History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

278 IN THE VALLEY OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE.
scampered off in hordes. Frequently fifty or sixty
had to be caught and killed before the family could
sleep. 9
The furniture was home-made, and very little of it
at that. The table was a chest, and the bedstead
was built into the corner of the house, which formed
two of its sides, rails or poles forming the opposite
sides; pegs were driven into the walls and rails, and
the bed-cord tightly wound around them. 10 The chimneys
were of adobe, and sometimes there was a fireplace
in the corner wicn a clay hearth.
In the early part of the year two brass cannon were
purchased at Sutter's Fort for the church, by the
battalion brethren. 11
During the winter of 1847-8, some Indian children
were brought to the fort to be sold. At first two
were offered, but the settlers peremptorily refused to
buy them. The Indian in charge said that the children
were captured in war, and would be killed at
sunset if the white men did not buy them. Thereupon
they purchased one of them, and the one not sold was
shot. Later, several Indians came in with two more
children, using the same threat; they were bought and
brought up at the expense of the settlers. 12
Measles now appeared for the first time among the
natives, who did not know where the disease came
from or what to do. They assembled in large numbers
at the warm springs, bathed in the waters, and
died. 13
9 ' One contrivance for catching them was a bucketful of water with a board
sloping at each end, greased and balanced on the edge. The first cat and her
progeny were invaluable. The green timber from the mountains was full of
bed-bugs, another serious trouble.' Home's Migrations, MS., 31.
10 This describes the furniture of the first house occupied in the fort by
Brigham Young's family. Mrs Clara Young's Pioneer Ex., MS., 8.
11 Forty-five of the battalion brethren contributing §512 for the purpose.
Hist. B. Young, MS., 1S48, 35.
12 ' Charles Decker bought one of the prisoners, a girl, who was afterward
brought up in President Young's family. She married an Indian chief
named Kanosh.' Wells' Narr., MS., 48.
13 ' Some they buried, but not all. We buried thirty-six in one grave.
They killed their dogs when their masters died.' Nebeker's Early Justice,
MS., 2.