OCR Text |
Show PAGE 4 IfOnly The Hocks Could TeU iisl FROM PAGE 3 could not because there wasn't enough feed to sustain the animals required to haul the gold across the mountains. The decision was made to leave in the early summer, after the snow had melted from the mountain passes and the spring grass would feed the animals on the long trip to Mexico. The more sane among us argued that the mining should be stopped and the Utahs.be freed to assuage the Indians and perhaps make the task before us simpler. Alas, gold does many things to a mans mind, exerting an influence as predictable as strong wine. It makes no one wiser, lire mines stayed open for the glory of the church. AH silver would be buried in stashes. All the gold would be carried to Mexico --and that would include the gold that could be mined before we left. The lives of heathens could not be valued with the glory of the Church. Besides, they reasoned, the Utahs were no match for the guns and cannons we possessed. Despite their resolve to work the mines, mining parties from outlying areas were pulled in closer to the mission. The desire for gold had been tempered by the realization that there was a desperate need for every male body to prepare to for and make the trip. The risk of having small parties overwhelmed was too CONTINUED great. Rest assured, the concern was not with losing the lives of the men. The goal was to get gold to Mexico. It took men and animals to do that. The winter was long, but not cold. Snow piled up in the mountains to great depths, forcing many of the mines to close. Efforts were intensified in the mines that remained open. Because the rock and earth was so difficult to remove, the mines consisted of narrow slits into the earth, no wider than the vein of ore they followed. Fires were built against the face of the rock to heat it, then water was thrown on the hot rocks to shatter them so the ore could be removed and taken to the smelters. Those who were required to carry the water into the hot crevices and throw it on the rocks suffered greatly. Their lives were merci-ftill- y cut short by their exertions. I had never liked the work of the mines. In spite of the words of the padre and our leaders, I had seen enough of the Indians to know that they were feeling, intelligent beings. I could not find the gold enough motivation to ignore the sufferings of those who worked the mines. 1 considered myself fortunate to be assigned to watch over the herds during the winter. Many elk would come into the meadows south of the mission during the winter. Since the cattle we had would be used for food on our journey back to Mexico, many times during the winter I would hunt elk for meat. Often we would also find the sheep of the mountains and take them as well. As the parties moved back to the area of the mission, the demand for food increased greatly. I found the growing number of hunting trips to be a pleasant diversion from the monotony of a winter spent watching horses, donkeys and sheep. In spite of the urgency of the approaching evacuation, I could not help but be stuck by the beauty of the land. To the southeast, die land fell away into a huge basin. On clear days, we could ride to the east, to the ridge top, and see the tops of ridges many leagues away. To the north, the mountains rose sharply, their tree covered slopes a beautiful, rich tapestry of dark green against the lighter green of the aspens bordering the streams, all of it dominated by the snow capped, rocky peaks. It was a far cry from the desert I called home in Mexico. There was one spot north of the mission on the way to the mines that always captivated me. It was along the stream, a huge white rock cliff, with trees growing in pockets on the face of it. I always found a soothing sense of peace when I was there. Thoughts of home would dim as I watched the wind stir the leaves of the trees along the base of the cliff. While I seldom had time to spend there, my duties, at least in more peaceful times, had taken me by there often. I never tired of it. As spring approached, the Utahs, apparently advised of our plans, began stealing our horses and donkeys with frightening regularity. As the situation became critical, we were forced to build corrals of brush and to bring the animals inside them at night We lost so many pack animals, that it was decided to use carts to haul some of the gold. While it would make our movement slower, we would be able to carry more gold with us that way. With early summer, all of those who would travel south came to the mission. We numbered seven hundred and fifty souls. By circumstance steeped in irony, it was discovered that we had too much gold to take with us. There simply werent enough animals and carts to haul it. The awareness of the American, English and French trappers coming into the area resulted in very clever stashes of gold being made away from the mines so that it would not be easily found. Holes were dug along streams before the spring melt was heavy, so the gold could be hidden in them and the water would later cave the bank in and wash away all traces of the golds resting place. Small parties did the work so that few would know die locations. While the padres smiled and proclaimed this the Lords work and His gold, there was little trust among those who coveted the metal. At last die snow melted sufficiently to permit us to cross the mountains and all was ready for the journey. It was none too soon. Just two days ago, one of the Indian wives had left to visit her family. Her headless body came back tied to her horse. As I watched the first of die column leave the mission yard, I permitted my mind to wander to Mexico. I was tired of gold and die talk of gold. I hachrt seen my family in three years. I looked forward to looking into die strong, dark eyes of my father and eating again at my mothers table. While the journey would be long, it would not be without reward. The soldiers were to lead die column, followed by armed miners and die padres. The gold carts were to travel in the middle of the column, with die cannons that were counted on to keep die Indians at bay immediately in front and behind die gold. The women and children were next, followed by the herds needed to sustain us on the trip. A mounted guard would bring up the rear. I was mounted, assigned to watch over die herds at the rear of the column. The thirty men assigned as die rear guard sat solemnly cm their horses as die rest of us moved out ahead of them. We were scarcely out of sight of the mission when I looked back and saw smoke rising from the buildings. The mixed emotions of CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 MnUMMJW MdMNDM V PONTIAC V WE ARE DRIVING MCtruck. EXOTEVert GREAT SELECTION LOW OVERHEAD ProisISr BTfUnHCOft SMALL TOWN SERVICE 157 S 200 E, Roosevelt 435-722-51- 07 1525 W. Hwy. 40, Vernal 435-781-16- 00 |