Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-01-12
WITH A WAGON TRAIN.

WITH A WAGON TRAIN.
1t has been proved beyond the
shadow of doubt that after the
N ,r.nons located at Salt Lake they
bent all their energies to two things
making friends with the Indians
and seeking to prevent white people
not of their own faith from pene-
trating into that country. They did
gain the good will Of the several
tribes of Indians with whom they
came in contact to such degree as
made it safe for Mormon TO go any
where. Once in a while one was
killed before he could identity him
self, but the man who proved himself
Mormon need have no fear OF the
savages, who had been trained from
infancy to hate white man and
take his scalp whenever opportunity
offered.
This desideratum was accom-
plished in various ways: They made
common cause with the redskin
against the remainder of the white
race, promising him all the scalps
and plander. They made him pres
ents, caused him to believe that they
were prosecuted because they es-
poused his cause, and in other ways
got such firm hold on his affections
that he became the most powerful
ally that they could have selected.
They made him arrow heads and
lance heads, they provided him his
first fire arms aud best tomahawks,
they fed him when he was hungry
and helped to outfit him when be
went to war.
When the California gold feve.
began to push long wagon trains
across the country, the Mormons
saw what the result would be unles.
they could stop the rush. Lett tt
themselves, the savages would nc
doubt have attacked in every case
where there was hope of success
but not one person would have beer
killed where ten actually yieldec
up their li' es but for the assistance
of the accursed Danites. These
were the ~good men and true of the
Mormon church-the enthusiasts
and fanatics who could be depended
on to carry out any order anc
preserve the secrets of their church
with their last breath.
They knew the country, the trails
the streams, and ravines and valleys
from Council Bluffs or st. Joseph t
their own doors in Salt Lake City
They were strung out along over til
overland trail, and in constant com
munication with the Indians. The.
acted as guides-were elected a
captains of trains-sought ever,
position which would enable them t
play into the hands of their allie
and work the destruction of train:
! This was not even suspected, how
ever, until they had ~orked fearfr
slaughter among the gold seeker
| No living man will ever be able
: give figures on the train peopI
! murdered during the many years
which the overland train was
daily use.
e The first train l went out wit
said an old scout, consisted of hftee
wagons and fifty persons. OF the'
twenty-five were full grown me
7 and well armed, and each one ful
q realized the perils which beset II
route. 1t would seem the height
> folly for husband to invest his 3
e in a span Of horses and wagon al
J. set out for California with a sick
. wife and three or four children, b.
: plenty of them did so. Indeed the
5. was no train without its women ar
children, and their presence alwa
IS increased the dangers. Previous
IS leaving St. Joe, we had to elect
9 captain of the trian, Aboss," who
+ word should be law until we reach'
! the end of our journey.
This position naturally fell to son
= veteran-some hunter, scout
% Indian fighter, who was posted as
:" the ways and routes of the Indlar
Some such man was gong out WI
d a train. In our case the choice |;
~ between two-one an old trapper
"a many years experience, who look
honest and seemed to have plenty
:, experience, and man who was
ID stranger to all, but who was loud
to his boasts Of how many Indians
ID had killed and what a brave, care.
man he was. / disliked him at fl
sight, as / know he did me, b
of though did all / could to def.
Il