| OCR Text |
Show 2 - COMET TIMES - MARCH 15, 1997 HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT OF NORTHERN SAN JUAN COUNTY, of the Piutes. The writer knew Jimmy Higginson well. His parents had both been killed by Indians in Nevada when he was six years of age, and Jimmy was always talking of UTAH killing Indians in revenge for the slaying of his parents. At White Canyon, the scouts, cowboys and soldiers begged him —from the writings of Frank Silvey (This continuing series is from the Silvey writings which capture much of the color and feeling of the eariy settlers in the general Moab area of southeastern Utah.) not to go up this dangerous trail, but he would not listen and called them all cowards. "I will go alone," he said, "if you are all afraid to go.” Wormington, the Scout then said, STOLEN HORSES After selling out their interests at La Sal in 1885, the Rays moved to Paradox and as Mrs. Ray kept the Post Office, we had to get another Postmaster. My father was appointed to this position and my sister acted as assistant. The Maxwells and McCartys at this time moved to Oregon and resided there a number of years then a part of them returned to Moab. During the month of July this year the "Jimmy, if you must go I will go with you. " About half way up the hill the Piutes opened fire on the two white men, and it is thought wounded them both. The whites could see the two scouts were at intervals replying to the fire of the Piutes but were unable to help them, as it was certain death by Piute bullets if any one attempted to aid them. There was only one trail up the hill and every yard practically could be covered by the Piute bullets from the rim they lay behind. The Piutes seemed to be afraid to venture down to finish up the two wounded white men so waited until dark, then sent writer returned to La Sal and went to work as a cowboy for their dogs down to do the job, as the next day the bodies the Pittsburg Cattle Company. A few days later, John Brown was hunting in La Sal Pass and running into a bunch of Indian ponies, he saw among them a good-sized, dark, sorrel horse. fat and slick. Riding around him to note the brand he saw that it was branded ”B" on the left thigh. This was Spud Hudson's old horse brand were found badly torn up by dogs. After following the Piutes for some time in a canyon rim rock country, the whites finally gave up the chase and and Brown knew it was a stolen horse, more than likely taken at the time of the Indian battle in 1881. Throwing his rope and catching him, he was leading him away when suddenly an Indian rode in front of him and demanded that he turn the horse loose. He did Imder protest, and said he would be back the next day to take the horse. The next day in company of Hickory Dennis (then working for Carlisle Cattle Company), Charlie Silvey and the writer, Brown decided to get the horse at any cost, regardless of our protest. It would cause trouble, we told him. Arriving at the Piute camp in La Sal Pass after much pow wow, the Indians brought the "B" brand horse into camp. "Hatch" claimed the horse and said he would not give him up as he had traded for him. Hatch was a fine, physically perfect Indian at that time and sat on a horse perfectly. He had served a year in the Federal Penitentiary at Levenworth, Kansas, and had there learned to talk considerable English. Brown told him if he refused to give up the "B " horse, he would go to all ranch and cow camps in the country and get many men to help get the horse and that there would be heap trouble. Hatch looked black and sullen and would not talk for some time. Finally he said, ”Give me some money and a 'squaw pony' and we swap, maybe so.” Brown had three or four dollars in silver and threw it on the ground near Hatch's horse, the "B" horse, and the horse being frightened threw his rider off. The Indians all laughed at this, and Hatch grinned as he gathered up the coins. "Where's 'squaw pony'?: " he said. "We swap." Little Fletcher had a two year old pony that was slightly deformed in one of its front legs and as it was running near by. we rode out to show it to Hatch. ”All right, we swap," he said, "and me fix um sick leg." He roped the colt and then heated an iron and scared the spot that was deformed, but I never knew how this remedy worked, or how near we were to serious trouble with the Piutes. At White Canyon there had been a tragedy in the killing of Wormington, the Government Scout, and Jimmy Higginson. They had attempted to go up the narrow trail out of White Canyon as advance scout to investigate the location returned to their own camps. In July, 1887, two Piute runners came to La Sal and reported the killing of L. C. Cook near Dodge Springs, but they denied any part of it, and said he was not shot, but that he was killed by the "Great Spirit" by means of lightning. At that date many small Indian camps were near La Sal and that evening we saw several smokes from high points surrounding us. There was little doubt but what the Indians were uneasy. The following day Hickory Dennis arrived from the Blues to ride with us as a "rep" of the hip, side and shoulder (Carlisle) cattle. He reported that he and another cowboy had found the body of L. C. Cook about 200 yards from the camp, shot in the back, and had fallen forward on his face, dying apparently instantly. He had a pair of field glasses in his hand and was unarmed. It was thought he was looking to see if he could sight some horses he had in charge. The L. C. cowboys had left with pack horses and extra horses to ride in the rim of Recapture Creek several days previous, so he was left alone. No horses were taken nor was anything disturbed around camp. It was never known why he was killed but he certainly must have been killed by Indians as pony and moccasin tracks were in evidence near by. Early in the spring of 1886, John Brown and Neil Savage had found a lone pony near Lisbon Springs. He was poor and seemingly half starved. Taking him up to the ranch he was fed hay for some time and then turned into a pasture of fine grass. He soon became fat and slick, and they named him "Dogy" and decided to ride him and were surprised to _ find he was a cow pony. He could tum on a "saddle blanket" and could best all the cow ponies we had running, which Dogy seemed to enjoy greatly. After the race he would start grazing in an unconcerned manner and never became excited. As no one claimed him at that time we thought he must have been deserted by some prospector and left to starve. After riding him one day, I was so stuck on him that I at once decided to try to get him if possible and made Brown an offer of a fine mare and colt for him. Brown said it was a "go" but he might be an Indian pony sol would have to take a chance. I agreed to do this. Each dayI rode Dogy, I liked him more and more, and no money could have bought him at that time. MORE SILVEY, p. 3 |
