The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-09

DIR HuJRT

DIR HURT
We announced the 18th December last the safe an
rival In the camp OF Col johnson OF DR. Garland Hurt
Indian agent the only United States officer who remain
ed in Utah Territory the time the other officers with
drew last spring The subjoned narrative Of his escape
from the Mormons viii be read with interest
IL COL Hilbert s. Johnston, Commander chief Of DE army for
Utah
sm Having recently fed from the Indian settlement
Spanish Fork, in the Territory of Utah, somewhat
precipatey, and reached your command ON October 20
after wandering for wentyse days through mountains
and deserts in company with Utah Indians, venture to
trouble you with brief statement OF the circumstances
which induced 10 abandon the agency ana ihtrtt my
life to the care and protection of the savages
For some time previous my departure, 1t had been
the settled opinion OF the people OF uah hat .he troops
could not get further than Green river this Con-
seuuentIy concluded that the territorial officials would
not venture to the mountains before spring and
under embarrassed condition in which the retention
of the mails and the very unsettled state of governmental
relations with Utah. had placed me, deemed it import
ant to seek interview with them before the winter set
in and had been previously advised that no person
would be allowed to leave the Territory the
mountains without the huiling ceremony of applying
to Brigham Young for passport the alternative of
ganzng Indian escort suggested itself to my mind
the conception of which grew out of the deep
which these untutored creatures had for some time mani
tested for my safety.
And was the more inclined avail myself of this sug
gestion from the fact that several chiefs of the Unta
country were then on visit at the farm soliciting to
accompany them to that valley for the purpose of inspect
ing the adaptation of its climate and soil to the cutva
ton of grain they had become much pleased with the
course Of policy pursuing toward the Indians in
Utah county On the morning Of September 81, while
yet discussing the proprety of this resolution, some
half dozen Of the natives rushed into my Office excla
ing, 'Friend, friend, the Mor1nons will kill you and
pointed the window the eastern side OF the house
On looking out, to my surprise saw from ~ 70 loo
armed Dragons stationed in the road about mile from
the house and, did not manifest quite SO much con-
Germ as Indians thought the occasion justified, they
caught hold Of and gave to understand that they
would not let me stay any longer.
commenced arranging my official papers 50 as To be
able them instantly ii necessary, for did not
understand what it all meant In few seconds another
Indian in to inform me that the Spanish Fork Canon
was full of Momons, armed with guns and pistols who
said that they were going to kill me- and he had
N time to tell his story when another came in great haste
and said thaa Mormon squaw at Sprngvile had told him
to and tell me that the Mormons intended to kill me
He also reported large body of armed the road
between Springyle and the Indian farm 1t also
ported by another Indian that the Mormons at Payson
the town the south, all in arms, although it was
| the Sabbath.
gather up my bedding and wearing apparel when my in
terpreer into the apartment in an evident state OF
! excitement and exclaimed, 90 Doctor, your gone in
asked what it all meant He said 1t was understood all
over the country that about leaving with the In
dams and handed note from Mr. Butler, the Bishop
of the Spanish Fork settlement, stating that he had
learned from various sources 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 misaid this letter. but the
above is its purport which revealed to the meaning
/ of SO much military array. To think that am 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 spark
patriotism feelings Of the most indignant To be
detained by aIre and used tool in trcasona
bic opposition the laws of the country, occasion
might require to fall victim to that brutal revenge
which seeks qualification only in the sacrifice of life
too humiliatng to contemplate for moment.
determined to extricate myself or die in the attempt
and turned to ask to bring my horse but when
reached the door found that the chiefs son, sprigt
~ boy had already performed that service While he
was saddng him, gathered my papers and wearing APP
. pare threw them into meal SACK and pitched them
out OF doors to the Indians who all seemed eager to
sist in my escape In the presence OF armed pop
uaoe out with three Indian youths whose
! Pete sam and Shower Snockets Mr. Joseph P. Waters
of Salt Lake City, also accompanied Instead of go
ing east, enemies expected, we took western
course but when it was discovered that we intended to
reach the mountains bo'a clrculons route, halt
dozen r,sras horseback came out from the town of
p.yson to tap just ahead us We wheeled
short to the right but Just in front lay small
stream, deep and miry that stock were not In tic
habit Of crossing it.
urged my horse, and he attempted to clear il AZ 4
single bound but, failing to reach the opposite bank
his hind feet he fell back into water and mud over
|
head and by pulling at the rcns assisted him in extii-
eating himself which he did after several desperate srg
giles. My comrades spurred down the stream little way
and had better Our pursuers by this time
within three four hundred yards of us. mounted in
haste and found to my great satisfaction TINT 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 base
of low mountain ranging north and south We gained
its summit Just the setting, and debating the
propricy OF pursuing further western course but Just
at this time despatch brought to by two boys
from the old chief telling to be to return the
farm that night Under these circumstances deter
mined try feint We descended below the summit
only far enough to hide ourselves and then turned north
and continued that for two three miles
/ til thought pursuefs about gaining the top
of the mountain Then turned again upon the eastern
i slope and dropped into little hollow, where we waited
! for daylight to disappear This completely foied our
enemies for the ground hard and stony that they
| could not discover trail.
| When the half-grown began to shine upon the
mountain slope, we rcnounted and bounded over the
prairie toward the spot from which had out We
bred of our red friends awaiting return who mani
tested great Joy at our arrival My first inquiry was
where tho Mormons were, when twenty voices shouted
"Cotch- carry Mormon! y Not here, Mormon J had
left some forty-fve head of horses and mules, was
about nquring what had become of them, when dis
covered that most them had been mounted by the In
dams They thea related how they had sailed out du-
ring the day ard driven the enemy from the canon by
threats Of what they should pursue in and
| my comrades murdered
Tkinp bread and meat that we found in the cell