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O Stop and Tell Me Red Man

WHEN A. F. MACDONALD made his initial contact with Dr. Samaniego in San Jose for the purpose of gaining legal advice about colonization, he became aware of a dominant fear of Indians that gripped the Mexicans. Samaniego warned Mac-Donald at once that the Apache, wily, elusive, and cruel would prove a dangerous deterrent to the settlement of a defenseless people. He knew, for he himself had suffered at the hand of the Apaches. They had murdered his father, had robbed and killed his cousin in Sonora, and had killed both his mother and grandmother in New Mexico. But MacDonald recalled that settlement in the West had gone on regardless of the menace of Indian hostilities. Added to the spirit of adventure that opening up new lands presented was the mission of peace indoctrinated into Latter-day Saints and the feed-rather-than-fight policy Brigham Young had advocated. MacDonald explained this policy to Doctor Samaniego telling at the same time of the Book of Mormon and the missionary service of the Church. With moist eyes Samaniego confessed that deep in his heart was a kindly interest in the welfare of the Indians and a genuine desire on his part to help them. His most trusted servant was an Indian girl he had bought from a rancher. To her he had entrusted the keys of his house, and she was faithfully serving him. "Who knows," he continued feelingly, "but that I alone of my family was spared by a wise providence to help establish a strong colony of your people to tame this wild people, help them, and teach them of the forefathers your Book of Mormon tells about?" As a result the Indian topic that threatened to be a hindrance to peaceable settlement assumed real missionary potentialities, and a chance acquaintance was cemented into a lasting friendship.

But as MacDonald proceeded on his land-purchasing mission, he found the fears the doctor had mentioned were well-founded. Everywhere the mere mention of Indians was enough to spread panic. Twice Mexican scouts piloting him through mountain country to favorable land prospects deserted, refusing to go where Indians might be found.

Later, when camps were established along the river, it was still easy for reports of Indian depredations to become exaggerated. Many a night strict watch was kept to guard against surprises and protect animals. Rumors trickling in constantly kept the Indian danger a live issue. But for the policy by Church leaders and their hope to assist in spreading peace and helpfulness, they might have turned back.

1. Indian Jitters

As years passed with no serious trouble, fears subsided. Geronimo had been arrested and deported, and his lawless band imprisoned or scattered, and the terror he had injected into Arizona and New Mexico settlements in the early '80's became a thing of the past. Indians and Indian scares dropped into the background. A subconscious dread, however, showed the ease with which Indians could be saddled with the reason for every danger that threatened. Two incidents are typical: