Sunday, March 3, 1850 - Saturday, March 9, 1850
On Thursday a court martial was held against John Scott of the Nauvoo Legion, who had refused to follow an order to raise volunteers to fight against the Indians during the recent battle in Utah Valley. He was also charged for discouraging men from volunteering for service. Scott pled "not guilty" but the court sustained the charges and removed him from his office.
Hosea Stout, a state attorney prosecuted two cases during the week. The first was a lawsuit involving trespassing, another involved a case against a Mr. Long who was charged with killing an ox which didn't belong to him. Long was found at fault and ordered to pay thirty dollars.
Sister Patty Sessions went to see Daniel Wells, who had commanded the troops against the Indians. Sister Young had allowed her horse to be used for the expedition, but it had not yet been returned. She learned that its back had been injured because of abuse. Brother Wells promised that the horse would be returned and that she would be reimbursed for damages. The horse was returned on Saturday.
Elder Wilford Woodruff traveled from Boston to Portland, Maine, by train. He then rode by a sleigh to Scarboro and visited with his father-in-law and other members in the area. On Monday he returned to Cambridgeport (near Boston). He felt discouraged in his efforts toward helping the eastern Saints get ready for their journey to the valley. Throughout the rest of the week he was busy purchasing supplies for the trek.
The ship "Argo" arrived in New Orleans with 402 Saints on board. They were led by Brother Jeter Clinton. Sister Jackson, one of the emigrants related "that on one occasion during the voyage, when the Argo was nearing the shores of Cuba, in a pitch dark night, the captain expressed fears that the ship might be wrecked, as he knew that land was near. Suddenly a heavenly light, which for a few seconds illuminated the surroundings, revealed to the captain the fact that a large rock rose boldly out of the ocean, right in front of the ship, only a short distance away. With considerable presence of mind, and quick as thought, the captain gave orders to change the course of the vessel, and thus escaped what might have proven a terrible disaster a few minutes later."
Sources:
Brooks, On the Mormon Frontier, 2:364 Smart, Mormon Midwife, 144 Wilford Woodruff's Journal 3:535-37 Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 12, p.448 THE CONTRIBUTOR, VOLUME 13, p. 280 On Monday Hosea Stout went to work on the Council House (as he had for many days). But on this day, those in charge said they could only pay wages of $1.75 per day. Brother Stout didn't feel he could afford to work at such a low rate, so he gathered up his tools and returned home.
On Thursday it snowed in the valley. Patty Sessions was frustrated with a leaky roof. On Friday the snow on the ground was about five inches deep.
A portion of an exploration company, led by David Fullmer, was still trying to return from Southern Utah. Because of deep snow at the end of January, Parley P. Pratt and others had left behind this company to stay with the cattle until provisions could be sent back from Provo. They had camped on Thorn Plum Creek north of present-day Fillmore, and on March 6th started their journey again.
They "shoed" their wagons to travel on the top of the frozen snow by putting "sleds" under the wheels. Robert Campbell related the difficult effort to travel a mile down a canyon, "20 men in two trips take 2 wagons, which they call the 'Mountain Maid' & 'Mountain Clipper' to port necessity down this kanyon about 1 mile to mouth, the snow from 8 inches to 3 & 4 feet deep." While the younger men where engaged in this work, the older men were back at camp melting snow for the cattle.
Over the next few days they made very slow progress. For miles they would shovel the snow out of the track for the wagons. David Fullmer reported, "Made our way round the benches & places where the snow was nearly off, altho' we had much snow to encounter on the side hills, in one place shovelling snow 1/2 mile which would average 2 feet deep."
On Tuesday a terrible windstorm arose. Campbell wrote, "About day break, violent gale of wind blowing down kanyon & increases to a perfect tempest blowing over Parley's large wagon which was left out of line tearing the cover off Hamilton's wagon, blowing down the tent, etc. Nearly 4 inches of snow fell from 7:00 to 11:00." On Wednesday they reached the present-day site of Scipio. They were visited by friendly Ute Indians.
On Saturday they finally arrived at the Sevier River, south of present-day Nephi. Despite their trials, this company had good spirits. David Fullmer wrote, "We have come on so far with peace, union, and prosperity, for which we all feel thankful, & have generally at our little meetings first-rate times, altho we are Mountaineers & Pioneers, still we feel a good deal like being in the service of Him who has set his hand in the last days to restore the earth. . ."
Brother Alexander Badlam returned home from California by ship, via Panama. In February, 1849, he had sailed to California by the same route to visit his brother-in-law, Samuel Brannan. Brother Badlam brought back $2,000 worth of gold dust and he gave Elder Woodruff 9 1/2 ounces of gold dust as a present from some brethren who were at the gold mines. Elder Woodruff wrote in his journal, "And this begins to fulfill a portion of my Patriarchal Blessings which I received under the hands of Father Joseph Smith in AD 1837. He said I should have access to the treasures hid in the sand to assist me in my necessities & in gathering many orphan children to Zion. And it is beginning to come to pass."
Sources:
Harwell, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 289 Smart, Over the Rim, 161-66 Smart, Mormon Midwife, 144 Brooks, On the Mormon Frontier, 2:364 Wilford Woodruff's Journal 3:537 Wednesday was a snowy day in the valley. In the evening, at "early candle light" Hosea Stout met with the Regents of the University of Deseret but "no particular business was done" and he returned home at 11 p.m. On Saturday the Nauvoo Legion officers met together. Andrew Lytle was elected to the office of Colonel, in place of John Scott who had been removed from office for refusing to obey orders.
A portion of an exploration company, led by David Fullmer, was still trying to return from Southern Utah. On Sunday they camped near the present-day location of Chicken Creek reservoir, six miles south of Levan. The weather was beautiful on Monday, only a little snow on the roads. They came in contact with several Indians during the week who were very friendly. On Thursday the company reached Salt Creek and camped about a mile south of present-day Mona Reservoir. Friday morning was "frosty" and they traveled through about six inches of snow. They saw fires from Indian camps and on Saturday went to visit. At the end of the week the company camped on the low divide between Juab and Utah Valley.
Elder Lorenzo Snow arrived in New York City. He stopped there on his way to him mission in Italy. Earlier in the month he had visited with the Saints in St. Louis. There, he found a large branch of the Church with about four hundred members.
On Thursday Elder Wilford Woodruff continued to make preparations leave for the west. He purchased railroad tickets to New York and Philadelphia, and a steamboat ticket to St. Louis. On Saturday he went to the docks and greeted Elder Orson Pratt, who arrived by the steamer "Niagara" from Liverpool, England. Elder Pratt had received his release as the president of the British Mission. In his letter of release, President Brigham Young wrote, "If the Saints should mourn his loss, we would say, be comforted and come with him, or follow him as fast as you can . . . Elder Pratt has done a great and good work in England." Elders Woodruff and Pratt were excited to see each other. They went to Elder Woodruff's home and stayed up late into the night talking about things related to the Kingdom of God.
Sources:
Smart, Over the Rim, 166-68 Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:540-41 Brooks, On the Mormon Frontier, 2:365 England, Orson Pratt, 158 It was a rainy week in the valley. Roofs leaked and conditions were miserable for many of the Saints. On Sunday, Charles Shumay arrived from San Pete (Manti). He reported that the settlement had lost 100 head of cattle and that the snow was very deep. The Saints there were running out of food and had returned to the valley for provisions. Brother Shumway reported the Chief Walker had been baptized and wanted to take the gospel to the Utes.
On Friday the Legislature passed a law prohibiting sales of guns and ammunition to the Indians.
A portion of an exploration company, led by David Fullmer, was still returning from their expedition to Southern Utah. On Monday some Indians came into their camp near present-day Payson. They traded for some skins. The company moved on, crossed Hobble creek, and in the afternoon reached Provo River. They were greeted the brethren in at Fort Utah and then moved on to American Fork. On Wednesday they crossed over "Point of the Mountain" and on Thursday reached the Cottonwood settlement.
On Monday Elder Lorenzo Snow left New York on the ship "Shannon" bound for Liverpool. He was on his way to his mission in Italy.
On Sunday Elders Wilford Woodruff and Orson Pratt walked into Boston to meet with Erastus Snow and J.B. Wallace. Elder Pratt had recently arrived back from his mission in England. They met with the Saints in the afternoon. Elder Erastus Snow related interesting news about the Saints in the valley. The elders met together that evening, shared feelings about the gospel, and sang songs of Zion. On Tuesday Elder Pratt said good-bye and headed for New York to start his journey to Kanesville, Iowa.
Franklin D. Richards arrived in Liverpool on Friday. He had been called to preside over the British mission until Orson Pratt returned.
Sources:
Harwell, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 289 Smart, Over the Rim, 168-69 Snow, Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow, 114 Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:541-42 Smart, Mormon Midwife, 144 Brooks, On the Mormon Frontier, 2:365 On Saturday the 20th annual General Conference of the Church was commenced under the bowery on Temple Square. The old bowery was 100 feet by 60 feet. Its walls were supported by heavy posts set nine feet apart, the space in between filled with adobe bricks. It had huge doors and windows at the north and south ends and one door without windows upon the west. Its roof was made of rough boards and was shingled and it had a seating capacity of between two and three thousand people.
The leaders announced that a general tithing office would be built. This house would be a large storehouse for provisions to be given to the needy.
Several brethren called to serve missions. Eight brethren were called to go to the Society Islands (Tahiti), nine were called to go to England, two were to go to California, and two to serve in the United States, to the east.
Elder Wilford Woodruff was ill for several days. Erastus Snow, who was on the way to Denmark, spent the Monday night with him. On Wednesday, Elder Snow boarded a steamer heading for Liverpool, England. Elder Woodruff spent the rest of the week packing up and getting ready to journey to the valley.
A company of gold-seekers who had left Provo in November, arrived in Sacramento on Monday. Among them was Albert Thurber. Albert later shared his gold mining experiences.
As we were traveling along a Green Woods in the Valley of Lewisville, we concluded to go up the creek and try our luck. Saw that the whole bottom had been prospected and concluded it was a dull show for us. Bought a washer of Jacob Gates for $64.00. Five of us worked with it. First day made some $2.50 each. At night I told them there were too many with the machine and we put it up at auction. I bought it, and with my partner Burnham, made $40.00 the next day. We mined in this place for about one month, but sent two men to find a claim for the summer. The gold was beautiful, mostly nuggets. We were very free to exhibit it to anyone supposing that we could do better anywhere else than there as it had been all prospected over by old miners. The first thing we knew the creek bed was nearly claimed and the place was alive with miners, leaving us small claims. It proved very rich all through that section of country.
Elder William Howell organized a branch of the Church with Elder Wm. Howell organized a branch of the Church with six members at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. This was the first branch of the Church organized in France. Elder Howell wrote, "I had the pleasure of organizing a branch of the same church on the continent of Europe containing six members, to be called the Boulogne-sur-Mer branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under the presidency at Liverpool." Elder Howell also ordained G. Viet, to preach the Gospel in France. Elder Viet was from Germany and he was in France teaching the German language.
Sources:
Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 9, p.489 Harwell, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 290 B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.88, p.392 Wilford Woodruff's Journal 3:543 Eugene Edward Campbell, BYU Studies, Vol. 1, No. 2, p.26