Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-08-08


ishci south OF Jah county was found.
ed by Apostle George a. Smith in Jauu.
afW 1851, with about hundred persons.
mostly men. President Young h.st Wis.
tied the settlement May nth. 1851, with
a large party; and on the night prev ous
60 bis arrival snow fell to the depth Of
six inches, but loon melted. The i'm.
| proycmen,s aud labors Of the settlers
having been inspected during the uay, a
general meeting vas held in the even.
ing 90 the large loE schooih1usc.
AZ this meeting the place was called
Iuowan, is Indian nlmc. A field had
been enclosed. very much too large Tor
the needs OF the people, aud on pfcsi
dent Young being asked hs opinion
about b., DC made one Of his character.
iauc, pithy remarks. Said he, "Well.
brethren, think YOU have q long reach.
but mighty shor, catch" This was
subsequently found true. for the field
was reduced in size three times ia fol.
lowing years, AMI even then was too
large.
The whole OF Center Creek was turned
into the field. bu, the ground was per.
lcc,ly dry to an unknown depth, aud
the water soon soaked away in the
di,chcs. /, being apparent that the
crops must dry up, a canal was made to
convey the waters OF Red Creek into
the field, hoping thus to save the crops.
This canal was only abuu, four miles
long aud carried 40 the waters OF Red
Creek, but not drop Of It ever reached
the held-il all soaked away in the canal
on 90 way though running into the
canal constantly Tor m1lths. This will
give an idea Of the excessive dryu,ss
oi the soil, which apparently had not
been watcrrd since the ilIgd. Much of
the grain was thus killed lor want Of
water.
The tort was built around the sides Of
a large square, the PAGES between
dwellings icing filled in by log PALISADES
twelve ieet high set closely together N
line. a large corral in toe center held
the cattle and horses securely 10 uish'.
For several ycars the p ace was patrol cd
all night by a guard Ia military style.
aud a man KEEP, walch by day from iu
| elevated pout. the CoNhgrd having
also an armed guard with h by day,
each man dong duty iu tufu No on1
went outside the tort 10 hunt stock, get
wood Or to work IN the hgld without
arms. this being strictly trJOinvu By
/ President Smith, who SAID, 1T ts blttuT
To- ga "a
need u, than to want one Two minutes
and not have it, ANY h0uttrsman
can appreciate the wisdom ui such a
rule, The observance OF which contrib.
ulcd greatly 10 the safety VI tue settlers
When a man went to work Ia the
| fed, tor instance, he looked carefully
around 10 see u an ludAn was nsight.
concealed ms rifle iu the brush, aud
then went to work keeping keen watch
VI, day, and being careful 10 be near his
gun u a man came ia sight.
Al night men slept with loaded rifle
40 htir bedside, Win powder, morn aud
bullet pouch ready at uani. and duung
one summer every man went 10 meeting
on SuuCays FULLY armed and equipped
Tor war This was to prevent INDIANS
from entering houses while people were
absent and taking arms and ammunition
len az home. And all this waiChulness
was necessary. Tor many umus blood.
sned was narrowly aycucd m % time ol
what was to all appearance profound
peace. Ia addition to these labuTs much
time was spent IA exploration or upon
Indian service, aud houses must be
built, roads made In the canyons, water
bitches and fences made, crops planted
and harygsted-dnd all this needed to be
done at once,
Settlers lived for six months at time
without tasting meat, except an uccA.
siUnal lack RABBIT or a prairie uog, Tor
no one could afford 10 kill a work OK or
a COW; aud sugar, tea, or groceries 3t
any kinu were not to be had. An un.
varying die, Of milk, butter aud bread.
win a lew vegetables, WAS the rule-s...
dom varied from. Jacob lluHnines had
large Cuilec mil, ana every evening a
crowd OF men stood around u witu a
little wheat or corn, each waiting hls
turn to grind his little gust so he might
have some supper
Tno women made molasscs from
beeis, corn stalks, parsnips or other
things, and when cnokeCncruesf and |
serHcebeuies got ripe made cakes Tor !
piCniCs and parties which we're cunsid. !
cred quite stylish. There was but lutte |
style IN dress, however, Tor when clothes /
wore out people were glad to dress m |
bucksklns; and muccasiuh were lar bel- !
ter to wear than to 10 IN bare feet,
The nearest store was ln salt Lake ]
City, and as II was unsafe to travel the ]
ROAD alone because OF Indians, man |
had to wait until fifteen or twenty per- |
sons wanted TO make the trip, that mum. |
Der being necessary Tor safety. On |
these journeys a careful night guard |
was always Kept to protect Jhe camp /
and prevent the loss ,oi team animals. |
And as such trip, with cattle, usually |
required SIX weeks going and returning, |
a journey to salt Lake CITY was an event |
oI no lille importance.
Hut with all these drawbacks the PEG. |
pie we're happy They were but lately |
freed from mOhs ANA persecution, and |
were Trying TO live as Saints. There /
was but little work, II any, Tor lawyers |
or duClof5, Judges or iurss, For several |
years the WtlIcT was sheun Of Iron
county without once bring required to .
act officially and consequently during
four years official service never received |
a single dollar as lee or salary.
In the tall OF 1854 Cedar City aud Fort
Johnson we're esabllshcd, aud req.
mental organization was effected.
George A, smith was elected colonel; !
James a. Little, leutenant'colunel, Mat
thew Carulhers, major John J., smith,
adJutaHt; and James II, MAIlineau, SER
uglut major Tho, latter WAS nIsn th.