Our Pioneer Boys. II

V y||^_ ,_, /; iiAiate^Mfe^ M^ki ''^^J^SvH^^^I El^^^ jHHh OUR PIONEER BOYS. BY SOLOMON F. KIMBALL. II. The first winter spent by the pioneers in Salt Lake Valley was a quiet one. The surrounding tribes of Indians were on their good behavior, as far as the new comers were concerned, although at war with each other. The victorious parties during such wars scalped all the warriors whom they captured or killed. Their cus- tom was to hang these scalps to their scalp-poles which they took great pride in exhibiting. The brave that could show the greatest number was considered the greatest Indian of them all. The young women and children were held as slaves, and sometimes treated in the most cruel manner. The red men were not long in learning that the Saints were a tender-hearted people, and could not witness such scenes without sympathizing to the uttermost with those who were being tortured. Among the first accounts given by the pioneers of this barbaric treatment is one found in Mary Ellen Kimball's journal from 1847-48, of which the following is a brief extract There were a number of Indians camped near the hot springs, north of the fort. They had with them a little girl that had been captured from another tribe. They offered to trade her for a rifle. Fire arms were scarce with the pioneers; besides, it was not good policy to arm these cruel savages who might at any time turn on those who had armed them. The Indians finally began to tor-

OUR PIONEER BOYS. 735 ture the little one, at the same time declaring they would kill her unless the rifle was forthcoming. One of our pioneer boys, Charles Decker, whose heart was wrung by witnessing such cruelty, very reluctantly parted with his only gun. He took the little girl home, and gave her to his sister, Clara D. Young. They named her Sally, and she lived in the family of Presi- dent Brigham Young until she had grown to womanhood. After- wards she married a noble and friendly Pauvante chief named Kanosh. She made him a good wife, and did much towards civil- izing him.He joined the "Mormon" Church and died a faithful Latter-day Saint. That winter several other pappooses were purchased under similar circumstances. The Indians lost no time in circulating the news; con- sequently the market was soon over-run with captive children. The redskins con- tinued to torture them in the presence of the Saints, and to put a stop to this unnecessary cruelty the pio- neers made great sacrifices, in order to purchase these innocent sufferers. Enoch Reese bought three, Presi- Viroque dent Woodruff, one. The Kimball family rescued three by purchase. In fact all lead- ing families that could possibly spare the means traded for one or more. Once in a while the big-hearted merchant, Thomas S. Williams, would load a pack train with Indian trinkets which he traded to the different tribes for captive pap- pooses. For a reasonable amount he sold them to the settlers. He presented to his daughter, Mrs. David P. Kimball, a handsome little girl by the name of Viroque She became a first-class house- . keeper, and, when grown, married a much respected white man, nd had one child by him. She was of the Piede tribe, located

736 IMPROVEMENT ERA. south of the Colorado river. William H. Kimball traded a horse for a little boy he named Dave. A year or two later, the child's mother, while passing through Salt Lake, happened to discover her long- lost child. She was so overjoyed at finding him that William's heart was touched, and he let her have her darling boy. In later years the lad became prominent among the people of his tribe and was the means of saving Mr. Kimball's life, while the latter was out in the mountains surrounded by hostile Indians. Dave finally became chief of his tribe, and is now living on the Indian farm in Dave Kimball, Age 61, and Wife.

OUR PIONEER BOYS. 737 Skull Valley. He still goes by the name of Dave Kimball, and never fails to visit the older members of the Kimball family when he comes to Salt Lake. The following is from President Brigham Young's journal, which goes to show how little regard the red men had for their slaves The Utah Indian Chief Walker died at Meadow Creek, January 29, 1855, of lung fever. His brother, Arrowpene, was made chief. When Walker was very sick he told his band to kill Pa-Utes and horses, thinking that would alleviate his suffering, but when he had killed two Pa-Ute children, he was not relieved. When nearly dead he told his people not to kill any horses or Pa-Utes at his death. After ten days illness, he died, and the Indians killed two Pa-Ute squaws, three children, a boy of twenty, and twenty horses. Walker's warriors built a stone wall around his grave, and put a pappoose inside of the inclosure to be a servant to the de- ceased chief after he had reached the happy hunting ground. The settlers, in that neighborhood could hear the child crying and moaning day and night until it died for want of food and water. They dared not go near the place, as such a move would probably have brought death to them all. The traffic in pappooses was kept up for a number of years. The Latter-day Saints finally con- vinced the Indians that the Great Spirit was displeased with them, on account of this cruel treatment to their captives, and the cus- tom gradually died out. Civilization was hard on these purchased children, and most of them died young, although a number, mostly males, are still living. The females made good housekeepers, and the males were quite industrious, doing their share of outside work. After they became civilized they naturally despised their own people. Most of them were honest and virtuous, but the boys loved "fire water." For several years after the pioneers arrived in the valley, the Indians camped on the hills just back of W. S. McCornick's resi- dence. When any one of their number died, they made the nights hideous with their yells, songs and moans. They hacked their limbs with knives and sharp rocks, torturing themselves in various ways. Their principal burying ground, in the neighborhood of Salt Lake, was just north and west of where the Lafayette school house is now located. Hundreds of skeletons were unearthed in that vicinity by the citizens who reburied them in a more suitable

738 IMPROVEMENT ERA. place. The Indians were very impudent, and stole almost every- thing they could lay their hands on, even packing off stray chil- dren, once in a while. The new comers had to use a great deal of wisdom and patience- to prevent the Indians from going on the war path. The authorities were continually warning the Saints against doing anything that would cause a rupture. There were two powerful tribes, in the north and east Bannocks and : Shoshones. On the east, south and west were the Utes, Pa- Utes,Goshe Utes, Weber Utes, Pauvantes, besides several other tribes Walker was the . first chief to declare war a- gainst the pioneers. The first skirmish took place dur- ing the spring of 1849, in Battle Creek canyon, just southeast of Pleasant Grove. Chief Kone, called "Roman Nose," lead the fight. Our boys soon routed them, kill- ing five of Walker's Indians, and never lost a man. Lieu- tenant William H. Kimball had the horn of his saddle punctured with a bullet, and several of the Minute Men had their horses shot from One of the Indian captives purchased by Titus under them. Billings, the pioneer of Sanpete Valley; now residing in Salt Lake City with V. L. Halliday For the next eighteen at whose home she has lived for thirty years. years our pioneer boys had plenty to do. First one tribe and then another would become hostile . Those were days of trials and treaties . These treaties were made in different parts of the territory, 'but most generally in Salt Lake City. When the chiefs came to the latter place, for i,hat purpose, they generally camped on the 16th ward square.

OUR PIONEER BOYS. 739 Sometimes, during: the early fifties, they camped on the vacant lot west of where the Gardo House stands. Dimick B. Huntington nearly always acted as interpreter, as he spoke the Indian language fluently, and was well liked by the red men. His house was generally crowded with Indians from one year's end to another. Those were busy and trying times for Uncle Dimick. The settlers had more trouble with the Utes, under Chief Walker, than with any other tribe. He was a terror to the Indians as well as the whites, and was always fomenting trouble. The following note from President Brigham Young to Chief Walker shows how hon- orable and patient the au- thorities were with this bl ood- thirsty savage, as well as with other rebellious chiefs: Great Salt Lake City, July 25, 1853. Captain Walker: — I send you some tobacco for you to smoke in the mountains when you get lone- some. You are a fool for fighting your best friends, for we are the best friends and only friends that you have in the world. Everybody else would kill you if they could get a chance. If you get hungry send some friendly Indians down to the settlements and we will give you Gebow and his Squaw. some beef-cattle and flour. If you are afraid of the tobacco which I send you, you can let some of your prisoners try it first and then you will know that it is good. When you get good natured again I would like to see you. Don't you think you would be ashamed? You know that I have always been your friend. Brigham Young. Many times our pioneer boys have taken their lives in their own hands while carrying such messages into the stronghold of hostile Indians.There were many honest and noble chiefs among the surrounding tribes. Among them were Washakie, chief of

740 IMPROVEMENT ERA. the Shoshones; Souiette,kingof the Utah nation; and Kanosh, chief of the Pauvantes. It was no unusual sight, in those days, to see Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and other leading men, sitting around in a circle with twelve or fifteen chiefs, smoking the pipe of peace. While the smoking was going on they would cross their Washakie— A Portrait Presented to G. B. Kelly and Herman Pfeiffer, Nov. 10, 1896, at Fort Washakie, Wyo., by the noted Chief himself.

OUR PIONEER BOYS. 741 legs, Indian fashion, as they sat on the grass. Hours would first be spent in going over in detail all important matters pertaining to their troubles. When they arrived at an understanding, an old- fashioned clay-pipe was brought forth and filled with tobacco. The smoking would then commence in earnest. The pipe was passed from one to another, and each one in his turn took several good whiffs. Before it had gotten around, they would have to re- fill it several times, as some of the red skins would keep it until they were almost lost in smoke. After the council of peace was dissolved, the gathering always wound up with a big feast which fre- quently took place on the 16th ward square, in front of Uncle Dimick's residence. A couple of beef steers were generally killed for the occasion, cut into chunks, and put into two or three large kettles. After the meat had been boiled, a couple of wagon Joseph Walker, Chief of the Utahs, and Arrowpene, his Successor and Brother. From the Liverpool Route.

742 IMPROVEMENT ERA. loads of bread, vegetables, and other eatables, were dumped out onto the grass. Then the pow-wow commenced. All the male Indians for miles around came together, and the feast lasted as long as any food remained. The chiefs would then return to their wigwam homes, with a broad smile on their faces that made the onlookers rejoice. The authorities would then send to the Indians' headquarters several beef cattle, some loads of flour, tobacco, calico, and trinkets of various kinds. Peace then reigned supreme, as far as that tribe was concerned, until they ran out of supplies. The war whoop came next, then another treaty, pipe of peace, big feast, more supplies, broad smiles, and so it continued from year to year. Salt Lake City, Utah. THE JOY OF LIVING. {For the Improvement Era.) 0, for the joy of living! When we learn to live the whole time, Content with our lot, with what it hath brought, As part of the plan sublime. Not indulging our joys for a season, Then plunging deep into despair; Concluding, perchance, in our dense ignorance. Some other hath more than his share. And reviling at fate that hath placed us Within such a circumscribed sphere; While others acquire all the heart could desire Of riches, and comfort and cheer. Nor wasting the time idly wishing For luck to come smiling our way. But striving to show how to live as we go, As if each were our very last day. Ah, how many live in the future And dream precious lifetimes away; Ever failing to see Now is Eternity, For the present is with us for aye, Then for the joy of living! To be right in the midst of things; And to labor, meanwhile, in a spirit and style, That will make of us priests and kings. Salt Lake City, Utah. LoN. J. Haddock.