The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-17
Horrible Massacre of Emigrants.
OVER ONE HUNDRED PERSONS MURDERED.

y.
In last publication gave the substance OF ru
which had just reached of the massacre of large
party of emerans on their way to this State by Great Salt
Lake City We unwilling at first 10 credit the state
and hoped that had exaggerated the facts
but the report has been confirmed and the loss OF life is
greater than at first reported This is the fouest
massacre which has beon perperatcd this route
and which calls loudly for the active nterposton of
the government Over one hundred persons have fallen
by the hands of the mercess destroyer and hope that
immediate steps will be taken by the authorities TO inct
terrible retrfbuon on those concerned There Is no
longer doubt the facts-we have them from diff
feren parties and all agree in placing the number of
SLAIN over hundred souls-men, women and chill
dren
The details as far as yet known are these-A train Of
emigrants from Missouri and Arkansas for this State,
were waylad and cruelty buchered the route at a
place called santa Clara Canon near the rim OF the Great
about three hundred miles from Salt Lake CITY, The
Of the differently designated the Santa
Clara Canon. the Mountain Springs and the Mountain Mea
dows But all agree in locating at near the rim OF the
Great Basin and about fifty miles from Cedar City the most
southern Of the Mormon settlements OF party OF about
hundred and thirty persons only fifteen infant children
saved. The account given by the Indians them
selves 10 the Mormons at Cedar City TO which place they
brought the children who were purchased from them by
the people of that city. Whether the assigned "a
sufficient to account for the result or whether different
u at the bottom Of the transaction will leave
the reader 20 form his conclusion We scarcely
believe that party travelling along highway would
the described that is TO poison the
Of and also the water thus endangerng the lives
oil those who were coming after them Yet this J. the
story told by all who have spoken of the massacre. Is
stated tho cmigrants had which died, and they
placed poison in the body and also poisoned the water
standing POOLS Tor The OF the lndans,
that several Of the tribe had died from this cause and
that the whole force mustered pursued the train and
coming up with them at the above named place, which
favored their purpose attacked and murdered the whole
party, except few infant children The Indians state
that they made but charge the party. in which
they of greater portion Of the then guard
ed the outlets OF the canon and shot the and
down they came out for water; that one man
making his escape with few children and they fol.
lowed him, killed him. and took the children, fifteen
number the eldest under five years Of age The report
brought 10 san Bcrnardino by Mossrs sidney Ianer
The following letter from Mr. J. W Christian OF san
Bernardno, to Mr.. G. ~ Whitman Of this city, has been
IL the fullest ort OF the and the cause which
led 60 that has reached Tho writer seems to init
that the Mormols will be held responsible Tor the
murder aud Ia this respect be is fuy borne out by pre-
sent Indications for general belief pervades the public
mind here that the Indians were nstga'ed TO TINS CRIME
by The Destroying Angels OF The church. and Una, the
blow fell these emigrans from Arkansas In retrbuton
Of the death Of Farley r. Pratt which took place in that
State The truth Of the matter Will not be known until
the government makes investigation Of the affair This
should done, TO place the blame in the right place
well a. 70 nfct chastiscmcnt the immediate actors ia
the fearful tragedy, who reported 10 be the santa
Clara tribe OF Indians. The following : the letter
SAN BERSARpISo Oct =, 1857.
take hs opportunity of informing YOU of the murder
of entire train OF cmgrants their way from Missouri
end Arkansas 10 this STATE via Great salt Lake CITY which
sbly acquire (Which primarily through Indans), at the
Mountain Meadows which at near the rim Of the
Great Basin. and distance south u the most south
ern Mormon settlements, between the 10th and l2ih u
II L. absolutely the most horrible have
The company consisted Of about one hundred and
thirty i've men women and children and including
forty forty i've capable of bearing arms. They
IN possession Of quite an amount OF stock consisting OF
horses. mules and oxen The encampment attacked
about daylight in the morning, say the Indians, by
the forces Of all the various tribes in that
tor ~ the country II appears that the majority Of
them slain At the first made by tho Indians.
The remaining forces formed themselves into the best
position their circumstances would allow. but before they
could make the necessary arrangement for protecting
themselves from The there were but few len Who
IL ala N1u4r
wagons and dug ditch for their protection they
tnued 70 Ore upon tho Indians for two days, hut
The Indians had sccrcted Themselves that according %
their staiemouil there was not one Of them killed
and but few wounded. The emgrants then sent cut a
flag Of borne by little girl and gave themselves
W 10 the mercy Of tho savages who Immediately rushed
IN and slaughtered all OF them with the exception Of
fifteen infant children who have since been purchased
presume would be unnecessary for ali practical pur
poses 20 relate the which rise ~ the above
described catastrophe from the simple fact tina, viii be
attributed the Mormon people let the circumstances be
what they may But seems from statement which
received from Elders VIM Mathew and VIM HYDE who
were in Great Salt Lake City the time this train
there recruiting their sf out 20 and the road
this place at the time when they were murdered but seve
raj DAYS tourney the where about the Bea
yer Mountain, which Is between Parawan and Fillmore
cites-that The something like these-The
tram encampcd at Corn creek, near Fillmore city
where there is an Indian village. the inhabitants a
which raised crop OF wheat. a few melons,
&c And 10 tradng wits the Indians they gave
them cash Tor wheat and they not knowing the
value o coin severely cheated. They wanted
blanket ior sack q wheat but they gave them hfty
ceut, and told them that amount would buy blanket.
They also had an OF with them which had died and they
put yohnine IN Ism for the purpose Of poisoning The
inohhs ahq also INT poison OF description 10 the
waef which y standing holes THIS occasioned
Ta 6eatis among them, within few days after the de-
Iarture ~ The train And upon THE IA seems the Indians
gathered themselves together and had doubt chosen
the place Of attack and arranged everything before the
train arrived AZ the place where they were murdered
II wa ascertancd by some u the interpreters from
few ~ the Indians who were left al Corn Creek that most
~ The Indians IN The country had left but they could NOT
learn for what purpose and before any steps could he
taken 10 ascertain Tor certain what the cause The
story was told-tbey were all killed.
J. WARD CHRISTIAN.