Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-06-01

distinct people, 1t would be neces-
sary for them to control large ex-
tent of country, and that, too, be-
yond the influences of an advanc-
ing civilization. The region that
best satisfied these requirements,
was that of Northern California; |;
and they laid their plans according
ly. To cross trackless, barren re-
gion, 1000 miles In extent, with
their women and children nearly
all on foot, with scant supplies and
no depots from which to replenish
their meagre stores, was no holiday
excursion. The ship Brutus was sent
around Cape Horn, with a portion
of their people, to make q lodge
ment on the Bay of San Francisco,
| and other parties were sent out on
the route overland, to make loca-
tions, where supplies could be
raised by cultivation for the use of
the main body when it should come
up from the rear.
UNCLE SAM LAYS A TRAP.
Unfortunately for them the war
with Mexico came on, and the Ad-
ministration determined to take
possession of California before the
Mormons could reach their destina-
tion. The Government led Brig
ham and the leaders to believe that
1t was in sympathy with and ap-
proved OF their Intentions, and Of
fered to transport their able-bodied
men, with their families. to Cali
fornia, If they would enlist as SOL
diers and become subject to militia
ry rule; and thus, by securing com,
mand of their fighting material,
1t would gain control of the whole
Mormon fraternity. This PROPOSE
tion they readily accepted, little
suspecting the trap into which they
were falling.
Captain Allen of the 1st Dragons
was detailed by the War Depart.
ment to muster into the service of
the United States all such as were
willing to enlist and organize them
into battalion. He enlisted from
them, or that portion of them then
at Council Bluffs, five companies,
brought them down to Fort Leaven.
worth, and started them on the
road to Santa F6, when he
was taken sick and died.
Captain A. j. Smith assumed
command of them after the
death of Captain Allen, and
brought them on to Santa Fe,
where they were turned over to
Colonel p. st. George Cook, who
brought them through via Rio
Abajo, Tucson and San Diego
to Los Angeles county. Here,
their term Of service having
expired, they were mustered out
and honorablv discharged. Such
in brief is the history of the Nor
mon Battalion. The story of their
marches, their trials aud lab0rs
would fill volume.
a REPETITION OF THE RED SEA
. MIRACLE.
The Colorado river, which you all
know is a navigable stream, was,
at the time we struck 1t at Algo.
donis, eighteensmiles below Yuma,
fordable for mau and beast; a thing
never known before or since. We
crossed without difficulty, and the
Moimons claimed it as the result
of miraculous interposition of
Divine Providence for their special
benefit, and on par with the Red
Sea episode.
THE FIRST SETTLERS OF ARIZONA.
The first settlers who went to
Arizona after its purchase from
Mexico and Its organization into q
Territory, came from that class of
people usually encountered on the
most remote frontiers. There,
however, three frontiers met to-
gether,-that of Texas on the east,
of Mexico on the south, and Of Cal
ifornia on the west. 1t Is very nat
ural to conclude that q man who
could find an asylum in neither Of
these three countries, must have
been, to say the least, a very pecul-
lar sort of person. AS illustrative
of their peculiarities, a story Is told
by an army Doctor, who was or
dered to Arizona in charge of some
troops. In the pursuit of informa-
tion he asked the first man he met
on the road what brought him to
that God-forsaken country: and he
gave as reason that he and au-
other fellow got into u difficulty
and tother fellow, he got killed.
The second person gave as II reason
that he was accused of having
more horses in his possession than
he was entitled to; aud the third,
that he was caught with one wife
more than the law allowed. The
Doctor said he had no doubt but
that had he continued his inquiries
he would have received equally
satisfactory reasons from every
man he met.
ARIzoNA's GREATEST BONANZA.
We have been hearing during the
past twenty years marvellous nc
counts of the fabulous wealth OF
Arizona gold aud silver mines; but
the richest mine and the biggest
bonanza, for the average Arizonan,
has been the Apache Indian.
Without the Indians there would
have been no outrages, no'contract-
ors, and no expenditure by the Gov.
ernment Of its tens of millions in
greenbacks.N
Some years ago while In COM
- Ia NJ 81 A Ariu
I received instructions from Pres
ident Grant In his own words. "to
treat these Indians justly and kind
ly," and to "observe his policy ol
moral aud religious influences,
in preference to the bloody rem.
edy of war.n Ia accordance
with this humane policy OF the
| President, of cultivating peaceful
relations with and amongst these
Indians, the Yavapais. Yampais,