Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-10-06
MORMON LEGENDS.
SINGULAR INSTANCES OF PROV.
DENTAL PRESERVATION.
How the Latter Day saints We're
Saved From Crickets by Sea Guil>
and From Gras>hOpper> by Vans.

ana from Gra>>hOppcr> by Vans.
The announcement that legions OF
hlAck crickets an inch in length have
invaded the vicinity OF Lost Cabin,
Wyo., and are stripping the country
OF vegetation, recalls the experience
o! the Mormons in the Salt Lake
valley in the summer OF 1913, says the
Dubuque Tiegraph. In the Spring OF
that year, the second OF the Mormon
advent, much ground was broken, seed
sown, and many irrigation bitches dug,
and there was bright promise of abund-
ant crops. But in June crickets SINH
lar to those now devastating Wyom-
ing descended in clouds from the
mountains and devouring everything
green. The people could do nothing
to prevent the destruction, and as
they were more than a thousand miles
from civilization and without railroads,
and the total annihilation of the
crops seemed inevitable, they rapidly
drifted into a condition of gloomy des-
pair. Starvation stared them in the
face, all were anticipating a most
horrible death, and dependency was
profound and general, when suddenly
and unexpectedly relief came. I'M
mense flocks Of sea gulls sailed
through the air from Great Salt Lake,
and, swooping down upon the crickets,
devoured them, and thus saved
enough of the crops to tide the Nor
mons over to the next season. 1t is
legend of the Latter Day Saints that
sea gulls were never seen in the valley
before. and they infer from this, and
firmly believe, that the appearance of
the birds just at the time their assist
ance was needed to prevent the whole
sale extinction of human life was a
divine interposition of Providence in
behalf of the Mormons.
The latter nave yet another and
equally as interesting legend. In
1855 such of the crops as were not de-
stroyed by drought were eaten by
grasshoppers. Many domestic ami
mails died of starvation and food was
so scarce that dozens of families did
uot taste bread for months at a time.
The period was one of famine. Op-
portunely, when it was most impera-
lively needed, a species of yam, which
served for potatoes, appeared. II
never had been seen before and it
never has been since. Like the
mamma vouchsafed to the children OF
Israel in the desert, it was found in
abundance, and, being succulent and
nutritious, it maintained life and
strength till the plentiful harvest OF
the succeeding year rendered it need.
less. Then it vanished. This, like
the blessed coming of the sea gulls,
is also regarded by devout Mormons
as a special and remarkable manifesto
ton OF divine favor.
Not one of the yams remains in
Salt Lake. If any are there the
writer was unable to find them. But
sea gulls are plentiful. They do not
contine themselves to the picturesque
mountain islands OF the lake or to its
pebbly and inviting beaches, but dis
tribute themselves all over the won
derfully fertile valley. They congre-
gate in greatest number around the
plowman. AS he turns the soil they
gather the worm, and as the worm is a
most delectable article of bird food the
birds and the plowman are insepara-
BILE companions. They perch on his
shoulders and head, plant themselves
on his feet, flap their wings in his
face and are on terms of most init
mate familiarity with him. Yet is
the Mormon farmer never annoyed.
He recalls what the gulls did for his
people in the time of deepest distress,
and gratitude makes him tender. He
would not injure the birds for all the
gold and silver imbedded in the noun
tains environing Salt Lake City, nor
without protest would he permit any
one else to hurt them.