OCR Text |
Show Celebrates Ninety-Second Ninety-Second Anniversary Pioneer of 1857 Talks With Vigor of the Days When He Crossed the Plains With Johnston's Army Although more than a score past his slotted three score and ten, and living on borrow time, as he calls lC John Andrews who lives on tho same spot where he built his log cabin in Logan over forty' years ago, is glad to tell a visitor of tho early days. Mr. Andrews was 92 years old on the 24th of February, but If he wore any one else, you would hardly be lieve It. Being John Androws, an Irishman, father of over half hundred chlldrdn, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, great-grandchildren, and tho custodian of Brlgham Young's garden for over three years, wo muBt know that he is all that he says he is and more. It is doubtful if among tho pioneers who are living today, there Is ono who has as interesting a story to tell, and who can tell It In as amusing a way as cafri ho. He was born In Ireland and worked (Continued on page five) Celebrates Ninety-Second Ninety-Second Anniversary Continued from page one. as a weaver In ono of tho small towns In that country. Ono night as ho was going home from work he heard soino ono talking In an alley. With Irish curiosity, ho groped his way down tho dark passago into the light. To him tills was a groping and n finding find-ing -tho light In two ways; he found the light of tho candle that enabled a rather young Mormon elder to read from tho Doctrine and Covenants; and when ho loft that place he was a convert to the religion which has brought him thousands of miles away from his home and relations, he being be-ing the only one of his family ever to embrace the Mormon faith. At the tlmo he joined tho church he was 19 years old. Six years later la-ter he left Ireland and went to live in Scotland. In 1850 ho came to America, Am-erica, having a very narrow escape In a ship wreck on the way. In describing de-scribing what happened the old gentleman gen-tleman grows very spirited. Tho masts wero blown away, he said era bis. ninety-second birthday in speaking speak-ing of this event and all tho grub got awful mixed especially tho molasses and oatmeal. Only ono man lost his life, and ono old lady had a black oyo. But wo got out alright; h steamer picked us up In about ten days. When It found us wo wero blowin back two weoks from whore wo woro wlien tho storm Btruck us. Traveled With Soldiers Ho worked In Pennsylvania until ho camo to Utah In 1S57. That was tho year that Johnston's army crossed cross-ed tho plains, and tho company that Andrew 3 was with travolcd with It until they reachod Fort Brldgcr. Ho says thoy enjoyed tho company of tho soldlors. On ono occasion ho saw n soldlor with ti coll of ropo and upon being asked what It was for tho soldlor sol-dlor replied that ho thought It was to bo used in hanging tho Mormons. Whcroupon ho was told that ho had better bo careful or tho Mormons might get hold of It and hang him. Of course, tho pioneer explained when ho had finished telling me, I think wo wero both joking. After nrrlvlng In Salt Lake City he was employed as a weaver. That winter ho Bald, I wovo over fifteen hundred yards of cloth and got twen-ty-flflvo cents for every yard. Now you can buy the stuff for half thht already mado. When spring came he went to work for Brlgham Young as a gardener. Brlgham was a fine metn, he replied on being asked his opinion. He was a regular father to us; he found work for the men whero thero was no work to bo found. He was the man that did most of the prophesying. Onco ho prophesied that the day was coming when states goods could bo bought cheaper hero than In the Btates. Then after he said it ho was afraid that' ho had said tho wrong tiling. But when tho soldiers left thoy sold their things for almost nothing. no-thing. I remember before that I took four sacks of flour down to Walkers storo, and pot a hundred dollars for them. Things wero dear thoso days. Not 1 ess interesting than Mr. Andrews is his wifo, who Is his fourth companion of this life's voyage. voy-age. Sho has buried two husbands and Is 82 years of ago. Llko hor mate, sho is a young person. As ho says, Yes, wo aro two pretty spry young chaps, In remarking how young thoy both felt pho sold: Yes, it Is pretty nlco for grandpa to hovo some young persons to tnko caro of him now when his eyes got tired as for sho roads Tho Doscrot Nows to him now when his eyes ot tired which thoy do much more readily than thoy did W wo first subscribed for that papor cr forty years ago. Descret Nows. |