Transcript

. . . On Monday the 6th of June a portion of our company was organized on the camp ground a little south of the city into a handcart company for the crossing of the plains which started from here on the 9th to cross the plains by pulling their children, bedding, cooking etc., on a two wheeled cart, which looked rather a heavy task for a man and his wife to undertake across a desert of 1100 miles but, however, that was accomplished and they arrived at Salt Lake City two weeks before us who left Florence on June 23 with an ox team of sixty wagons, which company was organized with Elder R. F. Neslen as captain.  The company was divided in companies of ten wagons each with a captain. . . .

Before starting on our journey it was agreed by unanimous vote of the company what amount of load for each yoke of oxen and not to exceed that amount, and not to leave anyone on the road who had conformed to that rule, but to assist those who might be unfortunate and lose their cattle by death or otherwise as the plains were dangerous both from poisonous weeds and Indian depredations.  After traveling a short distance some of the cattle began to get tired and worn down, and cows were yoked up, but they were not able to draw the heavy loads, but these gave out too, consequently help was asked for which they got for a while, but also these cattle gave out and several began to died which caused ill feeling, as it was argued that these wagons had more than was allowed, on account of which Captain Neslen called the people together on Sunday, July 10, when we were camped at Wood River and gave instructions in this particular.  It was found that S[oren]. P[eter]. Guhl and others of the leading men were overloaded and was afterward obliged to unload some of their heavy articles such as stoves and earthen ware which were buried on the bank of the Platte river for safe keeping till they returned for them, which they did after apostatizing on their arrival in Utah and went back to make their homes with their own kind of people. . . .

On July 15 as we were about hitching up our teams a misfortune occurred through the carelessness of parties who had hitched their teams to their wagons and then laid down about the wagons while others were busy yoking up unhandy cattle, and when a wild cow belonging to my mother was yoked up she bellowed.  Five teams were frightened and run, killing J. C. Waden and wounding several others more or less.  This caused considerable confusion in the camp.  S. P. Guhl who several accused of being the cause of the contention by his heavy overloading which caused the displeasure of God on the people, went, down to the river Platte to drown himself but said he was unable to find water enough and was sitting on the bank when the people came in his search.  After burying the dead, dressing the wounded we proceeded on our journey.