The Brigham Young Center

Provo June 9th 1858

Bishop P. T. Farnsworth,

Dear Brother:-- Your letter of the 2nd and the accompanying list of animals lately stolen from your settlement by the Indians, are at hand, and in reply I have to inform you that Bishop Warren S. Snow, of Manti, with a small party, intercepted those thieving Indians, on the way to Camp Scott, and recovered 43 of the stolen animals. Brother Tanner, one of the owners of the animals, has seen bro. Snow and can inform you of the disposition of those which were retaken. Gov. Cumming returned to G. S. L. City on the 8th. inst., and it is stated that Peace Commissioners from Pres. Buchanan arrived on the 7th. I purpose going to G. S. L. City to-morrow, in company with Prests. Kimball and Wells, those of the Twelve now here, and a few other brethren, where we shall, probably, be able to soon learn the course of immediate future operations. The families, grain, &c. are nearly all moved from the counties north of this. June 4th, in Salt Creek Canon, brothers Teckelsen and Curniff and bro. James Yerkersen and wife were wantonly killed by Indians, while they were peacefully and unarmed, pursuing their journey to Sanpete Valley. A large number of Utahs and Yampa Utahs, most of whom starved around Camp Scott last winter, lately came into Provo; I furnished them with flour and beef animals, and they passed on to some springs above Pondtown, near the mouth of Spanish Fork Kanyon, where they still are, and some of them are disposed to be saucy and thievish, under the kindest treatment with a view, solely, to their good. Pursuing Indians who have stolen animals, or other property, has ever proven to be bad policy; strict guarding, yarding and herding being the only sure method for the preservation of stock, it is to be hoped that stock owners will sometime learn from the many expensive lessons taught them by the Indians, and try to take care of what stock they have left. Bro. George Bean arrived here on the 5th., and reports very favorably on localities not likely to be coveted by those whose chief delight is in ease, comfort and the coveted luxuries of this life. All is well.

Your Brother in the Gospel,

Brigham Young