Show excitement marks history of kanab monuments ants mark some historic spots at the entrance to kanab by rose H hamblin just after entering the city of f kanab from the north by way 89 travelers come tob monuments this is one of va ra nabs historic places one monument marks the site where the old kanab fort once stood the other is erected in honor of jacob hamblin mormon indian scout and missionary who took an active part in quelling indian uprisings and also in the colonization of this region the old fort was a foot inclosure which once stood near the banks of a small willow lined stream of water in 1883 a terrific flood tore down the canyon and swept everything be before f ore it leav leaving ing nothing but the great gaping wash one sees today history however records many interesting and thrilling hap capri 0 ings which were enacted at place during the forts existence it was built between 1867 and 1868 and added to in 1870 by early pioneers it was first used by men f from rom dixie who were sent here to guard the eastern frontier and also as a refuge for friendly indians one incident which took place in 1867 while a small guard of 0 men from dixie and friendly piute diute indians were living at the fort is recorded as follows one day an indian living at the fort left to gather grass seed and to hunt rabbits he had previously ordered his squaw to follow him with the camp outfit as he expected to be gone several days however his squaw did not go the next day the indian returned and on seeing the squaw as he reached the fort raised his gun to kill her this he would have done had not johiel mcconnell one of the settlers interrupted him and wrenched the gun from his grasp this infuriated the indian to a frenzy and he swore he would kill mcconnell before another sun the indian was bound placed in a cabin and guarded by other aiutes and old jack indian the medicine man of the tribe gotaut got out in the middle of the fort and with fantastic gestures and loud talk tried to quiet the frenzied indian it took many hours however before the threats and mutterings rings of vengeance ceased johiel mcconnell who was with two other settlers in a cabin on the other side of the fort was also guarded in the morning the indian was calmer he sulked for several days but did not attempt to h haf mcconnell J many indians living at the fort at this time grubbed brush and planted crops under the direct direction ioa of jacob hamblin these indians received rations furnished by the mormon church on one occasion navajos cavajos from across the colorado who had come to kanab to trade were invited to the fort A powwow pow wow was held and the pipe of peace smoked the pioneers furnished the tobacco and the indians the pipe december 14 1870 a terrible tragedy occurred in the northwest corner of the fort A fire broke out in which a wife and five sons of bishop levi stewart were burned to death this sad affair darkened the lives of the pioneers pione ere for some time and as a men memory edo to the victims of the school house was erected on the spot where the fire occurred |