Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-18
AT CASA GRANDE.
Interesting Nstes From Southern
Arizona.

! CASA GRANDE, Pinal County,
Arizona, April 13.-Casa Grande is
a small railroad town on the South
ern Pacific, and a partial closing OF
stores is the Only indication that
this II the Sabbath. There is not a
church or Sabbath school In the
town. The saloons are crowded, and
gambling pursuits are freely and
openly INDUCED in. This is quite a
contrast 10 the few peaceful Sab
baths spent with the good Saints in
Mesa City.
During conference Ia Mafioopa
County II WIS reported that Mesa
Ward contained ninety-six families,
Lehi twenty-nine families, Alma
forty-nine families and Nepbi four
teen families; besides the Papago
Ward, which contains over 600
Lamanite members. 4 good work
is being done among the BamanItes
by our brethren, anu it is highly APP
prociated.
Your correspondent had the pleas
ure Of conversing with Brother
CherOquis Erastus, a Maricopa In
dian holding the office Of a Seventy.
and learned that Deaeons and Ed
ers were being trained in The duties
Of the Priesthood. Some Of the
Lamanite sisters were ut the con-
ference, accompanied by aorie of
their little ones all d.essed in clean,
tidy srr=.ei and well-trimmed hats.
We learned that n good Sabbath
school is held in their ward, and il
well attended. A Relief Society is
also organiLsd there, and meetings
are held regularly. These are often
visited by sisters from other wards,
who Instruct the Lamanites ia their
duties rs members Of tie Church,
and direct them how to lie clean and
tidy In their habits. Your readers
can handy realise the amount OF
work that = being done by our
N.tAalNh anu HAoStAs All Aali- ulISc-
tion.
President Robson, accompanied
by one Of his counselors ana other
brethren, passed through Casa
Grande few days ago on a visit to
several tribes Of Indians in South
western Ariz9un aud The northwest
Of Mexico. They expect to be gone
I've or six weeks, and have taken
along provisions for themselves and
for l.amanites that may accompany
them. This is voluntary mission
at n personal expense Of several
hundred dollars, bat Is undertaken
ut the urgent request OF and in |
response TO appeals from a people |
who sre anxious 20 learn the truth /
and to hear their past history from |
the Elders of the only Church (
which holds the key to il.
The first tribe to Ice visited are the |
Pima indiana, about 500 OF whom |
now belong to the Church. Two Of |
our young brethren have been Ia
boring and living amongst them fOr |
some time as missionaries.
We visited many OF the ruins In
Maricops County which have from
time to time beea referred 10 in |
your columns.
Florence the COUNTY seat Of Pinal |
County, is situated on the ella |
River and contains about 5000 in
habit3nts, many OF whom are Next !
caus. Several mines in the vicinity |
contribute toward making IL a bust |
ness centre, butthe narrow streets aud
NUMEROUS low, fat-rO0fed buildings
crowded together in true Mexican
style compare very unfavoTably |
with the beautiful cities Of Phoenix
and Mesa.
About ten miles south OF Florence
are the famous ruins Of Casa Grnndo
large hOuseh The prin-
cipal ruin reminds the visitor OF an
old English castle. The walls are
Of concrete, four feet thick. The
place appears to have been built as a
fortress, and must have been at least
five stories high. Each story con-
sained five rooms, built in square,
the centre room being about four
teen by fourteen feet. Two small
ruins are still standing near, and the
mounds in the vicinity
indicate that large ruined city lies
buried there. The nafive Indians
state that their fathers know nothing
Of its past history, but, in the future,
its story may lie told, and, Ike many
others, Il will confirm the Book Of
Mormon history. PHGNIN.