On the 4th of May, after the camp had proceeded about two miles on their way, they were met by a Frenchman, Charles Beaumont, a trapper and fur trader, who was traveling eastward over the Oregon road with a camp consisting of three wagons and nine men. He crossed the river to find out who the pioneers were. During his interview he cheerfully consented to carry letters back to the Saints, so the brethren wrote some fifty or sixty letters and left them in his care. Other means of communication with the later companies on the plains were adopted. Posts were placed at prominent points along the road with writing on them and letters were placed in improvised boxes with a notice on the box. At other times they used whitened skulls of the buffalo. Over a portion of the journey, especially from Fort Laramie, the pioneers planted mile posts every ten miles as the distance was measured by their odometer.
Scientific Observations
Astronomical observations were constantly taken. The temperature was recorded daily, also the altitude as shown by barometrical pressure. This was done under the able direction of Elder Orson Pratt, one of the great scientists of his time.
Crossing of the Platte
At Fort Laramie the pioneers were forced to cross the Platte owing to the fact that the north side of the river was impassable. They hired a flatboat from a Frenchman, Mr. James Bordeaux, who was in charge of the post. They paid him fifteen dollars for the accommodation. Mr. Bordeaux treated the brethren very kindly, and informed them that Lilburn W. Boggs, with a company of Missourians en route to Oregon, left the fort but a short time before. These emigrants had endeavored to embitter him against the “Mormons.” The Missourians, he said, were constantly quarreling and were great thieves. Bordeaux gave the pioneers information regarding the route before them and said the Crow Indians were troublesome and had lately run off all the horses and mules from the fort.
The Mississippi Emigrants
Soon after the pioneers arrived at Fort Laramie they were joined by a company of seventeen emigrants of the Mississippi Saints who had wintered at Pueblo, where the sick detachments of the Mormon Battalion, under command of Captains Brown and Higgins, were also stationed. They had been at the fort two weeks awaiting the arrival of the pioneers. These emigrants consisted of the members of the Crow and Therlkill families, others being Archibald Little, James Chesney and Lewis B. Myers. They had five wagons, one cart, eleven horses, twenty-four oxen, twenty-two cows, three bulls and seven calves. From these Mississippi Saints the pioneers obtained their first knowledge in many months, of the battalion. Four of the pioneers, Amasa M. Lyman, Thomas Woolsey, John H. Tippits, and Roswell Stevens, were sent to Pueblo on horse-back and with mules, to take charge of the remaining body of the Mississippians and conduct them to the Salt Lake Valley.
The Ferry at the Black Hills
From Winter Quarters to Fort Laramie the Pioneers had broken a new road over the plains, which was destined to be traveled by the emigrating Saints for many years. Subsequently the Union Pacific Railroad was built along a great portion of the trail. Continuing their journey, the pioneers arrived, Saturday, June 12, 1847, at the Black Hills, where the Oregon road crossed the Platte, some one hundred and forty-two miles from Fort Laramie. Here they overtook the Oregon emigrants, including the Missourians. The pioneers had sent an advance company three days before to prepare for the crossing of the river, with a sole-leather skiff capable of carrying eighteen hundred pounds. These brethren were employed in ferrying the emigrants over the river at the rate of $1.50 for each wagon load, receiving their pay in flour, meal and bacon, at Missouri prices. Their stock of provisions at this time was in need of replenishing, and to have the privilege of ferrying their old enemies from Missouri over the river at this price, gave them some satisfaction. “It looked as much of a miracle to me,” said Elder Wilford Woodruff, “to see our flour and meal bags replenished in the Black Hills, as it did to have the children of Israel fed with manna in the wilderness. But the Lord has been truly with us on our journey, and has wonderfully blessed and preserved us.” The Missourians kept on their way, quarreling, cursing and fighting among themselves, while the brethren camped, as was their custom, on the Sabbath day. Monday, June 14, they commenced crossing the river, taking their wagons on light rafts made of poles. It was concluded to leave several brethren at this ferry, to help the oncoming emigrant trains for Oregon, in the hope of earning enough to supply the pioneer company with provisions. For this purpose Thomas Grover, John S. Higbee, Luke S. Johnson, Appleton M. Harmon, Edmund Ellsworth, Francis M. Pomeroy, William Empey, James Davenport and Benjamin F. Stewart, were detailed to remain.