Delving into family history, Christopher has been taking many of the old text memorabilia (included as images or PDFs) on FamilySearch and re-typing them as word documents/stories ... much easier to read and copy as needed. Chris read about "The Green River Ferry Incident" while converting some documents, and we found that TWO of our ancestors had this story in their histories. James Anderson and Philip Hurst (Grandma Zada's Great-Grandfathers) survived this ordeal.
What exactly happened? LDS emigrants came to America and then traveled on to Utah following the Mormon trail. A major obstacle was the Green River, which they would have to ford, float or ferry across. In 1868, a number of men from Sanpete County were called upon to meet the emigrants to help them along the way. Our ancestors Philip and James were part of the teams sent to assist.
The Green River was running very high, fast and cold and the oxen refused to cross. It was decided they would load the cattle on the ferry. Tragically, the frightened cattle unbalanced the boat and capsized it. Men, cattle and supplies went into the water together. Most of the equipment was lost, and six men never made it to the shore. Members of the surviving group composed a song "We The Boys of Sanpete County" to tell the story of this tragic event. The lyrics, and a performance on youtube are included below ...
We the boys of Sanpete County
In obedience to the Call
Started out with forty wagons
To bring in Emigrants this fall
Without fear or thought of danger
On our way we lightly sped
Every heart with joy abounding
Captain Seely at our head.
To accomplish the mission
We were called to fill below
Left our friends and wives and children
On the dreary plains to go.
Over hills and lofty mountains
Through the mud and in the dust
Slowly climbed the lofty mountain
Far above the snows white crust.
With the sun to set declining
glad to welcome closing day.
By some stream or gushing fountain
To refresh all night we stay.
When we reached Green River ferry
On its banks all night we stay
Next morning ferried our wagons over
Thinking soon to roll away
Next to drive our cattle over
But we found they would not swim
Though the boys were in the water
Many hours up to the chin.
While the boat was passing over
The water into it did pour
The Captain cried boys we‘re going under
We shall sink this very hour.
Some to planks and boards were clinging,
Down the swelling tide it flows;
Some by heaven seem protected,
Was driven to shore upon the boat.
Down the swelling tide it flows;
Some by heaven seem protected,
Was driven to shore upon the boat.
Some to oxen horns were clinging,
But to them it was all o'er,
For boys and cattle all went under,
Never more to step on shore.
One had landed on an island
Clinging to the willow green
But with him life soon extinguished
Backwards fell into the stream.
Thus six boys from parents driven
And from friends whom they did love
But we yet again shall meet them
In that better world above.
In letters it was recounted "It was on this trip that Philip was in a boat which capsized in the Green River, when six men lost their lives. He was in the water 15 hours. His clothes were on one bank and he on the other. He and his companions picked up sticks all night to keep a fire going to keep warm and dry out the few clothes they had on. Philip was assistant captain to Wm. S. Seeley"
According to his his history, James was a good swimmer and was able to drag himself out a mile and half below the accident scene.
There is a great write up with additional details HERE
Radio and TV personality Glenn Rawson recounted the story of
"The Boys From San Pete County" in one of his devotionals ...
Who knew that years later, Philip's baby son Walter and James's daughter Hannah Alzada (who wouldn't be born until a year after this event) would meet and marry and that they would have a great-granddaughter named Margie ...
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