Transcript

On the 6th of April, 1852, Mr. Taylor started for Utah, in a company commanded by Isaac Bullock, under whom Stephen McBride was captain of ten. They broke camp near Winter Quarters, resuming the westward journey on the 4th of July. Of an interesting adventure that befell him on the plains Mr. Taylor thus writes:

"On the 8th of September I was traveling along with Brother and Sister John Gregory. One of his oxen was lame, which caused us to fall behind the company. When we caught up with them they had turned out at Pacific Springs, and as the place was swampy Captain McBride advised Brother Gregory to drive on to a place a few miles ahead, where the company intended camping for the night. Gregory did so, but the company passed us just at dusk and did not stop there. We were up and off early next morning, but could see nothing of them. About noon we came to two roads, one leading to the left, and seeing wagons on that road we took it and traveled until late in the afternoon, when I proposed to go ahead and see if it was our company. I did so, making all the speed possible on foot, and at length caught up with the wagons, which proved to be a part of the eighth company. Ours was the seventeenth. Away to the right I could see dust arising, and concluded that it must be our wagons on the other road. It was nearly sundown, but I determined to see if my surmise was correct, and if it proved to be our company, to get a horse, ride back to the Gregorys, and get them on the right track. I started, and after going with all speed for some time, I found that I had been following whirlwinds; yet as far ahead as I could see was what appeared to be a train of wagons. Night was near, but I concluded to go forward, and just at dusk, when nearly exhausted, I reached the object of my pursuit, and found it to be a fringe of willows on the bank of a creek! I felt a little bad, but waded the creek and began to look for wagon tracks. I had just found the road, and thought to remain there till morning, when I was startled by someone calling to me, and could just discern a person on horseback on the other side of the creek. He called again, and I felt sure it was an Indian. I answered; he plunged in the stream with his horse, and I started to meet him. He was an Indian. We shook hands, and I made signs that I was lost. He seemed to understand me, and wanted me to go with him. I said I was a "Mormon." He showed me that I was in danger from wolves at that place, so I concluded to go with him. I was not afraid; I trusted in God, and felt that all was well. My strange acquaintance wished me to get up behind him, but I was too stiff and tired to mount. He took my hand, and we recrossed the creek and started for the Indian's camp. I was an object of great interest upon arriving there. My Lamanite friend told his squaw (or I thought he did from the signs used) how he had found me. I sat by the fire and warmed myself, after which he spread some skins, and showed me that I could lie down. He placed a small bundle for a pillow and covered me with a buffalo robe. After I had rested a little while, he touched me on the hand to call my attention, and I saw that they had prepared me a nice piece of meat. I understood him to say it was sheep. He also brought me water, and seemed highly pleased to see me eat and drink. After a while the fire began to burn low, and the camp became quiet, all retiring to rest. I did not sleep much, the night was so cold; towards morning it froze sharply. During the night the Indian got up and went out, soon returning with arms full of sagebrush and making a big fire. He felt my feet several times to see if they were getting warm. He did not lie down again, but by the firelight began fixing his arrows, etc. As soon as daylight showed I wanted to start in search of our camp, but he would not let me go, showing me by signs that I would still be in danger from the wolves. He pointed in the direction of our camp, and made motions to indicate the gradual breaking of day, the rising of smoke from the camp fires, etc,; this he did by imitation, acting as if very cold, holding his hands over fancied fires, and rubbing them together, seeming pleased and grateful with the warmth. He then took the fingers of the left hand, and crossing them with the right, showed me that we would go to the Mormon camp on horseback. As soon as it was light enough to distinguish objects he brought the horses. The one he gave me to ride struck me as being very much like one I had seen in our company, belonging to a man named [John] Watts, and a pony tied to the horse's tail also looked very familiar. We mounted and started for the camp, and had only gone a short distance when we came upon Mr. Watts, who had been out hunting a lost cow, and whose horses had strayed while he was sleeping. The Indian must have thought they were mine. Mr. Watts took the grey mare that I was riding, and continued his search for the cow, leaving me the pony, on which I rode with my Indian friend to camp. When we arrived, the captain's wife, Sister McBride, made us an excellent breakfast, after which she gave the Indian some sweet cake to take to his squaw and papooses. He left us highly pleased. I felt in my soul to bless him for his kindness. I acknowledged the hand of the Lord in it: and I ask, What white man could have done more? Brother Gregory struck the road at Green River."

About noon of the twenty-fifth of September the company reached Salt Lake City.