The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-12-13
~ TALE or TIE OLD WEST
G - HARRY LEON VIII SON 7h HyS SPess q
'0pSEHGW 1908 S+Z

CITY wen every able-pod1ed man put
two.
Joel Rae was with them, wondering
why he went. He wanted not to go.
He preferred that news of the ap-
preaching victory should be brought
to him; yet invisible hands had forced
him, even while it seemed that fren-
zied voices-voices without sound
warned him back.
The ride was long, but not long
enough for his mind to clear. 1t was
still clouded with doubts and question
ings and fears when they at last saw
the faring of many fires with figures
lettering or moving busily about them.
AS they came nearer, a strange,
rhythmic throbbing crept to his ears;
nearer still, he resolved it into the
slow, regular beatings Of a fiat-toned
drum, The measure, deliberate, in
cessant, changeless,-the same tones,
the same intervals,-worked upon his
strained nerves, at first soothingly and
then as a pleasant stimulant.
The wagons now pulled up near the
largest camp fire, and the arrivals
were greeted by a dozen or so of the
Saints, who, with Major Lee, had been
directing and helping the Indians in
their assaults upon the enemy. Several
Of these had disguised themselves as
Indians for the better deception Of the
besieged.
At fires near by the Indians were
broiling beef cut from animals they
had slaughtered belonging to the wag-
on-train. Still others were cutting the
hides into strips to be made into
lariats. AS far down as tn" line could
be seen, there were dusky figures dart
ing in and out Of the freight.
A council was at once called Of the
Presidents. Bishops, Elders, High
Priests, and the officers of the militia
who were present. Bishop Klingen-
smith barred his massive head in the
freight and opened the council with
prayer, invoking the aid of God to
guide them Alright. Then Major Hig-
bee, presiding as chairman, announced
the orders under which they were as
sembled and under which the train
had been attacked.
1T is ordered from headquarters
that this party must be used up, ex-
cept such as are too young to tell
tales. We got to do it,. They been
acting terrible mean ever since we
wouldn't sell them anything. II we
let them go on now, they been making
their brag hat they'll raise a force
in California and come back and wipe
us out-and Johnston's army already
marching on us from the east. Are
we going to submit again to what we
got in Missouri and in Illinois? No!
Everybody is agreed about that. Now
the Indians have failed to do 1t like
we thought they would, so we got to
finish it up, that's all"
Joel Rae spoke for the first time.
You say except such as are too
young to tell tales, Brother Higbee;
what does that mean?"
why, all but the very smallest chill
dren, of course"
Are there children here?"
Lee answered:
"Oh, a fair sprinkling-about what
you'd look for in a train of a hundred
and thirty people. The boys got two
of the kids yesterday; the fools had
dressed them up in white dresses and
sent them out for a bucket Of water.
You can see their bodies lying over
there this side of the spring"
And there are women?" he asked,
feeling a great sickness coming upon
him.
"Plenty of them," answered King
ensmith, some mighty fine women,
too; I could see one yesterday, a mon
strous fine figure and hair shiny like
a crows wing, and a little one, power
full pretty, and n kind of between
the two-it's a shame we can't keep
some of them, but orders is orders!"
These women must be killed, too?"
That's the orders from .headquar-
tiers, Brother Rae"
From the military headquarters at
Parowan, or from the spiritual head
quarters at Salt Lake,"
Better not inquire how far back
that order started, Brother Rae-nor
of me, anyway.
But women and children"
The great Elohim has spoken from
the heavens, Brother Rae-that's
enough for me. l can't put my human
standards against the revealed will of
God"
But women and children" He
repeated the words as if he sought to
comprehend them. He seemed like a
man with defective sight who has
come suddenly against a wall that ne
had thought far off. Higbee now adj
dressed him.
Brother Rae, in religion you have
to eat the bran along with the flour.
Did you suppose we were going to
milk the Gentiles and not ever shed
any blood?"
But innocent blood"
There amt a drop Of innocent
blood in the whole damned train. And
what are you, to be questioning this
way about orders from on higLo I've
heard you preach many a time about
the sin Of such doings as that. You
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