Utter Disaster Sign ID
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Description: Elijah P. Utter led a wagon train of 44 emigrants along the Oregon Trail, embarking on a tragic journey that turned into a harrowing ordeal. From early September to late October 1860, 34 of the 44 emigrants lost their lives, including Elijah and his entire family. The fatalities were caused by a combination of attacks by Native Americans, exposure, and starvation. The surviving ten individuals endured unimaginable hardships and resorted to extreme measures, including consuming the bodies of the deceased children to survive. At the starting point of this tragic journey, there stands a prominent sign known as the "Utter Disaster" sign, which recounts the events of this fateful expedition. However, it appears that the sign presents an embellished account, claiming that between 25 and 30 Indians were killed in the incident, although this assertion seems highly improbable. The sign does acknowledge that this particular Oregon Trail wagon train suffered the greatest losses in its history, serving as a poignant reminder of the hardships endured by early settlers and the sacrifices made during westward expansion.