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In early pioneer days in Dixie, the Piute Indians were thick. Some of them were on the war path, especially two of them, old Iron jacket and Limpy. I was firghtened out of my wits; many of them came to our home and every home to beg. We shared with them as much as we could. President Young taught the Saints to be kind to them. I wasn't afraid of any but those two.

Mother had a large home-made dresser, the lower drawer was extra large, and I could lie in it and curl up my legs. When either of those mentioned came, I would run and climb into the drawer. Just across the street was a man, Whitmore by name, who had just been killed by the Indians. These two had something in a small way to do with it. I can't remember much about the affair.

One day I was alone and Old Limpy came; he walked with a stick. When I saw him coming I ran and got into my hiding place. He saw me run in. I was small and forgot to shut the door and didn't have sense to lock it. In my mind I was safe, no Indian could find me. I watched him come to the door, then inside, then towards the dresser. .. He raised his stick and laughed as hard as he could and poked me with his stick and said, "Papoose heap scared. Me heap hungry, Papoose get shad cup, me no hurt Papoose." The Indians always used the word "shad cup" when they came to the door to beg. When we gave them bread they would leave. I lay for a minute too scared to move, too scared to pray, forgot everything, but I knew I was alone. I thought I would die when he took my hand, pulled me out, and let me to the kitchen and repeated, "Me no hurt Papoose, me hungry, bread." I got him a good sized slice of bread and molasses. He took it, laughed and said, "Good Papoose, me no hurt Pappoose." and was gone. I never was afraid of them any more and that was the last time I hid in the dresser.

The Nehor wrote:It's quite a jump from the speculation that people were secretly murdered and it being blamed on the Indians to this one particular man being murdered....especially considering the experience shows the Indians were active in the area.

Coca Cola wrote:

The Nehor wrote:It's quite a jump from the speculation that people were secretly murdered and it being blamed on the Indians to this one particular man being murdered....especially considering the experience shows the Indians were active in the area.

True - it's just speculation on my part. But kind of creeeeepy.

However, if the Saints sincerely believed that Old Limpy had something to do with killing Brother Whitmore, do you think for one moment they would have allowed him to go around begging home to home with his accomplice?

I can't imagine that - not in nineteenth century America. They would have been tried and hung.

They must not have really been afraid of these two beggars.

rcrocket wrote:There's a well known story of a doctor, J.M. Whitmore, who along with Robert McIntyre, were killed by Indians in Pipe Springs in 1866. Whitmore had been called on a mission and was serving as a missionary when killed. A Paiute confessed to the crime and led a militia brigade to the body. O.F. Whitney, History of Utah, p. 374 although I don't know which volume; I have this set elsewhere.

Several Google hits on this.