Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-03-15


plains, through the difficult mountain
passes, finally arriving at what is now
known as Untoh county, Utah. Here,
one evening, while sitting about the
campfire and resting from the days
weary march, DR.. Starr and his party
were surprised by a visit from three
young Indian girls, who had evidently
wandered away from their tribe and
become lost in the mountains. The
girls made it known by signs that they
were nearly starved. The doctor gave
them supper and two Of his bed blan-
kets, which they fastened about their
bodies as garments. Evidently de-
lighted with his friendly treatment,
they evinced their gratitude by show
ing him several specimens Of wonder
fully rich gold and copper ore. They
also gave him to understand that the
place from which the specimens came
was on a part Of the land inhabited by
the tribe of Indians Of which their
grandfather was the chief.
This information was given solely
to DR.. Starr, as he allowed none Of his
companions to be present, and the girls
enabled him to obtain an accurate
idea Of the direction and distance by
stating that it was two sleeps and
half" to the west. The doctor at once
marked the location Of the SPOT de-
scribed by driving three pegs into Pc
ground pointing toward the direction
indicated by the Indian girls.
The following day DR.. Starr, detach-
ing one Of his wagons, took the Indians
and drove them to within a few hours
walk of their tribe. He then pursued
his journey to California, and for many
years engaged in successful mining
speculation.
Four years from the time Of his
meeting with the Indian girls he re-
turned to what Is now a part Of Utah,
and to the place where he had made
the landmarks. He was alone and pos
sibly the only white man within a hun
dred miles of the spot, which was in
habited solely by Indians. Finding the
pegs and following the direction indi-
Gated by them, he journeyed on for
two days and half, as he had been
told, and late one evening came upon a
place which he instantly recognized
as the spot described by the Indian
girls.
To his experienced eye it gave at the
first glance every evidence Of Its val
liable nature, for all over the broken
faces Of the mountain rocks could be
seen the native ore in immense guam
titles. At rough glance he estimated
the value Of the ore in sight to be at
least a million, while that out Of sight
could not be estimated. Camping here
for a few days, with no friend but his
rifle, he spent his time in making care
full surveys and familiarizing himself
with the country, which was full of
wild animals that made night terror.
On the morning Of the third day he
was surprised to see standing before
him an imposing man, whom he recog-
nized by his trappings to be the chie1
OF the great tribe Of Utes. The CHIEF
was accompanied by eleven Of his at
tendants, and the twelve stood regard
ing the solitary man with looks Of dis
trust. DR.. Starr, who was we'll ac-
quainted with the Indians nature,
hurried up to them, greeting them
warmly and divided with them his
stores.
But the Indians remained unmoli-
fed. The chief told him in brusque
terms that he must get off the lands,
which were the sole property Of the red
man, and he would allow him only two
days in which to do so. DR.. Starr knew
it was more than two days trip to the
border separating the land Of the In
dian from that Of the white man, and
he begged for more time. But the chief
refused to grant it.
Just at this juncture there was glad
cry heard and two young girls came
running up to the chief, throwing their
arms around his neck and begging him
to be kind to the good white man. u
It was two Of the three girls whom he
had befriended four years ago. Recog-
nizing their benefactor, they had rushed
to his rescue, and Pocahontas-like
probably saved his life. In a moment
the chief was all kindness and told
DR.. Starr that he might stay as long
as he pleased and that he should have
an Indian attendant to secure safe es-
cort back to the white mans land.
This incident took place many years
ago. In the Cleveland administration
Starr went out and located his claim
Washington Post.