Spirit Pouch

by Vaterlaus, Stanford

  And they took my mother prisoner and we have not heard anything of her since.

  My father was not dead as we first thought he was but he had only got a scalp wound. The bullet just grazed his skull and knocked him senseless for a while further. And my sister and myself ran four miles back, my sister being shot four times in the back with arrows. When we had run about four miles, we met the stage, which turned around and took us back to the Big Laramie River Station.

  When we got back to the Big Laramie, everybody was excited, and Captain Smith was there with one company of about 75 men and he started after the Indians and followed them three days and nights and had a fight with the Indians, but they could not get my mother back, although they had seen her.

  The government then took us back to Fort Camp Collins. We stayed in Fort Camp Collins about two months and the quartermaster of the fort let us have a six-mule team to take us to Denver. The people of Denver gave Father between three and four hundred dollars.

  When we got to Denver, us three children took with the mountain fever and it took nearly all of the money that Father had to get us well. My grandfather kept getting worse from the effects of the wound which he got from the Indians. Father sent him up in the mountains for his health, but he got worse and he started to come back to Denver but he died on the road.

  We stayed in Denver until the spring of 1867 when Father heard that the Indians were going to make peace with the government at Fort Laramie. So father took us two boys and left my sister in Colorado on a farm about 12 miles from Denver.

  We had quite a good time going to Fort Laramie. Captain Wilson took us with him. He had two government lamblings, and an escort of 12 men. We had a good time shooting deer all the way. We got there three days before the Peace Commission arrived from Washington. That was quite an exciting time among the Indians at that time, and when all the Indians arrived in Fort Laramie, there was between eight or ten thousand of them, and there was only about four or five hundred soldiers in the fort. I think we stayed in the fort for about three months, but we could not find anything out about mother for some of them would tell one story and some would tell another, and we could not believe any of them.

  Father then hired himself out, and us two boys, to drive teams. My father got 50 dollars per month, and us two boys got 40 dollars a piece per month. We stayed with the train until we got to Green River, and then we quit working for the wagon master.

  And then we went from Green River over to Hamsfork and then we hired to some French men to drive a team to Montana. We had quite a time with the cattle, for they were very nearly all of them wild, and it took us until noon every day to get yoked up.

  But finally we got to Provo City and loaded our train with flour, but we had quite a time getting away from there, for the roads were very bad and the mud was up to the wagon hub. While the men were loading the wagons I had to herd the stock and I had quite a time of it. We stayed in Provo about a week and then we started for Salt Lake City and it took us three days to make the trip. We stopped in Salt Lake City three days buying grub to eat on the road.

  About The Author

  Stanford E. Vaterlaus currently resides in Tucson, Arizona with his wife, Susan. He is a successful general practice family dentist and is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Doctor Stanford Vaterlaus likes camping, fishing, photography, pen and ink drawing, computer programming, powered paragliding and gardening. He is a licensed pilot, but enjoys flying remote control airplanes on weekends in the cool morning air of southern Arizona.

  His first book, Time Breach, has action on every page. If you enjoy a fast-paced plot, you just might lose sleep over this one.

  The Prophet, is a sequel to his first book. Read The Prophet and find out what exciting adventures Curtis Reid’s son has with his father’s time machine.

  Spirit Pouch is Stanford E. Vaterlaus’ third book. It is an historical fiction time travel adventure that takes place in the 1866 frontier America. You will love Jared and Ty and fear for their lives because they are there at the Cottle massacre.

  * * *

  [1] As a young man Jeddy [Jedediah M. Grant] passed through the persecutions of Missouri and Illinois, and in the summer of 1847 he crossed the plains, arriving in Salt Lake Valley in October of that year. This journey was beset with tragedies and physical hardships that not only tested his faith and measured his physical endurance, but also overwhelmed him with grief. First, his little daughter, Margaret, died and was buried in a shallow grave in a lonely place on the plains. Soon after, his wife, Caroline, unable to endure the hardships and tragedies of the journey, sickened and died.

  Bryant S. Hinckley, Heber J. Grant: Highlights in the Life of a Great Leader [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1951], 18 - 19.)

  [2] The Book of Mormon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1830, Mosiah 3:12

  [3] Inipi - The Rite of Purification

  The Lakota term for sweat lodge is Inipi which means 'to live again'. Inipi is a purification rite and is necessary in order to help the vision quest seeker enter into a state of humility and to undergo a kind of spiritual rebirth.

  The sweat lodge is central to Inipi. Prayers offered there draw on all the powers of the universe - Earth, Water, Fire and Air. In the old days, Inipi was done before any major undertaking to purify the body and gain strength and power.

  The actual lodge itself is a dome constructed of 16 young willow trees placed in a circle, traditionally covered with hides so no light could penetrate inside.

  On the outside, the formation of the site comprises an earth mound just outside the door of the sweat lodge, facing east, and a fire pit containing stones. The fire represents the sun. Another mound partially encircling the fire pit represents the crescent moon. This is the outer world or cosmos; the inner world is the sweat lodge. It represents the womb of the universe from which souls are created anew.

  Prayers are said at each stage of the construction of a sweat lodge. When it is completed, a burning coal is brought in and sweetgrass is burned by the leader of the Inipi to purify the lodge. The pipe is smoked and carried outside, where it is placed on the mound of earth.

  The other participants enter the lodge, sitting in a circle on sacred sage, and the Pipe is brought in and smoked. The heated rocks are placed on the center fireplace and the Pipe returned to the earth mound. Then, the door is closed.

  During the ritual, the door is thrown open four times to represent the four ages described by the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman. The fourth time, participants leave the lodge, emerging from dark to light which represents the liberation from the physical universe. All that is impure is left in the sweat lodge.

  Inipi: Rite of Purification, http://www.aktalakota.org/index.cfm?cat=54&artid=184

  [4] New Testament, Matthew 17:20

  [5] The Book of Mormon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1830, Alma 32:28-33

  [6] The Book of Mormon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1830, Matthew 4:3-4

  [7] “Likewise the piercing of the body for multiple rings in the ears, in the nose, even in the tongue. Can they possibly think that is beautiful? It is a passing fancy, but its effects can be permanent. Some have gone to such extremes that the ring had to be removed by surgery. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have declared that we discourage tattoos and also ‘the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes.’ We do not, however, take any position ‘on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings’—one pair.”

  President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children” October 2000 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Priesthood Session, Reported in the Ensign, November 2000.

  [8] The Book of Mormon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1830, Mosiah 27:12-23

  [9] … that one revolution
was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord's time, according to the reckoning of Kolob.

  The Pearl of Great Price, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1979, Abraham 3:2-4

  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

  New Testament, 2 Peter 3:8

  [10] John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

  New Testament, Mark 1:4

  Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.

  The Book of Mormon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1830, Moroni 6:2

  Doctrine and Covenants, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1979, D&C 20:37

  [11] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

  New Testament, Matthew 3:16

  [12] Pemmican was made from Buffalo meat, fat, and wild berries pounded together.

  Jeanne Oyawin Eder, The Dakota Sioux, April 1,2000, pg. 20

  [13] Marshal W. F. Sears served as marshal of Central City from 1864 to 1867.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets), appendix 2, page 156.

  [14] Dogtown was a mining camp approximately one half mile south of Central City, Colorado.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets),page 9.

  [15] Until the railroad reached Blackhawk in 1872, the stagecoach was the only means of public transportation to or from the area. The stagecoach could make the trip from Denver to Central City in seven or eight hours once the road was improved. Prior to that, the trip from Denver to Central city by wagon took three or four days.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets),pages 19-20

  [16] Most mammals only produce enough milk to feed their young. Dairy cows are different, they produce far more milk than their young calves can use. A calf only needs a small portion of her mother’s milk supply during the first few months of life (about 255 liters). Since a good dairy cow produces more than 6100 liters of milk in a year, there is a lot of extra milk for us to use. A cow produces milk for about ten months following the birth of her calf and for the process to continue she must have a calf every year.

  Milk, Where It All Begins: www.milk.mb.ca/Dairy/all-begins.asp

  [17] The dignified, hardy ponderosa pine has long been a symbol of the wild American West, and the tree has done particularly well for itself in Arizona. They are found throughout the West from Canada to Mexico, but the stand stretching from Flagstaff along the Mogollon rim to the White Mountains is reportedly the largest continuous stand on the continent. The region's mild wet winters, and pattern of precipitation and dry spells throughout the year make it prime ponderosa habitat.

  Arizona’s Ponderosa Pine http://www.gatewaytosedona.com/article/id/1470/page/1

  The largest stand of ponderosa pine in the world is located in the Prescott Basin in central Arizona at an elevation of approximately 5,300 feet. The Basin is surrounded by Prescott National Forest on the west, south and east with ponderosa pine, juniper and manzanita.

  Prescott's Ponderosa Pines http://azgfd.info/licenses/facts.cfm?azfact=1095

  [18] The actual name of the brickyard was Hooper’s Brick Yard. It once stood at the intersection of Hooper Street and Roworth Street. Not a trace of it is left today. Most of the brick buildings built in Central City, Colorado after the fire of 1874 were built of Hooper brick, a sand product that would be wholly unsuited for modern construction. The Roworth buildings and the Teller building are totally constructed of Hooper brick.

  From records found at the Gilpin History Museum, 228 E. High St., Central City, CO 80427-0247

  [19] The saloon mentioned is real, although the name is fictional. At the corner of Main and Eureka on the North side of the street was a log building which was a saloon. In 1868 it became a bank and then in 1874 it was occupied by Wells Fargo.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets),page 98.

  [20] The Daily Miner’s Register was a real newspaper in Central City, Colorado which operated from August 21, 1863 until July 24, 1868, printing news that was sent daily by telegraph. The Weekly Miner’s Register was also a thriving Republican newspaper during approximately the same time period.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets),page 97.

  [21] Jenkins Mining Supplies and Mr. Jenkins are fictional, although typically in the 1860’s stores would have a large variety of goods, including boots.

  [22] Boots were custom made on a White Oak foot-shaped mold called a ‘last.’ First, the inner sole was placed onto the bottom of the last, and then the leather that was to be the top of the boot, called the “upper,” was placed over the top of the last. These were lightly tacked onto the last. Next the “heel” leather was attached and sewn to the upper. Finally the sole was glued to the bottom and held together by pounding in wooden pegs. The last step was to remove the “last” from the inside and smooth down any tacks or wooden pegs that protruded to the inside.

  [23] The war between the United States and Iraq started on 20 March 2003.

  US cruise missiles and bombs were dropped on Iraq's capital city, Baghdad.

  They were targeting Saddam Hussein, his sons, key members of his leadership and government buildings.

  Key battles followed in the Iraqi towns of Umm Qasr, Basra, Nasiriya and Karbala. US military officials admitted the Iraqi resistance was stronger than they had expected, but they slowly moved toward Baghdad.

  Once the US forces had captured Baghdad Airport, they met less fighting and started taking control of the capital.

  BBC Newsaround: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/world/iraq/newsid_2181000/2181249.stm

  [24] Washington Hall is located on Eureka Street. It has a bell tower. It was built by Sheriff Cozens in 1862. There is a jail on the west end of the first floor and a court room on the West half of the second floor. The Methodist Church met in Washington Hall in 1865.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets),page 94, 95.

  [25] The Central City Bakery was a two story building owned and built by the Roworth brothers in 1862. The lower story was 26 feet by 60 feet by 12 feet tall. The second story was 10 feet tall. It was constructed of brick and had heavy iron shutters to protect the glass windows. The roof was constructed of tin, underneath which was four inches of dirt. In the event of fire, the tin might burn off, but the building would remain protected by the dirt. The building, which was added to later on the South, was also used as a mercantile store and a mining supply store. These two buildings were the only buildings on Main Street to survive the fire of 1874.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets),pages 141-143.

  [26] Before 1873 most buildings in Central City were constructed of wood. Despite a volunteer fire company with a hook and ladder wagon, in January of 1873 a fire destroyed sixteen buildings on Lawrence Street before it could be controlled. There was no municipal water supply at the time. Water was scarce and the firefighters had to draw on the individual household supplies.

  On May 21, 1874 another fire broke out. Despite city efforts to build cisterns and water reservoirs, it was not enough. In the space of about three hours, 150 buildings burned to the ground. It was only stopped by the Teller House and Masonic building on the West because the Masonic Building was made of granite
and brick and had iron shutters to cover the windows. The fire burned right past the Roworth buildings on the South inflicting very little damage because of their brick construction and the layer of dirt in the roof.

  Several people remained in the building during the fire. They closed the iron shutters and iron doors and using water from an inside cistern continually splashed water on the iron doors and shutters to keep them cool.

  Alan Granruth, Central City, Colorado 1859-1999 (Mining Gold to Mining Wallets),pages 36-39

  [27] “ … and then Father moved up to the mines in the city of Blackhawk, and then Father moved to a place called Dogtown, about a mile above Central City. We stayed there two years, Father working in the mines earning good wages. I worked in the brickyard for two summers at two dollars per day. …”

  Journal of William Henry Cottle

  [28] “I worked in the brickyard for two summers at two dollars per day.”