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Show INDIAN HOSTILITIES AND TEEACHEEY. 297 I make this apology because it is considered a sin to say devil, and it grates on refined ears. I told the settlement in San Pete, at the first, to build a fort. They did not do it, but huddled together beside a stone quarry, without a place of common shelter where they could defend themselves, in case of an Indian difficulty. They had faith they could keep the Indians off. Well, now is the time to call it into exercise. They did, after a while, build a temporary fort at San Pete, which now shields them in a time of trouble. When the brethren went to Salt Creek, they wanted to make a settlement there, and inquired of me if they might do so. I told them, no, unless they first built an efficient fort. I forbade them taking their women and children there, until that preparatory work was fully accomplished. Has it ever been done ? No, but families went there and lived in wagons and brush houses, perfectly exposed to be killed. H they have faith enough to keep the Indians off, it is all right. From the time these distant valleys began to be settled, until now, there has scarcely been a day but what I have felt twenty-five ton weight, as it were, upon me, in exercising faith to keep this people from destroying themselves; but if any of them can exercise faith enough for themselves, and wish to excuse me, I will take my faith back. The' word has gone out now, to the different settlements, in the time of harvest, requiring them to build forts. Could it not have been done last winter, better than now ? Yes. Do you not suppose people will now wish they had built forts when they were told ? If they do not, it proves what they have been all the time, shall I say fools ? If that is too harsh a term, I will say they 13* |
