"The increased food rations from the rescuers lasted for only a few days. In Martin's Cove, rations were again reduced to four ounces of flour because the rescuers' supplies were insufficient to feed 900 people. The second day in the cove, James Bleak, one of the London branch presidents, wrote in his journal:
"No travelling. Weather very severe. Sister Mary Harper died aged 64. Our ration of flour was reduced to 4 oz. and 2 oz. for the children, making 1 lb. a day for the 6 of us."
James concludes this journal entry with one of the most extraordinary sentences in all the handcart writings. His feet were frozen, his wife and four children were suffering, the weather showed no signs of moderating, and now rations were being reduced again. Yet he wrote, "Through the blessing of our Father, we felt as contented as when we had 1 lb. per head."
