[Wilford Woodruff]
Our Encampment or the first division of it was called to pass through one of those Horrid scenes to day which are so much dredded by all Emigrating Companies on the plaines which was A stampede of all the ox teams with the family waggons of the first division with the exception of the 10 Baggage who were in the rear. No person who has not Experienced or witnessed one of those dredful scenes cannot form any Correct idea of them And it is almost impossible to give A Correct description of it for to behold 30 or 40 ox teams from 2 to five yoke of oxen in each team Attached to a family waggon of goods & women & Children All in an instant like the twinkling of an Eye be deprived of all reason sens & government & be filled with madness frantic & fright & all dart off with lightning speed each running their own way, roaring, bellowing rolling & tumbling over each other waggons upsetting smashing their wheels Exles & tongues spilling the goods women & Child in the street, for the next
teams to trample under their feet as they roar & charge on their way with their yokes bows & chains flying in evry direction is A scene not easily imagined or described. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
"I went through the Encampment to see who was
ReplyDeletedead & maimed And I was Asstonished to find that no one was killed & but one badly wounded & but little damage done to waggons or oxen. And to look it all over it looked like a miracle to see how so many escaped. I had to Shoot my Horse [one broken or smashed leg] to get him out of his misery which was painful to me but I was thankful my wife Children & friends were well & their lives preserved."
"but one badly wounded": "Prescott Hardy was knocked down by his own team & badly wounded in the thigh & arm."
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