Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-08-03


who had been riding, arose and llfed
at HE COWS, shooting 1--WE, ami other
Indians appeared In the hills. Lot
started back hcme on horseback, and
had just passed point where there
WAS n large rock, when an Indian, who
had been riding up on the hill with a
rifle on his shoulder and bad watched
FOR him I'LL he parsed this rock, fred
from behind II, striking Lot In the
back, the bail going through his hody
ina slnnting direction. The wounded
man rode on, ami seeing a white man
at distance book0ned 10 him. The
blood was running In stream ~ be
rode Rapidly 20 his house. He alightoi,
I entered, unbuckled his belt aud went
into another room without word. The
man he bcckoned soon arrived, aud
whom he and the family went into tho
room tho stricken man exclaimed,
"rhis is the last Of me-" Hts dying
words were; "God bless the wives and
children"
The older Navajoes greatly dcploro
the act, which has taken from them n
good friend. They declare 70 tue
family that they are sorry and do not
want to fight. 5quaws have come 10
the house and cried over tue deh.h Of
Lot smith aud condolcd with the
bcfeayed. The deed Ia charg ed by the
Navajoes to the one Ind ian who fred
the fatal shot, and the trespass and
shooting Of the cows TO young and
unruly Indians, who think they can
defy the United States. But II is be-
lieyed by msny that there was q con-
sTdracy among the Ind ians to Nil Lot
Smith, and that much Of the feeling OF
recklessness and lnwless ness among
them is due TO the pcrnicious influence
Of the wool trader refe rred TO.
A lieutenant with squad Of soldiers
came from For, wiugata to investigate
the matter. He was told by tho Navs.
oes that the Indian who did the shoot.
ing wns hiding and the soldiers could
not lind him, b ut they promised
that n the officer would go with them,
alone, into the hills he should spe and
talk with the Indian. This he de.
clined, tcaflpg troaohery. However a
determination Is expressed to track,
arrest and try the assassin Tor murder.
For some weeks before his death, Lot
Smith was greatly excited at intervals
over small afiairs, being very irritable
at the slightest provooation and much
disturbed over some Of his financial
complications. However, ut other
times he was unusually kidd and com.
municative to his family. Many Of
his neighbors entertain for him the
best Of feelings, and Notwithstanding
this lnhrmity oftemper, REGARD him as
noble man and friend 10 all who
stood In need. We here append n
letter from G.. l.. Christensen, n Navajo
Interpreter and u missionary among
the indians for fifteen years, witch
he earnestly desires to be Published
for the satisfaction q many good
people who recognized in the valiant
Lot Smith much to admire and esteem:
Ediior Dcsera NeigE
As number oiioupnls havo mndo'dls-
paraging rcioronco t8iot sml th. for the
consolation Of MI, iamily and friends
wish to say, here never WIS man that
hold tho lilo and liberty OF man more
sacred than did Lot Smith. During tho
Echo Canon war lot smith played q
brave and noble part, aud did IL VOL I'M
der tho circumstances. iIe had lnsiruc-
lions from President Brigham Young to
''shcd no blood" aud not even to htc n
gun unless absolutely Ia -olf defence.
Lot was so prompt In carrying out this
advice that several mon In his charge LEFT
him and went home, they having desire
" gaining fame otherwise han according
10 the advice that Lot held aud kept most
sacred. | am conscientious before God
In saying that no shed no blood while he
lived, except IL may have occurred in
lighting the Uto Indians. during the bat-
tie near Provo city In an early day, with
which all arc familiar who read the his.
tory Of Utah.
Lot served his country In tho fear Of
God and with good will To man In tho
Mormon Battalion. lie has said, 81
think was the youngest man that bore
arms, being only sixtccngoars Of age,
but a, | was large In stature was nc.
copied" Ho gave the following account
Of himself. which think worth roaling
"one day whom We had marched long
distance without water, and nearly fam
ishcd, We behcld a dry lake at distance
sometimes called u mirage. Il looked ~
much like lako Of water 10 those Whc
noyor saw one that we had full ASSURANCE,
Of speedy roliei, It no doubt had this
effect. at least II stimulated as 20 press on
but to our horror II was only dry land
and we travelled fully six miles acros,
this delusion and still found no water
and night had fully comet The writer
docs not remember whether II was a will
low or wire grass that was tho only sigt
that gave them still hope, hut "digginr
down about eight feet" Lot said, "w,
found abundance to supply an our wants
Anor this was attended to, I was selected
to 20 back with a keg Of water
on mule To holp those who had fillcn