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Show 2O4 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. freely ; but the greater portion of the people were desir-ous of peace. The whisky selling was the great evil, likely to bring on trouble at any time. Finally, through threatening the whisky sellers with prosecution, I suc-ceeded in frightening them off, all except one man at Moroni, who still had not given up the business. Doug-las and some fifteen others obtained whisky from this rascal, sufficient to get well started on a drunk, then came on to Fairview, went to where they had been in the habit of getting whisky and wanted more. Here they were told by D. S. that Jones had stopped him sell-ing whisky and that none could be had without a written order from him. The Indians had just enough to fire them up for more, so they struck for my camp, twelve miles distant, in full charge. No one was with me but my son Wiley, then about thirteen years of age. Soon I was charged upon by three or four drunken Indians, demanding of me that I should give them an order for whisky. I told them I would not. One Indian had a pencil and paper. He offered it to me, saying: " You must now write, or we will kill you." Still I refused. Others were now arriv-ing. Soon the whole crowd was upon me ; all were excited and just drunk enough to be mean. I told my son to sit still ; not to move or say a word. This he did, not seeming to notice what was going on. Many times it looked as though my time had come, for numerous guns were aimed at me at different times, seemingly with the full intention of pulling the trigger. When one Indian would fail to shoot, another would crowd in with his gun aimed at me, saying, " I will shoot if you don't write." Many of them took hold of my hand and tried to make me write, but I was determined that I would not. |