Show 7 $tiaity --- Itbe Dalt gakt rtlitittne iuly 6'1941) i 60E44 IMMO ':! i ire 4 Ent IMES t 1111 MIN Ire tall an - oal '11111 SO : roM - N711 11Z0111111 911111111 —gi4a Wit I MIL ' ow gig 11111 monsigsmormg ali Iliposommosse ":21414 Alt: 't lows -- Aosti loomongewp 0 )311 S e a 9'4 "'1t4 10 04 IN 6 ke ) 7'$ 6 1 Ir 1 v1ffl i ig 67:" ? b '' - 1 1k 4 '44 '5koa--:- - ::-!- I:: ko4‘ -- ' f V' 411ftlwA -- 0 'V )': '''111 4r - fi At left the Utah guide book a volume of some 600 pages cove ring in de1all the history growth geography and industry of the state The Utah Writers' Project of the WPA compiled the work from total of IS million words At the right originally written artist's conception of Indians the last of the buffalo in Utah According to the Utah State Historical society whose property the picture is the approximate time is 1825-3- 0 do not speedily defend ourselves the Yankees will reap all the advantages of our discoveries" Peter Skene Ogden brigade leader for the H B C set out from Flathead post in December 1824 taking with him unwillingly the Americans under Jedediah Smith Their southeastward progress through the snowy mountain valleys was slow and not until May of 1825 did they reach f 4 ti Bear river Trappers of the British Northwest company who had visited the river in 1818 had thought the Bear "to be the Spanish river or Rio Collorado" (the Green) "but" wrote Ogden positivelyt"it is not" Here a band of 40 Shoshone Indians informed them that 50 Americans bad wintered on the river and had returned home without taking many beaver This was the party with which Jim Bridger had come into Cache valley during the autumn of 1824 and from whose encampment In settling a bet he had floated down Bear river to discover Great Salt Lake 4 k 4 ' ee t t ' i -- ago 1 - 1 i t ' Editor's Note: The following extremely intereatingarticie was written especially for The Tribune by the Utah Writers' Project Of the W P A of It coven a period In the colorful history of Vtah--Lth- at the white men who came to Utah before the Mormon waxon trains of the late 1340's and 50'a Thls is the first of two parts i little-publiciz- ed 11 - ' By the 'Utah' Writers' Project W PA ' Spaniards came here first conquistadore and padre Then the swarthy Mexican trader trafficking in Indian slaves Americans tliinbed to the Rockies and pursued the beaver on every stream warring with the men south out of Hudson's Bay company posts of the British Explorers In the blue trappers followed quickly nor were guided by buckskin-cla- d government obstinate emigrants with their white-toppe- d prairie schooners far behind It is an exciting story Utah's "beginnings before the beginning" and we know more of it today than was ever known by Brigham Young and his aids' In 1540 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led north from Mexico a powerful of Cibola their golden treas expedition to wrest from the fabled Seven Cities east 'through Arizona New and marched north vain the In tires conquistadore Mexico and Texas to the Great Plains as far as Kansas the shining cities existed in legend only But during the summer of 1540 while he lay resting at Zurd he dispatched north and west a company of conquistadores under Captain Garcia Lopez de Cardenas The captain made his way through Arizona's Painted Desert to a mighty canyoned river to which ke could not descend and Inhospitable and: certainly lackhe returned to report a desert land savage In cities golden ing IA 1776 the Franciscan friarsSilvestre Velez de Escalanto and Francisco Atanirsio Dominguez came north trot Santa Fe -with a company of eight men to find an overland route to the California coast- Slowly they made their way Junction of White' river up through western Colorado entering Utah near the with the present state line and thence traveling south and west along the southern slopes of the U'inta mountains and through the Wasatch mountains Spanish Fork canyon to Utah valley Overcomby way of Diamond Fork and Indiant "Yuta" the their inhabiting the valley received the priest shyness ing that with "such wonderful gentleness and willingness to receive our proposals" more return "with more priests and they were told that the priests wotild of it" Spaniards so that afterwards they should not repent western foothills of the The Spaniards found their way south along the Wasatch range and in October encamped on the Beaver river decided that they should try to return to Santa Fe—they had found no promising route to - California and winter snows were setting in They descended Ash creek crossed the Virg'ut river east of St George and wandered in the badlands to the east for many days before finding at last a crossing of the Colorado a mile east of the old Ute ford which has mistakenly come to be called "The Crossing of ' the Xathers" They completed their Journey back to Santa Fe on January 2 Escalante may have 1777 five months and five days after their departure hoped to establish a mission among the "Tutu" but the hope was never red-flagg- 4 ed ' ' - 4 ' - ' realized Spanish adventurers followed In his track These were not explorers but traders who lived among the Utes for months at a time gathering furs and skins--- The route to Utah valley through! the wanderings of these men became well known In 1805 Manuel Mestas followed Uto horse thieves to central Utah recovering 17 horses and mules--: Again In 1813 a trading expedition of seven men led by Mauricio Arze and Lagos Garcia traveled to the Sevier river When according to their story they refused to buy Indian slaves the Utes fell upon them slaughtering eight horses and a rnule After this period Spanish and Mexican trading in Indian slavery brought many obscure parties Into Utah' and until the time of Mormon entrance into Utah's valleys—even until 1853 when Mormon prosecution of these slave traders put an end to the practice—the slave trade flourished More exciting events attended the operations of British and American fur traders in northern Utah In i822 General William' U Ashley had advertised in a St Louis newspaper for "enterprising young Men" who would ascend the Missourt river to its source to trap furs- Ashley's Companies experienced two disastrous years on the Missouri before abandoning that river for the broad shallow Platte His parties -thrust on to the Rockies And in 1823-2- 4 crossed South pass and found theft- way into the great interior basin The legend accredits with Intrepid Methodist Yankee Jedediah S Smith whom sevenmen north Into took' hand in one other Bible 'the and in rifle carrying y and thence west to the Snake waters They found the their way way to Flathead post the outpost of the powerful British Hudson's C authorities: "If ws Bay Company in Montana to the ' disrany of the H - -- ' Jackson-Hole-countr- a Now Ogden separated from Jedediah Smith the latter ascending Bear river in search of his compatriots while the British leader continued on down the stream which he found "discharged into a large lake of 100 miles in length" Ogden's instructions bad been after reaching the Beer to hunt westward toward the sources of the Umpqua river his superiors imagining that the Oregon river rose in the mountainous country in what now is Ne vada On May 23 they fell in with "a party of 15 Canadians and Spanjards headed by one Provost and Francois an Iroquois chief who deserted from our party two years since" Amazed at meeting these men Ogden was still more "surprized" when informed that they had come from Taos in New Mexico which lay south only "15 days march with loaded horses" The "Provost" Ogden mentions was Etienne Provost who evidently had come- up the mountain valleys from the south giving 1tiis name "Proveau's Fork" to the Jordan river in his passage Almost immediately thereafter Ogden stumbled on a third party headed by Johnson Gardner another of' Ashley's followers Gardner camped a hundred yards from Ogden's camp hoisted the American flag and announced to Ogden's trappers that they were in American territory and whether indebted or engaged to the Hudson's Bay company were now all freed from their obligations Actually the two companies were on Oregon or Mexican soil and Gardner was running a bluff but the H B C bad been underpaying its trappers in the Snake country and they were eager for any opportunity to rebeL The following morning Gardner came to Ogden's tent informing his rival that as he was in American territory and had no license to trap there be should clear out at once "When we receive orders from the British government to abandon the country we shall obey" Ogden said coldly An Iroquois follower of Ogden spoke up sullenly "All the Iroquois as well as myself have long wished for an opportunity to join the Americans and if we did not the last three years it was owing to our bad luck in not meeting them Now we go and all you can say or do cannot prevent us" "You have had these men too long - 4 40- A t T AF40 N $4011 1ce' ti': ' 4—tegor ' ' ' I ' I ek y i 1 ::':' : Y ''' i 4 :::: ' ' '::: : 'i' '''' ::':' :f:::::i:i::::7 - 7: " : t -- V I : 1 AP 71A leer: -- '" — 4"""7114401 757 " ' P::i'w ! :I 7t ' -7 4doldofr' c 1 ""legoit4 7777777 :: : A:'1 4) "4t- 3 e - potb41100001 "16 - AllOre111'"646141""' '4 'e- 1 —r t ) '' " i ::' '':4' 4 t 4 4 0 - - - 1 - 'l ''': z tii to California At San Diego be was arrested by the Mexican authorities but was finally given permission to return the way he came Instead after journeying back a few miles he turned north along the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas wintering in In May With central California a te e t aside his arms and allow ing property of the company through the night At daybreak they pre- - 4: his mrn to follow his example they pared to leave this unfortunate rthen fo rmed a circle by sitting' which tradition places in discriminately in a ring and Two more men de- - It menced The ceremony during which :valley serted with their furs aided by ! k's at a preconcerted signal the Indians fell upon them and commenced the the Americans who "like all vii tains appeared to exult in their vil- work o4 slaughter with their knives Itiny"- - As Ogdents remaining 20 ' which they had concealed under their vibes and blankets PrOveaw loyal followers mounted their horses Gardner came forward: "You shall k a very athletic man with difficulty "extrictited himself from them and shortly see us in the Columbia andthis fall at the Flatheads and Koote3with three or four others alike for- pais We are determined you shall ' succeeded in making his no longer remain in our territory" scam the remainder of the party 15 were all massacred" Ogden gave him glare for glare: "When we receive orders from our General Ashley himself came west in thei Winter of 1824 arriving on government we shall obey but not before" the Green river in present Wyoming "Our troops will reach the Coearly 4n 1825 After designating a lumbia this fall and make you" place hi general rendezvous for his Gardner promised perhaps by now :men eh' Henry's fork he undertook convinced by his own story vbyite of exploration down the Disdaining a reply Ogden rode tGreen !finding his way perilously off He considered himself fortue& can-- I hitrougli Flaming Gorge nate to have been able to keep his and Split Mountain canyon into the Uintah basin Deciding to 13temper believing the Americans were goading him to fire first 'reend the Duchesne river on his rewhereupon they should have had - turn 411p to the rendezvous he an excuse for making an end to his 7acht4 his goods at the mouth of that stream and made a further ex party "But I was fully aware of their plan and by that means saved 'ploration down the Green: perhaps what remains finding myself then As far as present Greenriver before with only 20 trappers left of the Awning back on horses purchased That violent party surrounded on all sides by from the Indians enemies I resolved on returning to mountilin country appalled him the Snake river" The search for "The :sriver is bounded by lofty the sources of the Umpqua was given :mount4ns heaped together in the up as most injudicious even were greatest disorder exhibiting a stirhis party not weakened dangerously ' face as barren as can be imagined he should if successful in finding a This pa 'Ft of the country is almost new route to the Columbia only be entirely without game" He found his way west through opening a way for the Americanf Until 1828 when he came out of Ithe 11intah basin circled tbe Uinta 'rnountitins by way of Kamas prairie Oregbn to discover the Humboldt river Ogden did not again venture to the rendezvous on sand retiarried i south beyond the Oregon boundary He then took back lienry's-- fork His superiors in the Hudson's Bay to St'thuis the furs that had been -company disconcerted by his expegathered in the winter and spring rience ordered sweeping changes next year he came west In the conduct of the H B C affairs Oigain this time as far as Great Salt in the Snake country but under the 'flake where in August 1826 he sold out to three of his employes---JedediaImpression that Ogden had been trespassing into American territory Smith David Jackson and Wildid not demand damages of the : 3iam LSub1ette United States government for the ! Nome Tedediah Smith embarked virtual piracy of Ogden's furs On a series of strenuous adventures The Utah country was thus abanmen he set out from the doned by the British to the AmeriGreat Silt lake rendezvous over the can trappers The Ashley men unknoWn country south to Califor quickly made of it a second 'wildersnia the Spanish and MexioanS had ness home but not without a great tome West as far as central Utah deal of violent adventure Warren but none had ever carried through A Ferris who came to the mounEscalante's plan of finding a route tains in 1830 relates what happened :west across the deserts to Califorto Provost's party in 1825 and apSotithwest and west Smith prothe site of Salt Lake ceede44 Beyond "little Uta lake" parent'' near was among the Snake he saw no more "buffalott" and' only City There Indians Ferris says "one evil genius a few antelope and mountain sheep called the 'Bad Gocha' (mauvais He ascended the Sevier and descend- one) who !ed much of the Virgin Which he gauche—bad Called Adams river for President fell in with a party of trappers led mountaineer Mr John Quincy Adapts Finding his by a well-knoHe invited the whites E Proviau way to the Colorado he continued to smoke the calumet of peace with west by way of the Mojave desert him Nit insisted that it was contrary to his medicine to have any metallic near while smoking Proveau knowing the superstitious whims of the Indians did not hesiin-ca- mp corn-Cac- he two men seven horses and two mules he Weed Ai passage of the snow-chokSierras and in a 20- across Nevada deserts day journey: arrived back at Great Salt lake in a starving condition "The Salt lake a joyful sight was spread before us" he writes in his journal "Is it possible said the companions of my sufferings that we are so near the end of our troubles? For myself I durst scarcely believe that it was really the big Salt lake that I saw It was indeed a most cheering view for although we were some distance from the Depo yet we would soon be in a country Where we would find game and water Which were to us objects of the greatest importance and those which would contribute more than any others to oui comfort and happl- ness "Those who may chance to read this at a distance from the scene may be surprised that the sight of this lake surrounded by a wilderness of more than 2000 miles diameter excited in me those feelings known to the traveler who after long and perilous journeying comes again in view of his home But so it was with me for I had traveled so much in the vicinity of the Salt lake that it had become my home ed - f k i the wilderness" of With his wearied followers Smith circled the lake crossing the Utah outlet (the :Jordan) about a mile above its mouth He made a raft of cane grass for his things and he and his mert swam across with the horses reaching the shore only with great difficulty being "verry much strangled" "We were verry weak and worn down with suffering and ! fatigue" Jedediah writes "but we thought ourselvei near the termination of our troubles" On July 3he arrived at the trappers' rendezvous on Bear lake "My arrival caused a considerable bustle in camp for' myself and party had been given up as lost A small cannon brought up from St Louis (the first wheeled vehicle to enter Utah) was loaded and fired for a salute" (To Be Concluded Next Week) left-hand- ed 'i Ye :'::1:1' ' :As wn Two men who played prominent parts in Utah a century or more ago were Jim Bridger in Oval and Joseph Walker right The latter Led :party to California in 1833 I -- V 4' "IL under orders of the famed Captain Below is artist's drawBonneville of rendezvous between trap a ing of and Indians AR the pen period three pictures courtesy of Utah State Historical society a It t re t A iamotta:asaSe1041abitidillutikilliiilki v U- e I t :r in your service" Gardner burst out hotly "and have most shamefully Imposed on them treating them as slaves selling them goods at high prices and giving them nothing for their furs" "It's all true!" the Iroquois inter rupted "They are the greatest villains in the world and if they were here I would shoot them As for you sir you have dealt fair with us all but we now are in a free country and have friends to support us and go we will and if every man In the camp does not leave you they do not seek their own interest!" the Iroquois away Breaking roared orders for the camp to arise "A scene of confusion" as Ogden relates now ensued Gardner and the Americans advanced to assist all who were inclined to desert A previous deserter shouted orders to fire on the British and pillage their fur packs but Ogden stood fast' Nevertheless "we were overpower'd by numbers" Ogden writes "and the greatest part of these villains escaped with their furs" The H B C leader rallied his most trusted men to defend the remain I ::41171" 't-- - is an killing 10 t' '' ':' '" t t ''p l!rkt - !!t!b- 7- St27:0:':70qr 7! t"'":"'101P3V 8'r 404bar74 '4o0ii41644411!KA0444VO40141: 2 e r t: "' 40P0A t:16 7 ' 4K '111146!1)111:114 ? 1 )1 744 44 t v e k !" 7 "r4°'--' Ar4L r 1 rA - - :- :'' " "e-A-7-411-?'' 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