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Show t i I pressed, closely about her, and the terrible stories of the cruel deeds committed against the whites by the red men flashed through her mind. Elizabeths knees felt weak, and she was $fraid that she would faint. But she gathered her courage pnd spoke to a Shoshoni brave standing near- . 5t 35.0 CENTS "de" May I go in, please? she asked, fighting to keep her voice Elizabeth Wright Corey Spaulding watched at her window, a deep frown wrinkling her forehead. Across the valley from her home in Mountain Green, Morgan County, Utah, on the banks of the Weber River, she could see smoke curling from the Indian camp. She knew that the Shoshoni women were preparing the days ration of venison. Elizabeths thoughts kept returning to a conversation she had heard the day before. Those crazy Indians, reported a trapper who had passed through the Indian village while bringing in his catch, what do you think theyre doing now? . . . Theyre trying to cure the measles by throwing their people into the liver -- - even little kids. Its the worst thing I ever saw. Theyll all be dead soon at this rate. If the disease doesnt kill them, the cure will! Well, who cares what they said one of the settlers, do, just as long as they dont come up here exposing us to whatever theyve got. It seems as though we should do something if theyre throwing little children into the icy river, mused a thoughtful appearing woman. They should be stopped . . . However, I think its best to stay away from them -- - those redskins do strange things when they get riled up. They might even kill somebody. The Shoshonis, camped along the banks of the Weber River, were suffering in the grip of a long, hard winter. Their crude shelters did little to keep out the cold winds that roared down Weber Canyon. The Indians spent each day slogging through the deep snow in search of game or huddled miserable and cramped at the rivers edge, poised to snare an unwary fish swimming beneath the ice. Winter, as usual, had taken its toll of the very old cr the young of the tribe. Now a threat hung over the Indians In their struggle to survive. An epidemic of measles raged throughout the encamp-- , ment. The disease struck hard at all members of the tribe who were winter-wor- n and weakened by improper diet. The tribal council had been summoned, and after a lengthy consultation with the medicine man, the chiefs decided that the village was besieged by evil spirits. The remedy, prescribed by the medicine man to rid the tribe of this plague was to throw each person afflicted with measles into the waters of the nearby river. The icy water will force the evil spirits to flee from the bodies which they have enterreasoned the medicine ed, man. The Weber River was mostly frozen, but holes were broken through the ice in places and the sick Indians were lowered into the river. The shock of a sudden plunge ihto the frigid water served to hasten the deaths of many people who otherwise might have recovered! Grief blanketed the camp. The death chants of the sorrowing squaws, carried through the crisp bright air across the valley to the shite settlement where Ira Spaulding and his wife, Elizabeth, lived. Ira had been watching Elizabeth as she stood at the window gazing intently across the valley toward the Indian village. he began, "I Elizabeth, know exactly what you're think- jf r 5? by. By GLEN PERRINS tf from betraying her fear. The Shoshoni answered tersely . . . Woman, g 0 home. Elizabeth had no intention of doing this, however. She took a deep breath, held her satchel close to her trembling body, and darted into the shelter! Here were her firstpatients two Indian children covered with red splotches. She shooed a startled Indian woman out of the way, and while the frightened children watched with eyes she set about her task. Elizabeth Seated water, brewed the medicinal tea and covered the children as warmly as possible with their ragged blankets and animal skins. She sought out the tribal leaders and begged the braves to stop !he cruel dunkings in the Webter ifiver. She spent many hours show- o PER LB. MONp ! V CHICKEN STEW $ r JJJST - Altertsons 1MMMLU me , (hp,! . , fever-brighten- ing the- - Indian women SLK how to care for their sick. At the end of the long day, Elizabeths usually glossy brown hair hung in limp strings. Fatigue showed in the heaviness of her steps as she walked home in the twilight. But she was happy, satisfied with her success in helping to treat the stricken Indians. ing. But, remember that those She came back again the people have lived that way for next day . . . and the next. - long before we centuries Elizabeth worked diligently . came here . . . Theres nothwith her patients throughout the ing you or anyone else can do following week, and gradually, its their way of life. The one by one, they began to reand must you accept it, accept cover. it, too! There was great rejoicing Elizabeth turned from the in the village when the epidewindow, and tears of anguish mic cq-- s to a halt! spilled down her cheeks. Oh, The Indians hailed ElizaIra, she cried, someone must beth as a great doctor, as the as them. help imporTheyre Woman Medicine Man, and tant ar you or I in the sight of each as they migrated year our Heavenly Father, and to turn Mountain they aside when they need help is through to visit Green, her -- - the stopped wicked. woman who had &ved so Ira rose from his chair and good many of our lives. took his sorrowing wife in his When Elizabeth died n child arms. He held her tightly for birth on April 23, 1861, news a moment and then spoke. spread tc the Indian camp. I he said, "Elizabeth, The Shoshonis asked that know you well enough to reasix of their number be allowed lize that the minute I leave this to carry her casket to the grave. house, youll be headed for the Their request was granted, and Indian camp . . . Take care! more than 100 sorrowing InDont do anything to provoke dians attended her funeral. those people. The Indians may Also, after Elizabeths death even throw you in the river her son, Ira alopg with the rest of the evil after his father - was spirits! cared for by a kindly Indian Warily, Elizabeth entered woman. the Indian camp a little later. Soon the motherless Ira She earned a worn black was spending more satchel which had been carried Spaulding time at the Indian camp than across the plauisirom Nauyoo,. he spent in his widowed fathers 111. She carried in it some herbs cabin. to brew a potion used by the lonely Ira eventually came Young settlers as a cure for measles, to regard himself as a mempneumonia and other winter ailber of the Shoshoni tribe. He ments. remained with the Indians which Half-wil- d dogs yapped at her he ally adopted as his own heels and wary brown eyes folhe reached the age lowed her steps right up to the family until 17. of deerskin door of a Then he went to Ogden, Utah hut. he found work with the From inside the hut she where Utah Construction Co. could hear the whimpering of The Shoshonis remembered the sick Indian children. the kindness of Iras mother outside the Stopping door, toward their people during their she closed her eyes and said on the banks of the a brief prayer, hoping all the epidemic Weber River. while that Ira was only joking They repaid this kindess about the Indians throwing her times by opening their many into the river. hearts and homes to her lonely A crowd of curious Indians child. I Leon and mild slices! Luscious! 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