My Scrutiny of the Mormons--Employment as an Indian
Trader--Acquaintance with "Winter Mormons"--A Proposition of
Theft--Loomas Threatens my Life--My Resolve to Kill him--He Finds his
Death at Other Hands.
After settling myself with the Bishop's family, I soon got so that I
could hobble around a little. Everyone was kind and treated me with
great confidence. I listened to the elders preaching and soon concluded
they were honest and knew it, or were willful liars and deceivers. I
was determined, if possible, not to be fooled, therefore I commenced to
watch very closely. I soon found that the people took an interest in
the Indians, and although they had been at war and the Bishop's son had
been killed by them, there was no general feeling of bitterness. The
Indians were around the fort more or less, and the people were desirous
of friendship.
After I had been there a few weeks recruiting, Messrs. Patrick and
Glenn came to Provo; they were traders on their way south to barter
with the Indians and whites. They knew nothing about trading with the
Indians, something I had learned considerable about from Old Thomas,
who had traded with them during our trip. I had also dealt with them
while in New Mexico. This firm offered me employment for the winter, to
go to Sanpete valley, then the head quarters for trading with the Ute
Indians. This suited me, for I wished to become better acquainted with
the Indians and gain their friendship, also to learn their language.
Some of them could speak more or less Spanish, but not enough to
converse satisfactorily. While in Manti, during the winter, I boarded
with Father Isaac Morley. During the winter I made the acquaintance
of Dimick B. Huntington. He told me about the Book of Mormon, its
relationship to the Indians, etc. It seemed natural to me to believe
it. I cannot remember ever questioning in my mind the truthfulness of
the Book of Mormon, or that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The question
was: Are the Mormons sincere, and can I be one? I heard a great many
hard remarks about the Missourians, and being one myself, I felt to
resent the wholesale accusations made against them.
About that time a great many "dead beats" and "winter Mormons" joined
the Church, emigrants who stopped over simply for convenience. Quite a
number came to Manti, led by one Loomas. They all joined the Church.
They tried to induce me to be baptized when they were. I gave them
a good cursing for being miserable hypocrites, at which they only
laughed, saying they would have the advantage of me among the girls,
at least. Sometime near spring this gang arranged to make a general
raid upon the settlements, and steal all the horses upon the range
from Draperville going south through Utah valley. In those days
numerous herds of horses ran loose, as the range was good. The gang of
outlaws had confederates in Salt Lake City where some of them robbed a
jeweler's store. They sent for me one night and laid their plans before
me. They proposed that I would be their guide and meet them at the head
of Spanish Fork Canyon, conduct them through to New Mexico and have
one-fourth of all the horses. I declined the offer, telling them it was
a good speculation, assigning as my reason for not going that I had
not sufficiently recovered from my wounds to risk the trip. This they
seemed to believe, as I was yet somewhat lame. They made me promise not
to betray them, and I soon satisfied them on that point.
I realized my awkward situation, but was determined to warn the people,
thus putting them on their guard. Accordingly on going to Provo, I
informed the Bishop of their plans; he warned the different settlements
and without any fuss the people were put on their guard. These men were
closely watched until spring, when they all left for Lower California,
most of them going about the time of the move to San Bernardino. In a
fit of anger a friend of Loomas told me I would get killed some day,
that Loomas was on my track.
It is true I had in a measure betrayed him and his companions, still I
had felt it my duty to do as I had done; and to prevent myself being
killed I resolved to kill him on sight. So intent was I on this, that
I came near shooting another party, that I mistook for Loomas. At this
time I was camped at Spanish Fork. As I was returning from a hunt,
I saw a person sitting with his back toward me, that in every way
resembled Loomas in point of size and peculiarity of dress. Loomas was
expected to visit us. I approached with my gun ready, greatly tempted
to shoot without speaking, as he was also armed, but thinking this
cowardly I spoke in order to draw his attention when, on his turning
round, another face presented itself.
As it turned out, no one knew of my intentions but myself. It makes me
shudder even now when I think of my intentions and feelings at that
time. I never saw any of the gang afterwards, but read an account of
Loomas and others being lynched for robbery in California.
My feelings at this time were very conflicting. I became fully
convinced of the truth of Mormonism, and that it was my duty to obey,
but I tried to excuse myself in many ways. I said nothing to anyone,
but kept up a "terrible thinking." Being a Missourian it seemed, from
the remarks made even in public, that salvation could never reach me.
I remembered that my father always opposed mobocracy, so much so that
he was called by some of our neighbors a Mormon. I was too proud to
mention this to anyone; I knew I was honest and was not to blame for
being born in Missouri.