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Show "He was a powerful man and I had all I could do to keep him from shooting me. It was a harrowing experience." For 10 miles James S. Brown rode alongside Simons, struggling with him to keep from being shot. The two finally reached the ranch of Gordon Beckstead on Gordon Creek in Mountain Green, Beckstead was a good friend of Ben and his broth¬er, James. Beckstead assured the Indian that Brown was a good friend and a good man, and advised Ben to let Brown go. The red man finally relented and Brown rode on up to Simons camp and talked with James Simons. James had no information and Brown re¬turned to Ogden, empty handed but grateful to be alive. TROUBLE WITH LITTLE SOLDIER In November of 1854, Chief Little Soldier and his band of warriors became very troublesome in Weber County. They began killing the settlers cattle, burning and destroying fences and intimidating isolated families. Orders came from Salt Lake City that the settlers were to disarm the Indians and provide them with a home for the Winter, plus food and clothing. A party of men went to the Indian encampment in West Weber. After considerable talking the Indians finally agreed to move into Ogden, but they were hostile and warlike and refused to give up their weapons. They were al¬lowed to leave and camp among the willows near Mound Fort. The depredations con¬tinued. On 1 December, a party of well armed white men rode into their camp and found Little Soldier and his band so hostile that the whites had to make a 'show of arms' before the Indians would submit to the proposition. They were marched back into Ogden and sullenly handed over their weapons which were locked in the old tithing office and a guard placed over them. Following a letter read to them from President Brigham Young, they seemed convinced. Chief Little Soldier was 'filled with the spirit of approval' and the Indians became reconciled. From then on the red men and white men seemed to get along together. LITTLE SOLDIER IN SOUTH WEBER For many summers Little Soldier and his band of Indians camped on the river bottom on the farm of Robert Nelson Watts, father of Mary R. Watts Robinson. The Chief and Robert became good friends. 30 |
