![[WESTERN AMERICANA.] KING, Chester. Manuscript diaries, 1875-1883. 3 volumes, wrappers, oblong folio (11 ½ x 5./4in.) and 12 mo. (6 ¾ x 4 ¼in and 5 ½ x 5 ¼in.), pages age-toned, some with closed tears.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/NYR/2015_NYR_03750_0213_000(western_americana_king_chester_manuscript_diaries_1875-1883_3_volumes100805).jpg?w=1)
PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
[WESTERN AMERICANA.] KING, Chester. Manuscript diaries, 1875-1883. 3 volumes, wrappers, oblong folio (11 ½ x 5./4in.) and 12 mo. (6 ¾ x 4 ¼in and 5 ½ x 5 ¼in.), together 341 pages of manuscript text, closely written; pages age-toned, some with closed tears.
Details
[WESTERN AMERICANA.] KING, Chester. Manuscript diaries, 1875-1883. 3 volumes, wrappers, oblong folio (11 ½ x 5./4in.) and 12 mo. (6 ¾ x 4 ¼in and 5 ½ x 5 ¼in.), together 341 pages of manuscript text, closely written; pages age-toned, some with closed tears.
“I DON’T BLAME THE APACHES THE LEAST FOR ALL THEIR DEVILMENT. I WOULD DO THE SAME UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES”
“A distinguished journalist once said ‘go West young man, go West,’ and poor as that advice is I sorrowfully prepare to follow it,” writes King. “The Terminal of the A. & P. R.R. in Arizona is at Sanders at present and that is my destination.” A self-described “Easterner” from Indiana, suffering from rheumatism and neuralgia, King sought recuperation and invigoration in the southwestern frontier. His journal chronicles his travels along the Santa Fe Trail, with interesting observations about important landmarks—Starvation Rock, the Great Salt Lake—as well as observations on the clash of cultures between Native Americans, Scots-Irish immigrants (whom he despises), Mexicans and Mormons. August 1881: “The peak is since known as Starvation Rock and is marked by the inevitable crosses seen to the best of my knowledge all over Spanish America a country second to none for deeds of blood…. Albuquerque is the liveliest town I ever saw and… there is a strong possibility that it is also the wickedest.” January 1882: “Winslow is the worst place we have camped at as yet. Robbery is common and murder not unknown while street brawls are an every day occurrence.”
He shares the prejudices of white Americans towards the Inidan “savages,” yet he also displays sympathy for their plight, and outrage at their treatment. Navajos “are as rascally a set of thugs as ever went unhung. But they are much better than the whites who associate with them and I don’t know but they are excusable to some extent.” 12 December 1882: “I don’t blame the Apaches the least for all their devilment. I would do the same under the same circumstances. The entire account of the dealings of the whites with them is but one story of disgrace, for through it all is seen the effort to rob, cheat, and corrupt, and in nearly every case the ignorant savage has been the victim. This is called a Christian nation…” The “Irish, Scotch, German and Mexican renegades” can commit any crime imaginable, “and the government will support them because they’re white.” He praises the athletic prowess of the Moqui (January 1882): “There are quite a large number of very good runners in the villages. I was witness to a race between three girls and I doubt if there is one young American in ten that could run as swift as the slowest of the three.”
He has high praise for the Mormons. 11 October 1882: “I have been associated with Mormons to a great extent ever since I have been in the territory, have a personal acquaintance with a large proportion of the freighters and with most of the head men of the Arizona church. Among the latter are Brigham Young, Jr., Erastus Snow, Apostles; Bishops Richards, Smith, Farnsworth & Udell. I have found them in every instance to be honest and upright in their dealings with me or through my agency.” Though he does not believe in "their baptism or their polygamy,” he still thinks “they are better citizens than any Roman Catholic I ever knew and I am at a loss to know why they are so much hated.” The worst King could say of them was that the vast majority were democrats, but even their he did not think their party allegiance very strong.
“I DON’T BLAME THE APACHES THE LEAST FOR ALL THEIR DEVILMENT. I WOULD DO THE SAME UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES”
“A distinguished journalist once said ‘go West young man, go West,’ and poor as that advice is I sorrowfully prepare to follow it,” writes King. “The Terminal of the A. & P. R.R. in Arizona is at Sanders at present and that is my destination.” A self-described “Easterner” from Indiana, suffering from rheumatism and neuralgia, King sought recuperation and invigoration in the southwestern frontier. His journal chronicles his travels along the Santa Fe Trail, with interesting observations about important landmarks—Starvation Rock, the Great Salt Lake—as well as observations on the clash of cultures between Native Americans, Scots-Irish immigrants (whom he despises), Mexicans and Mormons. August 1881: “The peak is since known as Starvation Rock and is marked by the inevitable crosses seen to the best of my knowledge all over Spanish America a country second to none for deeds of blood…. Albuquerque is the liveliest town I ever saw and… there is a strong possibility that it is also the wickedest.” January 1882: “Winslow is the worst place we have camped at as yet. Robbery is common and murder not unknown while street brawls are an every day occurrence.”
He shares the prejudices of white Americans towards the Inidan “savages,” yet he also displays sympathy for their plight, and outrage at their treatment. Navajos “are as rascally a set of thugs as ever went unhung. But they are much better than the whites who associate with them and I don’t know but they are excusable to some extent.” 12 December 1882: “I don’t blame the Apaches the least for all their devilment. I would do the same under the same circumstances. The entire account of the dealings of the whites with them is but one story of disgrace, for through it all is seen the effort to rob, cheat, and corrupt, and in nearly every case the ignorant savage has been the victim. This is called a Christian nation…” The “Irish, Scotch, German and Mexican renegades” can commit any crime imaginable, “and the government will support them because they’re white.” He praises the athletic prowess of the Moqui (January 1882): “There are quite a large number of very good runners in the villages. I was witness to a race between three girls and I doubt if there is one young American in ten that could run as swift as the slowest of the three.”
He has high praise for the Mormons. 11 October 1882: “I have been associated with Mormons to a great extent ever since I have been in the territory, have a personal acquaintance with a large proportion of the freighters and with most of the head men of the Arizona church. Among the latter are Brigham Young, Jr., Erastus Snow, Apostles; Bishops Richards, Smith, Farnsworth & Udell. I have found them in every instance to be honest and upright in their dealings with me or through my agency.” Though he does not believe in "their baptism or their polygamy,” he still thinks “they are better citizens than any Roman Catholic I ever knew and I am at a loss to know why they are so much hated.” The worst King could say of them was that the vast majority were democrats, but even their he did not think their party allegiance very strong.