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Show . -- v ' . . .. . 0 7 t - 6 ' ' : ' .THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY,..JUNE 1, 1940 (Continued From Page 2) and a half miles from the mineral deposit which' , could be used for camp purposes.-- ' The country was make the , ,.completeiy .devoid of grass which would one serious a animals problem of feeding their the mineral.deposit, the almpany returned to Lai Vegas and thereafter. made a six dayeexploration trip to the northwest. They found nothing but "one continuous stretch of dry, burnt up mountains and arid sand plains entirely -- destitute of vegetation or timber (11) Not feeling It advisable to risk jeopardizing the lives of men and animals in stic'h a count7, they retraced their steps to Las Vegas. May 22, Jones and his companions began their return trip to Salt Lake City. Upon reaching Cedar City, they stopped off a few days, and there in the mountains south of the Beaver settlement, in cornpany with Bishop Tarlton Lewis and his son, Jones were explored for mineral. Deposits of iron ore here minera1.0 From of 'a found but no other kinds Lake course Salt toward their turned the company 1856. 7heir City, where they arrived on June 13, less than two them days explorations had taken ' months. Bishop Jones immediately visited Brigham f Young and made a full report of the prospects-olead and other matters related to his trip. The Chuech officials considered the report favorable, so notified Jones a few days later that he was to take a company and proceed Immediately to the working of the mines. Jones, with three companions, - two teams, with necessary tools and supLake Salt left City, July 9, 1856, for Las Vegas, plies, 4 8.1 On Sunday two days after there August arriving their arrival, Nathaniel V. Jones presented the following letter of instructions from President Brigham Young to the missionaries: fellowship him from the Church until the difficul ' ties were settled. - While Jones was at Salt Lake, Bringhurst made an effort to reestablish his Influence over the MiS- sionaries. But the spirit of disunity continued among the group at Vegas. On September 19, 1856, William Bringhurst called a meeting for the pin.- pose of "determining who considered, themselves missionaries to Las Vegas, for the time had come when the line must be drawn." He said that his opinion that Nathaniel V. Jones had ,misrepre- septed conditions at Las Vegas to President Young and that the course Jones was following would sooner or later break up the mission. The sympa- thies of some of the brethren were in favor of Jones while others were for Bringhurst. Before the meet- ing was concluded, all but three who had opposed President Bringhurst asked forgiveness and accept.. ed his leadership.- - But Samuel Thompson, Jacob L. Workman, and Eason Barney handed in their names as being against Bringhurstt On November 12 Elijah K. Fuller arrived at Las Vegas from Salt Lake with some information as to how the officials of the Church were regarding the trouble at the mission. He informed President Bringhurst that Brigham Young. would not hear had-t- o WhIt-- he the mission completely in favor of Jones. Fuller also stated that"President Young had released all the brethren from the mission who were back in tiNpsetilenients in consequence of that place not being able to sus-- , tam n more than three or four men." (14) Several the brethren expressed surprise that the Mornion leader should have believed Jones' report to the effect that,Las Vegas couldsupport only three or four men. . . A few days before the return of Elijah K. Full- er from Salt Lake, the decision was reached to con-1856 7, struct a church house. Each member of the mission April ' dollars for the con- was to be taxed thirty-eigh- t To all whom it may concern: of the tax to be paid struction of the bujiding,-mosThis is to certify that the bearer, Bishop in the form of cooperative work. William W. Riley Nathaniel V. Jones, is counseled to, forthwith was made chairman of the building committee. proceed with a company to the neighborhood of Samuel Thompson and his party were entirely the Las Vegas and to engage in manufacturing lead, and the said Bishop Jones is hereby emopposed to the idea of building such a house at that powered to call to his aid in the said manufac- ' time. The majority of the missionaries, expecting ture and transportation of lead, building of furthat Nathaniel V. Jane's would arrive in a few days ' with documents from Brigham Young authorizing naces, mining the ore, etc. Such persons as his the removal of William Bringhurst and the appoint- judgment and necessities may dictate, not only - Southernmissionartes, but others of the brethment of Samuel Thompson to the presidency of the ren in the Southern settlements, if need be. mission, pushed the building as fast as possible. (12) They felt that the completion of a church house BRIGHAM YOUNG. e viould assist greatry. in assuring the success of the e t letter ta the group at r- mission, of the house was de-- tipper-parreading had brethren wha asked the for Las Vegas, Jones signed to be used as a prayer circle room, for spirit- been called to this mission at the last April conual instruction, and (cr give the natives their endow- ference to assist him in working out the lead. Presiments." (15) Finally, after completing the. founda- reJones' with to refused comply dent Bringhurst ,tion and about three feet of adobies all around, the . .,quest for men to work in the mine, so the latter - brethren showed reluctance in performing a job decided to force his project by asking certain of the which theyfelt would never be completed, so the brethren directly to join him in mining. Those ask- work was given up. ed by Jones responded, he said, "cheerfully to the December 4, 1856, Nathaniel V. Jones arrived call." Necessary preparations were made for min- - - to continue his work in the lead mines.- - He brought , ing, and the group set off for their project, where a letter to Samuel Thompson from President Young 4, operation was commenced August 14, 1856. authorizing Thompson to take over the presidency Before leaving for the mine, President William of the mission. Jones also delivered William Bring- Bringhurst and Bishop Nathaniel V. Jones entered hurst a letter stating why he had been dropped from into much discussion and some quarreling. Finally the mission and disfellowshipped from the Church. , they decided to submit their trouble to President In conformity with the regular Mormon practice, Brigham Young by letter, August 4, in a letter to the majority of the missionaries readily submitted Bringhurst, .the Mormon Colonizer made the fol- to the authority of President Young in now accept- lowing reply-ing Thompson as head of the mission. Jones and his company proceeded to the mines We hat'e ippol riled Bother- Nathaniel V. with the equipment for smelting the ore. Little Jones of this city to take charge of this business . work had been .done while he was on hi S trip to (mining lead) and superintend ,,the whole mat-' Salt Lake. December 25 everything was ready to so that whatever is done we wish to have ter, It done under his direction. At the same time begin smelting. By greatdiligence 'and hard labor about nine thousand pounds of lead had been pro- we wish to have you render him all the assistduced by January 10. The yield had proven to be ance in team work and manual labor that you can and he can employ to advantage. (13) very disappointing, the mineral only yielding twenwere to his with Jones In the meantime, group ty thirty per cent. All who had seen the mineral of to out their before this date had over estimated its valproject opening deposit carry endeavoring the lead mines, while Bringhurst was trying to re- ue. An 'excessive amount of dry bone, black jack tain his followers asmissionaries to the Indians. and sulphur, which cttse. d much of the lead to Considerable difficulties were being encountered in burn up during the smelting, added to the fact that the mining project:Only-after-great deal-- of ef- provisions and food for animals had to be hatdod a in was fort constructing trail, were they - 230 miles and also Indian troubles , caused Jones expended able to take their pack animals up to the top of and his associates to finally abandon the lead mine ' . the high mountain where the lead was located. W:th as unprofitable. for the mules had to live upon weeks materials For hauled the six their great difficulty they furnace, except the adobes, about seven miles. Sep- three pints of oats each per day. No hay nor grass tember 10, 185G, they put the furnace in blast but was 'available. Their mules became so hungry that soon found that the material would not stand the they would eat rawhide, ropes, or anything that they were tied with with-th- e fire. So Jones decided that time and effort could exception of chains: Jones t:onbe saved by going to Salt Lake City and there reported that most of the Indians of that country structIng a bellows and blast furnace instead of ex- had collected at a spring, about three hours distance from them, with the determination 'of driving off perimenting at the mines, even if it would tate nearly 1100 miles' trip. September 15 the com- - the stock and killing The miners. He stated: he theLarrived The difficulties attending the working nf ber 1. to re- wag intheMormon capitil , the Indians,I did not consider main longer. Accordingly, on the 26th of Jan- he presented hiS version of the trouble at Las Vegas uary 1857, we left the mines for the Vegas. (16) betweenhimself and Bringhurst. Brigham Young After arriving at Las Vegas, chlas decided to suspend Bringhlost from office and dis --pan- were called together, talked to, and given presents. The savages, appeared to feel satisfied but only a few days later one of the chiefs came into the fort again and threatened to kill alloof the whites. .Nathaniel V. Jones and his associates explored the surrounding country for ott?er lead deposits but found none which they figured would pay for. the working. Finally they reached the conclusion to abandon the whole business of lead mining in that region. They left Las Vegas February 17; 1857, and arrived in Salt Lake City March 22. About a month . it-w- as 1 , - four-mul- - - e t - , . the-abov- e "as-th- - . -- a . , -- ne-Ces- -- y-lelLioratralce - While-Bishow-Jo- - nes , the-Indi- , , , an . ' -- After-examini- ' ' 'Church Deportment , The Heolbtilet BRIGHAM YOUNG . - . . , later Jones submitted his report to President young. (17) . , Thus the Mormons abandoned their project of lead mining around Las Vegas early in 1857. After that date they did not again attempt to reestablish their lead mining project in that district. Yet there is mention in the Mormon manuscripts of occasional ' at small partiea stopping-the lead deposits for a few - day and smelting small quantities of ore. In Feb- - ruary, 1858, William - H,Dame arid ten other Mor- ,mons from Parowan accompanied Apostle Amasa M...sLyman and company as far as Las Vegas. Five of the party built a small adobe furnace and front 300 pounds of ore produced 140 pounds of lead. Then Dame and his group returned to Parowan with the and his company continued on to San Bernardino, 'California. (18) Only five days after Jones and his associates abandoned the lead mines and left for Salt Lake City, President Thompson received a letter from Brigham. Young wItich gave the brethren who de-o- f sired to do so liberty to leave the mission. About a month later the majority of the missionaries left Las Vegas and returned to their homes in the Basin. With their, departure, the Latter-daSaint mission at was practically broken up. Yet, a few of the brethren 'concluded not to leave until they were released in a more formäl way. They figured that it was still their duty to remain and do all the good they could for the Indians, However, the entire abandonment of the mission was not brought about until 1858, the main cause being the coming of Johnston's army to Utah. At that time most of the distant settlers were called. to the Basin by Governor Brigham Young. Some of the Vegas missionaries were called to labor among the Indians on the Santa Clara, at which iniSSiOn there were about fifty missionariesat that time. At a conference- - held by the Santa Clara group September 26, 1858, the decision was reached to drop the Muddy and Las Vegas missions for the time being. During the summer. of 1858 the Momons continued to do what they could ta'. help the Indians at Las Vegas take care of their groups. Anoth-- : er reason given for the final abandonment of these two missions was: The missionaries were called in from the Muddy and Las Vegas missions, on account of the thieving dispositions of the Indians at those- places. Some of the Indians .were willing to -- work, but would steal everything they could get ' their eyes upon, and the Chiefs had no control over them. (19) It seems that the Mormons retained their claims Upon Las Vegas at least until 1868.- - At that (late there appeared an advertisement in a newspaper published at Saint George offering Las Vegas ranch for sale. The advertisement stated: The ranch is fifty-twmiles from the Colo- - rado River. The distance to Callsville is fifty-thre- e mile, the upper settlements on the Mud- dy fifty-thremiles, Eldorado Caty,,n, fifty-fivmiles, Mojave City 120 miles, and clardyville 114 miles. There is excellent sawing timber in the Charleston Mountains about twenty-fivmiles distant, the soil is a black, rich loam and will produce any kind of vegetables; there Is water to irrigate 400 acres of small grain and -range for 3,000 head of cattle. (20) 1. Deseret News, IT, 198. 2. Brigham Young, to Las Vegas Mission, Record of Las Vegas Mission, July 31, 1855, Ms. 3. William "Bringhurst Deseret News, July 10. 1855. 4. , George W. Bean to George A. Smith, In Record of Las Vegas Mission, December 11, 1855, Ms. 5 - John Steele , Smith , in ibid .. o. l Lasi-Veg- . o - e e e - . tober.IGe1855. December . 78: 11, IJbaiedo.. b w 1 8311. r torySe 9. 1133righbe t. Bean . to George a m bli it 10 ")8 Latter-da- y Ms. - A. - - - Smith , in ibid., r Saint Journal His: Young to the Bishops and Presidents beyond Cedar City, in Record of Las Vegas Ntis. ' April 14, 1856, Ms. 10. Record of Las 'Mission, Ms. Vegas 11 ; . SiOIL 109-11- 12 . 13. It ID. 16. Ibid., 110. Ibd . July . ' 7 . la56. Ibid., August 4, 1856. Ibid. November 12 1656 ., Nathaniel V. Jones to Brigham Young, 17. Ibld. 18. Latter-cla- y Saint Journal History, 1858 ' WI 19. Ibid , Septvither 26, 185R. 20. O. D. Cass, Our Dixie Times Latter-- - February April 15, 1868. 17, - - " |
