The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-10-20


lshed in the Union several weeks ago, from party
of returned Californians
PLAcRRymLK California,
Err F~n ~vg,v September 10, 1857.
DEAR sR embrace the earliest opportunity after my
arrival here of sending you account of my escape from
Salt Lake City arrived Saturday, the 18th Instant
weary worn, foot-sore, and nearly famished having
walked nearly all the way barefoot and almost naked
By the mail win give you all the particulars Of
the doings of the Mormons. sf a
On Saturday July rs, while engaged in conversation
with number of emigrants assaulted by gang OF
Mormons, led on by Dick Petit and - Thompson, who
beat with stones and clubs most numerically. The
emgrants about to rally my assistance, but dis
suaded them from doing So telling them that it would
only result in their destruction When reached home
nsensble The afternoon they attacked Dep
uty Surveyor Mogo he going to the office, by
stoning him. and compelled him to take refuge In the
store On Monday the 9th of July, about midnight,
being awake, suffering from the wounds the Mormons
had inflicted startled by loud knocking at the front
and back doors Of the Office (Which oins my residcnce
and heard Mr. Wilson he other clerk who occupies the
upper part Of the Office budng) ask from the window what
wanted. The reply demand, in the name OF
Brigham Young that he should come down and surren-
der himself then heard crash, the door having been
burst open and Mrs. Wilson shrekng and begging them
not to take away her husband They brutality told her
to keep her mouth shut and stop her noise they would
make her. heard Mr.. Wilson ask where they go
ing to take him, and what for They said, in reply
.Come along, and fuss, well dn soon show
you ts
was incapable of rendering assistance and was think
ing what to do when my backdoor forced open, and
party of the rufans rushed in and ordered to come
down stairs. arose, and put on my pants and one
stocking But occurred to that they would muir
der U.s. resolved to try escape and cautiously opened
the window for that purpose, when peremptoy order
made for to make haste and come down. re-
piled that was coming down, when they made rush
for the stairs jumped out of the window and escaped
to the house of friend where stayed until daylight
When went to the store the boys gave me pair Of
moccasins old ragged pair of pants, check shirt
and old hat. In this disguise started the next
evening, and travelled along the banks of the Jordan
and of Salt Lake until daylight when struck for the
mountains had hardly reaclmd place of conceal
mcnt when saw mounted Mormons in pursuit
twice narrowly escaped. Once the Weber cation
they within ten feet of me- but they were riding
fast and hid behind sage BUSH They followed
mo to Willow Greek, where the Indians were leyying
tax of shirt and blanket on every emigrant My pur
heard to say, 'Let him go; the Indians will
get him before he goes very far down the Humboldt.
The Indians got many fellows this river during
last summer. Many men, women, and children have
been slaughtered by Wholesale One scalped
alive, and her chdrens brains knocked over the
wagon wheel She is still living could enumerate a
dozen such instances on the road the Indian
Peter who used to to the surveyor general Of
flee. He told that Brigham Young had sent him out
to get pungoes (horses) and carbines. He knew me,
and said toainoe good because had often given
him bishcope (red pant.) He informed me there
heap Of Indians Humboldt heap pungoes, heap
carbines," etc. had not left him hour before he
shot q man with four balls. But the man escaped,
though not much injured have not time to recount
the suferings / endured while the road / have
travelled from Carson Valley to this place with nothing
but two biscuits to eat, ] now working In stone
quarry, nearly naked and bareooed for very little
than something to eatthat is about twenty dollars
month
The Mormons are all leaving here and Carson Valley
for the purpose of defending Non