return to the West?
29 October 1856. The Martin, Hodgetts, and Hunt companies resume their journey west, having been encouraged by the express riders to push on. 30 October 1856 . The Martin and Hodgetts companies camp at Willow Springs, and the Hunt company arrives at Red Buttes (Bessemer Bend).
When did the Hunt and Hodgetts companies awake?
20 October 1856. The Martin, Hunt, and Hodgetts companies awake to snow on the ground. The Martin company travels a few miles, the Hodgetts company travels 10 miles to Red Buttes, and the Hunt company does not travel. 21 October 1856.
When did the Willie Company cross the Platte River?
The Willie company continues on to the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater, where they camp for the night. 19 October 1856. The Martin and Hodgetts companies cross the Platte River for the last time during the season’s first winter storm. The Hunt company reaches this crossing but does not cross. 19 October 1856.
When did the Express Rescuers go farther than Devil's Gate?
19 October 1856. After assuring the Willie company that help and food are a day or two away, the express rescuers anxiously push on to locate the other companies, having been instructed not to go farther than Devil’s Gate.
Where did the Willie and Martin handcarts go?
After approximately four to six weeks at sea, traveling on four different ships, most of the individuals who would make up the Willie and Martin handcart companies arrived in New York and Boston; they then faced a roughly 1,000-mile journey to Iowa City, where they were outfitted with handcarts. Iowa City became a place of sacrifice for many; here, leaders assigned five people to a handcart, with each person being allotted only seventeen pounds of personal belongings to store in the cart. Already, before the handcart journey had even begun, many of these faithful Saints had to choose which personal items they would leave behind. John Jaques recorded the following in Iowa City, “This caused many heartaches, for many of the cherished articles brought from the old country were disposed of at great sacrifice.” [4] More than two decades later, reflecting on the sacrifice, Jaques would write:
What challenges did the Martin Company face after leaving Iowa?
The Martin company’s journey after leaving Iowa was hampered by challenges, including death, weather, lost animals, handcart breakdowns, and grumblings in the group. Despite these challenges, their trip across Iowa took about the same amount of time as the Willie company had taken.
How many people died in the Martin and Willie Company?
Only the Martin and Willie Companies suffered such tragedy. Out of 576 people in the Martin Company, at least 145 died. Approximately 67 out of 500 Willie Company members died. Yet members of these companies were grateful for the Spirit they felt and the testimony they gained through their experiences.
Why was it so hard to pull a handcart?
Early winter storms came, making pulling a handcart very difficult. Many were dying from cold and exhaustion. When they came to the North Platte River, Peter said his father “worked hard all day pushing and pulling handcarts through the icy waters of that dangerous river,” helping people reach the other side.
Why was Peter's sister left in charge?
Peter’s older sister Jenetta was left in charge because their mother was sick. Jenetta often walked to the river to get water for cooking, even though her shoes had worn out. Her bare feet left bloody footprints in the snow wherever she went.
How many rescue wagons did Peter call for?
Immediately, he called for 20 rescue wagons to be sent. At last, Peter and the pioneers joyfully caught sight of the wagons approaching. Peter said that “men, women, and children knelt down and thanked the Almighty God for [their] delivery from certain death.” 2.
How Many Rescuers Were There?
Although Kimball mentioned three rescuers, it cannot be determined exactly how many men risked their lives and health to help the emigrants across the Sweetwater. Available information suggests there were more than three.
What Were the Ages of the Rescuers?
While the number of Sweetwater crossing rescuers is uncertain, the ages of those mentioned by name is more certain. C. Allen Huntington, born December 6, 1831, was twenty-four and was the oldest of those named. Stephen Taylor, whose date of birth is December 25, 1835, was twenty. Ira Nebeker and David P.
How Many Emigrants Did the Rescuers Carry Across?
Solomon F. Kimball claimed that the three rescuers “carried nearly every member of the illfated handcart company across the snowbound stream.” 17 At that time the company would have numbered around five hundred. 18 In his Life of Heber C. Kimball, Orson F. Whitney similarly states, “David P. Kimball, George W. Grant and C.
When Did the Rescuers Die and What Caused Their Deaths?
The first account retelling how the rescue caused the deaths of the rescuers is found in the Life of Heber C.
What Did Brigham Young Promise the Rescuers?
Solomon F. Kimball’s assertion that Brigham Young publicly proclaimed that this one heroic act alone guaranteed “everlasting salvation in the Celestial Kingdom; worlds without end” is the only account of such a statement. What is meant by the statement is not entirely clear.
The Sweetwater Crossing in Perspective
What happened at the Sweetwater was truly inspiring, and the rescuers who braved the frigid water are indeed deserving of praise. But they are not alone in this regard. In truth, the crossing was only one aspect of a massive, heroic rescue effort.
About the author (s)
Chad M. Orton is an archivist with the Family and Church History Division of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He received his BA and MA in history from Brigham Young University.
Who were the first three handcart companies?
About 815 emigrants from the first two ships were organized into the first three handcart companies, headed by capta ins Edmund Ellsworth, Daniel D. McArthur, and Edward Bunker. The captains were missionaries returning to their homes in Utah and were familiar with the route.
What caused the Willie Company to lose cattle?
Near Wood River, Nebraska, a herd of bison caused the Willie Company's cattle to stampede, and nearly 30 cattle were lost. Left without enough cattle to pull all of the wagons, each handcart was required to take on an additional 100 pounds (45 kg) of flour.
What was the lesson learned from the 1856 disaster?
A number of lessons had been learned from the 1856 disaster that allowed the church to continue the handcart system while avoiding another disaster. Never again would a handcart company depart Florence later than July 7. The construction of the handcarts was modified to strengthen them and reduce repairs. The handcarts would now be regularly greased. Arrangements were made to replenish supplies along the route.
What did the handcarts represent in the LDS movement?
Although fewer than 10 percent of the 1846–68 Latter-day Saint emigrants made the journey west using handcarts, the handcart pioneers have become an important symbol in LDS culture, representing the faithfulness and sacrifice of the pioneer generation.
How much weight did a handcart carry?
Cargo was carried in a box about three feet by four feet (0.9 m by 1.2 m), with 8 inches (0.20 m) walls. The handcarts generally carried up to 250 pounds (110 kg) of supplies and luggage, though they were capable of handling loads as heavy as 500 pounds (230 kg).
Where are the handcarts in Utah?
19th-century U.S. religious migrants. The Handcart Pioneer Monument, by Torleif S. Knaphus, located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used handcarts to transport their ...
When did the Mormon handcart movement begin?
The Mormon handcart movement began in 1856 and continued until 1860. Motivated to join their fellow church members in Utah, but lacking funds for full teams of oxen or horses, nearly 3,000 Mormon pioneers from England, Wales, Scotland and Scandinavia made the journey from Iowa or Nebraska to Utah in ten handcart companies.
