Sully Richardson stories

Sullivan Richardson stories

MORMON INDIAN RELATIONS

by Sullivan Calvin Richardson

6 STOLEN WATERMELON SAVES THE DAY

In 1876, Willard R. Skousen was sixteen years of age when he came to Arizona with his father, James N. Skousen. They settled at Allen's Camp, now Joseph City, on the Little Colorado.

Later he returned to Utah for others of the family and their stock, etc. He worked in the Order about two years, then went with Charley Jensen, Ike Isaacson, and Andrew Woods to cut hay and deliver it to Fort Apache.

On the way out with the mowing machine, they passed the melon patch he had helped to plant at Joseph City. Though it was contrary to Order rules, they loaded in quite a generous number,little thinking how much their having them would mean later.

Far above Snowflake, away from any help, six Indians rode up... two on each side, while two in front stopped the team. Each had the muzzle of his gun turned towards them, and their actions looked critical.

Willard, hardly yet knowing its meaning, called out, "Quiere sandias?"

"Yaa. You got 'em sandias?"

In reply Willard rolled back over the spring seat and got out a big one.

The Indian took it and they made a circle around it. They made signs for the boys to join them, which Willard did.

The actions of the Indians did not give too much appetite, and the others did not care for a feast of melon, and urged to go on. But Willard, though in about the same state of mind did not wish to show fear and joined the group; though he declared the melon did not taste as good as it would have done under different circumstances.

While eating they asked, "You Momones?"

Being assured they were, the Indian said, "Momones good. You go. Pelicano (Americans) no bueno."..and cursing them with all the oaths they had learned, ended with..."kill 'um:"

After taking two smaller melons, the boys were glad to give them, they rode away to kill a rancher, his wife and baby up in the timber that night.

The boys thankfully went their way, and as all the little swails and valleys were covered with fine, nice grass, did well delivering hay at Fort Apache. (Vouched for by Willard R. Skousen, Mesa, Arizona, April 18, 1938)

JACOB HAMBLIN'S VISIT TO THE NAVAJOS

Years ago James Pearce gave Patriarch John Bilby this account of his trip with Jacob Hamblin out among the Navajos. I wrote it down, then re wrote it to correct a place or two, and to make it more plain. He then signed it as correct and true. But someone has the book, so after all this must be from memory.

About the time Jacob Hamblin went and made the still remembered treaty with the Navajos, a McCarty father and two or three sons (non members) took up a ranch in southeastern Utah. Later, they were losing stock and laid it to the Navajos. When they caught three Navajos on their ranch, they shot them, killing two and badly wounding the third. He got out of sight and made his way to the Colorado River. He got across and soon was found by his own people and taken care of.

This was laid to the Mormons, and bitter feelings were raised. President Young asked Jacob Hamblin, "Are you afraid to go down and explain the affair?...That it WAS NOT our folks?...and that we are keeping the treaty?"

The THOUGHT of "BEING AFRAID", would have been enough to send Hamblin anywhere, without its being the desire of the great revered leader ...and he was ready to start. When asked who he would like to have to go with him, he said he would get someone, and came south and got Jim Pearce.

They crossed the Big Colorado at the "Old Padres" Crossing, and went along the old Indian trail that wound along the face of the cliffs that rise from the river.

Their food and blankets were on the pack animal, a mule that belonged to Pearce. As they went along the narrow trail in the face of that mighty wall, it stubbed its toe and went over the ledge and out of sight. To get down to it, they would have to go back nine or ten miles, and then perhaps not be able to get to it, even if it were possible to find the place where it fell. All thought of trying was given up and they went on. They used their saddle blanket for a bed, and the dinner they OUGHT TO HAVE HAD was just the remembrance of the taste of the breakfast they had.

At the evening camp as Jim sat with his elbows on his knees his head in his hands (maybe thinking it was poor pay he was getting), Jacob called out, "Well, Jim, what're you feeling so bad about?...Cause you lost your mule? Well, cheer up. Afore six months you'll have so many mules 'n blankets, you won't know what to do with 'em:"

The idea of such a thing was ridiculous, and even more so later... for no sooner did the Navajos get sight of them, than they were taken to a council of death instead of the customary food the Indians generally offered.

Sentence seemed to be quickly passed while Jacob stoically waited for a chance to tell them his errand.

When he could break in on them and began to tell why he had come, it was met with smiles of contempt. But he went on reminding them of the treaty and that he and his brother had come to let them know it had not been broken by his people. That their long journey had been taken just to prove they were friends, etc.

He sat there indifferently waiting and watching for a chance to say more. When one asked if he were not afraid, he asked, "Why afraid in the home of our friends" At which time they wanted him to realize they WERE NOT his friends ...after their braves had been killed ...and he must get ready for the same end.

But it had an effect when he again asked, "If we were guilty, when we know you are angry, do you think we could come here and put ourselves in your power? We come only to prove our true friendship." Doubt about it soon began to show. Then they told him he and his friend could go if they would bring them a hundred cows. At his reply that he had no hundred cows, they said he had friends who would give them rather than have him tortured.

He replied that his friends were as poor as he, and he knew no hundred cows could ever be paid. If he died, he would never have it said that he had talked "crooked". He had come into their country to "talk straight", to make the friendship the Great Spirit wanted them to keep. And so they would be a blessing to the Red Brother. THEY WOULD KNOW nothing else in the world could make two men come all that long trip into the country of angry Navajos.

For a long time the discussion was one sided and selfish, but he won out. At last the blame was put where it belonged. And it may be that a little doubt was sown that perchance the ranchers had been treated a little unfairly, although the Mormon great father (President Young) had felt it should not be TOO BAD if one was hungry and killed a calf. But ALWAYS try to pay for it.

At any rate, in the end our people were exonerated. The two were fed and sent back with good will, and another wonderful victory was scored by the quiet, unassuming, heroic Jacob Hamblin. His sterling qualities few even then knew... and today, none can know or appreciate.

But that is not the end. Their trip home had some thrilling manifestations in their behalf but the "smile" comes from the promise made in regard to the mules.

A dealer from California brought a lot of mules to sell. After disposing of a fine lot of them, he got word from home that he must be there immediately. It was too late in the season for him to go and come back. At last, happening on to James Pearce, he offered him all the rest of the bunch, with camp outfit, blankets and all thrown in, for $400.00.

Jim said it might as well have been four million dollars, for he did not have even four dollars.

But just then an old French prospector happened along. As I remember it, Pearce had once found him far out in the mountains, stranded, alone, without "grub", nothing to go on, and "down to the bottom of the chute". He had done the friendly part of a real neighbor in those days. And now he came up and asked what it was all about. When told of the offer, said, "Why, I'll let you have that much," and in twenty five minutes the deal was made, and Jim Pearce "had more mules than he knew what to do with".

He broke two and sold them for almost enough to pay the whole bill. And the words of Jacob Hamblin were proven truly prophetic.

From the biography written of Jacob Hamblin, there seems to be a mixing of two trips in the account as given above. But as every incident of the Navajos' bitterness, hatred, then settling, is even more strongly emphasized than is here given, the credit due that great character is in no wise lost. In this, it is far from overdrawn, and from what is said in regard to it, by the few who remember hearing of it at the time, I will leave it as written.

The version of J. E. Smith, a non member, closes his statement of the affair with: "No braver man ever lived,"

In Taylor, Arizona, July 23, 1938, Grandma Pearce, wife of James Pearce, wrote in addition to this:

"James Pearce was called three times to go on a mission among the Indians, in the missionary expeditions of Jacob Hamblin. First in 1858, then in 1859, and a third time in 1860. He was present when young George A. Smith was killed, and carried water to him. He also helped to carry him away."

(She signed it: Mary Jane (Meeks) Pearce.)