Isabella Race

Injury and Death:

"...Written in Pencil Informing us that the First Company under the Presidency of Elder Hindley Passed Here on the 23rd of July[.] also the third Company on the 26th July Encamp'd for the Night about 6 P.M. on the Platt[e] River—Shortly after arriving in Camp Isabella Race Got her arm Nearly Shatter'd into Pieces By her husbands Gun Under the following Circumstances[:] the Gun had been in the Waggon during the day Loaded with Shot having a Cap on with a Little tow between the Niple and hammer[.] after the tent was put up, the Gun was taken from the Waggon and put into the tent and Laid upon the Bed, a Little after Sister Race went to make the Bed and drew the Gun toward her But She Perceiving the bed close had Lifted up the hammer[,] shov'd it from her again which Caused the Gun to go off and the Contents go through her Right arm. President in Council Immediatly call'd to see her and Left Brothers [John] Bushby, [William] Appley [Apperley] and [William] Kent to dress and Bind up her arm..."

"...Tuesday Augst 14 This Morning Bro Ballantyne took Sister Race in his Waggon to Proceed to Larimie [Laramie] in order that She Might have the Assistance of a Doctor[.] the Camp afterwards Met for Morning Prayer and Sung Come let us anew our Journey Pursue[.] Prayer by Elder William Pitt[.] Camp Moved out at a 1/4 before 9 A.M. at Noon[.] Stopd for a Couple of hours to rest and feed our Cattle[.] assumed [resumed] our Journey and about 3 P.M. Met the Mail about 23 Miles from Laramie[.] Pass'd an Encampment of Soldiers who were Making Hay beside the Platt[e] River for the use of [--][.] at Laramie passed a train of Suggar Waggons in an encampment at Ash Point[.] At the above place Isabella Race who was on her way to Laramie to at[t]ain surgical aid died at Noon, Aged 32 years..."

SOURCE: Ballantyne, Richard, Diaries and reminiscences, 1852-1896, box 1, fd. 3, vol. 6. Retrieved from: http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/source/1,18016,4976-4803,0...