The Nevada Democrat., 1857-10-21
The Massacre of Immigrants.


There can be ne doubt Of the truth Of the re-
ports which have been published In regard to
the massacre Of the emgrant train near the
Santa Clara river. Opinion seems to be divi-
ded as to whether or not the Indians were in
stigated TO the horrid butchery by the Mormons,
and many go so far as to attribute the act TO
the Mormons themselves. This latter opinion
would seem to be strongly confirmed by cir
cumstances A letter has been received from
Orson Hyde at San Francisco, written at San
Bernardino giving some further particulars of
the butchery. He writes that he left Salt Lake
with an escort of thirty men, two days after the
train passed, and arrived at the place Of the
massacre in time to save the lives Of the fifteen
infants who it seems had been left in the camp,
and we're brought to San Bernardino by his
train. The bodies Of one hundred and eighteen
persons, men. women and children, were lying
on the ground, prey to the buzzards Hyde
writes that he learned from the settlers in the
vicinity of the place Of massacre that the Indi-
ans fred upon the camp about two hours before
day, killing a large number, and then retreat
ed. The immigrants then formed corral with
their wagons. and at daylight the Indians re-
turned to the attack. The fight lasted about
two days, aud little girl, twelve years old was
then sent out with a flag of surrender. The
girl was killed, and the assailants then rushed
in and completed their work, butchering all the
survivors with the exception Of the fifteen in
fants. #na M
Hyde says in his letter. that many of the slain
were Of the "back out ORDER" who had Joined
the California train for security in travelling.
The "back outs" are supposed to be dissenting
Mormons, who were endeavoring to get out of
Utah Territory. 1t is well known that the Nor
mons are in the habit of following these dissent
ers and have on several occasions murdered
and robbed them and there can be no doubt
that these acts are committed under the sane
tion and by command Of the leaders Of the
church The Mormons have also contracted an
indiscriminate hatred towards the western peo-
pie, which had doubtless been considerably ag-
gravatcd by the death of Pratt in Arkansas.
The train with whom the dissenting Mormons
were travelling were from Missouri and Arkan-
sas, and by numbering the whole company, they
accomplished the double object of avenging the
death of Pratt and silencing the dissenters Of
their creed, who were leaving for California.
Had the butchery been committed by the In
dians 1t is scarcely probable they would have
spared the lives of the fifteen infants. In all
Indian massacres of which we have any account
they make no distinction of age or sex. In
their hands the infants would have been slaugh-
tered with tho same remorseless fury as full
grown fighting men. This circumstance. with
those acquainted with Indian character, will
have more weight in fixing the crime upon the
Mormons than all other circumstances combined
While the evidence against the Mormons is
strong, ii is by no means conclusive, and hasty
opinions should not be formed in the matter
1t seems scarcely credible that any people of
European decent, would be guilty Of SO terrible
q crime. There may be some truth In the story
| of the poisoned OK. Some indscreet and bad
person in that or some other train may have
attempted TO poison the Indians. and the whole
train have been slaughtered in consequence.
Outrages full as bad have been committed by
immigrants, and innocent parties have frequent
ly suffered for acts committed by those over
whom they had no control. There is a disposi-
tion on the part of the human family to inhict
punishment for the crimes Of an individutl up
on others Of his race. This feeling. strong in |
the breast of the savage, is exhibited to less
extent among civilized people. Immigrants
have frequently made innocent Indians atone
for the acts of the bad men of their tribes, and
in return innocent immigrants have indiscrim-
inately suffered at the hands of Indians for real
or fancied wrongs inflicted upon them by the
whites.
The circumstances connected with this terri
BILE massacre should, and doubtless will, receive
a thorough and searching investigation by the
general government The guilty parties, who
soever they are, and they alone, should be
mercllessly punished