Transcript

The Companies yet on the Plains.

Elders George D. Grant and William H. Kimball arrived from the companies yet out, at 11 p.m. of the 24th inst., and bring in a very favorable report, considering the season of the year. Elder Kimball, after a brief rest from his former trips, again started to the relief of the immigration on the 11th inst., in company with Elders Hosea Stout, James Ferguson and Joseph Simmons, and met them four miles beyond the first station on the Sweet Water.

Elders Grant and Kimball left the Pacific Springs at 3 p.m. of the 20th, and Capt. [John A.] Hunt's and [William B.] Hodgett's companies would camp there that night. Judge Isaac Bullock and all the men at Fort Supply had gone to their assistance, taking all the oxen down to two year olds, and Capt. Grant had sent them ten additional horse teams. This assistance would meet them on the 21st, and they would soon roll into Forts Supply and Bridger, where they are advised to tarry until spring.

There was but little snow until they reached the east slope of the Big Mountain; and at the spring at the west base of that mountain they met Elders Joseph A. Young, Brigham Young jr., Feramorz Little and others who had gone out to keep the road open. The snow was about waist deep, for some ten rods on the summit, but light and easily passed through.

Capt. [Edward] Martin's hand-cart company were all comfortably stowed in wagons and traveling from 25 to 30 miles a day, with Elder Charles Decker leading the first hundred. They camped on Green river on the 21st, would reach Fort Bridger on the 23d and this city, probably on the 28th, and the other hand-cart hundreds will doubtless arrive in quick succession.

Elders Hosea Stout, Heber P. Kimball, James Ferguson and George W. Grant were at the mouth of Echo kanyon [Canyon] on the 24th, and will arrive this evening, the 25th.

Thus through the kind providences of the Almighty, notwithstanding so late a start and the opposition of the wicked and the raging of wintry storms, the immigration will all reach comfortable quarters for the winter, and that too with far less mortality than has often attended companies amply supplied with all the customary facilities for crossing the plains.

The brethren and sisters so opportunely relieved expressed unbounded gratitude for the prompt, energetic and ample aid sent to their relief. And well might they be astonished to meet clothing, provisions, men and teams so liberally and bountifully provided without money and without price, a circumstance so entirely unusual in their former experience.

Notice—Through some oversight a few mistakes occurred in the 'Remarks by Elder Joseph A. Young as printed in No. 37. Capt. Martin's company was met 16 miles above the Platte bridge, and Capt. Hunt's company was 10 miles below Capt. Martin's. Rocky Avenue is about 36 miles east of Devil's GAte. Elder Young and Abel Garr left Capt. Grant's camp for this city on the 3d. inst.