The Missionaries for Mexico--We are to Explore the Country--Our Outfit
and Mode of Travel--Our Stubborn Mules--Incidents of the Journey.
While the work of printing was in the press, the brethren wanted to
go on the mission were selected. It was agreed instead of going by
rail road and ocean to Mexico, that we would fit up with pack and
saddle animals and go through and explore Arizona on our trip. At this
time there was but little known by our people of Arizona. Even Salt
River valley was not known by the head men. Hardy, able-bodied men of
faith and energy were wanted for the trip. Besides myself there were
selected, J. Z. Stewart, Helaman Pratt, Wiley C. Jones (my son,) R. H.
Smith, Ammon M. Tenney and A. W. Ivins.
The book of one hundred pages was now ready, being bound in paper.
About the 1st of September, 1875, we appointed to meet at Nephi and
start from there with pack animals. Two of the company, being in the
extreme south, were to join us at Kanab. We left Nephi about the 10th
of September, and with our books, some two thousand packed on mules,
we started out. We had a good outfit for the trip. The people of
the settlements, as we passed along, assisted us in every way. Some
additions were made to our outfit. One place, Cedar City, gave so much
dried fruit that it became necessary for us to have another pack mule,
which was readily furnished. We stopped a short time at Toquerville,
where Brother Ivins joined us. From here we went to Kanab where our
company was completed by Brother Tenney joining.
The route chosen was by the way of Lee's Ferry, thence to the Moquis
villages, Brother Tenney having been to these villages some years
before, was to be our guide to that point, after which we were to make
our way through an unknown country the best we could. Our instructions
were to explore the Little Colorado.
Some few years previous to this a large company had been called to
go and settle Arizona. They had penetrated beyond the Colorado some
forty-five miles, but finding no water had all returned except one
small company under Brother John Blythe, the names of which as far
as obtained are, David V. Bennett, William Solomon, Ira Hatch, James
Mangrum, Thomas Smith and son. These remained doing all they could to
carry out the design of the mission, until circumstances caused their
honorable release. Their history and experience there would make quite
a chapter, but I cannot claim the right or memory to record it.
One little incident I will relate, to show how I came to be called
to explore Arizona in connection with this mission to Mexico, which
could have been made in an easier way than traveling so far with
pack mules. I was in President Young's office one day when several
others were present. Brother W. C. Staines came in and was telling
about having heard a Brother McMaster, of the 11th Ward, related a
remarkable occurrence whilst on this first Arizona trip. Brother
McMaster's statement, as told by Brother Staines, was that there were
several hundred persons, with teams, in a perishing condition. They had
passed some forty-five miles beyond the Colorado and no water could
be found. Some one had gone on up the Little Colorado and found that
entirely dry. Brother McMaster being chaplain went out and pled with
the Lord for water. Soon there was a fall of rain and snow depositing
plenty of water for the cattle, and to fill up all their barrels. They
were camped in a rocky place where there were many small holes that
soon filled up. In the morning all were refreshed, barrels filled up,
and all turned back rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord in saving
them from perishing. They returned to Salt Lake and reported Arizona
uninhabitable.
After Brother Staines had finished, some remarks were made by different
ones. I was sitting near by and just in front of Brother Brigham. I had
just been telling him something about my labors among the Indians. He
said nothing for a few moments, but sat looking me straight in the eye.
Finally he asked, "What do you think of that Brother Jones?"
I answered, "I would have filled up, went on, and prayed again."
Brother Brigham replied putting his hand upon me, "This is the man that
shall take charge of the next trip to Arizona."
Not long after crossing the Colorado we were overtaken by an Indian
bringing us a telegram from President Young, sent to Kanab, directing
us to visit Salt River valley as he had been informed something about
it since our departure. This changed our intended direction somewhat as
we were intending to make toward the Rio Grande, a country that I was
acquainted with.
On arriving at the Moquis villages, the Indians were much pleased to
see us, and were very friendly. Their country and villages have been
described so well and often that I will say but little about them.
They are a peaceable, honest class, dwelling in villages that have a
very ancient appearance situated on high bluffs, facing a dry, sandy
plain and distant some sixty miles from the Little Colorado river. The
Indians farm by catching the rain water which runs down from the hills,
and conduct it upon the more sandy spots; thus gathering moisture
enough to mature beans, pumpkins, early corn, melons and a few other
early vegetables. They have a number of peach trees that grow in the
sand ridges, bearing a very good fruit of which they dry the most. They
save and eat every thing they possibly can. They own quite a number of
horses, sheep and goats. They seem to be happy, well fed and contented,
making some blankets and clothing of a rude kind.
As there may be readers of this work more interested in the travels
and the country through which we passed than the mission in which we
were engaged, for their benefit I will describe our outfit and mode of
travel. On leaving Kanab there were seven of us with saddle animals.
Brother Pratt rode a contrary mule. We had some fourteen head of pack
animals. Our books were in convenient bales for packing. All our
provisions, which were ample, were put up in uniform-sized canvas bags.
There was one mule for water kegs and one horse for kitchen traps.
The latter was well suited for his position, for nothing would excite
him. We had to depend entirely on the grass to sustain our animals,
as we could not carry grain for them. In the early travels of western
explorers grass was the only feed. It was much more fresh and abundant
than at the present time. Now throughout the western country almost
every watering place is occupied by the ranchman's cattle.
At night our animals were hoppled and turned out. When any danger was
expected we would guard them. If there was no danger we went to bed and
hunted them up in the morning. Sometimes this was quite a labor. We had
one span of mules that seemed determined to get back to Utah. We tried
many times to hamper them, sometimes with seeming success, but they
soon learned to travel side or cross-hoppled, or one tied to the other.
Most of us were old travelers, that is, we had all had considerable
experience in handling animals in camp, but these mules showed more
cunning and perseverance than any we had seen before. Once they
traveled with hopples some sixteen miles. I happened to strike their
trail first. After tracking them about five miles I found Ammon
Tenney's saddle horse with a few other animals. I managed to catch
the horse, and with nothing but my suspenders for a bridle I followed
on alone until I overtook the mules. They tried to run away from me,
but I managed to head them back and drove them several miles before
daring to take the hopples off. The horse I was riding was quite sharp
backed. By this time, not like the king who cried "My kingdom for a
horse," I thought, "My kingdom for a saddle." So I commenced to study
how to make one, and succeeded finely. I took off my overalls, pulled
some hair out of the horse's tail and tied the bottom of the legs
together, then pulled the grass and stuffed the overalls full--both
legs and body. This formed a pad fast at both ends but separate in the
middle. This I placed lengthwise on the back of the horse with body end
forward so that I could hold the waistband end together with one hand
to keep the grass from working out. Under the circumstances this made
me quite comfortable, and I drove the mules back to camp all right. My
companions laughed heartily as I rode in, but acknowledged that I was a
good saddler.
A few nights after we were discussing these mules, Brother Tenney
proposed that we tie each mule to the other's tail. This worked like a
charm. We had no further trouble, as they simply followed each other
round and round and got their fill of travel without going very far
from camp.
There was some uneasiness felt by Brothers Tenney and Ivins about
meeting the Indians who had killed Dr. Whitmore, as they had never come
in to make peace with the Mormon settlements. As we neared the Moa-abby
we were all somewhat anxious and kept a good look-out. Brother Tenney
knew these Indians well and said he would be able to recognize them
from any others. The Navajoes who had formerly been hostile were now at
peace and coming in to trade for horses; but the Indians dreaded were
still supposed to be on the war path.
On arriving at the Moa-abby we camped near the edge of some willows,
keeping a good watch. We made an early camp shortly before sundown.
Brother Tenney, who was on the alert, suddenly said, "Here they are. We
are in for it."
At this time about twenty Indians on horseback showed themselves
some two hundred yards from us. They came somewhat slily out of the
willows. Brother Tenney recognized them at once as the hostiles. I
told him to make friendly signs and tell them to approach, as he
talked their language well. I told the rest to be ready but to make no
moves. Brother Tenney and I stepped unarmed out from the willows and
walked a little way in the direction of the Indians. They approached
us slowly. Brother Tenney told them to come on as we were friends. We
stood waiting for them to approach us. When they came up we shook hands
and I was introduced as a Mormon captain who was a great friend to
the Indians; one who never wanted to fight them and had a good heart
for the Indian race. Really I felt no fear, for we were sent out as
messengers of peace to this very people. Still I believed in being
prudent and not giving them a chance to get the advantage of us, for
this band of Indians were noted for their treachery even by the other
Indian tribes.
Like most Indians, they wanted to know if we had anything to eat. I
told them we had, and if they would do as I wanted them to that I would
give them a good supper. They agreed to do so. I showed them where to
make their camp, some twenty-five yards from ours, in an open spot. I
told them that my men were not acquainted with them and were a little
afraid, and that they must not go near them, but that Brother Tenney
and I knew them and were not afraid of them. I told two of the Indians
to bring some wood to our camp, which they did. I also told them to
get their wood and water and turn their horses out with ours, and get
everything ready before night, so that they would not want to leave
their camp after dark, as our men might be scared if they moved about
then. We had an abundance of provisions, so we gave them a good, hearty
supper.
Brother Tenney and I talked with them until bedtime. They said they had
desired to make peace with the Mormons but were afraid to come in. I
agreed to give them a paper next morning stating that we had met them
and that they desired peace. Our party laid on their arms all night
watching these Indians. None slept. They kept faith with us and not one
of them stirred during the night. We had breakfast early in the morning
and sent two of the Indians to bring up our animals. We gave them some
more provisions, wrote their recommend and then started on, leaving the
Indians cooking their breakfast and we saw no more of them. I never
heard of them committing any depredations afterwards.