Following the tragic events at the Bear River, there were two events that had the potential of devastating the settlers of Franklin, Idaho. The first occurred in May 1863. The event is detailed in the "Official Program, First Idaho Day Celebration in Franklin 1910" Written as printed.
Two more passes occurred with the Indians at Franklin. The first of a revengeful, cowardly and treacherous nature happened the first day of May, 1863. While in the canyon about three miles northeast of town (*Franklin), near where the home of William H. Gibson now stands, for fire-wood, Andrew Morrison and William Howell were attacked by three buck Indians.
Just about the time they were getting ready to leave with their loads an Indian came upon them and began to talk with them. After discovering that Morrison and Howell were unarmed the Indian called to his comrades, who had remained behind on the hill. They at once gave a murderous war-whoop and came running down to the assistance of their comrade. Morrison, being able to speak the Indian language, tried to talk and reason with them. They said that white men killed Indians at Battle Creek, and they were going to kill every white man they could.
Morrison offered them the horses if they would let him go unharmed, but it was scalps the Indians wanted, rather than horses. Howell wanted Morrison to run while there was but one Indian near them, but he said, no, “he would not run from an Indian.”
They invited the Indians to get on their loads and ride down to the town with them, which invitation the Indians accepted. They had not proceeded but a few rods when Howell’s team got stuck in the creek-crossing. While the two white men were working to get the stalled team liberated the Indians caught them off their guard and shot at them with arrows.
Howell was missed and Morrison received an arrow just under the left collar bone. As he fell he called to Howell to run as he was shot and no need of being killed if he could get away. Morrison received another arrow a few inches below the heart. He pulled both arrows out, but the spike came loose from the lower one and remained in his body, lodged in one of the floating ribs, or his spine.
Howell made good his escape and being a very fast runner got out of reach of the arrows before one of them took effect on him. He ran all the way to town and gave the alarm. A posse of men were at once sent for Morrison’s body, but when they found him he was still alive. He was brought to Franklin and S.R. Parkinson was sent to Salt Lake City for medical aid, making the trip of 220 miles with a span of mules and the front wheels of a wagon in 48 hours. When the doctor (Dr. Anderson) came, he made an examination, but found that the arrow head was so close to the heart that he dare not take it out.
The doctor said Morrison could not live and filled the wound with cotton and went back to Salt Lake City and left the entire wound, cut of about three and one-half inches, open. Morrison recovered, however, and lived for 27 years, carrying the arrow heard to his grave with him.
The minute-men were called out and went after the Indians, but before they overtook them they had joined a band of several hundred strong. The minute-men followed them into Gentile Valley, some 40 miles north of Franklin, but had to come back without either the horses or Indians.
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