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
We were now in a country where our stock would have to be carefully
watched every night. Our custom was to feed grain, hopple the horses
and take turns guarding them through the night. It was my turn to go on
guard. The animals were eating their corn. Grass was good all around
the camp. The night was very dark, the brethren were singing. I got
interested in listening and delayed a few minutes attending to the
stock. When I went to take charge of them, they were all gone. I gave
the alarm.
One man remained in camp to keep up the fire and the rest of us spent
until midnight hunting, but nothing of our stock could be seen.
I went to bed feeling about as miserable as any one ever did. The
fault was my own. I had been very strict; so much so that some of the
brethren had felt hurt at times. I had been so careful of all our
outfit. Now I felt, after all my strictness I had been the one to lose
the stock.
Next morning we could see bunches of stock in every direction, but ours
could not be found.
At length Brother Ivins and my son found their trail and followed it
some ten miles. They were afoot and the trails showed that the animals
were being driven off, so the boys returned and reported. I went to
the station to see if I could get help. The commander said it was his
business to lend assistance and that he would do all he could for me. I
told him I wanted a good horse as I was a trailer.
The commander, myself and two others were ready in a short time. Orders
were given for five others to follow our trail, bringing water and
provisions. We went to our camp. I told the brethren that I would not
return without the stock.
The commander wanted to know of me how long I wished to follow the
trail. I told him until I got the animals or died trying. He said he
never left a trail as long as one man stayed with him.
The agreement was if I did not return, the brethren were to hire a
team, return to El Paso, and report to Brother Brigham.
As soon as we struck the trail the Mexicans decided that the animals
had been stolen by Apaches, as we could see plainly that there were
barefooted tracks along with ours. The trail was quite plain until we
reached a low mountain range. Here the formation was rocky and no trail
could be seen.
I had taken the lay of the country in the distance and picked out the
point where I was satisfied the animals would have to go. So, while the
Mexicans were looking for tracks, I made for this pass.
On reaching the summit of the rise the country opened out somewhat
level. I made a circuit and soon struck the trail. I was now alone, but
on calling the others heard me and soon came in sight. I started on a
gallop. One of the party, riding up, overtook and complimented me on my
ability to trail.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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