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Friday, November 06, 2020

Mormon Handcart Tragedy of 1856

The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used two-wheeled handcarts to transport their belongings. The movement began in 1856 and continued until 1860. 

In 1856, a series of poor harvests left the church with only a meager fund to help immigrants buy wagons and oxen, and church leaders looked for less expensive ways to move poor immigrants. As a result, Brigham Young announced on October 29, 1855 a handcart system by which the church would provide carts to be pulled by hand across the Mormon Trail. Young believed that with their carts and 90 days’ rations the travelers could make the long journey to Utah Territory within 70 days, covering about 18 miles each day. This was less time than it took to travel in a covered wagon, which averaged about 73 days.
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7 comments:

  1. ElmoNovember 7, 2020 at 7:49 AM

    Apparently the Mormons learned nothing from the Donner Party about getting a late start.

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  2. ShermNovember 7, 2020 at 9:52 AM

    Actually, those with experience and standing orders from leaders in Salt Lake all said that it was too late for the two parties to start west. The vote was to go anyway. The tragedy was precipitated by a lack of supplies to build wagon and carts. The month wait for that was the month they didn't have.
    My 2nd ggrandfather was one of the rescuers, meeting the Martin company at Ice Slough, between Martin's Cove and Sixth Crossing. I understand he had a wagon load of onions. Oddly enough, the man with him, who he'd known since they served together in the Mexican War, shot a couple of bison and got all the press.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 7, 2020 at 10:45 AM

    Faithful Idiots.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chaplain TimNovember 8, 2020 at 3:02 PM

    Preparation Canyon just to the north, Kanesville, Ia (now known as Council Bluffs) to the south, and the Florence, Ne (now part of Omaha) tabernacle are all within an hour of where I live. Some of us know the history without being part of that church.

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  5. Rickvid in the Yakima ValleyNovember 8, 2020 at 10:07 PM

    I have no truck with Mormanism or leaders like the mass killer Young. Still, I know and have worked with many Mormons and respect them deeply. Nonetheless stories like this are a great example of human courage and tenacity. Not to make too fine a point, but The Long March of Mao's army is similar.

    ReplyDelete

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