“The day we ascended Rocky Ridge I’ll never forget as long as I live. It was a bitter cold morning in October as we broke camp. . . – William James, Willie Handcart Company.
All Prints Come Rolled without a Frame
The Story
“The day we ascended Rocky Ridge I’ll never forget as long as I live. It was a bitter cold morning in October as we broke camp. . . Father and Reuben were on the burial detail. Mother, who was helping to pull the heaviest cart, had stayed behind until they could finish their sad work. After a short service we, with my cart, ran ahead to catch the rest of the company, and Mother and Reuben started to follow. Father collapsed and fell in the snow. He tried two or three times to get up with Mother’s help, then finally he asked her to go on and when he felt rested, he would come on later. Mother knew in her heart that he had given out, but perhaps, she said, in a few minutes with some rest he could come on. She took the cart and hurried to follow us.” Later the next day their father was among the deceased.
