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 concluded to play them a little game for this, for I knew when sober
the Indians were faithful to me, and I did not want another experience
of this kind. Wiley watched, and whenever an Indian approached I
would cover up--sick. We had a lot of trade, but I was too sick to do
anything. When they wanted to know what ailed me I told them my heart
was sick; that it felt so bad I could do nothing. This continued day
after day till the Indians became really uneasy, for fear I would die.
Finally, Tabby and others came and made me presents of buckskins and
beavers and begged me to forgive the Indians who had threatened me,
saying that if I would live and be their friend they never would say
whisky to me again. And if they ever got drunk they would go away to
the mountains and not come near me. I finally got well, much to their
joy. To show the danger I was in, a few days after this affair two
Indians were killed in a drunken row among themselves.
Soon after returning to the city Mr. Dodge seemed to change his
tactics. He informed me that it was his intention to order the Indians
back to the reservation at once; and that he would make me no promises
whatever. I told him the Indians expected something as there was
nothing at the reservation when they left except a little flour. The
most of the Indians from Uintah were now camped near Nephi. Mr. Dodge
went out there and preemptorily ordered them back to the agency.
Tabby told him they would not go back until there was something sent
with them as they would as soon die fighting as to starve. The Indians
had agreed with me that they would not fight but would hold out as long
as they could, but would give up and go back if pressed. I had been
forbidden to go among the Indians any more under penalty of arrest for
inducing the Indians to leave the reservation. I began to feel a little
uneasy when I heard now Tabby had talked, that he had forgotten his
promise to me. I tried to get permission to go and see the Indians,
offering to guarantee that they would go back peaceably if I could have
a talk with them, but was still refused the privilege.
The condition of affairs was telegraphed to Washington. Much excitement
prevailed. Many persons blamed me for getting the Indians into the
settlements, and some favored their being whipped back. A good many
sensational stories came from Sanpete, the Indians being accused of
many things they did not do. The telegraph operator of one of the
settlements was knocked in the head by some one. This was laid to the
Indians. It afterwards proved to be a white man that committed the deed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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