Trial of Hope…Captain Willie

This painting depicts Captain Willie and Joseph Elder of the Willie Handcart Company during the moment they finally found the rescue party sent from Salt Lake to aid the handcart pioneers. They had left the handcart company at Rocky Ridge and headed out on the trail to hopefully find a rescue party, which they finally found late at night after many hours of travel. The rescue party had moved off the trail to find firewood, which was along the riverbank. The rescue party consisted of covered wagons, which were filled with food and provisions for the struggling pioneers.

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