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Show THREE NAVAJOES KILLED BY THE WHITES. Ill The Navajoes carried on a peaceful trade with our people, until the winter of 1874- 75, when a circumstance occurred which greatly endangered our peaceful relations with that people. A party of four young Navajoes went to the east fork of the Sevier River, to trade with some Utes in the neighbor-hood. In Grass Valley, [ they encountered a severe snow-storm, which lasted for three days. They found shelter in a vacant house belonging to one McCarty. He did not belong to the Church, and had that animosity towards Indians, too common with white men, which leads them to slaughter the savages, as they are called, on the most trifling pretences. The Navajoes, becoming hungry during the delay, killed a small animal belonging to Mr. McCarty. In some way he learned of the presence of the party on his ranch, gathered up some men of like spirit with himself, came suddenly upon the Navajoes, and, without giving them an opportunity of explaining their circumstances, killed three of them and wounded the fourth. The wounded man, after enduring excessive hardships, made his way across the river, and arrived among his own people. Telling the story of his wrongs, it aroused all the bitter spirit of retaliation, so characteristic of the Indians from tradition and custom. The aflair taking place in the c ' Mor-mon" country, where the Navajoes naturally supposed they were among friends, and not distinguishing McCarty as an outsider, the murder was laid to the " Mormons." The outrage created considerable excitement among both whites and Indians. When President Young heard of it, he requested me to visit the Navajoes, and satisfy them that our people were not concerned in it. Feeling that the afiair, without great care, might bring on a war, I started at once for their country to fill my mission. I left Kanab alone. My son Joseph overtook me about fifteen miles out, with a note from Bishop Levi Stewart, advising my return, as he had learned from the Piutes that the Navajoes were much exasperated and threatened to retaliate the first opportunity. |
