Incidents in the life of Robet T. Bush, written by L. D. Jones and published in the Enterprise in April 1922.
The writer had a very pleasant chat with our esteemed townsman, Robert T. Bush, one day recently at his home on North Main St. and which I think will be of interest to many of your readers. Mr. Bush is a man of English birth and is now in his 86th year and will reach that mile-post on the 29th of this month. He is a very intelligent man, being well informed along many lines and a visit with him is very profitable.
The subject of this sketch first saw the light at Fortsmouth Hampshire, England. His father was Thomas Bush and his mother Sara Meaton. Mr. Bush’s father died when he was but six years of age. He and a younger brother, who also died, were the only children. Two years after the death of her husband, his mother married William Apperly, by whom she had three children. He served in the British Navy as did Mr. Bush’s father. When the lad was eight years old his father was sent to Ireland and he took his wife and stepson with him, remaining in Ireland about a year and then returning home. He was soon called to Wales and he again took his family. They resided at Patter something over a year and again returned home. In 1847 his stepfather was assigned to go to Bombay, India, sailing south along the west coast of Africa around the Cape of Good Hope, passing around the Cape in a furious gale. In crossing the equator for the first time it is customary to initiate all hands who have never crossed that line before. Although quite a young lad, he remembers vividly the initiation ceremonies on the man-of-war that he was aboard.
The day was recognized as a holiday and the evening before crossing the line the oldest sailor was appointed to represent Neptune , the God of Storm, and a wife and son and daughter are also appointed. On this occasion, Mr. Bush represented . Late in the evening the report came that Neptune and his family had arrived. He calls out in commanding tones to know who the vessel is and where bound, saying, “Ship Ahoy”.. The outlook replies, “Aye, Aye, sir” Her Majesty’s 40 gun frigate bound for Bombay, India.” An empty tar cask is then fired and thrown overboard. It is reported that Neptune’s vessel can now be ( words cut off) seen alongside and the members to be initiated are permitted to come to the railings to see it. While looking to see the vessel a number of old sailors, who have taken a position behind the initiates in the rigging, douse them with water from buckets they have prepared. The victims are then taken below where they are held until the next morning. In the morning all are up early. Neptune, his wife and children , in elaborate costumes appear, riding on a gun carriage drawn by a number of sailors with ropes. They parade the deck in state, stopping at a point where the officers and crew are congregated and where Neptune, who is now in full control of the ship, and his family, are treated with wine and shown every consideration.
Their car is now stationed near the hatchway. The fire department also appears with their engine and apparatus. Just below the deck they fill a compartment with water. The men to be initiated are now brought up, one at a time, and blindfolded. If a man submitted to this treatment, he had his face smeared with tar and then was given a sudden push into the compartment filled with water. Believing they had been pushed into the sea they made a frantic effort to save themselves. When they are taken out they are let free. They are now full fledged seamen. When a victim is brought up who is obstinate, he is turned over to the barber to be shaved with a razor before being pushed into the water. After the day was duly celebrated and the line crossed as per the ships records, the ship proceeded on its course, arriving at Bombay, India in 99 days from Landsend. In all that distance they had been out of sight of land. When the records indicated they were nearing their destination all were eager for land.
The captain said that the first to sight land would be entitled to the best bottle of wine the steward had. On the 99th day about 9 o’clock in the evening a man shouted, “A light, A light “ The officer went up to investigate and reported that land was in sight. The vessel hove to, that is , took in some of her sails, being a sailing vessel, and slowed down.
Early in the morning our boy was on deck to catch sight of the land. It was a welcome sight. A gun was fired for the pilot to come out to meet them and take them into the harbor. The water supply was nearly exhausted. The crew had been put on ½ pint per man for several days. Soon the pilot in his little craft is alongside the man-of-war. He comes aboard and is met by the officers. He presents his credentials and is given full control of the ship, and guides her into harbor to a place that has been selected and the anchor is let down. The pilot and captain and officers of the ship retire to the cabin where the pilot turns over the ship to the captain again, and he is there entertained for a short time.
In company with his step-father Mr. Bush was privileged to visit Bombay and see many strange sights. There were people of many nationalities to be seen there.
From Bombay they sailed to Manas Singapore and Hong Kong. At the latter place they remained five months during which time they experienced a number of typhoons which carried 17 vessels up on the land and did great damage to property. The journey from Singapore to Hong Kong required nine days going, but in returning it required 12 days. On this trip, the ship’s crew was in distress, having lost their reckoning, and were out of food. Supplies were furnished to them and their bearings and they proceeded on their way. About this time a painter engaged in painting the ship’s hull fell into the sea and was eaten by sharks. While rounding the Cape on the return journey, Mr. Bush became of age and was placed on the hooks as a member of the crew drawing pay. The crew and all on board were assembled on deck and he was presented to them. He was required to promise to fight for the queen and the country and was assigned to be a servant to the chaplain. They sailed to Burma, anchoring at Amos, where the vessel remained for some time. Here was a strange people who worshiped idols. One of their temples was located on a reef of rocks out from shore and was approached with difficulty. One day a man was a little late for the service and was coming alone when he was attacked by a crocodile. He cried for help but as he did not worship the same God as the others they could not render assistance to him and he would have been eaten by the crocodile, but for the assistance of the crew of an English ship who came to the rescue. While stopping at this Burmese port, Mr. Bush stumbled on to a near relative, a cousin, who had come there from England. From the port they sailed for home, calling at the island of St. Helena where Napoleon was kept in exile once, and also at a number of other ports, arriving at Plymouth, England where they were paid.
Our young seaman then returned to his home at Portsmouth. He soon found himself a member of the crew of another battleship and engaged in shore duty. Quitting the service he was seized with a desire to come to America. He started on a sailing vessel in the spring of 1854 and after being at sea for six weeks he landed at New Orleans. He traveled by steamer up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. During this trip cholera broke out and 40 of the company died.
From St. Louis the company came to what is now Kansas City where preparations were made to go to Salt Lake. While at this stopping place he herded cattle for the emigrants. Everything went well until nearing Ft. Laramie, where it was learned that there was trouble between the fort and the Indians. The captain of the fort urged them to come to the fort and assist them against the Indians. The captain of the train refused to accede to this, fearing that they would arouse the Indians, causing them to retaliate against them as well as other trains crossing the plains. After some consultation the captain ordered the train to move on. The way the trouble had arisen between the fort and the Indians was this: An emigrant train was coming to Utah when, near Fr. Laramie one day, a cow gave out. A member of the company was assigned to remain with the animal and to try and bring it into camp that night. He was overtaken by a band of Indians and the cow was taken from him and killed. The soldiers were sent out after the Indians and after over taking them, made a demand that they pay for the cow and deliver up the man who killed her. The Indians refused to do either. The soldiers fired a volley over the Indians heads to intimidate them and the Indians fired, killing some of the soldiers. The Indians then fled.
Near Ash Hollow a train passed Mr. Bush’s company loaded with mill machinery for Utah. The next day a company of missionaries, headed by Ezra T. Benson, one of the Twelve, was met going east. The company arrived safely in Salt Lake City on Oct. 6, 1854. After remaining in Salt Lake City a short time Mr. Bush came to Farmington and found employment in a grist mill for the winter. In the spring he moved to Willard where he resided until 1869 when he was married to Amealia Bailey of Farmington. He remembers well the “move south” while at Willard in 1857. Every family residing in Cache Valley, Brigham and Willard joined in the move. A few men were left to burn the houses if the army attempted to occupy them.
The people of Ogden and Salt Lake did likewise. Mr. Bush was one of three left at Willard to burn the town and the other two were Gibson and Brewerton. They did not have to burn the buildings, however. It was found that the Mormon people had been misrepresented and there was not the least occasion for sending the troops to Utah.
In the Spring of 1859 he moved to Logan, being among the first families to locate in that city.
They began at once to open roads to the canyons and to get out logs to build homes and poles to fence their lands. Some families had located at Smithfield and some at Wellsville a little previous.
He went with others, led by Thos.Ricks, to locate a road into Bear Lake through Logan Canyon He discovered a large spring which they named Ricks Spring. They saw much big game and many tracks of grizzly bears but no bears were seen until on returning although tey searched for them. When they were coming home they saw a very large grizzly but they concluded they did not want him.
Mr. Bush and his wife moved to Malad in the spring of 1868 and located a home, and he thinks he planted the second orchard here. His garden became noted for good fruit and he did quite a business in that line, often taking fruit to Pocatello and other markets. When asked about his public service he said he was justice of the peace for two terms and elected for a third term but resigned in favor of our late townsman, Joseph Dudley He was also a stockholder and a director in the Malad Co-op and served as manager for one year. He smiles when he says, ” We declared a dividend of 40 per cent that year.”
He and his good wife had nine children born to them, six boys and three girls. Two boys and two girls have passed to the great beyond. Mr. Bush loves to work and although confined to his home because of ill health, nothing pleases him more than to be able to get out and do a few chores. He has borne his suffering patiently for 10 years. If you wish to enjoy an hour in a pleasant chat he and Grandma Bush can entertain you royally. They both have good memories and can relate much of the early history of the pioneers in their struggles to conquer the wilderness.
The younger generation owes much to the labors of such people whose ranks are rapidly being thinned by the grim reaper.
Let all do honor to them while they are here.