Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-23
NO.II.
Latest From Salt Lake City.

70" ' Latest From Salt Lake City.
= The late mail from California brings inteli.
gence from Salt Lake City, via San Diego and
| Los Angeles. The Mormons are certainly pre-.
! pairing. for war, and we should not be surprised
II, ere this, the troops under Col. Johnston had
come in deadly conflict with them. Z At.JUhn
Aiken. makes sworn statement, from winch
we extract the following: "We learned from
I Or. Dunion, surgeon to Brigham Youngs Army,
that they had taken vote at Salt Lake Cii.,
that If the United States Army forced its way
into Utah, that they, themselves would burn
their city, towns, forts, &c, aud lay every bali.
tation in ashes that they had already picked
out secret places in the mountains to "cacLe"
their provisions and make their future abode
With tile Indians. The Doctor stated that or.
,rangements were already entered into that pro.
vided the army should enter the settlements that
ecery city, toton and Village in the States Of Cat
itcynia. Missouri, and Iotca, should be burned
immediately-that they had men to do this scho
,sere not Enownto be Aormons! And that they
would cut off all the emigrant trains, army
stores, provisions, stock, &C., that no man wo-
man or child should hereafter cross the PlaiDs
without being scalped! That they depended upon
and expected the Indians to perform this inter-
nal and cowardly part of their designs.
"We arrived at the city in the afternoon Of
the same day. Here found all that had heard
stated by the soldiers, on their way out 10 the
various stations assigned them, confirmed by the
repetition Of the same by the people Of the city.
found here, amongst the people Of the city, the
most hostile feeling and bitter sentiments that
the heart of man could possible conceive. |
was cautioned to be very cautious in my re-
marks, and say nothing against the Mornons, by
a friend from Yankee land, who had 10 exercise
the utmost discretion in everything he said or
done. Here learned that it was necessary for
me to get q passport from the War Department
of Young's army, to secure my safety through
the settlements.
.'After left the Mormons got along peace
ably with tile Indians, who are not directly un-
der Mormon influence. stayed at Pointer
Greek several days, within six miles of the scene
of the late horrible massacre, where joined the
company Of the United States mail to San Ber.
nardino. John Hunt, the mail carrier refused
any protection whatever, said had to fight my
own battles, as they were friendly with the In.
dians and did not wish to incur their displess-
ure, While at Painter Greek saw the Nor
mons drawing some of the wagons belonging to
persons who fell in the late massacre towards
Cedar City they did not explain to me any OF
gons; seemed very distant and Indifferent in
their communications ! asked no questions; i
wished to avoid suspicion.
"After leaving Painter Greek, and arriving at
the field of blood, l discovered several bodies
that were slain, in state of nudity and putre.
faction. saw about twenty wolves feastng
upon the carcass of the murdered. Mr.. Hunt
shot wolf, they ran few rods aud halted. /
noticed that the women and children were more
general, eaten by the wild beasts than the men.
Although Capt. Baker and number OF others
of the slain party were my acquaintances, yet ii
dared not express my sentiments in the compa.
ny of Hunt and his companions, knowing tbatl
was travelling with enemies to my country and
countrymen Mr.. Hunt and his companions Of
ten laughed, and made remarks derogatory to
decency, and contrary to humanity. upon the
persons of those who were there rottng, or had
become the food to wild beasts Although this
terrible massacre occurred within six miles Of
Painter Greek settlement, and thirty from Ce-
dar City, yet it appears that the Mormons are
determined to suffer their carcasses to remain
uncovered, for their bones to bleach upon the
plains. .t.. ......
"On the nth day of October, saw the tracks
of large herd of cattle going up the Santa Ola
ra, toward the Mormon settlements, we supposed
them TO be the stolen cattle mat were run OH
from the trains of Captains Dukes and Turner,
as it was not customary for large herds of cattle
to travel in that direction. saw the tracks Of
several sbod horses and mules following behind,
supposed to be the animals used by the robbers.
Where We first met the trail of those cattle, is
where the road leaves the Santa Clara, Ten miles
from Hambn's Fort, the residence OF the Hamb-
lirs and Hatch, who were interpreters for the
company. We continued on the trail of the cat
tie distance of 100 miles, to the Muddy. near
the place to where they were taken. ] judge
from the appearance Of the trails that they were
at least the plumber OF 800 head. know moth
ing more of Importance. | arrived at San Ber-
nandino on the Both of October, and found the
Mormons very distant and curious, and iLqnisi-
tive about affairs Of Utah, but SO far as discov-
cred, the independent citizens are free and frank
in their conversation and Transactions" r5
Files of the Deseret news to October 7th had
been received at San Francisco. The papers are
filled almost exclusively with reports OF ha-
rangues, breathing the most hostile spirit to-
wards the General Government, by Brigham
Young, President Kimball, and other lights Of
the Mormon Church.