Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-23
DEsERET EVENING NEWS SATURDAY MARCH go 1907

Thus was Hebcr c. Kimball's prophecy
fulfilled and the people made thankful
by this act OF Providence. Not long
after this President Young started
building his residences known rs the
white House. aud | was sent to worR
on this building also built most OF
the old schoohouse The next build.
ing commenced was sthe Lion House,
which was completed In March, 1856
AT this time | had Just returned from
the east where 11r. ~, q. Lewis had iN-
trodMccd calstheniCs, the first In the
United States. President Young sug-
gested 1 form class and ] did sC the
FIRST including his daughters, We eX-
ercised with wooden swords and wands
President Young was much pleased
with the result. and ] commenced 80
drill the boys | put them through the
manual of arms and they dld remark
ably wen. We next built the stone
wall. While this was built for pro-
lection from Indians. Its chief object
was 10 elve employment To idle men.
Aniuscments were favored by President
Young and The first theatrical per-
fornance was III the Old Howery which,
was built on the southeast corner ar the
temple block. The play given was that
of Robert MnCaire-' with John Kay
myself and my Wife. Margaret Clawson,
IN principal parts, and this was after
wards ri ven ut the Social Hall Prest-
dent Young encouragcd the people In
these rcereations and made the admis-
sion price Within the reach ct all in
fact, as Artenus Ward said,
the door receipts consisted most
ly OF chickens potatoes and
other farm products. The corner
stone OF the temple was laid April ..
1853 and President Young insisted it
should be built of solid stone. When
Johuson's army came In 90, this foun-
dalton WAS covered. Before leaving
with the people for the south President
Young ordered the houses prepared for
setting fire 20 them If the army entered
the city, But u. S. Commissioners
carnO ON and after interviews with
President Young, the army moved 10
Camp Floyd. Here the army disblnded
with large stock Of supplies on their
hands. Notice was given OF sale. and
President Young sent me with $40 900
In gold with instructions 20 buy those
things we most needed. These supplies
consisted of tents, plows and other
farming implements, nails, glass and
other building material. sugar, tents
and cook stoves that usually sold for
Sic to SIS, We bought for 81, and other
things IN proportion ] was cordially
received and favored by the officers. /
made my purchases as instructed. One
evening while sitting with the officers
my attention was drawn 10 a beautiful
flag and STAFF The officers asked me IN
! thought President Young would aC-
cept that fog ! assured them that he
would not only accept 1t, bat place the
stan on the White House and that on
all national oCCa slons the flag would
be unfugled. They presented It, II was
accepted and placed as ] had stated
The supplies bought at Camp Floyd
were sold to the people at one half reg
ular prices, but the profit was about
$4,000 and this was used In building
the theater.
Now word about the Eagle Gate
When the wall was being built around
the block, | suggested that We have an
arch wish eagle | drew out and sub.
init plan and II was approved and
acted upon This original wooden eagle
carved by Brother Ramsey, Is now COW
eCed, but the old slabs are preserved in
side, | WAS sent TO Fort BriGsef with
Gen, Wells, ! want to here testify that
Gen. wells was ms great a general as
ever knew, cool and deliberate. brave
in the face of danger The Indians be-
came hostile and killed Il man al Provo
Gen, George Grant was appointed TO
quell the disturbance ! went, and
among others We're Bishop Burton and
William ISiHball- The Indians sur
rounded the house on the banks OF the
river ana WIS sent TO ma lne cOndl-
tons | rode up the banks OF the river
within 100 yards OF the Indians while
all the time our men kept covered. /
got safely IN and found one man
wounded Coming back the Indians
opened fire and a bullet winged past
within o few inches OF my face, but we
reached camp safely. The next day the
Indians 1ef; and we followed We had
a battle at the point of the mountain
In SO we had the famine from grass
hoppers, President Young had told the
they would sell 70 sell TO him. When