The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-08-17
OLD INDIAN TOWER
RELIC OF EARLY
DAYS IN ALPINE


has It's own little sacred history--lts
own story Of early pioneer life. Some
of these are tragic, most are dram
attic and all are interesting.
Tucked away in the northwest cor
ner Of Utah county and lieing snug
gled In the lap OF the great granite
mountains, the little village OF Al
pine rests secluded from railroad
strikes and free from the political
strife OF her less fortunate sister
cities.
This beautiful mountain burg" was
born in 1S49 and owes its creation to
the wonderous scenery, its delight
full climate and Its dashing canyon
creeks. filled to their messy edges
with the finest trout. Two OF the
largest streams join In the lower
mouth of the valley and the water
is used by the farmers to irrigate
their fruitful fields. Just above this
union place was the original site OF
the city and before the people had
celebrated their first birthday a
strong stone wall had been built for
protection against troublesome and
often hostile Utes, who felt that the
fish and the meadows were being TAX
en- from them. Many and early set.
tier here owes his life to the strong
nigh walls OF the fort and many an
Indian brave has waited to take re-
yenge on the less protected.
Thus II was with Squash" red
faced devil, who went TO the home OF
the Lemons and after being fed by
Mrs Lennon, grabbed small child
or the household and in the presence
OF the distracted parent, dashed its
brains out on a rough granite boulder
by the roadside. Tnls renegade,
however, was later found In Spanish
FORK with bullet hole in his head.
Incidents like this kept the people
closely united and those who had
moved from the enclosure now re-
turned to avoid repetition.
Moyle Family Comes In.
SO they lived In 1868, the year |
OF the drive, when a family came who |
were destined TO influence the lives |
OF the people and free the canyon |
OF the boastful red men. John Row |
Moyle with his good wife, six sons
ana daughter, II was who came and \
located In the northeast fields. Only |
one man had ventured nearer the
mountains than they-Morris Phelps,
whose pit saw-mill furnished rough
hewn spruce and pine for the lower
valley people.
This man Moyle brought something
besides a large family--a courage
born In early pioneer life. and, just
as helpful now, knowledge OF tow
or and fort building. This last as
set came with him from England
where he remembered the ancient
castles and the manner OF their
building. II
So with his family. he set to work :
TO duplicate European castle OF !
feudal times that would protect him
and his against the red rider and q
trapper OF the mountains. Boulders a
for the purpose seemed to have been
left on the ground by early made tor
rents, and clay for the cement was
found only few PAGES to the north
ward. The. tower was built-two
feet thick, two stories high and port
holes arranged for convenience, with
the wide opening outside, but only a
rifle barrel size within; thus from
any angle an advancing Indian could L,
be seen and repulsed without the
slightest danger to the occupants. :.
Around this and covering some 25
square rods stands today the remains a
OF the old wall that protected the m
crude machinery and farm animals, nj
and In corner secure Is what re-
mains OF the old cement threshing
floor, OF which Joseph Moyle said re-
minlscently: MY father and our
family have Hailed out hundreds oil
bushels OF wheat ON that floor and
carried II over TO the old granary o
there" He pointed out the rock cave IL
that served as store house for the
wheat until II could be taken to Am c
erican Fork Canyon for grist.
Yes. but how did you people get Z
Into the tower in times of danger 4
Mr.. Moyle was asked.
We'll, sir, he replied, there never /
was a shot fired out OF that tower I
and there are only two people alive 7
today who ever slept in it-thats
James II. Moyle and my brother,
Joseph ". Moyle, who lives on the
place today. These were both little
boys at the time and my mother took
them In their at nights for safety
OH yes, you asked how they got inG' /
Here he reached down and lifted a
large granite slab just outside the
old tower. See that tunnel. My
father figured he would connect the I
tower and the old rock house (some
80 feet away but before he could I'm
ish It the Indians had seemed sudden
ly to vanish and we never had
occasion TO test It out"
Only Two Remain.
Thus here situated, practically un.
known, stands one OF the only two ,
Indian towers left In our state today.
The other Is situated a few miles
north OF Beaver and was built by ,
the Church In early Indian troubles
when. after the soldiers came, the {
savages went southwark away from
the more thickly settled section. The ,
time is not far on when even this
splendid relic will be in ruin unless '
some one proposes to preserve It [
from destruction. II
Wouldn't II be a patriotic service s
n some organizati0n-som historical q