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Show 244 INDIAN DEPKEDATIONS Who is not now living, always considered it a divine intervention that prompted him to put his fire- arms into good condition just on the eve of such dire need. He fired only three shot, ( having no ammuni-tion to waste), but every one reached its mark. The Indians at the time made themselves scarce, and knew absolutely nothing; but in after years they said Mr. Lee was a Big Chief a Brave and that he had killed three bad Indians who had tried to kill him. These were the Piutes, whose home was in Bea-ver County, and who knew every member of Mr. Lee ' s family well, and often visited them at the farm. It is even probable that the very matches used to fire the dwelling had been begged from the intended victims. One queer thing not yet mentioned is that when the east door of the house was finally opened, it was found piled high with sagebrush that had not been fired; and after much wonder why this dry door was left unburned while the wet roof had so much effort spent on it in vain, the conclusion was finally reached that after the brush was heaped against the door, the Indians found they had used all their matches. If so, it was certainly an error of judgment on their part, because the door would have burned readily. Joseph Lillywhite recovered from his wound; but it is said that he never became the strong man that his robust youth promised, and did not live to reach middle age. Such were many of the experiences of the early settlers of Utah. |
