Description
Death on the Plains
Death may have been common to the trail, but its devastating effects on the heart and soul of the bereaved weighed just as heavily as today. Robert Aveson traveled with the George Davis family across the plains in 1864. In a later reminiscence published in the Deseret News, he gives the following account:
“Poor George Davis! Serious illness overtook his partner in life—an attack of dysentery, which only lasted a few days. The trial was hard when parting from their little child, but it was a sore trial indeed to see his beloved wife in the throes of death. He did all that was possible to aid and assist in her dying condition. Some of the sisters from nearby camp wagons volunteered their service, but she was too weak—too far gone for human aid…
“He breathed a prayer to his Heavenly father to spare her life, if only for the sake of her children. At the close of his prayer, he turned toward his beloved wife—she was breathing her last breath. It was an awfully sad scene. George was broken-hearted; his other two children were present, the tears rolling down their cheeks…. That night George was so bewildered and confused through the death of his wife, that he almost forgot his darling sick boy. But just as daylight appeared next morning, he lit a fire and made some soup. And taking it to him, he said: ‘Here, Benny, is your soup.’ It was too late—too late; the child was in the throes of death. ‘Oh Benny, Benny,’ said the broken-hearted father, ‘speak to me once more. Call me Daddy.’ There was no answer; the little spirit had fled. This was a double bereavement.
“Almost overcome with grief, George bowed his head down and exclaimed, ‘What have I done that such awful trials should befall me!’ …Preparations were made for the burial of wife and child. They were laid side by side, in one grave. The funeral service was very brief—no music, no flowers, no coffin; the bodies were wrapped in a sheet and covered with a blanket. It was an affecting scene—many eyes were wet—yes, even the eyes of stout hearts were bedimmed with tears…. Some days elapsed before Brother Davis began to feel in his normal condition. His two remaining children clung to him and they could have been observed marching along ahead of the train—the boy on one side of the father, the girl on the other, hand-in-hand.”
