The Utah Gold Rush by Boren Lisa Lee & Boren Kerry Ross

Author:Boren, Lisa Lee & Boren, Kerry Ross [Boren, Lisa Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: 2012-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Discovery of Grave of Indian Chief by

Affidavits

Before Placing Skeleton in Institution

A case on the northside of the L.D.S. Church museum is destined to become the center of interest to many a student of early-day Utah history. For resting peacefully in the midst of the very white settlers whom he loved to harass is all that remains of Chief Black Hawk who in the early sixties was dreaded and feared in many a town and settlement of Utah. What are declared to be the bones of the Indian desperado have been brought from their final resting place near Spring Lake Villa and now along with spurs, beads, sleighbells, ax, bucket, brass buttons and all such comforts which were supposed to accompany him to the Happy Hunting grounds are on display to the eyes of the White trespassers whom he so much resented.

Before placing the skeleton on exhibit Benjamin Goddard, in charge of the museum, has made every possible effort to prove their authenticity and has obtained a mass of evidence which seems to prove unquestionably that none other but the famous chief reposed in the museum. Mr. Goddard has not only secured the affidavits of the persons who exhumed the remains, but of early settlers near Spring Lake Villa who knew the chief and saw his funeral cortege pass up the mountain a little to the east of the Utah County town. There are also a number of interesting photographs showing the place where the body was found, and of the region where Black Hawk started on his last journey….

* * *

It seems as though Benjamin Goddard had some serious concerns about the identity of the remains and wanted verification, which Bullock accommodated by providing affidavits. But there is that enigmatic statement in Bullock's letter to Hathenbruck that “We were just about found out,…” What was he hiding? Was it the fact that the remains he produced were not those of Black Hawk? That would seem to be the case if we take his statements seriously in his next letter to Hathenbruck:

F.W.C. Hathenbruck

Provo, Utah, April 10, 1920

Doctor:

After our last meeting a few thoughts have occurred to me about your planned expedition to the mine. I have decided to deliver my father's map to the Black Hawk mine to you in person due to the uncertainty of the post….The remains of “Black Hawk” are now on display in the church museum to a pretty good audience and are generally accepted as authentic. Only you and I know the truth of the matter and I know you will be discreet with the information. My father never wanted anyone to know of his part in the burial of old Black Hawk among his ancestors or how he came about the mine. He never believed that Black Hawk was as bad a man as he was portrayed to be and he had an understanding of the Indians that reminds me very much of your own. If you were to find old Black Hawk buried in his mine I would not be surprised… [Ben H.

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