President Brigham Young’s Excursion Party. IV

President Brigham Young's Excursion Party. BY SOLOMON F. KIMBALL. IV. When the company arrived at the Sevier river, near the place where Captain Gunnison and party were massacred in 1854, they met a large company of cavalry from San- pete valley who had come as guards pre- pared to escort them through the rough, hilly country. They reached Manti on the morning of September 26, 1864. A strong guard having accompanied them all the way from Fillmore. Many "Min- ute men" were scouring the country in every direction in search of hostile Indians, and the excitement was at a high pitch. Meetings were held at Manti in the morning and afternoon. The speakers were John T. Caine, David 0. Calder, Lewis Rob- inson, Hamilton G. Park, and Leonard Rice, who was President Young's teamster. A grand ball and banquet were given at night, but the majority of the company went to rest early, preparatory to three days hard journey before them. On the following day the party visited nearly every settlement of consequence in RICHARD J. TAYLOR H. S YOUNG

ELLA YOUNG EMPEY. Sanpete valley, arriving at Mount Pleasant just in time to sit down to a public supper. This event caused more merriment than any one thing thajfc had happened dur- ing the whole trip. After the com- pany was comfortably seated at the table, and the blessing had been asked, a concealed string band began playing the "Highland Fling" with considerable vim. This undreamed of occurrence caused quite a stir among the hungry excursionists. However, they soon caught the spirit of the joke, and began to keep time with the music, as they partook of the good things before them. To add fuel to the fire of fun that was already raging, that wide-awake Scandinavian band turned loose on the "Sailor's Hornpipe" with full head on. This was crowding things beyond human endurance, and to give vent to the occasion, Sarah Alexander, the noted ballet dancer, scarcely through with her dinner, lightly tripped into the middle of the floor and danced as graceful a hornpipe as was ever witnessed in Sanpete county. The younger members of the party were not slow in following, and then the fun began in earnest. From the Phil Margetts end of the room could be heard, above the deafen- ing din, a song for the occasion, in the chorus of which everybody joined. The dance and feasting went on until every- body was satisfied, when President Young, who probably was the silent orig- inator of this amusing affair, took his lady by the hand and went marching out of the room, keeping time to the music as he went. His good- natured company went dancing along behind him with smiles that SOLOMON F. KIMBALL. JAS. T. LITTLE.

PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG'S EXCURSION PARTY. 509 lingered long after they reached home. The kidnapped brass band played "Hail Columbia, Happy Land," "In Dixey Land We'll Take Our Stand," and several other soul-stirring airs; then bade farewell to their traveling compan- ions and returned home via Salt Creek canyon. They were as jolly a lot of fel- lows as ever lived, and did more than their share towards making President Brigham Young's excursion party a grand success. Here let me present a letter from H. F. McCune, one of the three surviv- ing members of the band, dated Ogden January 2, 1911: Dear Brother: — I am very pleased with your article in the January, 1911, number of the Era, entitled, "President Brigham Young's Excursion Party," more especially as I was one of the party, being a member of the Nephi brass band, or the kidnapped brass band, as you are pleased to term it; and thinking you would like to have a roster of that band for publication, as you have of the main body of the party, I herewith give you our names, and the instrumental list: John S. Hawkins, captain, clarinet; Henry F. McCune, piccolo; William Worwood,cornet; Gustave Henriod, cornet; Thomas Midg- ley, ophicleide; James B. Darton, slide trombone; John Andrus, slide trombone; Henry Henriod, snare drum; Charles Sperry, bass drum; and Israel Hoyt, teamster. Seven of the above members formed an excellent orchestra, which played for all the parties during the trip. It consisted of three violins, clarinet, piccolo, cornet and bass, Charles Sperry being the leader, with George Wardle, prompter. There are but three of that brass band now living; namely, Charles Sperry, of Nephi; William Worwood, of Boze- man, Montana; and myself, of Ogden. With kindest regards, and best wishes for a prosperous new year, I remain your brother, etc., H. P. McCune. The company arrived at North Bend, the last settlement in

OSCAR B. YOUNG. the valley about dark. There were but few houses here, hence nearly all the men slept wherever they could find shelter from the storm that raged all night. The next morning at daybreak the party made another start. By this time it resembled more a military expedition than a pleasure party. There were four hundred and seventeen men in line, three hundred and seventy-seven of whom were mounted on good horses, and "armed to the teeth," as the saying goes. Span- ish Fork canyon, through which they were about to pass, was where the hos- tile Utes would naturally have attacked the president's party, hence so many armed men. The company arrived at Springville, at 6:30 a. m., and drove home the next day, a distance of sixty miles. When they arrived at Gardner's mill, on Big Cottonwood, they met Presidents Heber C. Kimball and Daniel H. Wells at the forefront of the finest turnout that ever greeted a "Mormon" presidential party. It seemed as if all the people in Salt Lake county were in line: companies of cavalry, state officers, county officials. There were the city fathers, brass and martial bands, priv- ate citizens, and every- body who could muster an outfit. And how they made the dust fly from then on until they reached President Young's residence on Brigham street, at just 5:15 o'clock p. m. Here the company disbanded, going to their several places of abode, congratulating themselves that they had enjoyed the time of their lives. The following is a concise statement of the main points of GEORGE D. WATT. CHARITON JACOBS.

PRESIDENT BEIGE AM YOUNG'S EXCURSION PARTY. 511 ELVIRA F. KIMBALL. the trip as dictated, to Reporter Watt, by President Brigham Young, on his return home: September 1, 1864, at 9:45 o'clock a. m., the president's party left Great Salt Lake City to visit the southern settlements. We were absent from home twenty-nine days, traveled upward8 of eight hundred miles, visited thirty-seven settlements, held thirty-nine meetings, and de- livered one hundred and twenty-four discourses. There was no formal organization in traveling. Ever person knew his place and duty. Not a murmur of discontent, unhappiness or fault- finding occurred to ruffle the continued peace that prevailed throughout the whole journey. The teachings were rich in counsel, and, if observed, will bring to the Saints spiritual as well as temporal salvation. The Holy Spirit was enjoyed by every honest heart, which greatly strengthened them in their faith. The receptions given the president's party, evidenced the universal con- fidence and good will of the Saints throughout the southern part of the territory. The visit was made a time of public feasting and rejoicing. The school children were out, headed by their teachers, giving their joyous bows of wel- come as we passed. Young men and maidens said, "Welcome, Presi- dent Young and company." The stalwart farmers, mechanics and lumber-men ceased for a time their labors, to join in the general rejoicing and merrying-making. Even the aged veterans bared their silvered heads in token of welcome and respect. Companies of horsemen and bands of music, with colors flying, came out to greet us. In some instances platoons of handsome young ladies, all dressed in white, met the company and escorted it to their homes. It would be no easy task to say too much in praise of the brethren who composed the Salt Creek brass band. They were ready on all occa- SEYMOUR B. YOUNG.