Copied from Beneath Ben Lomond’s Peak: A History of Weber County, 1824-1900, pg 275.

FRIGHTENED BRIDES

(This was furnished by Camp F of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.)

The Utah Indians were none too friendly for a few years following the Walker War. Many pioneer settlers became almost terror-stricken at the sight of the natives.

In 1869, two young brides were living with their husbands in a little two-roomed adobe house, which had a dirt floor, dirt roof, and canvas or factory for windows and doors. One of these brides, Rachel, was a true pioneer, having walked barefoot across the plains when only nine years old. The other, whose name was Rose, had recently migrated from England, and had had little experience with the American Indians.

One morning they were startled to see two squaws approaching their home. Rose excitedly suggested hiding under the bed. Rachel, not desiring to meet the squaws alone, followed Rose in her flight as she crawled under the bed. There they lay very still until they saw one of the Indian women take a sharp knife and rip the factory at the window from top to bottom. This fired Rose’s temper to such a point that she crawled out from under the bed and dashed after the squaw. A fight ensued and Rose came out victorious. Rachel looked on, for she knew that the other squaw would fight if she did; so Rose was left to do her fighting alone. The defeated Indian woman was very angry, and went away talking incoherently in her native language, stopping frequently to look back and stick out her tongue.