Two extraordinarily different accounts of how Jacob Hamblin met Albert, the Goshute/Shoshone boy that Hamblin adopted.
Version one of this tale was published in the Deseret News, April 2, 1853.
We learn by letter of Bro. Jacob Hamblin, Tooele, March 5th, that about the 12th of February, he left home with 3 of Goshute’s Indians, for the purpose of exploring some of the streams in Spring valley. The first night encamped at the Mountain Point, where, just a year previous, we had routed the Indians, who were on a stealing tour, and had a long talk. They told me they would ‘never steal any more from the Mormons, for they talked good talk, and they wanted to be brothers; that they had stole many cattle and horses, but they should never steal any more; that a part of their tribe had left them, and gone many sleeps south-west.”
Their excuse was trivial, and a brief answer satisfied them. No doubt those referred to, were some of the bad ones of the clan, and have gone a few moors off to keep out of the way of their deserts. When the subject was explained, the Indians present thought some of them would return before another snow, as they had had a talk with them.
“I traveled 2 days on the east side of the valley, saw plenty of cedar timber, but water scarce, that could be used for irrigating purposes.
On discharge of a gun for a duck, near the elbow of Deseret road, Bro. Hamblin discovered a smoke 2 miles off, to which he repaired, and found an Indian boy 9 or 10 years old sitting near a small fire, and asked him in his own tongue, if he had a father. He made no answer. “I asked him where his wickiup was; he pointed his finger, and I saw his mother sitting in a hut, where, to all appearance, they had been some time. Everything bespoke their wretchedness and want; they had not clothing enough then to make a shirt. They said they had been there 5 moons, living on roots, having no shelter from the storms, but partially from the wind.”
“One of the Indians of my company came up, and said he knew them; and that they left Willow Creek 5 or 6 moons before. I asked her to give me her boy; she objected, but the next day she pressed me to take him; and I took him, and gave her a blanket, buiscuits, etc., as she had suffered much from hunger, cold, etc., the past winter.
The next morning I started for home. The Indian boy is much pleased with his situation. As soon it is light, he wants the whip to bring up the cattle. I find him very faithful in everything I ask of him
I would say to the brethren, don’t be afraid of taking and teaching them to do good. If the Lord is not working in the hearts of this people, I am greatly deceived. The Indians in this valley are manufacturing rope, or cord, from the coat of the Milkweed, and baskets from the Willow. The brethren generally are anxious to encourage industry and honesty among them, in buying their baskets and ropes whether they need them or not. The Indians appear anxious to raise a crop of wheat and potatoes this season; they ask a great many questions about the Mormons; I have had some good talk with them of late.”
Version two was published in the Millennial Star, vol. 49, December 5, 1887.
In the year 1850, [Jacob] Hamblin and his family with other Saints settled in Tooele Valley, Utah, which was at that time inhabited by a band of Indians led by a chief called Old Big Foot. Old Big Foot was a bad Indian and he and his followers caused the white settlers a great deal of trouble by their depredations, which, despite the efforts of the people of Salt Lake and Tooele to quell them, continued to last about three years.
Finally Hamblin, who was then lieutenant, asked that a company be given him with which to make a raid on the Indians; he succeeded finally, not in killing them, but in effecting a peace with them. During his raid against them he had become convinced by the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in many instances that his calling was not to fight and kill the Indians, but it was to be a messenger of love and peace to them, and by this same spirit it was also made manifest to him that if he would not thirst for their blood he should never fall by their hands. This precious promise of the Almighty through His spirit to Hamblin was a source of great strength and assurance to him in after years, and enabled him while among the Indians to pass through scences unmoved which caused some of the bravest of other men to tremble.
Soon after his return from trailing after Old Big Foot, [Jacob Hamblin] dreamed that he was on a friendly visit to the Indians they had been so long trying to destroy, and while walking and talking with them he picked up a stone. This on being touched, diffused a bright phosphorescent light, and as he handled it the light stuck to his fingers, and as he tried to brush it away it continued to spread over him.
This dream made a great impression upon him and was repeated to him for three successive nights. At the third repetition of it he arose from his bed, saddled his horse and taking his gun and blankets went alone into the Indian country. He entered the valley where there lodges had stood when he was there before but saw no Indians, but a smoke curled up near the center of the valley. He directed his way to it and found there sitting on a rock near by a little Indian boy about ten years old, who was crying bitterly. The spirit said to Hamblin as he addressed the boy, “This is the bright stone you saw in your dream; take the lad home with you.” He asked the boy the cause of his grief; he replied by pointing to an old lodge near by where an Indian woman, the boy’s mother, lay dying. The other Indians, according to their custom at such times, had gone away and left her to die alone. He asked the boy if he would like to go home with him; he replied that he would, but added, “I want you to come and heal my mother first.” Hamblin went with the boy to where his mother lay and administered to her by laying hands upon her and she soon after sat up and conversed with him. Though he knew very little of their language yet by the gift of tongues he was enabled to understand them and to make himself understood.
They told him they had known all day that he would come to them, and the boy afterwards said, when Hamblin asked him why he was so willing to go with him, the first white man he had ever seen and a stranger, that three men having white hair and beards came and told him of his (Hamblin’s) visit and advised him to go home with the white man when he came. The fire had been built to attract the expected visitor’s attention to the spot.
Though the mother had readily given her consent when Hamblin first asked for the boy to go with him, yet when about to depart and the little fellow picked up his bow and arrows, she set up such a wail that Hamblin’s heart was touched and he told the boy to go back and remain with her; but the lad refused to do so and followed his new guardian. That night, the mother, still anxious about her son, came to the camp and told Hamblin she was willing for him to take her boy, for she believed he was a good man, but exacted the promise from him that he would always be a father to him and own him for a son. Hamblin gave the promise and was always faithful to his trust.
The boy Albert was very much attached to his adopted father who was his only confidant and friend, and he was an obedient and faithful son to him. As he grew older the care of his father’s flocks was given him and they increased rapidly while under his management.