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Show Appendix 371 He moved two families beside his own up to Council Bluffs. On the 16th of July he fitted out two of his sons, Albert M. and Myron and sent them with the Mormon Battalion into Mexico to fight the battles of our country. He then moved across the Missouri to Cutlers Park and from there he moved to the herd ground North West of Winter Quarters where he herded the stock for the whole Camp of Israel for three months for which I he was promised pay, but received nothing. After giving up the herd he moved to the Chimneys on the river 3 miles above Winter Quarters, where he wintered. About the middle of January 1847 his home and three wagon boxes with covers, used for bed rooms, supplies of provisions & groceries and most of their wearing apparel was distroyed by fire. Nothing was saved but the beds and about half of the bedding. In the spring of 1847 he assisted in fitting out the Pioneers for their journey West, and opened up a farm and raised a good His son Myron returned in the fall from his trip with the crop of corn. Battalion and Albert M. went on to California. In the fall he also sent out help to the Pioneers on their return trip. In the summer of 1847 father Tanner had a thrilling adventure with Indians, the following account of which I take from the journal of Jane Grover, (afterwards Sister Stewart). She says: "One morning Father Tanner, (as would go and gather goosberries. called the good patriarchal Elder John Tanner harnessed a span of horses to a light wagon, and with two sisters by the name of Lyman, his little grand daughter and I started out. When we reached the woods we told the old gentleman to go to a house in sight and rest himself while we picked the berries. we we thought familiarly we "It was not long before the little girl and I strayed some distance from the rest when suddenly we heard shouts. The little girl thought it was her grandfather, and was about to answer but I restrained her, thinking it might be Indians. We walked forward until within sight of Father Tanner when we saw he was running his team around. We thought nothing strange at first but as we approached we saw Indians gathering around the wagon, whooping and yelling as others came and joined them. "We got into the wagon to start when four of the Indians took hold of the wagon wheels to stop the wagon, and the two others held the horses by the bits, and another came to take me out of the wagon. I then began afraid as well as vexed, and asked Father Tanner to let me get out of the wagon and run for assistance. He said "no poor child, it is too late!" "I told him they should not take me alive. His face was as white as a sheet. The Indians had commenced to strip him had taken his watch to be - and handkerchief of the wagon. "I - and while began silently to appeal stripping him, to my were heavenly trying to father. While me out praying and pull |
