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Show 80 Nuwuvi: A Southern Paiute History After the massacre the Mormons, although admitting that a massacre had taken place, sought to place blame on the Indians. Subsequent investigation proved that although local Nuwuvi were involved, they played a secondary role to the local settlers in the actual murders. It probably will never be known how much the initial Indian attack was brought on by direct Mormon instigation or at least by Mormon encouragement. It is evident that the next couple of years became a dangerous time for travel on the southern road, and as Jacob Forney said: "I am aware, also, that it is, and especially has been, exceedingly convenient to implicate the Indians in all such cases." 42 Garland Hurt reported the murders of John Peltro and John Tobin with several others on the Santa Clara. He stated that the "Piedes" were reported to have committed the crimes, but "the Utah Indians are bold in asserting that the Piedes had nothing to do with it; and this opinion is also entertained by many white persons in the valley who dare not speak out." 43 Jacob Hamblin claimed that only a few days after the Mountain Meadows Massacre another emigrant train was almost attacked. He hurriedly sent men to persuade the Indians not to attack. The Indians agreed to take only the loose stock.44 The danger to travellers was not only from the Indians. Some Mormons wanted to attack non-Mormon travelers. During this period, Hamblin visited two missionaries on the Muddy who wanted to attack a company of Salt Lake non-Mormon merchants who were passing through. He convinced them that instructions from Brigham Young were to take the company through safely.40 Troubles continued into 1858. In January of that year, Hamblin sent Ira Hatch and Thales Haskell to the Muddy to try to keep the Indians there from attacking the passing trains.46 Then, in a letter from Hamblin to George A. Smith written on September 10, the official closing of the Las Vegas and Muddy Indian Missions was announced. The Las Vegas Mission already had been unofficially closed for almost a year. Hamblin then announced that due to lack of success with the Nuwuvi the missionaries were going to redirect their efforts toward the Moqui (Hopi) and Navajo to the east.47 Hamblin's announcement marked a turning point in Nuwuvi-white relations. It was the end of Mormon efforts to establish a special relationship with the Nuwuvi. Those who had been converted and |