Part II: Pages 21-40

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She finished looking at their leader and spokesman in the eye. She also added that the town of Casas Grandes was well-garrisoned. But they did not seem impressed with this information.

I interrupted Nielson and dispatched him up the river back to the Colony to call some of the Brethren together to go back around to the Seavey Farm and try to capture these three men.  I sent Seavey on to the colony to advise Major Tom Downey of the situation. Major Junius Romney was head of the militia and I was his Captain. I said to Brother Seavey before he started off. Go first to Major Romney and tell him everything you have told me. Tell him that Brother Cox and I are going toward the Tinaja (the deep arroyo wash, it was like a gorge during the rainy season.) and ask him to send us some help.

After talking to Brother George Seavey I was pretty well satisfied in my own mind that these Tomoches were hiding in the Tinaja, watching for an opportunity to come through the Colony. I knew what they wanted above all things, they wanted to go to the store and loot the place. I started my horse at a smart, hard pace in the direction of the Tinaja, Cox following close beside me. "Come on Cox," I called as I felt him just behind me, "I have got to know the exact location of these Tomoches. They are dangerous and not to be fooled with." We knew them through reputation. We had heard of their spirited defense of a few years before, as did the whole countryside. I was half-thinking out loud, half-talking to Brother Cox who was a few paces behind me. "We must not let them get a foothold inside the colony or else we will have real trouble. We will probably have trouble anyway. But the families must be protected against fright as much as possible. We must meet them before they get in, and put the fear of the Lord into them. We must show ourselves well-armed, determined, without fear of hesitation to keep them out. The sooner we meet them the better. I could hardly restrain my horse he wanted to fly as I did, I was so anxious to get at them.

There was a narrow path leading to the Tinaja which had been walked through by the women and children going to gather small wood to start fires in the dry seasons. Or to take the small cattle for water during the rainy season. The young men sometimes took the path to hunt ducks and jack rabbits.

This was in the month of September and it was dry and dusty as we stepped on crunchy mesquite. As we were nearing the Tinaje we abandoned the well-worn path and struck out through the dry mesquite sacaton (tall grass) more carefully and slowly, to avoid the surprise, although I was a little too determined to be very cautions. As we arrived near the Tinaja and were scouting along the south rim a few yards from us, suddenly, without warning, we almost stumbled into three of them without realizing they were upon us. They raised up from behind big boulders with rifles cocked and pointed towards us they demanded that we surrender. We were surprised to find them so suddenly upon us but I jerked my gun out without an instant's loss of time and Cox followed me so that it seemed as if we had rehearsed when to jerk our guns. I demanded in turn, "Put down your guns. Neither side lowered their guns. Cox and I watching for the least movement, the slightest lowering of their guard. There we stood tense for what seemed minutes, but it was probably only seconds. Finally, the climax was reached and the man who appeared to be the leader, to

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group gave in and they lowered their guns. I signed in relief inside.

We had won the first round. There was a breathing spell. The third man had his gun on me. He was a pure blooded Indian. I knew the difference. A darker, deeper, richer color of skin, piercing black eyes, longer straighter blacker hair. He did not lower his gun with the rest. We went a step further, and half-distrustful, half-annoyed with the lowering of the guns of this leader and companion, he asked, "Are we going to surrender to these gringos?" He seemed to have more backbone, more boldness than the others, and I always suspected him of being one of the guiding spirit of the Tomoches. I cut in before they could say anything. "Of course, you will surrender to us. You are bandits and thieves going through the country stealing honest hard working people's horses and cattle!"

Their leader answered quietly, "No we are not thieves and bandits, and steal only when it is a matter of necessity, when we are hungry or to get home when we can no longer walk. Ours is another mission. We are on our way south to join our families and go back to our home. We have been away from them for a long, long time."

I told him: "You are Tomoches and have caused a lot of trouble for years, first in your home town with the federal soldiers then now with the officers at Paloma. We know all and now your have just stolen horses from Colonia Diaz, also mules and provisions from the San Pedro Ranch." They did not deny it.

"Now you want to steal from this colony. You want to go to the store perhaps and steal but I warn you that if you so much as steal one garment from this colony, I am here and I will follow you to the end, even if it leads to the very shore of the sea!"

They seemed impressed with what I said and remained quiet for a few seconds.

Finally I said, "Where are the rest of your companions?" The leader answered, "They are close by. Just about five hundred yards distant behind a little hill, still on our side of the Tinaja." I saw one of the men going out from their camp with a bucket in his hand for water from the Tinaja. This was about four or five hundred yards from where we stood. The Indian who had never lowered his gun said to the man in charge, "Why not send our companion down to the camp to tell the others to come up here?" That was all the third man needed, at that, he turned around to go. I called out sharply, "Stop or I will put a bullet through your back." He stopped and I went on. Even if you put two through me, I am in command here and you will do as I say."

The man in charge said, "You let us go to our camp and we will let you go to yours." We all agreed to this. But the Indian still did not lower his gun and I had to do something. I said, "If you do not lower your gun I will shoot you." As they stared toward their camp he gave in and lowered his gun but hesitantly and with very bad grace. As we turned to go to the colony their leader called to us, "There are three of our men down in your Colony and we recommend that you see to it that nothing happens to them. I called back, "All right."

As Brother Cox and I rode back, we came to the place where we had met Brother Seavey and there he was coming again. We stopped within a few yards of each other and I called, "What is new?" He said, "Brother Nielsen ran into the three men who talked to Sister Baker and followed them but when they saw they were being watched they beat it into the mesa east of the colony. Nielsen didn't

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give up and was still in pursuit." After I talked with George Seavey I had the feeling that those Tomoches were going to try and come into the Colony. I knew there was not time to lose. I sent Brother Cox down to Major Romney:

"Tell him to hurry the men to help out. Tell them I feel sure those Tomoches are going to try to go through the Colonies and I need some men to help me hold them back, quick, before they get a foothold . He sped off and Brother George W. Seavey and I started in the direction of the hills by the Tinaja where we had just had our short encounter with the Tomoches.

On our way to the hills I met Brother David Johnson coming toward us with some horses. I said to him, "What is up? Any news?"

He replied, "I just saw Brother Nielson following three men, riding fast toward the north. I did not know what to make of it so I thought I would come down into the Colony and find out." I said, "Good Heavens! He is following those three Tomoches." I thought out loud: "It is really dangerous for Brother Nielson to be following those three Tomoches alone. We had better follow him. That is the only thing to do, follow Brother Nielson. He is the one in most danger right now," I said out loud. But just as we turned north I saw some men coming toward us from the Colony so I waited.

Cox had met Carlton, Judd, Taylor, and Stowell on the way. Major [Junius] Romney had already sent them when I sent word by Cox the second time. I saw they were all well armed and eager and ready for any emergency. I sized up my little band mentally. All were men of extraordinary valor, they had proved it many a time in past difficulties. They could be depended upon in any situation. What was more important they had faith in their great Creator that he would protect them in doing their duty. With the exception of one, [?]

They have all gone before me to the other side. We reached the Tinaja and following along up the north ridge saw Nielson. He was riding back and forth with only four hundred yards between him and the three Tomoches he had been following. The Tomoches were beckoning for him to come to them. When he saw us within calling distance he said, all excited, "Come on Captain. We got'em now! I could not help laughing. We had them like the fellow who had the bear and had to have help to let him loose.

The three Tomoches were north of Nielson and still further north we saw another bunch of Tomoches, about twenty-five in all, coming up out of the Tinaja wash onto the mesa.

The main body of the Tomoches joined the three and they kept on beckoning to us. Nielson joined us and said, "I believe they want a parley." I said, "There is no doubt about it."

I rode up to within talking distance of them, followed Brother Carl Nielson and Brother Amos Cox and when I knew they could not help but hear m, I called, "Send one of your leaders to meet with me, alone, for a parlay." They assented and sent their second in command. He walked out from among the Tomoches, a tall, straight Indian. When I saw that he let his gun down I let mine down also and went out to meet him. We walked toward each other until we were about fifty yards from each other. There was dead silence in our respective little armies. Everybody was tense, waiting for the outcome of the parlay.

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I let him speak first. He said, "We are on our way south to join our families and go back to our homes after wandering for years and we want to go through the Colony." I knew why they wanted to go through our Colony, they wanted to replenish their supplies from our store. They want to rob us. I answered firmly.

"We will not permit you Tomoches to go through our Colony. You will have to go around it on your way home." He came back, "If you do not allow us to go through your colony peacefully we might go through anyway."

I answered just as quickly, "We have plenty of well- armed men, as you may see a sample yonder," and I swept my hand toward our men. "And we will clean you all out if you so much as try to go through the colony." With my hand then I proceeded to mark and point the way they should go.

"Besides," I continued, "you are bandits, pure and simple in trouble with the government and w are loyal citizens and cannot treat with bandits." Again I marked and pointed the way they should go. He left after that and went back to his people, and I rode back to mine. We could see that he was telling them what I had said.

We moved on up the ridge a little nearer to where I had left Brother Judd with some of the others to guard the canyon from a surprise attack. They were waving their hats back and forth three times, which was the signal of warning that the Tomoches were coming down to attack us.

As we got a little further up the ridge we saw six men on horseback, guns out, coming upon us. And as I looked down over the ridge, I saw ten men marching on foot to surround us from the other side. In an instant they had us almost surrounded. We were quite a ways down the canyon. For the moment it looked as if there was nothing to do but turn to run. I passed the word. We did start to run down the ridge. Then suddenly the thought came to me that they could roll rocks down and ill us like rats in a trap. I called to my companions to stop. They were only a few yards ahead of me.

With that we all stopped and I had them walk back and forth as if we had a lot of me. You see the enemy was over the brow of the hill and could not see us but we could see them. We were out of sight. It was a desperate bluff but we had nothing to lose and everything to gain. It worked.

Our attacking enemy stopped dead in their tracks when they realized that we were going to make a firm stand. Again I stepped forward and motioned them to come and finish the attack. There were only three of us behind the brow of the hill. There were sixteen of them surrounding us. They did not come on!

When I saw that our bluff had worked and that they had hesitated in their attack I knew we had won the battle. I motioned them again more calmly and more carefully the direction in which I expected them to pick their way south.

They turned from their original path and started in the direction I pointed. Five or six of us followed them. We kept them at a distance of five hundred yards, the rest of that day. By night we had located their camp. It was directly west of the Colony and McDonald Spring, on top of one of the mountains.

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We went back to the Colony that night. We found that Casas Grande had sent us twenty-five soldiers and twenty-five citizen volunteers, and ten gendarme, sixty men in all.

[gendarme - formerly, a French cavalry man commanding a squad; an armed policeman.]

We held a council of war.

The Mexicans from Casas Grandes said that they were very anxious to capture the Tomoches, dead or alive, as they had been a source of great trouble and bloodshed for many years. The government had a price on their heads and there would be much glory to be earned through their capture.

I told them that we were ready and willing to help in every way we could. With that I marked a plan by which we could surround them and capture them. They began to argue about the plan and were not too anxious to get started. "Let us wait till morning." they advised. The next morning we had another council. This meeting they said,

 "Captain [Orson] Brown, you take the trail and when you have found out which way they are going come back and tell us and we will come immediately and destroy the whole bunch."  At daylight I left with Ernest L. Taylor, Jerome Judd, Peter C. Wood, Carl E. Nielsen, Cox, and Brigham Stowell.

We rode to the top of the mountain, west of McDonald Spring, there they had had their camp the night before. There we found the remains of camp and that their trail lead directly south. We followed the trail for the greater part of the day until we hit a canyon or the stairs country because the rains had formed a little creek that had been flowing down the country through hundreds of years and the water had cut stairs down the mountain.

Instead of following the trail across the canyon and up the high ground we went right up the canyon. When we neared the pass we saw a saddled horse and almost immediately a man stepped out and shot his gun in the ground as a signal.

We had come upon them again suddenly. There was not time to stew or plan, I said to Brother Taylor, "You know the trail, take it."

As we ran by them they opened up on us. When we reached a little ridge where we had some sort of defense we stopped. I told my companions we would return the fire there. We opened up on them for about twenty minutes and kept it up. But neither side gained anything. We were too far to do any harm. Then I noticed that they were gradually creeping upon us. They had the advantage of the ground. I told our men, "We had better get away now before it is too late for the bullets will soon be coming where we are."

We went on down the ridge, the bullets began falling around us. One bullet struck a rock a few feet from Brother [Peter C.] Wood. He was hiding behind the rock and the hot lead sprinkled on his thin hair.

Quickly we moved further on and took a good position about five hundred yards from the Tomoches. There we waited the coming of the Federal soldiers.

They did not come. Finally, we spied them at a distance but they were hesitant of coming any nearer. I guess they were afraid. The only ones who separated themselves from the main body of men were the ten gendarmes. I could not understand what was the matter.

 I decided that I go out and meet them while the rest remained

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in their fortified position.

Our last position was near the Alamita[Alameda] Ranch.  In the meanwhile the Indians had come through the pass and were now onto the low ground. Their proximity was getting more and more dangerous, as the minutes went by.

 As I neared I could tell the gendarmes were nervous. They did not seem at all anxious to meet the Tomoches.

 Brother [Ernest D.] Nielson who had gone with [Ernest L.] Taylor recognized me.  He called me: "Here is the Captain." He came forward to meet me with Brother Carlton. They were the soldier's guides.  We held a parley with the Lieutenant in command of the gendarmes.  He said: " I have instructions to tell you, mi capitan, to come on in to the Colonia."

It was an awful let down.  We could have whipped them so easily.  I could not fight that told my cheese alone with my bed.  There was too much risk for so few.  I could not fight the Tomoches alone with my men. There was too much risk for so few.  I had no right to expose my men.  That was not their mission.  That was the duty of authorized government officials.  We had done our part, and above all we had protected our homes and families.  They had left even Johnson's four horses that the Tomoches had stolen from had been left for us by them.

I was baffled and furious at their cowardliness but there was nothing to do but to follow them into the town. We rode on into Colonia Juárez and I went straight to Major Junius Romney's home to report. He took us all up to Apostle George Teasdale's home.  It seemed like everyone in the Colony had gathered at Brother Teasdale's. They were anxiously awaiting news of us.  Brother Neilson unfortunately reported that the Tomoches had us surrounded and were surely going to exterminate us.  There was some basis for his report.  There were only six of us and the Tomoches counted thirty-seven.

When Brother Teasdale looked upon us, he blessed us saying, "Wherein you have protected your home town, the Lord will bless you and be with you and you will have power over your enemies and they will not have power to destroy you."

That afternoon we had a meeting at the schoolhouse building with the Mexican officials.  These Mexicans instead of wanting to follow and capture the Tomoches were the most fear-filled lot of men I ever saw under arms.  They tried to excuse their cowardliness by crying, "Those Indians have a charmed life and bullets will not harm them.  Why one Tomache can whip a hundred ordinary men."

I could not make them budge. In vain I pointed out that the day before we had them bluffed and whipped them with only a handful of men.

As soon as dark came they sneaked off in the direction of Casas Grandes.  Some of the more timid brethren were very much alarmed when they found out of the desertion of the Mexican soldiers and volunteers and gendarmes.  They were sure the Tomoches were going to attack the Colony under cover of darkness. Again I pointed how twice with six men we had beaten them the day before. I said, "You need not fear that they will attack. For they

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too are afraid for their lives." These few words seem to calm the colonists. But just the same some of us stood guard most of that night in order to avoid a surprise attack.

The next morning a small number of men went back wit me to the Alamita Ranch. We went up as far as the Pass that we had christened Tomoche Pass the day before.

We found where they had killed three of General Terrazas' beef and only taken a small portion of the meat with them.

We followed their trail most of that day and found where they had gone to the west of San Diego. From there they continued their way south into the mountains. I knew I would know the Indian who had refused to lower his gun anywhere I might meet him.

Pablo Soso's Undoing

It was not long after that I arrested a couple of Mexicans for drunkenness and carousing. I handcuffed them and left them under guard of Pablo Soso at the store with my gun in his hand. I was going to take them into Casas Grandes. I went home for a bite to eat before starting out.

When I returned Pablo Soso was gone but the men were there guarded by a stranger who had my gun in his hand. I went to thank him and take my prisoners on to Casas Grandes. As I thanked him and shook hands with him I recognized him and I knew he recognized me but he did not let on he had ever seen me before.

 It was no other than the Tomache Indian who would not lower his gun when Cox and I met the Tomoche up in the mountains. Here he was back again and Pablo Soso turned out to be his brother.

Pablo had gone on an errand and left him behind. He had gone back to the colony and Brother Stowell hid hired him to put up some fence posts.

A short time after Soso came to the Colony I employed him. One day he was up in the mountain behind the Colony working on the last of a piece of road I had given him to do. I happened on my way to the sawmill and stopped for a minute to give him some instructions. In a burst of confidence he said to me, "You people are the only outfit that ever opposed us Tomoches to the amount of anything. I have often wondered why we could not kill you. I have thought about it a great deal."

He said they had fired about 300 shots at us and had seen with their own eyes plainly that not one of us were hurt. He continued, "In the fight at Tomoche Pass you killed two of our men and wounded three others."

I knew in my heart the reason they had been unable to harm us. The Lord had protected us. If it had not been for his protection undoubtedly we would have been destroyed. There were fierce Indians who not only outnumbered us but had the advantage of ground and who not only long past had caused the deaths of so many Mexican soldiers.

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Juan Pablo Soso [Juan Sasa] came to a bad end. He was a natural bandit. He began stealing around Juárez and when they went to arrest him he tried to kill the police with a shovel and they shot him.

Church Officials Take Up Cause of Tomoche

A few months after the Tomoches passed through the country Apostle Teasdale and his counselors, Alexander Findlay Macdonald and Henry Eyring, learned the real reason of the uprising of the Tomoches. Some of the Mexican officials told them what it was all about. The Brethren saw the fairness of the fight in defense of their homes and land on the part of the Tomoches and they decided to take up their cause.

They directed a communication to President Diaz telling him the reasons for the uprising and asked that these men be forgiven for the past and be given another chance.

The President replied, as always, graciously to the Colony. He wrote that he and his cabinet were taking the Tomoches rebellion into advisement. As a result of our intervention these poor Indians were given a reprieve.

Teresita of Sinaloa de Cabora, the unwitting cause of all this loss of life had had to leave her native town and country because of opposition by the Catholic clergy there. She came out through the mountains and went down to Florence, Arizona, where the Mexican people all over the surrounding country, even from northern Chihuahua and Sonora visited her.

All who visited her returned to their homes greatly impressed and influenced by her words and counsel. She later married an American in Florence, Arizona and lost her power of influence.

 What became of her I do not know.

Orson Seeks Mines with Aid of Tomoches

I had another encounter with the Tomoches of a different nature. It was a friendly and business meeting years later and it was then that I learned all the details of their rebellion.

I had been fooling around a mine for a long while. I could not help it. I had talked to prospectors, miners, mining engineers, had guided them through passes in the mountains, had warned them against Indians, so that I thought I knew something about mines and the time came when I began to dabble a little in mines myself. Of course, in that primitive country new travels fast and everybody knew I was a little interested in mining. So the second in command of the group who had tried t scare us on the march home in the south accompanied by one other Tomoches came. They had in the heads the history of three famous mines: La Guynopa, La Gunopita, La Tyopa.

They sounded interesting and worthwhile taking time to look into it was on this trip that they told me the whole story of their rebellion and the reason for it. At first we went over to find the famous Guynopa mine. This was in the month of July, our rainy season, and there had been some heavy rains. We never found it. When we came to the river the water was high and we could not cross. But on the trip we did find La Guynopa, an old rich silver mine. They had

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taken out much silver out of that mine. The Tomoches assured me that there was lots of gold bullion hidden in the Tayopa. It was suppose to be on the other side of the Arizona River but the river was too high to cross.

Another Incident:

1893  Trip to Salt Lake City

In March 1893 together with my good friend Joseph F. Cardon and his wife Rhoda,  we went to Salt Lake City and to Logan Temple where we had the privilege of having our wives sealed to us by Apostle Merrill President of the Logan Temple. Then we returned to Salt Lake City in time for the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple which was very inspiring privilege. While Joseph Cardon and his wife, my wife and I stood in the Assembly Hall of the temple we heard the most wonderful singing and while we couldn't distinguish the words we knew by the inspiration that came to us that they were the voices of angels. This gave us great satisfaction and joy.

We returned to Mexico with thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for the privilege that we had had.

Orson Learns a Hard Lesson About Questioning the Decisions of Leaders

I am just reminded now of a very important incident and circumstance that came unto my life. There had been some discord and President Macdonald who was first counselor had gone out and who was President of the Juárez Colonization Company had gone to Mexico City and a false report had come to us that he was using his office as President of the Colonization Company to power his own personal interest.

The Bishop and about two thirds of the members of Colonia Juárez signed a petition and sent it to the Presidency of the Church asking that President Macdonald be removed from his office without having made proper investigation. The Presidency of the Church sent Apostles Brigham Young and John Henry Smith down and they together with Apostle George Teasdale called all of the Brethren together to find out what the matter was. After several hours of hearing it became evident that the complaint that had been sent was without foundation in fact. President Macdonald was exonerated with the satisfaction of the Brethren. But because of my stubbornness I was not converted. In the conference following I voted against President Macdonald and so Apostle Teasdale who presided over the Colonies instructed Bishop George Seavey and his counselors to call me before them to see if they could not convert me of the error of my ways. And that if they couldn't convert me to send me to him and as they didn't convert me they sent me to Apostle George Teasdale.

He was waiting for me in his office. I knocked on the door and he said to come in and as I entered, he said for me to take a chair in front of him and he said to me, 'My boy did the brethren convert you of the errors of your way?" and I said "no" I asked him this question "SHOULD A MAN FORGIVE HIS BROTHER WHEN HE DOESN'T REPENT?"

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He didn't answer but just looked at me as though he was looking clear through me. I hung my head in shame and when I raised my head I said to him in tears. "Forgive me Apostle Teasdale I know my  duty now, for these words have come to me. 'Of you it is required that you forgive all men and I will forgive whom I will.'"

I was as humble as a lamb and he said to me, "My son as with Peter of old slight? And blood has not revealed this to thee? But my Father who art in Heaven. For I have been praying to Him that He would reveal this unto you." And as we stood up he clasped me in his arms and kissed me and blessed me.

It was another very important turning point in my life, forever since then I have known my duty, in regard to that great principle of forgiveness.

After the Tomache incident I went in business with Ernest L. Taylor and Joseph C. Bentley. In buying and selling of cattle and after the first year of successful business, Brother Bentley withdrew from our co-partnership. Brother  Taylor and I continued in business for a number of years.

An incident…Kids Renegade Apaches

The Apache Indians had been raiding through the country. They were called the Kids Renegade Apaches. They had killed a part of the Thomson family who were living at the Pratt's ranch, killing Sister Thomson and her oldest son and wounding her second son. The Apaches had been raiding and stealing stock in the colonies when Bishop Smith from Colonia Pacheco came down and advised President Teasdale and asked what could be done. They had just been another raid of the Kids Renegade Apache Indians and President Teasdale advised Bishop Smith to came and consult with me. I went to Pacheco with Bishop Smith and we organized a little party of men consisting of Bishop J. Smith, John Whetten, Jorge Nutly, Robert Beecroft, Samuel Jarvis and myself.

We left Colonia Pacheco in the morning going into the Gavilan country and making our first night camp on Quigley Creek about twenty miles west of Pacheco. The next morning we went into the Apache Valley which was at the head of the whole country about a month previous to going in there. There had been three prospectors, one man with the name of Quigly. When they got into the Apache Valley they saw an Apache Indian, he immediately ran and they made their way to the north of a very high mountain where they made their camp at the rim of the mountain. They stood guard that night. The very next morning just before daylight one of t hem was making breakfast, the other two making guard. Not seeing anything the one that had made breakfast told them to come and get their breakfast. They went down and were eating when three Indians raised up from behind the fortifications they had built and shot at them. They being in a low place their bullets went over their heads. They ran as hard as they could run and arrived at Colonia Juárez in two days and a half and the other two in three days and a half, all coming in separately. As I was saying before, when we arrived at the Indian valley we found one of the burros belonging to these Americans, we also found that the Indians had seen us and they went down to a box canyon on the right hand canyon. Going west we camped

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that night in the box canyon where it rained and snowed all night. We knew that it would be impossible for us to follow those Indians any farther because the snow and rain would obliterate their tracks. After a council of war we decided on returning to Colonia Pacheco. We climbed up out of the deep canyon and when we got on top of the mountain we found about one foot of snow on the ground and it was still snowing very hard. The clouds were down on the mountain so that we couldn't see only a little distance ahead of us.

As we didn't have a compass we couldn't tell which direction we were going. We stopped and Brother Samuel Jarvis said he could lead us out of there blindfolded. So we told him to take the lead and after traveling about an hour we came back on to our own tracks. We had made a perfect circle. Brother Jarvis said, "Here's the Indians trail and when we examined the tracks we all decided that we had made a perfect circle getting back on our own trail. So we made camp tied up our animals so they wouldn't leave us. It cleared up and when daylight came. We found our way and arrived at Colonia Pacheco that night. Because of this trip through Gavilan Valley and country I purchased a Gavilan ranch from the Colonization Company. This was one of the best investments that I ever made for it paid me a profit first and last of approximately forty thousand pesos. It was another evidence to me that if I was willing to do my duty in defense of the interests of the people of the Colonies the Lord would open up the way and shower down his blessings upon me.

After five or six years of a coop partnership with Brother Ernest L. Taylor, which had been very beneficial to both of us. The fact that he had three or four grown up son's whom he desired to participate in the business of our coop partnership and he and his son-in-law. Joseph C. Bentley and his three oldest sons formed a coop partnership. Thus I operated from my own account separate from theirs. I prospered in my efforts very greatly not withstanding I had some reverses.

Kansas City, Missouri Trip

I went up to Kansas City, Missouri to settle up an old account. While I was there a very peculiar circumstance happened to me. I had learned the lesson that if I wanted to know the will of the Lord concerning me, to seek him in earnest prayer. I went down to Independence and there on the temple lot I saw a big oak tree and the spirit admonished me to seek the Lord in prayer.

I looked around and found that I was alone, and I kneeled down under that tree and I sought the Lord in humble prayer, asking my Heavenly Father to guide me and make known unto me his will concerning me. The spirit came over me and said, "My son, you are going to be called unto a special mission." I thanked him for this inspiration. I got up and hunted up the missionaries who were Mormons in Independence. I found them in a fast meeting. I had the privilege of bearing my testimony to them and the saints who were gather there. In the evening I accompanied two missionaries home and with five other missionaries I invited them out to supper at a large restaurant and took them all to a large theater then we all returned to the missionary home and talked till two o'clock in the morning.

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The next morning I took the train for El Paso, Texas. In the Pullman car that I boarded there was an English Lord who was a colonel in the British army and a millionaire financier from New York City. They had in the baggage cars their equipment including eight beautiful dogs, among them two staghounds and the others being bloodhounds. At a station in Oklahoma where there was a twenty-minute wait they got off to see how their dogs were getting along in the baggage care. I heard them talking about them, I got off with them to look at the dogs. I admired them very much and by this we struck up a conversation. They asked me where I was from and as we were journeying along a Protestant minister got on the train and came by bowing to these two distinguished gentlemen. Then this New York financier made the remark, "There goes one of those long-tailed hypocrites, you can tell them by their dress." And he said with a laugh, "They are the ____D __crooketest people in the whole world. They are educated to the science of bleeding people. One of them got into the confidence of my wife and beat her out of ten thousand dollars and tried to seduce my daughter." and he said, "They are the limit of everything that is low and full of deception. If Jesus Christ supports those kind of things and those kind of men then I don' want to have anything to do with them." Then I told them that I was a believer of the words of Jesus Christ and I told them that I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Well," he said, "Where is your paraphernalia, your long-tail coat and your collar turned the wrong way?" He told me I must not be a very good preacher. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to explain the principles of the Gospel as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

I was so earnest in what I had to say and bearing testimony to these men of the simplicity of the principles of the Gospel that they were very favorably impressed. As we traveled along down into Mexico a man that we called Colonel Hunt got onto the train and I introduced him to these gentlemen. Colonel Hunt only rode from this station to the other. This English Lord said to me, "Of what regiment of the army does Colonel Hunt belong?"  I said, "Colonel Hunt belongs to the army of construction rather than the army of destruction. We honor our men who are the captains, colonels, and generals of industry. Who are leaders in the opening up and development of the resources in the frontier." And then he said, "That is a wonderful idea. It is truly very commendable." Then they got off the train going into the White Mountains to hunt bears, lions and wolves with their dogs and equipment. This great financier from New York shook my hand very cordially and begged my pardon if he had offended me and said, "I feel that for once in my life I have met with a Christian gentleman and not with a ______hypocrite."

On arriving home at Colonia Juárez a few days later, we had a Stake Conference. In attendance were the presiding brethren of the Church, President John Henry Smith, who was counselor to President Joseph F. Smith. During the conference I was asked to speak. I recited the experience that I had just had with these gentlemen that I had met on the train from Kansas City to El Paso. I very emphatically suggested that our missionaries who were preaching the Gospel in the world that they were aping or following the customs of the ministers of the world, that it was my opinion that we should change our mode of apparel. That instead of following the system of the Christian

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ministers we should use neat business suits. President John Henry Smith followed me in speaking and said, "The remarks and suggestions of Elder Orson Brown are very timely and when I return to Salt Lake City, I, as Chairman of the Missionary Committee, will suggest the changes as suggested by Elder Brown. And it was done.

The change was made and the elders going in to the mission field from then on wore business suits instead of long-tailed Protestant minister suits.

I owe more to my mother than to any other person in the world. She taught me to pray and to have faith in the Lord and in his many great works, as Well as to have faith and reverence for the Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and all of the apostles she constantly watched over me and I have heard her voice many, many times since she passed on.

[1903-1933]The year that Apostle Reed Smoot was elected to the United States Senate (served from 1903 -1933) I had been to Denver, Colorado to purchase some mining machinery for the purpose of concentrating ore. On my return to El Paso from Denver and Dalhart New Mexico, before the train arrived the conductor said to me, "You may be able to catch the Rock Island train to El Paso, which is due to arrive at Dalhart at the same time that we are due to arrive. But they have a different station than we have. It usually arrives a little late and we came into the Dalhart station he said, "There comes the Rock Island now, I think you can catch it. I took my overcoat in one arm and my suitcase in my other hand. I started along the Rock Island railroad track towards the Rock Island Station that was about 500 yards distance. Just before I got to the station I went to cross the railroad track, the engine had blown its whistle and started. I stubbed my toe and fell in front of the engine about 20 steps from it. The engineer saw me fall, it seemed to be a solar plexus blow for I could not move. He reversed the engine jumped down and he and the fireman picked me up within two steps of the engine. They took me back to the conductor who placed me on the car in charge of the Pullman porter who gave me a stimulant, to be more specific the stimulant was a glass of whisky, which revived me. The porter undressed me and put me to bed. The next morning on arriving at some station we met the eastbound train that had the latest newspaper and the account of the big fight in U.S. Congress over the seating of Apostle Reed Smoot in the United States Senate. The man who was in the seat just in front of me bought a paper as well as myself. This man's name was Watson who had been an ambassador or counselor representative of the U.S.A. in one of the smaller European countries. It seemed to be a highly educated gentleman. He was on his way to Tucson, Arizona to be with his son, who had been in the forest service but was now in a hospital, not expected to live. As result of fighting forest fire and getting to much smoke in his lungs. When he finished reading the article in regards to the seating Senator Smoot in the United States Senate he said to me, in a very vehement manner, "This is the most despicable and outrageous thing that I have ever read. These Mormons are the blackest spot in the American history and should be burned out and destroyed from the body politic. As well as religion being blotted out from America and this man Smoot, a Mormon apostle who undoubtedly is a polygamist should not be allowed to enter the sacred hall of congress of the U.S.A. Much less as a Senator of the U.S."

"Well, I said, "My friend you seem to have pretty hard feelings about these Mormons."

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"Yes," he answered, "I have, I've heard in Chicago that one wife of Brigham Young, Ann Eliza Webb Dee Young [wife No. 19] and her husband Moses R. Denning, a Christian gentleman [and a prominent banker in Manitee, Michigan], tell of the damnable practice under the guise of the Christianity of the Mormons in Utah. Then I read their book telling of the most diabolical unchristian action of those debased Mormons of Utah."

"Well," I said, "My friend I guess that your prejudices are based upon hearsay, of unscrupulous people." Then I asked him if he belonged to some church, and he said, "Yes," that he belonged to the first Christian Church of Chicago, which church was commonly known as the Canvolight Church. Well, I said, 'I am really surprised that a man claiming to be a Christian should have formed such a dislike and a feeling of contempt for people that he knows nothing about, only hearsay," and then he said to me. "What Church do you belong to?"

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ." Then he said, "We're brothers", and he began asking me questions about my faith and I began very earnestly seeking the Lord in secret to help explain to this man the principles of the Gospel. There were two middle age refined looking ladies that were seated across the aisle from us. They seemed to be very much interested in what we were discussing, the principles of Eternal Life. When he said,

"There is one thing that has been a stumbling block to me and that is this, When Columbus discovered America he found millions of people here who had never had the opportunity of receiving the Gospel of the Master and then the opportunity came to explain to them the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the principles the vicarious work that had been revealed through a prophet of God. For the redemption of those who had died without having had the opportunity of receiving the Gospel in this life. I also explained to him that this Book of Mormon was a record from the time of Adam down through the ages and that the Master told his disciples that he was going to preach the gospel to another people who were not of those people in Jerusalem. And after his resurrection he did come to this continent of America and established his church among them. with prophets, apostles and evangelists, and so forth. I told these people that when ever the Lord had people on the earth that kept his laws and commandments he'd always have prophets among them that would recognize and that he spoke through in other words a living divine prophet. That without revelation the people perished, that it was the foundation of Christian life. Then one of the ladies spoke up and said, 'Why Mr. those principles that you have been advocating are true Christian principles. Then Mr. Watson said, Mr. Brown they say there is no perfection in this life, but I pronounce you and the principles you have explained a 99% Christian.' and he said, 'What Church do you belong to?" I said, "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, commonly called the Mormon Church." Then he said, "My God, is it possible?" I said, "Yes, it is possible, it is the truth." Then he said, "Do you believe in polygamy?" and then I said, "Yes" I believe in plural marriage, and I had the opportunity of explaining that wonderful principle to them. Then I told him who Anna Liza Webb was, and whose book he had read that made him prejudiced against the Mormon People. I said, "She was the wife of a man by the name of James Dee who drove her away from his home because she was immoral and was cohabiting with another man. He divorced her and married my sister Ellen Brown.  After this Anna Liza Webb's mother went to President Brigham Young and told him that her beautiful

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daughter wanted to marry him. He married her and when he found out the deception that they had played on him he immediately divorced her and sent her home. Her first husband James Dee had two children that he kept and educated. And that was the class of woman Ann Lisa Webb Dee Young that married a Protestant minister and together they did all the harm they could against an innocent people. Mr. Watson was very much impressed, I gave him the address of the Elders in Chicago and later received a letter from him saying that he had been converted to the Mormon faith.

A Seventy - Spring 1885

When I was ordained to the office of a seventy by President Seymour B. Young the first president of the seven first presidents of the Church, there were present at the Ordination, Apostle Amos (Amasa) Lyman and John Henry Smith, they questioned me very severely and put me under some very strict covenants. One of them was that I would not introduce Mormon girls to outsiders and that I would do everything in my power to serve the Lord and keep all of his commandments including specifically the entering in and obeying the law of plural marriage.

1897 Mattie and Orson Proceed with Plural Marriage,
Jennie Galbraith Joins Family

After coming to Mexico and getting married and seeking the Lord in earnest prayer in regards to my entering into this holy and sacred law of plural marriage I was reminded of the covenant that I had made when I was ordained a seventy. The spirit of the Lord admonished me that it was my duty to enter into this la and keep this commandment of plural marriage. My wife Mattie was very much opposed to it and no amount of explanation or argument on my part had any affect upon her to convert her to this principle. She would obdurate in regard to it. Just before Apostle Teasdale left for the U.S.A. I was at Colonia Diaz with him. Not withstanding the many times that he had blessed and assured me that as long as I was willing to protect the interests of the people of these colonies that the Lord would sustain and protect me from all evil. That the element that my enemies might use against me for my destruction would be turned against them. That my life would be preserved. But on this special occasion he put his arm through mine and said, "Come with me Brother Orson, the Lord has a blessing for you. We were at Colonia Diaz at Bishop Johnson's home. It was a beautiful moonlit night. We walked to the back of Bishop Johnson's house. There he put his hands on my shoulders and gave me a wonderful blessing. In which he said, "The Lord has heard your prayers and supplications and in his name I bless you and promise that you shall have the privilege of entering into the Holy sacred law of plural marriage."

Time went on and there was a young lady who lived at Colonia Diaz who made it a special point to come to the house where I stayed every time that I went to Colonia Diaz. Finally Sister Henny(sp) [Haynie] who was  President of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement and at whose home I stayed, having brought lots of cattle into that vicinity from the colonies, it was necessary for me to go there quite frequently. On one visit Sister Hanyon(sp) [Haynie] said, "Brother Brown, you ought to know by this time that Jenny Galbraith is in love with you and she said that there was no other man that she wanted only you."

"Well," I said, "She is a pretty nice girl but there is no use of thinking of marrying no other

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wife with the present attitude of my wife. She is very bitter in regard to her feelings to plural marriage. When I spoke to my wife Mattie telling her what Sister Galbraith had said to me Mattie said, "Yes, that thief wanted to steal my husband, let her get a husband of her own." So that was that. Apparently at the time it appeared that the door was closed to me to the entering of plural marriage.

Some months later I was down at Colonia Diaz on business. I was thinking about this matter, how was it that the Lord through his Apostle Teasdale had made me the promise of entering into this law and that my wife Mattie was so strongly opposed. The other was the fact they were not solemnizing any plural marriages at that time. When the spirit of prayer came over me. I saddled up my horse and I rode up into the mesquite. I got off my horse, I knelt down in humble prayer saying to the Lord that he had spoken through his prophet Apostle Teasdale, promising me that I would have the opportunity and privilege. My wife was opposed and that it was impossible for me to convert her. I did not want to lose her, that I loved her, that unless he intervened and inspired her to give her consent for me to enter into this law of plural marriage. After this supplication I rose to my feet with a feeling of conviction. I got on to my horse and rode to Colonial Diaz. The next morning I hitched my horse to the buggy and rode back to Colonia Juárez. On arriving there my wife Mattie was waiting for me at the gate with a beautiful smile and a welcome I hadn't had for a long, long time. We went into the house and she had supper ready and after supper as it was our custom we kneeled down and said our prayers were getting ready to retire to our bed when she said to me, "Orson, I want to tell you something before we go to bed." She said, "In the door way there leading to the parlor there stood a man with a long white robe, like a temple robe and in front of him was a pulpit and on the pulpit was the largest book that I ever saw. He pointed his fingers at me and said, calling me by my name, "Martha don't you oppose your husband in doing what is right or your name shall never be written in this book." And she said, " I know then what my opposition had bee and I knew that the book was the book of eternal life. The comforting influence of the Lord came over me and blessed me. Now I am just as anxious for us to enter into that high and holy law of plural marriage as you are."

I clasped her in my arms and we found ourselves both in tears. We knelt down by the side of our bed and thanked the Lord for the revelation that had come to her at this time.

Some months previous to this time Mattie and I went to Colonia Diaz to a conference and while walking along the sidewalk we met two young ladies, one of them being Miss Jane Galbraith. I introduced Mattie to her and her companion. Mattie refused to shake hands with her because I had previously spoken to Mattie about Miss Galbraith. But after she received this inspired vision the next time I went to Colonia Diaz she handed me a letter addressed to Miss Galbraith. When I got to Colonia Diaz to Mrs. Henny's [Haynie's] place where I stayed, Miss Galbraith came in and I said to her, "By the way I have a letter for you," I handed it to her, she read it, and began crying and handed the letter to Sister Henny. Sister Henny was also in tears and handed the letter to me. There was a time of rejoicing between the three of us, the letter said:

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"My dear Miss Jane Galbraith,

My husband has spoken to me about you joining our family and I assure you that you'll be made perfectly welcome to be a member of our family."

So after several months passed, President John Henry Smith and Apostle Heber J. Grant came to Colonia Juárez. I spoke to President Anthony Woodward Ivins about the matter of my having the privilege of marrying Miss Galbraith according to the promise made to me by Apostle George Teasdale before living in Mexico. I had this promise fulfilled and was married to Miss Galbraith [1897].

When I returned home from Colonia Diaz I left her at home at Colonia Diaz.

When I arrived home at Colonia Juárez my wife Mattie asked, "Why didn't you bring Jane home with you?" I said, "What do you know about Jane?" And she replied, "I know that you were married to her because I saw you both together and it is alright, only you should have brought her home."

1901  Mattie Picks Another Wife For Orson,
Bessie Macdonald and Her Two Daughters Join the Family

Another evidence of the inspiration to the Lord concerning this matter. About five years later, discussing this matter of plural marriage, my wife Mattie said to me. I believe that you ought to get another wife and there is Bessie Macdonald. I believe that she would make a fine wife to you and a fine addition to our family. We kneeled down to pray about it. The next morning not having had any previous social contact with Bessie Macdonald, I said to my wife Mattie, "Well, I don't hardly know her not withstanding I think that she is a wonderful and very fine woman"

So I went down to her father's home where she was staying with her Aunt Fanny. I said to Aunt Fanny, "Where is Bessie?" She is down in the garden with her father." So Aunt Fanny called Bessie in and told her there was a man there to see her. I sat down and talked to her, my object of being there, saying, "My wife Mattie and I, after consultation, have decided to enlarge upon our family and we had decided upon asking her to join our family group." She said, "This is a surprise to me, I hardly know you." I asked her if she would consider the matter and then I said, "I will be back here to see you at 6 o'clock this evening." I then went and discussed the matter with my wife Jane and she was perfectly willing also.

When I returned to the Macdonald home that evening and discussed the matter with Bessie Macdonald she said, "I have discussed this matter with my father and I have prayed about it to the Lord and I am willing to accept your proposition." And the next night at ten o'clock in the presence of my wife Mattie, we were sealed together by one having the authority [on January 15, 1901].

1901 Orson to Preside Over Colonia Morelos

I had been called to preside over the new colony at Colonia Morelos, Sonora a few days later by President Anthony Woodward Ivins and Helaman Pratt. I took Bessie Macdonald and her two little girls, Elsie and Marguerite, who were five and three years old. I was installed as Bishop at Colonia Morelos. This was in February 1901. And in July 3, 1902 I had a very extraordinary experience.

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True to the manifestation made to me at that time of the first of January 1902 after a special meeting of the High Council President A. W. Ivins took my arm and we walked over in front of my house. He said, "Orson I can't think of Colonial Morelos without thinking of it in connection with you. And I feel that it is the will of the Lord that you go over there and preside over that colony. There are bandits and thieves molesting the people and there aren't any of them who speak the Spanish language. They need you very badly I know from what you have told me of your plans that it will break you up financially. I said to him, "If it is there the Lord wants me, it is there I want to be."

We separated, he going to his home and I going to mine. I said to my wife Mattie, "Here is the call of the Lord, and she asked, "What are you going to do about it?"

"Why," I said, "I'm going, of course." We prayed about it and the next morning before daylight I was up to President Ivins home and I found that he was up. He said, "Orson, I was expecting you."

He repeated again, "Orson, I know this will break you up financially but I know the Lord will bless you for accepting this call." I answered, "I am no better than you are. You were disappointed in your political aspirations and was broken up to come down here."

(See Appendix: Friends… to understand what Orson was referring to regarding President Ivins)

He and President Pratt and myself went over to Morelos and I was installed as Bishop. I saw the financial condition of the people. I first sold a bunch of steers for 7,800 pesos and went back to Casas Grandes and bought wheat, barley, considerable flour and took also a herd of cattle and went back to Morelos and furnished the people who were without flour and meat. Later I sold another herd of cattle for 24,800 pesos and bought a small grist mill, threshing machine, mower, header, and other tools, planes, pumps, etc. that were necessary and took them to Morelos. Next I bought 8000 pesos worth of merchandise and opened a store and put Brother Jameson in charge of it. Next we planted wheat and barley. Soon however, the two rivers that came together below Morelos dried up and we had no water with which to irrigate. We were rather in a distressing condition. Brother George Teasdale and his wife came to visit us and I explained the situation to him. Next morning being Sunday I asked Brother Charles Lillywhite, Superintendent of Sunday School to line up the children and the other Sunday School members in their classes in to files on each side of the entrance to the little school house and as Apostle Teasdale and his wife and my counselors and myself came up to begin singing the hymn, "In our Lovely Deseret where the Saints of God have me."  And as we walked down through the two files of Sunday School children and into the improvised church building, everyone took his seat except Apostle Teasdale. He raised his eyes to the heavens and thus he spoke, "I have heard thy supplications and prayers and I say unto you that your crops will mature; that you will have plenty for yourselves and for your neighbors. And if you will be united this will be a land of peace and plenty unto your and if you will serve me and keep my commandments my blessings will be constantly with you. But if you allow the spirit of the adversary to come among you and divide you this will no longer be a land of peace and plenty unto you."

It was the voice of our Heavenly Father speaking through his Prophet Apostle Teasdale. And I have never before or since heard any man speak with such power as did Apostle Teasdale on this occasion. As time went on we got no water, we got no rain. Notwithstanding every morning on the head of the barley and the wheat there would be heavy dew. Some of the brethren came to me and said, "Bishop, we think we ought to cut the grain and get some food out of it as it will never mature.  And I answered, "Oh ye, of little faith, the Lord through his prophet said that the grain would mature and that we would have plenty for ourselves and to spare for our neighbors."

And so it was. We had an abundant harvest, plenty for our sustenance and seed for another year and sold 10,000 pesos worth of flour and barley to our neighbors. And this was the word of the Lord through his prophet Apostle Teasdale fulfilled.

July 3, 1902
A MIRACULOUS HEALING

by Joel H. Martineau

The wonderful healing (July 3, 1902) of Bishop Orson Pratt Brown is without parallel in modern times. He was Bishop of Colonia Morelos in Sonora, Mexico.  The ward was building a tithing granary and he, with three companions, were pulling up some heavy green timbers to lay across the building for beams to carry the roof of dirt.  The scaffold gave way and all fell to the ground.  I will give Bishop Brown's own words that followed:

"I fell fourteen feet head-first and as my head struck the ground, a log weighing about five hundred pounds struck me on the hips.  My neck was broken, also my right shoulder and elbow, and this log crushed my skull. While I was under this log the impression came to me strongly that I would not die from these injuries.  Pablo Sosa removed the log from my body. He straightened up my body and put me on one of the logs.  I was conscious of the conditions and asked him to raise my head, which he did. The brethren carried me to the house and administered to me and I told them to not fear, for notwithstanding my critical condition I had a strong impression that I would not die from these injuries.

"They immediately sent for Dr. Keate, who was at a mining camp and he came four days later.  On examining my neck, skull, and shoulder, he said my neck was broken and he feared if he tried to adjust the joints under present conditions it might cause my death. So I remained thus, with two joints of my neck out of place till the present time.

"My shoulder and elbow were adjusted and my skull seemed to have only been creaked. While I was suffering in these conditions I found in my right arm the severest pain that I ever have experienced and it was continued for twenty-four hours until I was left without any physical strength because of the severe pain.  It seemed that I could get no relief and that my life was fast ebbing away and in my agency I cried out to the Lord and asked Him to relieve this suffering or take me to Himself.  In that instant there came a voice to me.

"I heard, 'My son, if you cannot suffer the things your father suffered, you cannot come where I am.  You must suffer without murmuring.'  I knew that this was the voice of my earthly father, Captain James Brown (1801-1863), and that he was standing by my side.  With this knowledge of my father being at my side and pleading for me and sympathizing for me, tears came into my eyes.

"I said, 'Oh Father! Forgive me for murmuring and help me to realize and feel the spirit of repentance and relieve me of this suffering by letting thy blessings come to me. And for this knowledge and testimony and the understanding that my earthly father is here with me, I would be willing that my body be torn to pieces or any other suffering thou seest fit to send me.'

"Immediately I was relieved of all suffering and pain and a blessing came to me that it is impossible to express in words for the spirit of the Lord was there to the extend that I could not express myself further.

"About three days later I had another experience. My left side was paralyzed, I had no feeling in my left side and no sight in my left eye.  I was bolstered up in a large high-backed rocking chair and my head was tied to its back. By some means I must have slipped down and gone to sleep, my head fell forward and I became unconscious for the first time during all this time of suffering.  The brother attending me immediately grabbed my head and he drew it back and tied it up again.  When I became conscious again I was so weak that it took several hours for me to be able to speak.  It seemed my life was ebbing away and after some twelve or fifteen hours in this distressing, weakened condition, my wife Bessie McDonald Brown, came to me.  She said, ' Orson, shall I send for the Elders?' I told her yes and she sent for Patriarch Jameson, Charles Lillywhite, and George Bunker.  It was in the very early morning just at daylight and as they came in Brother Jameson spoke.  He said, 'Orson, what shall we do?'

"I whispered to him to kneel down in a circle and each pray for my relief, and they knelt down and in turn prayed for me and they arose and came forward and Brother Lillywhite anointed me with consecrated oil. Brother Jameson was mouth in the confirmation and before they had taken their hands from my head, I felt life come into my left side, which had been paralyzed and dead.  Strength came to me and I was healed and the power of the Lord was so great in that room, though humble, that no one could speak for a long time.  When I recovered I praised the Lord for His blessings that had come to me and we all rejoiced in the great manifestation of the spirit and power of the Lord as I rose up from the chair, loosened the bandages from my head, and spoke: 'I am healed.'

"I immediately asked for some nourishment. Later I asked for more nourishment and in the evening of that day, I took a cane and walked four blocks and did not feel a particle of pain in any part of my body. From that time my strength rapidly grew until I was able in three weeks time to get into a buggy and came to Juárez to conference over a very rough road, over 100 miles.  A miracle had been wrought and, as Dr. Keate wrote in The Scientific Medical Journal, my case was one in a million that I should live under these conditions." And then on the second day of September 1902 I was blessed with the privilege of marrying Eliza Skousen and taking her back to Colonia Morelos, Sonora.

1903 [July 1903] Vision of a Great Flood

I was crossing the Bavispe River at Colonia Morelos and as I got into the middle of the stream and while my horse was drinking water I had a wonderful vision.

I saw a great flood of water coming down the riverbed which was about a half mile wide at this point. The water overflowed the banks and swept everything before it. The Lillywhite brothers, Charles and Morris, were building two small brick houses on the south side of the valley near a wide embankment. I saw that their rock foundation and that their wives, having married sisters, escaped up this high embankment and when I got over to where the Lillywhite brothers were building these houses I told them what I had seen in the vision. They both smiled and said they thought that I had a wonderful imagination. I advised the people of the Colony not to build any more homes on the low lands or in the way of the flood.

I preached in the church at least three times at the stand. This vision was in the month of July 1903 and in February 1905 the flood came just as I had seen it. Washing everything before it. Almost destroying Colonia Oaxaca twenty miles up the river from Colonia Morelos.

Further Evidence of a Flood, Saved From Lightening

I was riding down a big wash know as the Caballero Wash in the month of July. A thunderstorm came up and it began to thunder and lightening and rain. I was on horseback, I rode fast to get under a big walnut tree when a voice came to me and said, "Get out from under that tree or you will be killed as Bishop Smoot (Scootr(sp)) was killed the year before in the same month. While Bishop Smoot was riding down on the bank above Colonia Oaxaca a thunderstorm came up and he got down off from his horse, and got under a tree. Lightening struck the tree, and came down and struck him and as he had the reins of the bridle in his hands lightening also killed his horse. They were both found dead the next morning.

When I heard this voice I took three steps away from the tree when the lightening struck to the bottom of the tree. I was full of electricity and my horse fell to the ground. When he got up he was trembling all over.

Because of listening to the warning of the voice of the Lord my life was saved.

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