Sully Richardson stories

Sullivan Richardson stories

MORMON INDIAN RELATIONS

by Sullivan Calvin Richardson

3 AN INTERPOSITION OF PROVIDENCE

The Historian McClintock in "Mormon Settlement in Arizona" (page 251) gives the main parts of this sketch, but ascribes it to Orson Cluff. There was no Cluff with them, and the facts as herein given are vouched for by members of the party, among them Louis Cardon, still a worker in the Arizona Temple. He may have the account from Orson Cluff and confused with him as the actor.

SOON AFTER WE WENT TO MEXICO, Uncle Charley Whiting came back to our old home in Wilford, Southwest of Snowflake, Arizona. He was taken with a severe and prolonged case of Typhoid Fever. At last, after a fast of the brethren, then administration, the fever left him. He got up, went to Fast meeting and bore a strong testimony of the relief, assurance, and joy, that came to him. However, he had become so weak that it was some time before he was able to start back to Mexico.

Joseph Cardon and family, his brother Louis, with their Aunt Sarah (who had ever been like a mother to them), with her family, were almost ready to start from Snowflake, taking quite & herd of stock, and Charles Whiting, his wife, Verona, their four children, and Teresa Richardson, waited three or four days that they might come together. Then, with Joseph Hawkins taking his father's family, and in another wagon, Wilmerth East and her son Tom, started on a trip in which all felt that a most miraculous interposition of Providence was manifested. It was really the greatest in their life's experience.

Geronimo, with his band of renegade Apaches, had broken out and killed a woman and babe in the Springerville country. They were thought to be still in that section of the country, so by hurrying across the mountain, there would be no especial danger.

How serious consequences may be influenced by little acts, was emphasized during that raid. Charley Siegal had befriended a young Apache, really a noble young fellow. Some "Smarties" were imposing and "running" on him, when Charlie stepped in and told them it must be stopped or they'd have him to lick. It had gone far enough. Quite an attachment had grown between them. About this time Charley was riding along the Old Verde Road from Springerville to Ft. Apache, when suddenly a young Indian rose from the bushes at the side of the road and called out, "Hello, Sharley:", then said something in his own tongue, and several Indians who had been hidden, and in waiting, arose and gathered around him as "Good friend:"

Only for manly kindness shown, there is no doubt but his name would have been added to the list of that raid.

The Whiting Cardon company camped on the road a little north of east of Ft. Apache. As Joseph was going up to the fort, at the edge of the cedars, unexpectedly to both, an Indian rode up to him around a bunch of cedars. But the latter greeted him with, "Hello: Whea' you goin?" Joseph told him, then was asked, "Got lots good ho'sses?"

He replied, "Yes, lots of good horses." and was impelled to add, "And lots of good guns'." He was sure it was Geronimo himself.

Uncle Charles said it was thought they might overtake a company that had already gone, and no objection was raised to their going on.

From the Fort the road went on south up a canyon, but it was dusk when they got to "Seven Mile Hill" where they turned out up quite a steep side hill going over to Turkey Tanks.

The lighter wagons went up quite easily and camped at the first level place near the top of the dugway, and several went to bed. It was midnight or later, when all were up and they gathered around a big fire for supper and knelt in camp prayer.

During the prayer, an Indian dog came to the fire, soon followed by another, and they knew what kind of company was near. They heard horses climb out of the dugway. Joseph sneaked near enough in the darkness to hear them talk and counted sixteen Indians watching the prayer that was sent up for protection.

A squaw that had been forced to leave her papoose and come with the band made such a fuss that she was sent back at this time, and knowing what was intended, went by the fort and told that all had been killed. Joseph Clawson who was carrying the mail took this word on back, and at Taylor, a large crowd of men were preparing to come for the bodies.

The same at St. Joseph where the people had met for meeting, but had only prayer and filled with sorrow, began preparations for a party to go from there.

But two other squaws who went back to the fort later told that the band could not kill them while they were praying to the Great Spirit. The home people were relieved by a runner sent with word that as yet, all were safe.

It was afterwards learned, however, that the Apaches left them only for the morning, intending first to go to the camp of the herders who were guarding the beef cattle contracted for at the fort. They were a few miles away, down on Black River. It would be an easy matter to kill them, get what was of value there, then come back and finish up our company.

The herders, however, slept late in a camp the Apaches did not molest until morning. Though the folks heard the shots that killed them, the teams and stock that during the excitement at camp Louis Cardon had rounded up, were kept near camp. Very early in the morning the travelers were on their way down the road to Black River. All were hurried as fast as tender feet would allow, but tracks and signs all the way across the mountain, showed that they passed and repassed the band or parts of it.

It was so late in the season, they dreaded lest they might be caught in heavy snows. But their only snow seemed an interposition for them. For after a late camp under a clear sky, Charley Whiting especially declared a blinding storm came so quickly it was unbelievable. The next morning, they were sure it was heaven sent, for they had scarcely started on their day's journey, when they came into the tracks of the band of Indians that followed their road quite a distance before turning away.

Then going down the Long dugway into Ash Creek, they saw a number of Indians far out in the flat or valley near a herd of stock, apparently busy with one of the cattle. And again, that night, the intense darkness came with rain, and drove them supperless huddling into the wagons with no firelight showing the whereabouts of their camp, hidden away from the road. This was felt to be another manifestation in their behalf.

When they met a company of soldiers from Ft. Thomas going out after the renegades, they felt much more safe. Then when they were down Green's Hill and drove into the shade of the cottonwoods on the Gila, the Cardons were so sure, Sister Cardon wanted to lay over a day to favor her poor stock that had been hurried over the rocks in spite of tender feet.

But Uncle Charles did not feel safe and told them he would not leave them if they wished to travel. But he would not stop an hour more than was absolutely necessary until his family was safe in the settlements.

He would say nothing to work up the feelings, and all the time tried to have an influence that gave confidence. When on the Dugway and saw the Indians, he asked Teresa who was in the seat with him to say nothing. Verona was so nervous and anxious, he wanted nothing added to her trouble. She had known of Indian depredations from girlhood in Sanpete, Utah.

At last Joseph said if he felt he should go on, they would feel it was all right. Charl waited only long enough to hang the nose sacks on and let his team have their grain, and drove on. But he was scarcely out of sight when such a feeling of horror came over those he had left, they hitched up and followed.

Louis Cardon (now living at Mesa and working in the temple 1938) and Tom East were driving the stock some distance behind the wagons and saw the thirteen horses young Thompson was bringing from the Globe fork of the road. They came in just ahead of the boys with their herd. The Apaches were probably waiting for them with their riding animals and the stock; but thinking the horses a bigger prize, took him off up a ravine or wash, killed him with rocks and took his outfit.

On above, they attacked a rancher and shot him through the abdomen, but he got into a shelter with plenty of cartridges and fought them off until his wife was left safe. His body was brought to the fort the day they passed through with the stock.

The next morning after getting into safety, they learned that they had still more cause for heartfelt gratitude. The bodies of two men were brought in, who were going for posts, and had been killed scarcely two hundred yards from where our folks had intended to camp by the Gila.

The horror of Geronimo's raid was not yet ended. They evaded the soldiers and went on rounding up horses and killed the Wright Brothers near the pass between Solomonsville and Duncan.

Nearly all who went through this experience have passed on to the Great Beyond. Only two that I know of left: Teresa Richardson and Louis Cardon, both yet workers in the Arizona Temple. But to all, the Divine manifestation of that trip was real and "bona fide." Mesa, June 1, 1938

In this same Indian Outbreak, was another case that can be attributed ONLY to an over ruling Providence:

FRANK N. TYLER, formerly Bishop of Thatcher, Arizona, also now working in the Arizona Temple (1938) was coming to the Gila with Hyrum Judd.

They stopped for noon about four miles south of Fort Apache. Brother Judd had brought a new horse that became greatly attached to Brother Tyler's team. While they were at dinner, the team got out of sight over a little hill and the horse began whinneying and started hunting for them but did not find them.

Not thinking it could get far away, little attention was paid to it until they were getting ready to start on. Then it was found its mate had followed it away. They hunted for the team 'til dark without finding them; and also from early morning until noon. During the morning a company of soldiers from the Fort passed, going after the renegade Indians.

At last they gave up finding the team and Brother Judd asked for the Tyler team to haul his wagon back to the Fort, and he would stay there. He started with his wagon, but soon after his team came tearing down the hill and Brother Tyler caught them, rode one and led the other after the owner.

Soon they were back, teams hitched up, and ready to go on. Later they learned that the twenty four hours delay had kept them out of danger; for had they gone on, they would have been right in a place where the band of Apaches were making serious trouble.

A SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON said, "Worry is the interest we pay on those troubles that never happen. It was wisely said, Worry shows lack of faith in the Lord. We fear He is not going to over rule all to our blessing.