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
The charge was read and considerable testimony given. In the charge the
price of the ox was demanded. No effort was made to oppose this, but it
was acknowledged and offered to be settled. At length Bishop Miller,
the president, stood up and motioned that the charge be sustained.
This aroused me. I replied to the Bishop's motion in an excited and
insulting manner, so much so that he motioned that Daniel W. Jones
be cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for
insulting the Priesthood.
I replied, "You hold on; you cannot do it."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean I have had my say; I am done. Now you have yours, and whatever
you require of me I will do. But I will not be cut off from the Church
even if I have to acknowledge to the charge."
Here Joseph Clark asked permission to speak. He said he did not think
the charge was sustained by the evidence; some others spoke the same.
Finally Bishop Miller said to the clerk, "Read the charge again." On
hearing it read the second time he said: "Oh, I do not mean to sustain
the charge that Brother Jones is a traitor or anything of the kind.
I had paid no particular attention to that part. All I mean is that
Brother Jones pay for the ox according to agreement."
This was a close call for me, but I saved my standing and honor. If I
had said nothing probably this whole charge would have went on record
as it was. Inasmuch as I had offered to pay the amount sent by the
captain the whole charge was thrown out.
This command under Selden was about one month working a road through
to Green river. We had a pleasant time, doing well with our trading.
We were treated well by both officers and men. Captain Selden was a
kind-hearted officer, without any prejudices against the "Mormons,"
although he was of one those ordered out to wage a war against the
people.
On arriving at Green river where another guide was to take my place,
we found he was not there. As the man, a Mexican, had not arrived I
was told that my services would be required the balance of the trip.
I refused to go. Before leaving Utah I had received word from Brother
Brigham that he did not wish me to go on this trip. George W. Bean told
me that Brother Young had said, "Tell Brother Jones I consider him one
of my good boys and I do not want him to go off into that dangerous
country and risk his life for money." I knew this to be the best of
counsel, for the country was dangerous. The Mexicans of New Mexico were
not over their bad feelings about the Indian slave trade. The ones who
had profited by this traffic still held a grudge against "Mormons."
This I had learned from some of my old associates that came through
with Colonel Marcy. Both Utes and Navajoes were uncertain in those
days, particularly those living on the borders of New Mexico. There
were no regular mails or communications in those days between the two
countries.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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