FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS.
A TRUE YET THRILLING NARRATIVE OF THE AUTHOR'SEXPERIENCES AMONG THE NATIVES.
BY DANIEL W JONES.
PUBLISHED AT THE
JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE,
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. 1890.
PREFACE.
The Scriptures tell us that the truth should not be spoken at alltimes. Does this imply that a falsehood should ever be told? I thinknot, but simply means that silence is often profitable.
In answer to the solicitation of many friends, I have concluded towrite something of my personal history and experience in frontierlife, especially relating to that portion spent among the Indians andMexicans. In doing this I shall aim to write the plain, simple truth. Ihave to trust mainly to my memory, never having kept a journal. I havepreserved a few letters that will aid me, but the greater part of thishistory will be given as it comes to my mind, just as it occurred tome at the time, modified or strengthened, as the case may be, by aftercircumstances.
One rule I shall endeavor to follow—to speak the truth without malicetoward anyone. This will doubtless be hard for me to carry through, butI make a record of the desire, that it may be continually before me.
If the educated reader should find any mistakes in this book, pleasedo not spend much time or money in pointing them out, as they may betoo common. No one has been paid for a literary revision. The Authorhas used his own language and style. The unlearned will be able tounderstand the language without the use of a dictionary.
The Author.
INDEX.
Cross the Plains with Volunteers to Engage in War with Mexico—Attackedby Mounted Comanches—Remain in Mexico About Three Years after theWar—Indulge in Many of the Wild and Reckless Ways of the People, butAbstain from Strong Drink and the Worst Vices—Acquire a Knowledge ofthe Spanish Language
Learn of the "Mormons"—Leave with a Company Bound for Salt LakeValley with Eight Thousand Sheep—My First "Big Scare"—Surroundedand Threatened by Indians Many Times on the Road—Surrounded by FiveHundred Well-Armed Warriors Demanding the Death of a Man from ourCamp, as the Chief's son had Died—Meet with an Accident Which NearlyResulted in my Death
My Scrutiny of the Mormons—Employment as an Indian Trader—Acquaintance with "Winter Mormons"—A Proposition of Theft—LoomasThreatens my Life—My Resolve to Kill him—He Finds his Death at OtherHands
My Baptism—Walker, the "Napoleon of the Desert"—Raids in LowerCalifornia—He Tricks the Mexicans—Extinction of the Tribe
Patrick and Glenn Fail—Patrick a Rascal—He Robs Enoch Reece
My Visit to Salt Lake City—Introduction to Brigham Young—Ordained aSeventy—Judge Brochus' Speech
The City Santa Fe—Traditions Concerning it—The Early Settlers—MyDesires to Travel—The Slave Trade
Governor Brigham Young Checks the Slave Trade—The Prosecution ofOffenders—A Noted Trial—A Cruel Argument to Induce Mormons to BuyIndian Children
My Marriage—Peaceful Life Among the Savages—Dr. Bowman Seeks Trouble—Heis Killed by the Indians—The "Walker War"—Its Cause—AThrilling Situation