Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-10-24
BURIED ALIVE BY INDIANS.
An Incident of Early Southern Utah-Iteminiscences
of Forty three Years Ago.

to teach the Gospel to them; all his
children TO do the same forever after
him. And about this time hundred
Young Elders we're sent into southern
Utah Tor the same purpose, most oi
whom located s1uh OF Puowan.
The first city election in Cedar City
was held December OH, 1851, at which
Isaac { Haignt was elected mayor,
with Aldermen. John ID. Lee, William
Miller, George : CLARK and Philip X
Smith, and t1mcs Lewis, Recorder.
In the ycar 1884 the Dcserct Alphabet
was perfected aud school books pub.
lished In the ucw style. In this, each
letter had but one invarable sound, thus
differing greatly from the present
alphabet. aud 10 spelling no silent letters
were used These two rciofm.. u com
monty used, would greatly abudgc the
labor OF learning a language. as well as
greatly economizing space IN writing, as
one page written In the new Characters
was equal to tive or more OF the usual
alphabet and style Of spelling. Pfcsi.
dent Brigham Young was anxious TO
have Il brought into common use, but Il
never became popular. The writer
kept the stake record OF Parowan N
the new alphabet Tor several years, and
was able TO take copiOus notes Of ser
mons, &c, aud did 50 Tor considerable
time.
To- the latter part Of April. 1854. elder
T. ID. Brown came from Salt l.asc City
to teach the principle OF conservation,
preaching 10 pafuwan on Apfil 3oth
The principle was received almost with.
out exception, the writer being ap.
pointed to make out the deeds Of con.
scfvation from the people.
President Young and company, with
the Ute chiefs, Walker, Groseieen ard
SOU thhtad, arrived In Parowan on
Wednesday. May s4th. 1854 Elder
4. r Pratt and company Of Mission.
ares to the Pacific accompanied them,
and we're Joined At pafowan by Elders
Silas $. Smith, John a. West aud Sixius
T., Johnson. President Young said the
war was over. saii he, pointing to
Walker, II have TIE war with mc.'
But he directed that ParoSan be sur
rounded by wall, twelve feet high and
AK icct thick, oompOsei OF dampened
earth and straw well compactcd. lie
inculcated honesty and kindness win
hrmness in all dealings with Indians.
and said Il was wrong 10 Nil the game
upon which they depended Tor a living.
The Indians were to be made to under.
und that wlile W. were their lueuds
we were also their masters.
hut this vas hard Tor them TO compfe.
bend. Walker used TO hold up his fore.
finger aud say "Bnghaml Great chiel.'
Then placing his other iorehngef beside
the hfst would say, "Me Walkefl Me
big chief all same as Bnghamp And he
really considered himself President
Young's equal Tie was war chief OF
the utahs. who dominated all the
smaller tribes, even south to the
Colorado river. In person he was about
SIX feet high. well built but not ileshy,
dignihei aud fearless In bearing, with an
eye cruel and piercing as that OF an
eagle, which seemed to look through
one. Mhen much cnfaged. as / saw him
/ several times, he seemed very devil
lie died IN January. 1855. Tue Indians
told u that when nc died they killed
( one Of his wives, also two Indian
pfisontrl, aud fifty Of their finest
horses, and buried With him all his
arms and insignia Of rank. this was IN
order that he might eater the mex,
world as great CHIEF should. with wife,
servants, horses aud arms. They
buried one Of the prisoners alive and
unframed, only bis head projecting
above ground. leii thus to die terrible
death OF Thirst, hunger aud pain, bis
eyes pccked out by the crows ana the
ilosh OF his head gnawed a, night by
Indians dogs or coyotes. lie lived
several days. Not 10 make this letter
too long. ! will at another time give
several Incidents With which Walker
was connected, which will, ! believe, be
OF interest To the reader.
In accordance with President Young.
instruction., Parowan was surrounded
by wall Of earth twelve feet high
built at a cost Of many thousand dol
| lars. J. H. MARTiSEAU.