Show AT THE INDIANS MERCY TUCSON arizona august aist 1896 in april 1853 a party part y of emigrants passed through parowan carowan on their way to southern california and stole a verv fine pair of horses from a brother bratti knowing that they would have to camp for water at the iron springs about thirty miles distant a party ot of eleven men organized to follow them and recover the animals intending to come upon their camp the next morning about labout dicig daylight ht the bustle made in getting ready excited the curiosity of a couple of utah indians members of a large force ot of several hundreds of warriors under the great chief walker camped a summit creek seven miles distant with customary caution they did not ask any grown person what was the cause of the stir but inquired of a little boy he told them the party were going out to fight walker the utes hur bur ried to walkers camp and told him of the intended attack and he at once prepared to receive it in ignorance of all this the little party of eleven men armed with rifles accompanied by dr P meeks and samuel gould who were unarmed started out about sunset and on coming in sight of the indian camp dashed forward on the run yelling in true boyish style this convinced walker that he was about to be attacked as he had been told and his strat strategy y was worthy his great reputation as zing king of the mountains he and ammon his bis brother rode out to meet the advancing party and halted near a walk malt r ravine he began to talk and our little e party a arty clustered near to hear what was said while this talk was going on indians on horseback and on foot streamed forth on the right and left in an unconcerned manner as if to gather up their horses but soon began to circle around us even then we did not suspect anything but thought that they too simply wished to listen as we did but after a little while it was noticed that they were watching our party rather than walker and that they were drawn up in perfect order surrounding our party at a distance of about fifteen paces was a circle of about thirty warriors on horseback each armed with a rifle bow and quiver of arrows beyond this circle was another com posed of men on foot armed with bows and arrows and beyond them was still another circle of footmen armed with rifles while the little ravine was lined with dusky faces aces and rifle barrels walker vehemently talked in ute language which ammon who could speak english fluently interpreted from time to time walker asked why we were there at that time of day with guns in in our hands col J A little our leader told him we were going after some stolen horses walker said it was a lie we had lost no horses we had come to fight he was told he was mistaken we did not want to fight but had lost horses and wanted to get them back from the americanos America oos who had stolen them he said our place was to stay at our wicki ups and dig the ground and work and he became very much excited suddenly the indians all leveled and cocked their guns the bowmen stood with their murderous arrows ready to fly and the outer circle kneeling upon one knee leveled their rifles upon two sticks crossed to form a rest for their guns we were helpless not a man had his bis gun in position for use we wd were all huddled together in a compact heap and had they fired not a soul would have survived it is a ady very disagreeable thing to look down the muzzle of a loaded rifle with an angry indian at the other end expecting pec ting as we e did every moment to feel the crash of a bullet or worse still to be pierced through with arrows though expecting death my only fear was that of being wounded and then tortured but when ammon said again that the americanos had not taken the horses an inspiration came to col lit liv tle tie and he answered well then boys we ha had d better go home again at the same time riding through the ranks followed by all the party the indians seemed dazed fox foi a time and did not op pose the movement once outside the trap some wanted to fight but col little said no we must let the people at home know what is as going on and away we went fol followed lowee by a party pany ot of mounted indians in hot pursuit the time we made was excellent seldom beaten and paroman never seemed so beautiful as when we came near it and our pursuers turned back A council was called extra guards stationed and all went to work making bullets and preparing for defense indian spies reported our warlike preparations to walker and he at once took to the mountains with his band the council determined to send an express to acquaint governor B young with the affair and samuel lewis a son of bishop tarlton lewis volunteered for foi the service and in less than an hour was away on his perilous ride this ride of samuel lewis is worthy of remembrance as a feat seldom equalled equal led by a white rider in this country he went to salt lake city and returned a distance of over miles in ei eight bt days going mos most it of the way theoa through a wild mountainous country alone at a time when no one traveled elc except it an in companies anies strong eno enough u r h for d defense leaving out the time ge he spent in the city he averaged about seventy miles a day for eight days persons who have not ridden seventy miles day after day day cannot know what it means after we tle first day or two every bone and muscle inthe body aches intolerably and one can find no position to obtain an any eafe ace president young hurried aro brother ethe lewis back with orders to avoid all trouble or conflict as parowan carowan was too distant to receive any help by the time brother lewis returned to parowan carowan all was peace again mutual explanations explanation s had been made walker nayif saying that the emigrants had told him the cormons mormons armons would come and fight him and when he saw the boys coming on the run whooping and yelling he thought it was true we learned the em emigrants ig rants had said this to prevent a po possible sib I 1 e pursuit to recover the stolen horses elders C C rich and amasa lyman arrived in parowan carowan april aoth 1853 with a company of thirty mounted men caw under command of captain william W wall who had orders to be on oa the watch for either indians or mexicans mexica who it was thought meditated hostilia hos tili ties one of captain baota in W walls al I 1 s men a german who put on a abood good many airs wished to borrow a guitar to show a off I 1 his bis musical abilities As a joke dewi be aas referred to a man who made and sold tar i in broken english he asked if he be could get a guitar the dealer thought he wanted tar and said qaid yes I 1 have gavek it how much do you want the german somewhat mystified said he wanted only one P supposing he meant one gallon gallon ot of tar it it was brought to him 1 I dont donl want that I 1 want a guitar sold said the german well said adams a little nettled if you want to get tar tell me how bow much you want or go about your business explanations resulted in parti parting a g with mu mutual t ua I 1 disgust elder franklin D richards arrived in parowan carowan on july aoth with word that an indian war had commenced and a i man named keel had been killed at pay son and on august and 2nd col george A A smith with col W H kimball and thirty six men arrived with orders that all settlers living outside of forts must move in that para bour miles from carowan parowan and F Fort br twelve miles eibl bukunt ant must be abandoned Parag oonah had about twenty five families and was a flourishing placer place such as had log dwellings moved them to parowan carowan Pa rowan out but most of be them had good adebie dwellings wm win H dame having just completed a fine one costing all the adibi adebie homes were pulled down and the peo pea pie ale came to parowan carowan for refuge the families who lived at fort johnson went to cedar city six miles distant these orders were given because it was waft thought the settlers in thew their scattered condition could not so well defend them selves but it was a great loss to the those affected it was also ordered that U dry or range stock should be driven to salt lake city and if necessary the women and children should also betoken betaken be taken there A constant watch had to be kept over the naheed indians who though professedly friendly might at any favorable moment begin the work ol of destruction and death but apostle geoge A smith prophesied that if the people would be humble prayerful and obedient to counsel not a soul should be slain the people took him at his word and the prophecy was fulfilled to the letter for although men were many times placed in very dangerous circumstances not a soul was killed and the lord as at many other times in the history of the saints honored and sustained the words of his servant J H |