William Henry Deuel Sr. — Protection During the 1847 Stampede

While traveling to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 as part of the Charles C. Rich Company, William Henry Deuel Sr. and his family were caught in a violent stampede of the company's cattle along the North Platte River. Stampedes were a frequent and deadly hazard for pioneers, capable of crushing wagons and killing both livestock and people. Despite the Deuel wagon being in a vulnerable position as the herd charged, the family—including William's wife Eliza and their children—remained unharmed and their wagon was miraculously spared from the path of the panicked animals. The family recorded this event as a distinct instance of divine protection during their trek.