Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1903-04-22
STOOD GUARD
OVER BRIGHAM
With Major Powell in
Grand Canyon.
A Prominent Yavapai Citizen
Gives Interesting Remin-
iscences of Trip.

| had Just returned from Montana
and had stopped in Salt Lake City for
about six weeks when L bought horse
from the church herd, they called him
Nephi, and a pack mule, and started
south. Where l was going, or what l
intended to do, l didn't know, and
cared less, Just so l was seeing some
new place, and now and then having a
little excitement. The first day out,
had hardly made my camp, when a
team pulled into camp, and stopped
near mine on my left. With it were
several men and a bunch of loose
horses. After supper L went over to
this camp, when man with one arm
commenced to ask me questions;
where was from; where l was going;
if knew how to pack, and what ex-
perience 1 had with Indians. He also
asked me all about my name, which
struck me as unusual. One might
ask, "what do they call you" or
''what name do you go by" But 1
answered all of his questions, then he
told me he was Major Powell; that be
had just passed through the canyon,
and was now on his way down to the
rim, to see if he could find place,
or places, to get down to the river, so
that he could make caches for future
trips. He said he wanted me to take
charge of his pack train. After l
agreed to do so, he asked me what G.
in my name stood for. l told him.
He said l am going to call you
Charley, and it has been Charley ever
since.
The next day we came to where
Brigham Young and his party were
camped at a small settlement. With
him we're several of the leading Nor
mon elders, among them being Brig
ham Young, jr., a man built on N. o.
Murphy's plan, but jolly, and John
W. Young, boy about my own age.
The president, as they called Brigham
Young, invited Major Powell to go
along with his party. They we're go
ing to re-establish some settlements
that we're abandoned on account of
the Navajo Indians. Major Powell
took me with him, and let me say here
that at that time the Navajos were at
peace with the United States, but at
war with the Mormons. Any one com
ing form Utah was considered Nor
mon. | left my own animals, to go
with the rest of the party and the
wagon, by way of st. George to Ka
nab, and rode little mule of Major
Powell's. 1t would bolt and try to
rub me off the saddle, against tree,
or under a limb, or against wheel.
Then | would say swear words, | knew
them all, and at the next stop Presi-
dent Young would give me lecture,
in kind fatherly manner, about the
evil of swearing, but always wound
up by asking me to join the Mormon
church and offered me one of his
daughters if / would go back to Salt
Lake City with him. He had kind
ly face and a hearty voice. Every
evening they would sing "Saints of
Latter Days" when he would say,
''good old song; good old song Every
day Indian runners would come into
camp from the settlements, with fresh
fruit, vegetables, butter, milk, ETC.,
and never did an Indian arrive, but
what Brigham Young would hunt me
up and give me some of the fruit. The
last day before reaching Kanab We
camped Just inside of the mouth of
narrow canyon. We had seen Indian
signs all that day. The Major and l
slept together on the trip and apart
from the rest. | was lying on the
blankets, when the Major came to
where l was, and said, 'they want you
to stand guard; l told them we we're
guests; that would come over to see
you, and if you wanted to you could,
but | would not ask you to do so. l
told the Major | would stand guard.
and went over to see the elder who
had charge of the guard, then went
out and selected bunch of brush to
lay down in, and from which | could
see from bluff to bluff. At twelve
o'clock they woke me. l went to my
brush and lay there until morning. l
believe | am the only man, not be-
longing to the Mormon church, who
has ever stood guard over Brigham
Young. The next day we reached
Kanab, where we found our outfit. l
have been told by several Mormons,
whom l have met since then, that ia
cob Hamlin had written a book about
this trip, for the Mormon Sunday
school and in it | am the bad boy on
the sure road to Hades. c. A. b.
Earotuoil Curnricoe