It was nearly two years before we made another trip to the Moqui
towns. Many of the brethren appeared to think that no good could be
accomplished in that direction. In the autumn of 1861, many Saints were
called from the north to form settlements in Southern Utah. The city of
St. George was founded, and settlements were extended, so as to occupy
the fertile spots along the waters of the Rio Virgen and Santa Clara.
During the winter of 1861-2 there was an unusual amount of rain-fall.
About the middle of February, it rained most of the time for a number
of days, and the Santa Clara Creek rose so high that the water spread
across the bottom from bluff to bluff, and became a turbulent muddy
river.
Our little farms and the cottonwood trees that grew on the bottom lands
were disappearing. The flood wood sometimes accumulated in a pile, and
would throw the current of water on to ground which had apparently
before been safe from its inroads.
Our fort, constructed of stone, and which was one hundred feet square,
with walls twelve feet high and two feet thick, stood a considerable
distance north of the original bed of the creek. Inside the walls were
rooms occupied by families, and we had considered it safe from the
flood.
One night, when most of the people were asleep, some one discovered
that the water was washing away the bank on the south side of it, and
also that the water was beginning to run around it, between it and the
bluff. It was raining heavily at the same time.
The people were removed from the fort as soon as possible, and some
temporary shelter was constructed of boards, blankets, etc.
While I was making an effort to save some property near the caving
bank of the stream, the ground on which I stood suddenly slid into the
water, about twenty feet below, and took me with it.
I still stood on the mass of dirt, but realized that it was being
rapidly washed away from under me, and that I was liable at any moment
to be precipitated into the raging torrent.
The thought flashed through my mind that there was not one chance in
a thousand of my being saved. I heard someone say above me that I was
gone; it was of no use to try to save. I shouted at the top of my voice
"It is of use to try to save me! Bring a rope and throw to me, and haul
me out before the bank caves and I am gone!"
In a few moments I felt a rope drop over my head and shoulders. I lost
no time in grasping it, and was pulled up just as I felt the last
foothold giving way under me.
Again was my life preserved by that kindly providence which has so
often saved me when in imminent peril.
What seems remarkable in the history of that gloomy night is, that in
a few minutes after being rescued from death myself, I should be the
means of saving another life.
A heavy and rapidly increasing current of water was now running between
the fort and the bluff.
In some way or other a sick woman had been left in one of the rooms of
the fort, and her husband was almost frantic with the idea that his
wife was lost, as he did not think she could be got out. She had a
young child, which was safe outside, while the mother was in peril.
I took the rope that had been the means of saving myself, tied one end
of it to a tree, and holding on to it, got safely to the fort, where
I fastened the other end. I entered the room, drew the woman from the
bed on to my back, placed her arms over my shoulders and crossed them
in front. I told her when I got to the running water that she must hold
herself on my back, for I would be obliged to lay hold of the rope with
both hands to get through the water.
When we arrived at the point of danger, her arms pressed so heavily
on my throat that I was nearly strangled. It was a critical moment,
for if I let go the rope we were sure to be lost, as the water was
surging against me. I made the best possible use of time and strength,
and reached the shore safely with my burden, to the great joy of the
husband and children.
The flood swept away my grist mill and other improvements to the value
of several thousand dollars. Most of the houses and the cultivated land
of the settlement also disappeared.
In the autumn of 1862, it was thought best to again visit the Moqui
villages. President Young recommended that we cross the Colorado River
south of St. George, and explore the country in that direction, with
the view of finding a more feasible route than the one we had before
traveled.
A company of twenty men were set apart for this purpose, by Apostles
Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow.
A team accompanied us to the river with a small boat, in which we
conveyed our luggage across. Our animals swam the river.
Expecting to return the same way, after crossing the river we cached
our boat and some of our supplies.
The first day we traveled south, up a "wash," for about thirty miles.
We then traveled three days through a rough, bushy country, with some
scrub cedar and pine timber. The fourth night from the river we camped
at a small "seep" spring. The San Francisco Mountain lay a little to
the southeast of us, and in sight.
In the morning our Indian guide refused to go farther with us, his
reason being that we were going into a country destitute of water. We
counseled together, and decided that we could reach the foothills of
the San Francisco Mountain without perishing.
The first night from the "seep" spring, a light fall of snow came on.
It melted and ran into the hollows of the rocks, and furnished an
abundant supply of water. This seemed like a special providence in our
favor.
The second night we made a dry camp. The third night we arrived at the
foot of the San Francisco Mountain, where we again found snow.
The second day after leaving this mountain we reached the Little
Colorado River, and then traveled a little northeast to the Moqui towns.
We spent two days in visiting among them. We left Brothers Jehiel
McConnell, Thales Haskell and Ira Hatch to labor among them for a
season.
The Moquis had been going through some religious ceremonies to induce
the Great Spirit to send storms to wet their country, that they might
raise an abundance of food the coming season. They assured us that
their offerings and prayers were heard, for the storm would soon come,
and advised us to delay starting for home until it should be over.
We had been talking with them about sending some of their chief men
with us, to see our people and have a talk with our leaders. They
objected on account of a tradition forbidding them to cross the great
river, which has been referred to before.
We then started for home. The storm came the first night out and wet
the country finely. We found shelter under a rock.
While there, three Moqui men came to us. They informed us that, after
further consultation, their chief men had concluded to send them with
us.
This storm, apparently in answer to the prayers of this simple people,
and similar circumstances that have come under my observation among the
Indians, have given me an assurance that the Lord is mindful of the
wants of those barbarians, and that He answers their prayers with the
blessings they need.
The snow fell sufficiently deep to cover up the grass, and our animals
had to subsist principally on browse. The traveling was laborious, and
when we arrived at the river by our old route, we had eight animals
less than we left home with. This loss, and the poor condition of those
that remained made traveling slow and tedious.
On arriving at the Ute crossing of the Colorado, we found the water
deep and ice running. Fording was difficult and dangerous.
This, coupled with the traditions of the Moquis against crossing this
river, visibly affected our Moqui friends. Anticipating that they might
be entirely discouraged and not proceed farther, I forwarded their
blankets and provisions by the first ones that crossed over.
When we desired them to cross, they expressed a wish to return home,
but when I informed them that their things had been taken over, they
concluded to follow. When the crossing was successfully accomplished,
they returned thanks to the Father of all for their preservation.
On the north side, it occupied a day to bridge a muddy inlet and get on
to the bench above. The crossing was accomplished the first day of the
year 1863.
Brothers L. M. Fuller and James Andrus, whose animals were still in
fair condition, were advised to push on as fast as practicable, and
send us back some supplies, as we were very short of food.
The rest of the company traveled slowly to save the weak animals.
We lay by one day on the Pahreah, and killed and cooked crows to help
out our rations.
Six days from the river we camped on Kanab Creek. That evening, Brother
Lucius M. Fuller came into camp with a fat sheep, dressed, and some
bread and flour, which were furnished by Brother Wm. B. Maxwell, from
his ranch on Short Creek, forty miles beyond our camp.
When the Moquis saw this food they thanked the Great Father that He
had pitied us and sent us food. Prayer and thanksgiving was the daily
custom in our company--but to see these Indians, who are looked upon
as barbarians, so humble and childlike in their reverence to the Great
Father, seems worthy of special notice.
A man who came with Brother Fuller told me, after supper, that he had
heard that one of my sons had been killed at Santa Clara, by the caving
in of a bank of earth, and he thought it was Lyman. That night I had a
dream or vision, in which I learned that it was Duane instead of Lyman,
and I told the brethren so in the morning.
Three days afterwards we arrived at the settlements on the Rio Virgin.
The brethren in these settlement furnished us with fresh animals and an
abundant supply of food. We found a wide difference between feasting
and fasting.
Soon after arriving home, Brother Wm. B. Maxwell and I took our three
Moqui friends to Salt Lake City. The people on the way were very kind
and hospitable. Arriving there, all possible pains were taken to
instruct these men concerning our people, and to show them that which
would gratify their curiosity, and increase their knowledge. They said
they had been told that their forefathers had the arts of reading,
writing, making books, etc.
We took them to a Welshman who understood the ancient Welsh language.
He said he could not detect anything in their language that would
warrant a belief that they were of Welsh descent.
As Lehi had promised his son Joseph that all his seed should not be
destroyed, it was the mind of the brethren who reflected upon this
subject, that in the Moqui people this promise was fulfilled.