The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-25
OLD ASEiLTLEY'9
BARBECUE

OElYNlOIS NIL
BY HERBERT TYzACK. vERNAI.
Speaking of Christmas said the old
pioneer, as he sat upon the counter and
meditatively knocked the ashes from
his pipe and dreamily watched the
movements Of the crowd that oscillatgd
about the spot where the Christmas
toys were displayed in endless profus-
ion. reminds me Of the Christmas Of
81, when the only white inhabitants OF
the Uintah basin, aside from the few
government employees at the Uintah
agency, were those who drifted into
Municipalities at the town of old Ash
ley. They were there to while away
the long interval between the closing
up Of the mountain passes by the driv
ing storms, which swept with merciless
persistence along the summit of the
gIeat ranges on the north, and the corn
ing Of the welcome south WINDS Of
spring, which melted away the frozen
barriers between them and the big,
bustling world outside.
THE fall and winter OF 81 was not
unlike other winters il this isolated
section at that time. The mountain
passes had long been impossible. AMI
for several weeks no mail had come
over the range from Fort Bridger. We
We're accustomed TO saca little incon-
venieEces, however, as even in summer
there were times when weeks elaDsed
without any mail.
There were none of the evidences
of the orthodox Christmas. ana the
long distance-haul precIuded the proba-
biiity OF Santa Claus ever getting so
tar out OF his usual track. Yet there
was q lurkinE sentiment that some
thing should be done on this particu-
lar Christmas to revive the memories
OF the past.
IN those days the ranges We're stock
ed with the sleekest, latest cattle you
ever saw, even during the winter
months, and somebody suggested the
idea that Christmas be celebrated IN
q rousing manner, by having barDe-
cue around which the inhabitants of
the Uintah basin could celebrate in
manner betting the occasion, and in u
style that would be consistent with
their ideas of what did constitute q
proper observance OF any holiday.
whether il be Christmas, Fourth OF
July, st. Patrick'S day, or any other
osy. Women and children We're almost
an unknown quantity, and the influence
casions was lacking.
DEATH OF A MAVERICK
ssWhen Christmas finally came, tie
steer that was TO yield up ms me on
the festive occasion, and the ownership
of which has ever remained :hooted
question. was rounded up and sIaught-
cred The roasting was a success, Tor
never tasted anything before or since
that eoualeG that beef. OF course It
H. TF HraHa a
feast. without the assistance of some
fning to wash it down. Water was not
available, as the creek was frozen over,
and Who wanted to chop ice on Christ
mas day2 Tea and coffee were luXuries
and the supply was short. There was
only one alternative; barrel from the
old log building. which was dignihed by
The name OF saloon in bod letters,
which moclingly met the gaze Of the
passers-by-
Did we have good time? We'll, my
memory of that Christmas is rather iH<'
distinct in some particulars. 1t IS quite
clear as to the beginning Of the festivi-
ties but as to the conclusion am a
4rifie mixed. and, TO tell the truth.
have never found any one of those who
were present that had any clearer con-
ceptfon OF how that holiday ended than
myself
TRADITION AMONG UTES. r.,
ST have a. dim recollection OF hunks
Of roast beef and gallons OF liquid IRE,
mixed up in indescribable confusion.
and men literally falling over each
other in their attempts TO make of the
asair a bowling success, and pTesum-
atlv it was, for it is told among the
Ties l1Don the reservation how. many
years ago, while a portion OF their num-
Der we're camping in the foothills along
the base of the great range, when the
49, in far los
the earth, the cliffs and crags echoed
hack the sounds of wild revelry carried
on BY the spirits Of departed braves in
the valley below.
yes, that was q glorious old Christ
mas. We have not seen another like
it since. There were men there who
sre prominent now in the affairs of the
community, and who, IN the monouo-
nousIy civilized style of today, pretend
to enjoy themselves by eating turkey
ana nnince pies, and doing other equally
enlightened things, but I will hazard
the opinion that their memory goes
back to the Christmas of 81, when there
was no social distinction. and all met
on a common level on that memorable
occasion, particularly toward evening.
when the moon, rising over the eastern
ridge found q peaceful scene, where
al was contentment, or oblivion, call
il what you please, for every mothers
son was reposing peacefully and quietly
amid the tangled remnants of that
early Christmas celebration, oblivious
alike to cold or hunger. 1t might have
been the Fourth Of July or st. Patrick's
day, or any other day, for all they
cared. They had done the full measure
of their duty and had celebrated IN an
appropriate manner, and now they
were resting from their labors."
The old man ceased speaking, and
the bystanders who had listened to his
tale waited for him to resume, but he
refilled his pipe and resumed his medi-
tations AMID a cloud of smoke that hid
the thrGng from his view. AT times he
sighed, as he thought Of the good old
days, that, alasi were fast passing from
his mind. in the dim recollections Of the
past