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
As I was so sure of going back when I left Devil's Gate I had left
my gun, saddle, a wagon that I had traded for, as well as a lot of
carriage springs that I had gathered up.
In these days there were many things thrown away on the plains that
were of value, and it was profitable to go back with teams and gather
up wagon tires and other things which had been abandoned. I spoke to
Brother Brigham about this. He said he wished me to stop in the city
long enough to help deliver the goods to the owners. Patrick Lynch and
myself were appointed to take charge of them.
I soon learned that strange stories had been put in circulation about
me. I was accused of stealing and hiding away thousands of dollars'
worth of goods. As there was no communication between us and the valley
how this started was a mystery, only to be accounted for by men's
imaginations. So strong was the belief in my guilt that about the time
the reformation was at its height in Provo, a teacher came to visit my
wife, telling her that she ought to leave me and marry some good man. I
could give the name of the teacher, but he is now dead so I will spare
his memory. My wife answered, "Well I will not leave Daniel Jones. I
cannot better myself, for if he will steal there is not an honest man
on earth." I always appreciated the answer.
One family who I will also spare as _they_ are not yet dead came to
search my house for stolen goods but did not find any. They professed
to be very sorry for having come. My wife treated them with perfect
civility; no doubt they were ashamed of themselves and are to this day
when they think of the indignity. While delivering their goods I was
often accused of having robbed people. The goods formerly spoken of
being divided to _cache_ were never replaced and I had to bear the blame.
Again, before the trains had stopped in the snow-storms, so I was
informed by some of the brethren who stayed at Devil's Gate, there had
been a number of heavy boxes emptied, the goods stuffed into sacks and
the boxes broken up for firewood. The owners of course looked in vain
for their boxes. Many sacks of goods remained at the Tithing Office
for a long time before being identified by the owners of the goods. I
believe the most of these articles finally got where they belonged.
But in the meantime I was "Paddy Miles' boy," who had done all the
mischief. Brother Lynch felt so indignant that he reported these
accusations to President Young when I received the following letter:
"President's Office, Great Salt Lake City,
"June 11th, 1857.
"_To the Bishops and Presidents in Utah_,
"BELOVED BRETHREN:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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