The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-05-03

Lucky" Baldwin will try to retrieve
his fortunes in the Nome mining district.
His chief reason, he tells the San Fran
cisco Call, is to show people that his
luck is still with him. His picturesque
career extends from California to India,
where he made something of a reputa-
ton as hunter of big game.
''They talk about the luck | had cross
ing the plains" said he. Il did make
money coming across the plains, and that
in 1858, when so many left their bones
to bleach in the desert. But | had sat
up nights planning and thinking and
not trusting to luck. We started from
Racine, Wis, with 20 wagons. Six Of
the wagons belonged to me, a number Of
people coming as my passengers. i had
made a little money, and every cent Of
It was invested in this undertaking. That
first thousand dollars, the profits of
grocery store in Wisconsin, was a great
deal harder to make than the next hun
bred thousand that l made.
"When we reached Salt Lake our par
ty split up, some Of them buying their
wagons from me and travelling in differ
ent directions. l had brought along
wagon load of teas and tobacco, which
sold to Walker Bros. at good profit.
Two other wagons were stocked with fine
brandies and wines. Brigham Young sent
his brother out to our camp to negotiate
for these, and l finally sold them 10 him
at my own price.
Brigham Young's brother came to the
camp daily and gave us much friendly
advice about the route to take on the
rest of the journey. He urged me to de-
part from the road usually chosen by
travellers insisting that the other was
easier, safer and that we could find bet
ter feed for the horses. We took his
advice. 1t was just after the famous
Mountain Meadow massacre by the Utah
Indians, and we were naturally fearful
of meeting the same fate. But Brigham
iYoung's brother assured us that by trav-
cling over the road he had mapped out
we would escape all danger.
THE second morning out we were pre-
pairing breakfast when suddenly shot
from the rocks above pierced the coffee
pot. spilling the coffee over the Goals.
We made for our wagons, the women
and children tottering with fear. Then
commenced a fusilade to the accompani-
ment of wild Indian yells. Mrs. Bald
win put our 2-year-old baby in the safest
spot in the wagon and bravely stood out
of cover and loaded guns for me. One of
my shots laid low their chief, and the
Indians, wild with rage, came closer to
the wagons. An Indian laid hands on q
young girl crouched in the back of the
wagon and would have escaped with her
had not one of our party shot him just in
time.
"Warwhoops were now heard in the
distance, and the Indians retreated, evil
IDENTIFY to join another band. They left
nine of their party dead behind them,
but we ourselves had several wounded.
have always believed and still think that
Brigham Youngs brother was the cause
of the Indian attack, and, while I have
no positive proof, I am inclined to think
that he was with them disguised as an
Indian, for the road that he had sug-
gested was In every respect worse thar
the main Travelled one and had not one
OF the advantages he claimed for it. In
fact, it was impossible, and we had to
turn back to the other road. Young
knew that l had several thousand dollars
with me from the sale of the liquors, teas
and tobacco, and l shall always believe
that he melted the Indians in the hope
Of obtaining the money.
'In 1859 l started for the mines in Ne.
vada. had plenty of money, but