I started home with my jaded horse, and got along by alternately riding
and walking. I met some families on their way to settle at Moancoppy.
I told the brethren that I thought the place could be safely settled,
if they would leave their women and children on the west side of the
river until matters were arranged. I camped with them over night,
and gave them an insight into our affairs with the Navajos, and
particularly requested that they would not converse with them about
their difficulty with us.
Soon after arriving at Kanab, I went to St. George and visited
Presidents Brigham Young and George A. Smith. I then returned to Kanab,
and worked about home until it was time to go over the river to meet
the Navajos as I had agreed to.
Through hardship and exposure my health was somewhat impaired. I
endeavored to get a light wagon, that I might travel more comfortably
than on horseback, but without success. I set out with a horse and
three blankets. Soon after a blowing, chilling storm of rain and sleet
commenced, and I became thoroughly wet.
I rode twelve miles to Johnson, when I was scarcely able to sit on my
horse. I could proceed no farther, and stopped with Brother Watson,
who was living in his wagons and a temporary camp prepared for winter.
Sister Watson cared for me as well as circumstances would permit.
The storm continued the next day until afternoon, when the weather
appeared a little more favorable. I was scarcely able to mount my
horse, but I did, and started on my way.
The storm soon came on again, and again I was thoroughly wet. I
traveled until after dark, and stopped at a vacated house at the Navajo
Wells, ten miles from Johnson. In dismounting I fell to the ground.
It was in a place where travelers on that road usually camped, and the
wood had been gathered for a considerable distance around; and had
there been fuel I would not have been able to go after it.
It was a dark, dismal time, and it appeared to me that I could not live
until morning. I prayed to the Lord to have pity on me and save my
life. I succeeded in getting myself and horse into the house out of the
storm.
I felt my way to the fireplace, and was much surprised to find some
good, dry wood. I soon had a fire, and, leaning against one side of the
fireplace, with my blankets drawn closely around me, and with a small
blaze of fire, I was soon warm, and slept until morning.
When I awoke I felt well, and quite able to pursue my journey. I went
by the Pahreah settlement, and from there Brothers Thos. Adair and Lehi
Smithson accompanied me to Mowabby. There I found Ketch-e-ne and a
deputation from the Moqui towns.
Ketch-e-ne renewed the former demand for three hundred and fifty head
of cattle for the injury done himself and his people. I told him that
when I went home I might talk with the chiefs of my people about it,
but would make no promises.
Hastele, whom I wished to see, did not put in an appearance.
I went on and visited all the Moqui towns, and told the people the
object of my visit. I requested them to tell all the Navajos they had
an opportunity of seeing that I had come there according to agreement,
and as they had failed to meet me as I had expected, if they would come
over the river, I would be on hand to show them that I had told the
truth. Feeling satisfied that things would work all right, I returned
home.
Some of the brethren who went to Moancoppy visited the Navajos, and
talked unwisely about affairs. They in turn, talked and threatened in
a way that frightened our people, because they found they could do it,
and the mission was broken up.
I had passed through many perils to establish a mission among the
Indians on the east side of the Colorado, but on account of the sayings
and doings of unwise brethren, the time came for it to be broken up.
The Moancoppy was ordered to be vacated, and I went to assist in
bringing the people away. They brought away the feeling with them that
there would be another Navajo war.
I attended the quarterly conference at St. George, in May. The war
question and the necessity of putting a guard at the crossing of the
Colorado were agitated.
In speaking in the tabernacle on Sunday, I told the congregation there
would be no trouble with the Navajos, and as soon as the summer rains
commenced, there would be a party of them over. I felt an assurance
of this from what I knew of circumstances, and the whisperings of the
Spirit within me.
It was decided to establish a trading post at one of the crossings of
the Colorado, east of St. George. For this purpose a party was sent out
under the direction of Bishop Daniel D. McArthur.
As I was acquainted with both crossings, I was called upon to go with
them. The ferry was selected. In traveling with Brother McArthur to
the Ute crossing, thirty miles above the ferry, and back, I gave him a
detailed account of our affairs with the Navajos.
I told him that I considered the breaking up of the Moancoppy mission
as unnecessary; there would be no trouble with the Navajos, and some of
those among them who had authority to settle their difficulties with us
would be over as soon as the first rain fell.
That night there was a heavy shower. The following day I started for
home by way of the Pahreah settlement, and Brother McArthur went on to
the ferry.
Before separating, I told the brethren they would meet the Navajo peace
party that night at the ferry, and they would travel to Kanab together.
They asked me how I knew. I told them I knew they would be over, for
they would just have time to get to the ferry since the rain.
Arriving at Kanab I found Hastele and his party, including two good
interpreters.
I had been away so much, that my family seemed badly in need of my help
at home, and I, at the time, thought I was justified in remaining with
them. I requested Brother Ammon M. Tenney to go with Hastele over on to
the Sevier River, and satisfy him of the facts concerning the murder of
the young Navajos.
After the party had gone I began to work in the garden, but everything
went wrong, and I felt that I had done wrong in remaining behind.
I continued to try to accomplish some necessary work, until I was
seized with such a violent pain in one of my knees, that I had to be
assisted into the house. I sent for my horse, was assisted into the
saddle, and was soon on my way to overtake Hastele. The pain left my
knee and I was soon all right.
I overtook the Navajos sixty miles from Kanab. Everything worked well
for showing up the facts connected with the murder. The brethren we
fell in with rendered all the assistance in their power.
I had talked with the Navajos and explained to them the locations of
the "Mormons" and the Gentiles, and what took place at McCarty's ranch.
I had telegraphed to Bishop Thurber, of Richfield, and Brother Helaman
Pratt to meet us at the lower end of Circle Valley. We arrived there
before them and waited. I told Hastele there would be two "Mormons"
there that evening, who knew more about the affair than I did, and they
were men of truth.
We were camped near the road, where men were passing both ways, on
horseback and in wagons. When the two brethren were approaching, and
still a considerable distance off, Hastele arose to his feet, saying,
"There come the two men we are waiting for."
As they drew near, he remarked, "Yes, they are good men, men of God."
As the brethren dismounted, Hastele embraced them in true Navajo style.
I mention this as one of the many circumstances that have come under my
notice, which prove to me that many of the Indians, and especially the
honest-hearted, are blessed with much of the spirit of revelation and
discernment.
The following morning, when arranging to visit the spot where the
Navajos were killed, Hastele spoke as follows: "I am satisfied; I
have gone far enough; I know our friends, the 'Mormons', are our true
friends. No other people we ever knew would have taken the trouble they
have to show us the truth. I believe they have good hearts. Here is
Jacob; he has been traveling about to do good all winter and spring,
and is going yet. When I get home I do not intend my tongue to lay idle
until the Navajos learn the particulars of this affair."
Hastele started for Kanab; Brothers Thurber and Pratt, a Mr. Boyd,
who was sent by the agent at Fort Defiance to accompany the Navajo
delegation, the two Navajo interpreters and I went to Grass Valley,
to see the place where the Navajos were killed. Having satisfied the
interpreters, we returned by way of Richfield.