Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the nativesJones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
History
Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the natives
Jones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.); Indians of North America; Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Biography
I did not agree with the idea of the Indians. The present agent had not
been long in position, and from what I knew and had heard about former
agents, he was not nearly so bad as some of his predecessors. In fact
I believed him capable of making a very good agent when once posted on
the duties of his office.
My interests were entirely centered on doing the best for the Indians
I possibly could, also that the people would be relieved from their
depredations.
The furs and skins that I had bought from the old trader amounted
to some twenty odd hundred pounds. The ground was now bare for some
seventy-five miles; the snow being still deep for about the same
distance. I bought a wagon and team from the trader, loaded all up and
pulled up to the snow region, where we turned the team out, loaded up
our dog sleds and, by making an average of three return trips, moved
our whole load six miles each day. Our dogs were fed mostly on beaver
meat, caught by trapping in the streams along the route.
On nearing Provo valley I went ahead to get teams to come out and meet
the dog train a few miles from Heber City. It took two light wagons
to contain our load. We made the trip down Provo canyon and camped
one night near American Fork. I had been from home longer than was
expected; there were no means of communication and I felt very anxious
to get home as I believed my family would be uneasy about me.
At that time the terminus of the Utah Central was at Draperville. I
started out early in the morning on foot to make to the train by 8
o'clock, some eight miles distant. I had been working on snow shoes for
most of the winter; I was now on good dry road and was wearing Indian
moccasins. I was feeling well and in good trim, so I had but little
fears of making the distance in time.
After traveling a short distance I heard a wagon approaching. On
looking around I recognized a gentleman who had always professed great
friendship and interest in my labors among the Indians. It occurred
to me that I would see if he would ask me to ride without my making
the request. He drove by without turning his head. I made up my mind
that although he was driving a nice fine traveling team, to beat him
into the station. This I did. He drove quite fast, but I kept in sight
of him all the way, passing the team about a mile before reaching the
station.
As I went by he spoke to me, saying he had not recognized me before.
I replied that I was in a hurry and could not stop. One of his horses
suddenly failed, causing them to halt. This friend (?) probably never
passed a footman afterwards without thinking of the circumstance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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