report my mission—prepare to continue the journey to utah—have to remain at san bernardino for a time—sickness among the people—instances of healing by administration—engage to travel with a pack-train to salt lake city—get a "bucking" mile—start on the journey—in a hostile indian country—signs of danger—prepare for trouble—sudden appearance of an indian—our party want to shoot—i protest, and make friends with the indian—other red men appear—difficulty of restraining our party—i converse with the indians, who tell of a camp of mormons and mexicans a short distance ahead—how i understood the indians—discover the camp spoken of—rest a day—move toward the santa clara—danger ahead—a fire across our path—we dash through it—hostile indians—an exciting chase—meet apostles a. m. lyman and c. c. rich—arrive at cedar city—stop at parowan—journey north, preaching en route—reach salt lake city—settle with the people for whom i have money—report to president young—preach in the tabernacle—released prom my mission—cost of my mission to the society islands.
on february 27th, i was called on by president seeley of the branch of the church at san bernardino, to give a report of my mission, and i did so before the congregation. on march 9th, i prepared to come home with john and alexander brown, to salt lake city, but for some reason they gave up the idea of traveling at that time, and i had to await another opportunity. then we looked about the country, thinking that we would make some improvements, if we did not meet with a better chance to come to utah.
about this time there was a great amount of sickness in the place, and elder thomas whitaker, from the islands, and i had numerous calls to administer to the sick. many seemed to be possessed of evil spirits; certainly, if they had lived in mary magdalene's day it would have been said of them that they had seven devils in them; for the actions were the same as in those days, and the evil spirits would not come out except through fasting and prayer. consequently, president seeley ordered a fast and a prayer meeting for the saints. it was very well attended, and good results followed. many people were healed of the diseases afflicting them. one incident i will mention: there lived in the town a man named john brown; he had a spanish wife and one or two children. one evening, major jefferson hunt's wife called on me to come as quickly as possible, for mr. brown's child looked as if it were dying. i went in, and found the mother and child in bed together. the little one acted as if it were choking to death, and was fighting for breath; it gnashed its teeth and frothed at the mouth. i anointed it with consecrated oil, and as there was no other elder handy i administered to the child, when every symptom of its trouble left it immediately, but seized on the mother. she raved, frothed and foamed at the mouth, gnashed her teeth, cramped, and seemed so ill that she could not live five minutes. sister hunt anointed her with oil, and i administered to her. she was healed that moment. an indian woman was sitting there sewing, and the same power that had afflicted the child and its mother took hold of the indian woman. by this time another sister had stepped in, and she and sister hunt raised the indian woman up, for she had fallen over. they called on me to lay hands on her, but i did not feel to do so at once. i told them to wet her face and rub her hands. they did so, and she grew worse every minute, until i administered to her, by laying my hands upon her and praying, rebuking the evil spirits, commanding them in the name of the lord to come out of her and to depart from her and from that house, and from the houses and homes of the saints, and to get hence to their own home, and trouble us no more. that moment the evil spirits left, and did not return again. the three persons who were afflicted were perfectly well next morning, and i never heard of their being afflicted afterwards.
there had been a number of cases where persons had been similarly affected, and some of them were not healed until they had been baptized seven times in succession, when they were permanently cured. indeed, there were very many remarkable cases of healing in san bernardino about that time.
on april 15th, my cousin, john m. brown, learned that a man named lamper was going to start with the mail to salt lake city, and had only four men with him. as that was too small a number to be safe, it was ascertained that if he could have three or four more he would like it very much. he told john m. brown that if he would raise two or three other men, he would wait at the mouth of the cajon pass for them.
as my cousin had never had any experience with pack animals, he told me that if i would go with him and help with the stock and packs, for that service he would furnish everything needed en route, he knowing that i had had experience in that line, and in the handling of wild horses and mules.
i accepted the offer, so we made ready, and were off on the 19th of april. we overtook the party in waiting at the place agreed upon. the animal provided for my saddle mule was wild, large and strong, and given to jumping stiff-legged, or bucking, as it is called. it was a hard animal to handle, and was successful in dumping its rider three times in the fore part of the journey, to the amusement of his five comrades. we had nineteen head of animals, and traveled at the rate of fifty miles per day, for the first half of the journey, because our route led us through a hostile indian country.
we stood regular turns of guard, and all went well till the last day before we came to the muddy. that day we saw danger signs, of indians. i will say now, my friendly reader, if ever you travel in an indian country, and come to fresh indian tracks, yet do not see an indian, then you may be sure that some red man wants a few horses and some plunder, if, indeed, he does not want a scalp or two to hang to his bridle-bit or surcingle. that was our danger sign, plenty of fresh indian tracks, where they had rolled large boulders into the narrow passes in the road, or gorges where the road passed through. this satisfied us that we were in danger of an unpleasant surprise, so we examined every firelock, made sure there was powder in every tube, good waterproof caps on, ammunition handy, packs securely bound, saddles well girt, and every man prepared to act promptly in case of an attack.
at this time we were crossing from the las vegas to the muddy. i think the distance without water was sixty-five miles, so there was no alternative for us but to press forward to the muddy river, were we arrived in safety about 4 a.m., watered our stock, and got a hasty meal, giving our animals a very short time for rest and to feed.
at daylight we began to saddle up for another start. just as we were ready to mount, a large, stout indian raised up out of the willows within bow-shot, and hallooed. he had his bows and arrows in hand. at that my cousin john leveled his gun on the red man, when i seized it and forbade anyone to shoot, as others of the party had made ready for the worst. at that moment the indian held out his hand and came toward us, as if to shake hands. every man of the party but myself was ready and anxious to open fire on the indian, but i stood between him and them until they had mounted. i told them if there was one shot fired every one of us would be killed. the indian said to me that he wished to be friendly. then i mounted and the party started, and at the same time twenty-five or thirty indians, all well armed, raised up out of the brush within easy pistol range. my party again drew their guns, when i told them to hold on, for the indians were friendly, and their object was merely to beg some food; but some of my party were hard to control.
as my companions trotted up, i fell back with the indians, who talked, and i began to understand them, although i had not been among them one day. it was given me to understand them, and i told my companions that i did so. i told them further, that i would stand between them and the indians, if they would not shoot. one said, "how do you know that they are friendly if you have never been among them before? they are following us up. send them away, if you know so much about their friendship."
the indians told me that when the sun got to such a position, pointing to where it would be at about 9 o'clock a.m., we would come to a large camp of mormons and non-mormons, with their families; that they had horses, mules and horned stock, and wagons, also some sheep and goats. there was a lot of mexicans camped with them, and these had pack-mules. this, and more, was told me in the indian dialect, and was as plain to my understanding as if it had been spoken in my native tongue; yet my party were slow to believe, and some of them cursed the indians, saying that if the black rascals were friendly, why did they not go back, instead of following us up. being fearful that our party could not be restrained much longer, i halted and talked with the indians, telling them i was afraid my friends would shoot them unless they fell back, and ceased to follow up so closely. the indians replied that i would soon learn that what they had said was true, as they did not talk two ways.
just then we saw a mexican come dashing down the hillside towards us. when he came to us and shook hands, then confirmed what the indians had told me, my cousin john said, "i believe jim does understand the indians, for he understands the spanish language, and the spaniards have told him just what the indians have said. i believe he is half indian, or he would not be so friendly with and understand them so well."
soon we came to a raise, from which we could see the camps, just as they had been described to us minutely in the morning, by the indians, who followed us up to the camps, and with pride pointed out to us everything they had spoken of, saying, "we do not lie." i believe that our party had become satisfied that the indians had made the signs seen on the road the day before, and then had laid in ambush to intimidate us, that they might get something to eat, for they were very closely run for food; again, it may have been that they meant more serious things and were deterred therefrom by learning of the approach of the company we found in camp.
at any rate we felt safer to lay by with the camp one day, and rest ourselves and stock; then we proceeded over a big dry bench to the rio virgen, then up that river and across another high plateau to beaver dam. from there we crossed another high rolling country of some forty miles or more, to santa clara. when we got half way across we saw a signal smoke, apparently on the santa clara where the road comes to that stream, or perhaps a little above. feeling conscious of our weakness, we watched the smoke with no little concern, and as i had had considerably more acquaintance with the red men than any others of the party, i told them that from the way the fire was managed there was mischief ahead, and we must prepare for the worst. our animals were thirsty and well jaded, yet there was no choice for us but to brave the danger ahead. then the examination of firelocks and the cinching of saddles was in order. that matter, however, was delayed so long as we felt safe.
when the preparation was made, and the smoke had grown denser, we advanced and saw that the streak of fire was in the narrows of the canyon. it extended from cliff to cliff, and evidently was made in a scheme of plunder or massacre, most likely both. under the circumstances, we were compelled to run the gauntlet, so it was hastily decided for me to lead the way. i agreeing to do this if the party would obey my orders, and not fire until i did, or gave the command to them. if i gave the warwhoop they were to do the same. the first order was to draw weapons for action, then charge with all possible speed. away we went, and as we neared the flames we chose the most open spot, or that which seemed freest of fire. although there was a continuous stream of flames clear across the canyon, some places were freer than others. we chose the place where the least fire was, the flames there being not more than two or two and a half feet high. if the timber in the canyon had been larger, it might have afforded the indians a better opportunity, but instead of secreting themselves in the bottom of the ravine, they had chosen the cliffs on either side.
just before we reached the fire, we urged our animals up to the best speed, and, raising as big a warwhoop as we were capable of, and brandishing our firearms in the most threatening manner, we dashed through. at the same time, the indians showed themselves in the cliffs with drawn bows, trying to take aim through the timber. they answered our whoop or yell, and gave chase, but they being on foot, and our animals having become thoroughly frightened at the sudden change that had taken place and with the evergoading spurs of their riders, rushed on ahead. though very thirsty, our animals never attempted to drink, although we crossed the stream a number of times. for fully five miles we never slackened our speed, the indians keeping in sight of us for fully that distance, when they gave up the chase. then our stock and ourselves quenched our thirst, and we continued on at as good a speed as was consistent with our conditions. finally we met apostles amasa m. lyman and c. c. rich, with two or three wagons and twelve or fourteen men, mostly mounted. as it was camp time, we made a joint camp, and had no more trouble. if an arrow had been shot at us, we did not know it, though there may have been a hundred or more. we did not think it advisable to try to ascertain, as we felt that our scalps were more precious than this information, or than money or horseflesh. it was distance between us and the scalping-knife of the red men that we were hunting for just then.
we stood double guard that night, and all passed off peacefully. next morning, each party proceeded on its way in peace, we to cedar fort, or city, where we arrived may 5th, and met with many friends. we attended meeting with the people, i was called on to give an account of my mission, and did so.
on may 6th, we proceeded to parowan, and as it was considered safe from there on, my cousin john m. brown and i stopped there with friends we had not seen for years. the rest of the party, having the mail in charge, went ahead, and we tarried one week, being royally treated. i preached two or three times. we resumed the journey on the 15th. in passing along, i preached in most of the towns where we stayed over night.
when we came to lehi, i commenced to settle with the people whom i had money for, then went on to little cottonwood and settled with more, then to big cottonwood, where i found still others for whom i had money.
on may 22nd we arrived in salt lake city, and stopped with our uncle. alexander stephens. on the 23rd, i called at president brigham young's office and reported myself and mission. he received me very kindly, and welcomed me home again. i also met brothers h. c. kimball and jedediah m. grant, a number of the twelve apostles, and other prominent men. all were very courteous, and expressed pleasure at my safe return.
on the 24th and 25th, i called and settled with all i had money, checks, or drafts for, and i found them all well, and much pleased to get the needed relief, financially. on the 26th, as i desired to go to ogden city, i called at president young's office to bid him good-bye. he kindly invited me to come to the stand in the tabernacle on june 7th, to preach. i did so, though it delayed me in my intended visit to my friends and relatives in ogden city. when i filled that call, i was honorably released from further labors in the missionary field at that time. my mission had occupied three years and eight months, and cost me every dollar that i had when i started out. i was then worth fifteen hundred dollars in good property, which i spent; but i never regretted it. the experience that i had gained i counted worth much more than the money expended.
