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Show THE CITIZEN 12 Early Pioneers Without exception tourists who come to Salt Lake marvel at its beauty, and wonder at the vision of the early pioneers in selecting: this place, in laying the foundation for the city and erecting its buildings. This is a busy world we live in, a busy age. In the struggles of the present we are prone to forget, almost lose sight of the sufferings and hardships endured . by those who laid the foundation for this great western empire. Mr. and Mrs. Milando Pratt of 1005 East Ninth South street are among the oldest pioneers living today. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary the 16th of this month. Thirteen years ago Mr. Pratt was in Washington, D. C. on business. He was taken suddenly ill and an operation seemed imperative. He spent several months in a hospital there and several months in hospitals after he returned to Salt Lake, but has never regained his health. Although he has been an invalid all these years, confined to the house and his bed the major portion of the time, he is unusually cheerful. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are the parents of Viola Gillette, who has won worldwide renown as a soloist and opera o singer. She has a magnificent a mud roof, a hole for a window but no glass for panes. They had no hinges for the door so split logs in two and fastened them together with cleats. A big log was always kept at hand to brace the door when closed. This was necessary because sometimes wild animals would attack the cabin. Mr. Pratt said, The panthers were especially bad. I had a narrow escape from one once. There was a big cottonwood tree very close to our house. Father left it there for shade. A panther secreted himself in the tree one day. My mother said she had me in her arms and stepped to the door to throw out a pan of water. The panther let out a screech and leaped from the tree onto the roof of our house in an effort to grab' me. Mother threw me on the bed and hurriedly pressed the big cleated door up . . air. Mr. ' . "i Pratt's father related to him many harrowing experiences of their company while crossing the plains. At one time buffalo stampeded their ox- en. They ran for over a mile, with-thwagons, the bellowing buffalo on all sides of them. . His mother said she grabbed him in one arm and her infant babe in the other with the intention of leaping from the wagon if it started to tip with them, but the brave teamsters rode alongside of the wagons and kept them in the road. When Mr. Pratt was only twelve years of age he drove back and forth to the canyons for timber. He took various parts of his fathers old wagons which had done duty crossing the plains, and built solid wagons out, of them for the purpose of hauling this . mezzo-sopran- voice. Their son, Milando Pratt, Jr., has Co. in been with the New York for the past twenty years. Another daughter, Leonie Bergen-e- r, is the wife of a prominent New York attorney. Milando Pratt is the son of Orson Pratt and Mary Ann Merrill. He was born at Harris Grove, Pottawatamie County, Iowa, September 30, 1848. Mrs. Pratt is the daughter of General Chas. C. Rich and Sarah De Armand Pea, and a sister of the late Ben E. Rich. She was bom in Salt Lake City, October 6, 1849. They both attended Morgans College. Mrs. Pratt was a teacher in the college before her marKlaw-Erlang- er and got away with many of their an- ' imals.9 Our destination was Julesburg Colo. When we arrived there we had to wait three weeks before our freight was ready.' This was in' the sumrnei r . of.; 1865. I met my father in Jules-burg- Mr. and Mrs. Milando Pratt against the opening just as the panthers long paw came through. You know they are much larger than any " , . . . . . .- He had just:retumed from his Australian mission. Billy Godbe, who was then in the drug business, was also there getting a load of freight He needed some help in checking up his accounts and induced my father to wait a few days and go by overland stage to Salt Lake, which he did. I member an amusing incident that occurred while we were there. The town was pretty rough in those days, Father and I were standing on the porch of the freight station talking when all of a sudden a man came running out of the dance hall, followed by a woman. She had a small pis. tol in her hand and fired at him continuously as she ran after him up the street, but missed him every time, Then she threw the gun at him but that missed him too. He only laughed at her. When Mr. Pratt was a mere boy oi sixteen he took up some large tracts of land near Ogden. He had eighty acres of the finest grain that ever grew he claims. When it reached a height of 15 or 18 inches the came and devoured it. Nothing remained but the barren ground then. He became so discouraged that he went over near Weber Canyon to a settlement called Mountain View. Work was being done on the railroad at that time and he secured a contract for 300 feet of road. He was 17 years old then and states, as far as he has been able to find out, was the young, est boy to ever take up a railroad con? grass-hopper- fire wood. He broke wild horses and hitched them to his home-mad- e wagons. When coal was discovered at Coalville he hauled coal from there of the mountain lions we have here. into Salt Lake. Mother ran to the small window and At the age of sixteen Mr. Pratt ' . riage; screamed as loudly as she could for drove seven yoke of oxen and two Mr. and: Mrs. Pratt have lived help. The panther was trying to raise wagons across the plains and back through all the hardships' and rigors the boards in the roof, the dirt was again, walking all the way. After a of the early pioneer life of Utah. Orrolling onto the floor, but every time days walk he would frequently have son Pratt, the father of Mr. Pratt, he would succeed in raising a log it to take his turn night herding. The came to Utah with the first company would fall back in place again. One Indians were very bad at this particof pioneers. In fact, he was sent ahead of the men who was looking after ular period in our history. They with about half of the company and my fathers cattle heard her screams burned the overland stations which landed tfain three days ahead of Brigand, ran to. the house. His dog fol- had been established, held up the Mr. Pratt did lowed barking loudly. As soon the stage coaches and robbed and killed ham Youngs company. nbt bring. any of his family at this panther, heard the dog he ran for the passengers. time. In fact, there .were only three, the woods..The panthers are very viciWe had. been traveling many women with the original company ous animals. At that time they were miles without water. It was extremethat landed here July 24, 1847. Mr. very numerous around Harris Grove. ly hot and dusty. The oxen were so Pratt returned! to Illinois for his fami- They ate many of the cattle. thirsty their tongues hung out of their ly. After they came out of Nauvoo When I was three years old we mouths. Finally we came to a campand were camped at Winter Quarters, came to Salt Lake. The first thing ing place where there was water. We a river across from the Omaha, I can remember about the trip was unhitched our oxen. They were famjust conference of the Church was held when we reached the mouth of Emiished and almost knocked one another and Mr. Pratt was called to go on a gration canyon. Just as the pioneers over getting down to the canyon mission to England to preside over came through the canyon and up over stream. Suddenly there was a sound mission. His hill ;the European plans being the at about the point where the like the howling of many coyotes. Our Missouri on he settled the Pioneer monument stands, changed Run for the they wagon master cried, River at a place called Harris Grove. stopped their teams. The teamsters oxen, boys. It is the Indians. They .He made a clearing in the woods and were so glad to see this open valley made away with thirteen. We gave built a log house for his family, after the long, hard journey, that they chase bdt they were too far ahead of where they lived for the three years pulled off their hats, threw them high us. We only found one poor animal 'while he fulfilled his mission. It was in the air and cried, Hurrah! for lying. in the road shot full of arrows. 'in this house that Milando Pratt was Salt Lake! I dont remember any- He was suffering so we put him out '.born. The cabin had a mud floor and thing about the trip but that sight of his misery with a bullet. At this I camp were two freshly made graves. The Indians had attacked Mr. Sharpg men who were also on their way east for freight. . They 'killed two of them impressed me so I have never forgotten it all those hats flying in the s tract. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt love to recall the joys of the early days, when the Social Hall and Salt Lake Theatre were the scene of much social activity. Many times they purchased their tickets for the theatre with vegetables, there being but little money in the valley at that time. Often they have danced on the old theatre floor. Mr. Pratt has been a stockman, merchant and contractor during his life and has done a great deal toward the development of Utah. Space does not permit us to print more, of 'his early experiences at this time, but more will be given at a later date. , . . I said the let me have I beckon my Im a man of few words, construction boss. Dont to apeak to you again. If finger, that means, Come. Suits me, boss, replied the worker. Im a man of few words, too. B I shakes me head, that means, I mat cornin. . 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