Martin's Cove
by Eric Peterson
FIFTY SIX MEMBERS OF THE MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY DIED NEAR THE SWEETWATER RIVER HERE. THEY HAD BEGUN THEIR JOURNEY LATE. FOR THE SAKE OF SPEED THEY HAD SET ASIDE THEIR COATS AND BLANKETS. IN OCTOBER 1856 THEY ENCOUNTERED A FIERCE WINTER STORM.
THE PIONEER DID WHAT THEY COULD TO SHELTER THEMSELVES BY RETREATING INTO THE PROTECTIVE COVES IN THE ROCKS. THE COVES SLOWED THE WIND, WARMED THE WIND CHILL BY TEN TO FIFTEEN DEGREES, AND DECREASED THE SNOW CARRIED IN THE WIND., BUT FIFTY SIX DIED.
THE MODERN CONVENIENCES WE ENJOY NOW HELP US SPEED THROUGH OR EVEN AVOID THE KIND OF HAZARDOUS SITUATION THAT BEFELL THE HANDCART COMPANY.
HOWEVER, WE CAN’T AFFORD TO BE CAVALIER ABOUT PREPARING FOR WINTER TRAVEL HAZARDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS SO EASY TO HAVE BLANKETS, FOOD AND OTHER SURVIVAL ITEMS ALONG WITH US AT ALL TIMES.
THE PIONEERS SOUGHT MEAGER PROTECTION FROM SNOW AND WIND IN THESE ROCKY COVES. COMPARED TO THAT, OUR INSULATED WIND, RAIN AND SNOW-PROOF VEHICLES ARE PALACES.
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A WINTER STORM STAY IN THE PROTECTION OF YOUR CAR. SO IF YOU LEAVE IT WHY WOULD YOU BE ANY BETTER OF THAT THE MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY? FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, I’M ERIC PETERSON.