CANFIELD - Letter after Moroni's Death
Contributed By Tim Manners
Edited by Linda Beard
Letter written by Elizabeth Storey Depuy Canfield
After the tragic death of her son Moroni Canfield
Copy from handwritten letter
Edited by Linda Beard 2006
Hamblin, Utah July 1st. 1893
Dear Brother F (Frank) and Clara (her daughter),
It is with my heart full of untold grief and agony that I attempt to write to you of the said tragedy that happened to my dear, dear boy. If he had never seen Ern nor the steers he might have been with us now, but he was worn out before he went to receive the stock at the drive. Then right after them and expecting Ern to meet him at the buttes on Sulpher to take some of the responsibility off him. He (Moroni) was in the saddle three days and nights. Pratt was with him and he had the best hands could be get, but he neither ate nor drank enough for one meal, let alone to keep him up. The night before he did this his reason left him. Pratt could do nothing with him. He tried to get him to go to bed, put his arm around him and tried to get him to lie down and that was the night he was to get to water. He would not do it and about 10 o’clock the cattle got the scent of water-1,511 Head of them. As soon as they smelt the water, they went wild. The boys rushed after them but could only find 300 head. He did not know where Pratt was. Maybe he was dead. After a while a few of the boys came to camp. Him with the rest. For he was around, but not right. He told them to go to bed. They were all worn out from lack of sleep and as soon as they were down went fast asleep.
F. Rice was the only man with a pistol. He took it off and laid it down by his bed instead of putting it under his head. Of course Roni would not sleep and got up. Told a boy to go round the wagon and get his horse. As soon as his (the boys )back was turned, he picked up the thing, put the muzzle in his mouth and fired. Of course that was all. He only gasped twice. The Bishop, Charlie was waked up and by him in a second. He was gone, but Charlie done the best he could. They sent a man to hunt Pratt. Found him in about an hour., He was eight miles from Milford on the bottoms where this was done. He laid there 4 or 5 hours till the coroner came, then after the examination took him to Milford, dressed him the best they could. Lyman and me was at Cedar. Jim, on the mountain. But we started as soon as we would get home, about two hours before Pratt came with the body. Pratt telegraphed to Jim from Milford to (------). They sent it here, then Tom Pratt came to Cedar with it. I guess you never seen such a time as was here when the telegraph came. No man nor team to do a thing. Phil sent Carly to Ben at Pinto. He started a team to meet them. George Holt went and sent a team too, but he was packed in ice and so heavy. We could not see him at all. I shall only remember the day he went away. He came and wanted some dinner. Said he would not eat with me for a long time again. It was none of us seen him when he was brought home. He was partly dressed.. We made the rest and up in the coffin with him. But Pratt got a suit for him at Milford of dark color. After he was buried, I was looking over his clothes and found a little scrap of paper in his overalls pocket. He told the boys that all was lost. The cattle gone. But if he had only waited till day light he could have seen the stock or the most of them at a distance.
On the paper he said ”I Moroni Canfield have staked all and lost. I have ruined myself and friends. Their names are E.V. Hardy and L. C. Maneger (Marriager?). I have lost all am not fit for a felons cell. Good bye. May Father in Heaven have Mercy”
I am nearly wild. What shall I do. We are a broken up family and grieved to death the boys and all, But we will have to do the best we can. Allis came over with us when we came from Cedar and we had a terrible time with her to think of him doing the deed himself hurt us all. I cannot write all as I should like to for I am in a hurry and going to Cedar for flour today. To think that he should be so worn out and such a burden on his mind and none to help him, bean (being) that his mind was gone when the cattle stampeded and not to be found. No wonder he thought he was ruined. 30,000 dollars worth of stock. But as O.C. Rice said to Pratt if that old man laying there had only waited till daylight he would have been all right but thinks his reason was entirely gone.
O sad was the news to all of us. But I will have to live for the rest. Pratt has gone back to settle up the business as Jim would have nothing to do with it. Well I will stop for my heart is breaking while I write for my main ____ is gone. Pray for us that we may be preserved. My love to all the dear ones I will write again when Pratt gets back from Milford.
As ever your loving mother
(Elizabeth S. Depuy Canfield)