Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-01-15
From the Washington Union.

Indian agent the only United States officer who remain
ed IN Utah Territory at the time the other officers with
drew last spring The suboned narrative of his escape
from the Mormons win be read with interest
10 Col Albert S: shSo7a, Commonder-inl Chief Of the
SIR: Having Zee z| rom the Indian settlements
on Spanish Fork, in <zfpry of Utah. somewhat
after wandering for twe days through mountains
and deserts, in company with Utah Indians venture to
trouble you with brief statement Of the circumstances
which induced to abandon the agency and nrust my
life to the and protection of the savages.
For some time previous to my departure it had been /
the settled opinion of the people of Utah that the troops
could not get further than Green this season. Con-
sequenty concluded that the territorial officials would
not venture to cross the mountains before spring and
under the embarrassed condition in which the retention
OF the mails and the very unsettled state of government
alreatons with Utah, had placed deemed it impor
tant to seek interview with them before the winter
set ii and had been previously advised that no per-
son would be allowed to leave the territory the
mountains without the humiating ceremony of applying
to Brigham Young for passport the alternative of
ganzng an Indian escort suggested itself to my rnd-
the first conception of which grew out of the deep
Germ which these unutored creatures had for time
manifested for my safety.
And was the more inclined to avail myself of this |
suggestion from the fact that several chiefs of the Unta
country were then on visit at the farm soliciting me to
accompany them to that valley for the purpose of inspect
ing the adaptation of its climate and soil to the cultiva
course of policy pursuing towards the Indians
Utah county. On the morning OF September 81 while
was yet discussing the proprety of this resolution some
half dozen OF the natives rushed into my Office excaim
ing, Friend friend, the Mormons will kill you y! and
pointed to the window the eastern side of the house
On looking out to my surprise | saw from 70 to 100
armed dragons stationed in the road about mile from
the house; and as did not manifest quite so much con-
Germ the Indians thought the occasion justified, they
caught hold of me and gave to understand that they
would not let me stay any longer.
commenced arranging my official papers so as to be
able to remove them instantly necessary for die not
understand what it all meant In few seconds another
Indian in to inform that the Spanish Fork Canon
was full OF MOrmons, armed with guns and pistols who
said that they going to kill and he had scarce
time to tell his story when another great haste
and said that Mormon Squaw at Sprngvle had told
him to and tell me that the Mormons intended to kill
He also reported large body of armed men on the
road between Sprngvlle and the Indian farm. It was
also reported by another Indian that the Momons at
Payson the town on the south, all in arms atho'
it was the Sabbath.
The Indians would not quit my room, but began to
gather up my bedding and wearing apparel, when my
erpreer into the apartment in evident state of
excitement, and exclaimed, " Doctor you're gone in'
asked what it all meant He said it was understood all
over the country that about leaving with the In
l dianS and handed me note from Mr.. Butler the Bs-
op Of the Spanish Fork settlement stating that he had
learned from various that intended going out
with the Indians in violation of the martial law in
force. He felt it his duty to inform that could not
leave that they had resolved to enforce the law at all
hazards regret having mislaid this letter, but the
above is it's parport which revealed to the meaning
OF so much military array. To think that officer of
the government should be thus menaced while in the
peaceful discharge OF his official duties could not fail to
excite in the bosom of any possessed of a spark of
patriotism feelings OF the most indignant scorn To be
detailed by force, and used tool in most treasona
bic opposition to the laws of the country as occasion
might require to fall victim to that brutal revenge
of
too humilating to contemplate for moment.
determined to exricate myself or die in the attempt
and turned to ask one to bring my horse but when
reached the door found that the chiefs son. spright
ly boy, had already performed that service. While he
was sadding him, gathered my papers and wearing ap
pare threw them into meal sack and pitched them
out Of doors to the Indians who all seemed eager to
sls In my escape. In the presence of armed pop
uace set out with three Indian youths whose names
are Pete, Sam, and Shower Shockets. Mr. Joseph P
Waters, of Salt Lake City, also accompanied me. In
stead OF going east, as our enemies expected took
western course but when it discovered that we in
tended to reach the mountains by circutous route
some half dozen persons horse back out from the
town of Payson to tap just ahead of us. We
wheeled short to the right but just in front lay
small stream, deep and miry that stock not in
the habit of crossing it.
urged my horse, and he attempted to clear it at
single bound, but failing to reach the opposite bank
with his hind feet he fell back into water and mud over
the top OF his hips alghted upon the bank over his
head and, by pulling at the rens, assisted him in exr
eating himself which he did after several desperate strug
giles. My comrades spurred down the stream little
way and had better Our pursuers were by this
time within three or four hundred yards of | mount
ed in haste and found my great satisfaction that
the stamina of the noble animal had not been exhausted
and that although had lost my spur in the struggle
could dispense with its service.
At the distance of about two miles reached the
1 base of aOw mountain ranging north and SOUTH We
gained its summit just the setting, and de-
batting the prOprlety OF pursuing further western
course but Just at this time despatch was brought to
by two boys from the old chief telling be sure
to return to the farm that night Under these circum-
stances, determined to try feint. We descended
below the submit only far enough to hide ourselves and
then turned north and continued that for
or three miles, until we thought pursuers about
gaining the top of the mountain Then we turned up
the eastern slope and dropped into little hollow,
where waited for daylight to disappear. This COM
pieely oiled our enemies, for the ground hard
and stony that they could not discover our trail.
When the halfgrown moon began to shine upon the
mountain slope, we re-mOunted and bounded the
prairie toward the spot from which had set out
We reached the farm at 8, p H.. and found about one
hundred of our red friends awaiting our return who
manifested great joy at arrival My first inquiry
where the Mormons were when twenty voices shout
i ed " Cotch-carry Mormon" Not here MormonD
had left some fortyve head of horses and mules and
was about nquiring what had become of them, when
discovered that most of them had been mounted by the
Indians They then related how they had sailed
during the day. and driven the enemy from the canon by
threats of what they should pursue in and
my comrades were murdered.
Taking some bread and meat that we found in the
cellar, made escape that night up the Spanish
Fork, in the direction Of the Uinta country, and before
10 o'clock the next day had placed ourselves beyond the
reach of enemies Before that hour in the morning
we had also passed about 800 Indians most of whom
had left the farm the dav before and were halfnp