Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-01

The failure of this bank, coming as It dld on top of that of the Ohio Trust Company in New York, has spread it's baneful effects all over the country, causing the stoppage of specie pay ments and all over the commercial world caus- ing panics, failures and depression of prices. Correspondence of the True Democrat. Horrible Massacre of Emigrants upon the Plains-The Mormons the Instigators
 and Participators in the Shocking Ira
 gedy.
 MR. EDIroR-On the Eth day of April, '57, Mr. J. J. Walker, w. A. Carter and myself left Ozark, Ark, for California--takng with us cattle. Owing to the backward spring, we found feed exceedingly scarce, for several hundred miles. We passed through the various Indian nations, on the Arkansas river, unmolested.- l We toiled on over the Rocky Mountains, by the way of Ft. Bri2ger. There we learned, that the b. s. mail was withheld from the Mormons, at Salt Lake City. The Mormons expressed themselves satisfied, at Ft. Bridger, th 1t the U. s. Government would come in col lision with them. On reaching Salt Lake City, we found them the most restless and excited
 
 grant wagons, and endeavor to purchase guns and ammunition On leaving the city, and pas sing through their villages, they treated us as though we were high way robbers or murderers They threatened our lives with the Indians.- True to their threats, the Indians did indeed come upon us-some p in number together with or 10 Mormons. The Indians attempted to drive off our stock: the Mormons at the same time, cursng us, and telling us "to give up our blankets, and some of our cattle, or they would murder us' We then succeeded in drvin 2 them back, but they followed on in pursuit of us Near the City Rock, they came upon anoth- CT train, and, at night, stole eighteen head of cattle, and shot of the guards through the hand.
 On the following day, the emigrants trailed the cattle seven or eight miles, into the noun tains As they were ascending narrow pass, all of sudden, the Indians and Mormons com- menced firing upon them. The alies-Iudians and Mormons-numberel about 5O-the emi- grants, 8! The latter retreated. Jackson Mich oIes was mortally wounded and died in few days young man from Texas, named w. McCarley was wounded and probably killed. The last that of him, or 8 Indians were running him into the City Rock Young Daniel Abbot was shot through the thigh.
 We then sorrowfully wended our way to the Humbolt river, near the upper canon. There we were shocked by finding the lifeless bodies of thraa savages and hell-deserving followers of Joe Smith. Near Graw's ford, we found six more, in one grave-huried by other emgrarts- Their blood and hair s;rewn around the spot, that marked their destruction. Unhappy travellers. Will not the strong arm of an in- dignaut nation, aveuge thy wrongs? May God speed the day! The same party shot a lady dree times, and then scalped her, leaving her for dead. But she is yet alive. Mir. Woods and his wife were just ahead of their train, riding in a two-h horse carriage. The allies came upon them. Woods put whip to his mules: one of his carriage wheels came off; he then cut off the harness Of his team; put his wife and child upon one of the mules, and took the other him. self The wife, child, and mule, were all cap- tured and massacred Mr. w. got his arm broken, yet succeeded in making his escape
 We found graves daily, and sometimes brains of persons, who had just been murdered On reaching Carson river, We met some POO wagons, and 800 Mormons, on their way to the Neg Jerusalem Brigham Young has ordered them all home, to assist in fighting against the U S.. army, that they are constantly expecting
 During my stay in Salt Lake City, one of the resident officers was very desirous to ascertain what l knew concerning Col, Harry, and the movements of our Government in relation to them l expressed myself 50 emphaticalv in favor ot the saints, that he hesitated not to re- veal to me all their plans, and described all ther strength and powers. He then exhibited to me their batteries, and informed me, that they H,en had three or four Indian tribes, in readiness, to attack Col. Harny, as he came into their country, through the deep, narrow ravines ot the mountains. He also said, that if Harnev dld persist in attacking them, that they should hoist the British .fag, and that this would so stimulate their English resident brethren, that they would only yield in death. He further stated, that the English Govenment-with whom they were in constant, secret communi- cation-had confdentiaIly assured them, that she ,oOuH rome 10 he,r rescue, if she could find any possible avenue.
 l met gentleman, while in Salt Lake City, who had been sojourning there, for some time hourh ot H., ;-c '. several of our citizens had been arrested on sus- pclon ot informing our Government of their plans and intentions. That some of our men were m ssing--in all probability, murdered!
 Unless some decisive step is taken by the U S., the potr, unfortunate emgrants. who travel thS route, next season, will all be likely to leave their bones bleaching upon the plains. This Is an awful prophecy, but will (uuless Go- vernment interfere) be faithfully fulilled!- he blood, the brains, the naked aud distorted bodies oi the murdered, the cries of the wound ed, and the groans of the dying, can never be erased from the mind of him, who is so fortu- pate. n traveling over the plains, as to escape the fate of his unfortunate emgrant brethren. o, my beloved country! prosperous in peace. and glorious Tn war, wilt thou not wipe away this tarnish from thy fair escutcheon, by aveng- ing the murder and massacre of thy children?
 Gladly would every emigrant who has reach ed the "Golden State," shoulder his rife, to- day, and march back upon those Saints" for satisfaction. How shocking to humanity, to re- fleet that men, who were bred in christian country--a land of Bibles--should become SO heartess, reckless and perverted, as to murder and violate defenceless women and children!- IL Shall such offences go unwhipped of justice ?- May the sound of our cannon in that Desert tha A1o !