April 18th in 1847 was a Sunday...for the pioneers a day of rest. But it was so cold, they didn't hold worship services. They cared for their livestock and some wrote letters to loved ones at Winter Quarters.

Ellis Eames would take the letters back. He complained of ill-health and chose to leave the pioneer party to return to Winter Quarters.

About five that afternoon, James Case was cutting down a cottonwood tree. A sudden gust of wind blew in a direction Case didn't think it would go and one of the branches literally knocked out the right eye of an ox standing nearby.

Fortunately, the ox survived and the Sabbath drew to a close.