, 1857-12-04
WASHINGTON TERRITORY, FRIDAY DECEMBER A. 1857


blankets, clothing, etc All this occurred
within the limits of the Mormon settle
ments. After l left the Mormons, l got
along peaceably with the Indians, who are
not directly under Momon influence.
stayed at Painter Creek several days, with
in six miles Of the scene OF the late horri
bic massacre, where | joined the company
of the United States mail to San Bernar
dino. While at Painter Creek, saw some
OF the Mormons drawing some of the wOg'
ons belonging to persons who fell in the late
massacre towards Cedar City; they did not
explain to me anything Of their busines, oT
of their possession Of the wagons; seemed
very distant and Indifferent in their commu
nications, | asked no questions; l wished
to avoid suspicion.
After leaving Painter Greek, and arriv.
ing at the field Of blood, | discovered sew
eral bodies that were slain, in state Of
nudity and a state Of putrefaction. saw
about twenty wolves feasting upon the car
casses of the murdered. l noticed that
the women and children were more gener-
ally eaten by the wild beasts than the men.
Mr.. Hunt ahd his companions often laugh
ed, and made remarks derogatory to de-
cency, and contrary to humanity, upon the
persons Of those who were there rottiug,
or had become the food 10 wild beasts
Although this terrible massacre occurred
within six miles of Painter Creek settle
ment, and thirty from Cedar City, yet it
appears that the Mormons are determined
to suffer their carcasses to remain uncover
ed, for their bones to bleach upon the
Plains.
MORMON MISREPRESENTATION AND DECEPTION.
The Los AagslOs Star of October 3lst,
publishes q long statement signed by Will
liam Webb, Mr. Baise, W. s. Bledsbe and
W. II. Tannehill, sufferers by the late out
RACES on the plains in which they are made
to say that they neither saw nor heard
anything that would lead rational or un-
prejudiced mind to believe, or even suspect,
that any of the Utah inhabitants were in
stigators in the causes, as has been intima-
ted and even boldly asserted by many Of
the encouragers of Mormon persecution
and misrepresentation, in this section of the
country. But state that the general SYM
pathy and excitement prevalent upon such
occasions, pervades the minds of the people
Of that Territory-and that the Mormon
interpreters have used every means, aud all
due diligence so far as they know, in OBJ
tanning the children, as well as to procure
information respecting the circumstances Of
the catastrophe"
In the Star of November I, o positive
contradiction of the foregoing appear,
sworn to by Mr.. Webb. He says
l have read the statement Published in
the Los Aageles Star of October 81, 1851,
over my signature, Messrs Baise, Bledsbe,
and Tannehll, and l say, never signed
that statement; that the statement read to
me by Christian, and which l signed with
out reading it myself, was altogether differ
ent from the published statement, which Is
unqualifedly false.
i have read the statement made by Mr..
Honea, who came in with US, which was
published in the Los Aageles Star of OctO-
Der 81, 1857, and that statement is true,
and not exaggerated.
l have no hesitation in saying that, from
my own knowledge and belief, the late hor-
rible massacre and robberies, perpetrated
upon the emigrant trains in Utah Terrific
ry, were committed by the Mormons, and
Indians under Mormon influence.
The Rev.J. Ward Christian referred to,
gives a highly favorable description of
things in Utah, to the Star. He repre-
sents the people quiet and industrious, and
not in the least agitated about the approach
of the United States troopsl