Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-15
TELLSOF PIONEERING
0us Who Was at The Original Call
lOfnia Gold Discovery
GIVES HIS EXPERIENCES IN UTAH,
And Coming Here-iinrdships Endured
Three of the Party in One Grave
Wheat $12 a Bushei, &c.
MANTI, May IL, 1897.

MANTI, May IL, iotf'
10 tho Editor.
| have been reading, with interest,
great deal concerning tue grant
Jubilee, to be held at Salt Lake cry
in July next, and the pains taken TO
prepare for the same. Aleo, to get tue
names OF all those who arrived in 1917
My father, Albert Smith, arrived there
10 ls47 from California; but before we
got to Salt Lake. was advised to go
bnck to California until spring.
Iwouli not have written, but sever
al were telling me ought 10 write
something OF what We passed through
In coming to the valleys OF the noun
tainf. We lived Ia Nauv0o from the
CON mencement; and 1t Is pretty well
known the trying times that We had
to 70 through there, until tho Chnreh
had to leave their homes and go to the
mountains. My father, Aibers Smith,
being called upon, went with the
Pioneers; and 1, AzAriah Smith, and
mother, Esther Smith, with three
other children, Emily, Candace anu
Joseph, remained behind, but getting
IN opportunity with Brother Dame.
we started on cur way to Pts. an,
driving team. Father me; us OH tue
way, and siter stopping OF Pisgah
short time, we had the opportunity oil
going with Brother Woodruff 10 Win.
Ter Quarters. And then the Church
was called upon by the U. 3. govern
ment for i've hundred volunteers
10 enlist In their service, In the war
ngainet Me xlcO. Ii being considered
wisdom, the men were furnished ana
Albert Smith and Azarish Smith were
Two Of the number; leaving mother
and three children with the Church,
and SEEDING what money we could
spAre Of our pny back to them.
At5an Diego we drew our muskeis,
nnu cartridge boxee, knapsacks, etc,
which made ont pretty good harness,
but we got a team and wagon, to tnke
them on. AS Tor the hardship that We
passed through IN travelling that long
distance, to California, i have not
room nor words TO explain. But with
the preserving hand OF God, we finally
arrived saie on the Pacific coast.
Company O, 10 which father and 4
belonged, were quarteIed at Ban Diego,
where 1 had the opportunity OF seeing
and going on board some ships for the
fret time In my lie. We remained
there until our discharge. The quee-
dion then was how anu whsre shall we
nnd home?
Well, we bought some horses 10
Tide aRd pack our provisions, etc., also
buying eome stock to drive with us Tor
beef. But we could not drive them,
as they would fight us, and We soon
had to kill all OF them and jerk this
meat so that we could pack 1t with us.
with much d fiiculty we Travelled
some 500 miles north; and then turn
ing east, on our way 10 Salt Lake,
being informed that the Church were
going TO settle at that place.
After getting well Oh our way, we
were met by Capt. Browns company,
just from Salt Lake, with letter from
mother, and also letter from the
Twelve. This was reau, and gave us
much satisfaction. 1t was considored
wisdom for good portion OF our num-
ber TO return to California, as pro.
visions were scarce and not much to be
done al present. 1 took one horse and
with good portion Of our number
went bach; but father, with four ani.
msis, went on 10 Salt Lake. Our com.
psny returned ~ far as SutteI'B fort,
getting a job OF Suffer to dig a canal,
wishing TO build grlHt mill. A low oil
us, according to his wishep, went with
Mr.. Msrehall to the place now called
Coloma to build a snwmill, which was
built. worked piuning plank on The
foreboy and digging the tailrace, and
with Marshall bisstiDg come big rock,
which made the Indiana wonder tC
see them split open so easy.
Alter the race was pretty vel
finished and water had been turned H.
MIR. Marshall happened to pick up IN
The race the fret nugget OF gold found
In California. This was on January "a
lS43. With much trouble and peIsev
efkpce we soon gathered up some. The
word soon got out and spread like fire
that gold had been found. The people
came fiOcking in from every direction