San Andreas independent., 1857-10-31
Mormon Butcheries on the Plains.
STATEMENT OF Mr.. LOUIS FINE

STATEMENT OF Mr.. LOUIS FINE
Mr.. Louis Fine, who came to San Andreas
IN 1854, since which time he has been residing
in this vicinity, returned on last Saturday.
from the other side of the mountains. Some
three months ago Mr.. Fine went over to the
Humboldt for the purpose of meeting his
friends and relatives, who started across the
plains last spring. He furnishes US the fol-
lowing statement:
III went up the Humboldt river as far as
Stony Point, where Imet Messrs Samuel Bel
Ter and B. Redman, from Randolph County.
Arkansas, with their families, from whom I
learned that my relatives-from the same
county in misunderstanding of Father,
three Brothers with their families, a Brother
in-law with his children, Cousin named
Bailey, together with Mr. Looney and family,
and Widow O'Neal and children, had separated
from the train of Messrs Beller Redman, at
the Forks of the road east of Salt Lake Valley,
aud for the purpose of supplying themselves
with provisions, had taken the Salt Lake
road, since which time nothing has been heard
of them" Messrs. Beller & Redman, accord
ing to agreement, waited at the junction of
the road, this side of Salt Lake, several days,
for their arrival, but hearing nothing of them
moved on to Goose Creek, and waited two
and-a-half days longer, when they travelled
on to Stony Point. on the Humboldt, where
they met Mr. Fine, four Informant anxiously
expecting to meet his relatives. Here they
again waited some time, and after they had
left Mr.. Fine remained nine days longer, in
quiring Of every train for his friends, but re-
ceiving no tidings, he was compelled to return
with sorrowful heart, satisfied from what he
heard from different emigrants, that his rela-
tives have fallen victims to Mormon cruelty
or Indian brutality, led on by Mormons.-
The Company consisted of fifteen men, twelve
or thirteen women, and about twenty-five
children, and had some three hundred head of
stock. He is satisfied they would have taken
the route of Humboldt river, as they knew he
was going out to meet them.
Messrs Beller and Redman, after they sep
arated from the others, fell in with other trains
as means of greater safety, till they num-
bered about 40 persons. They were attacked
near the City Rocks by Indians, led on by
white men, supposed to be Mormons; and
from that on to Stony Point, distance of
three or four hundred miles, they were fired
into or attacked almost every day. Fortu-
nately, none of their company were injured
although they lost about one-half their stock.
Mr. Fine says he has heard Immigrants tell
that Brigham Young and the Mormons gene
rally, were free to express and boast in their
presence, that as soon arrangements were
fully completed for resisting the U. S. troops,
all the later Immi grant trains would be cut off.
Brigham Young asserted that he had five thou
sand Indians thoroughly armed and complete
ly under his control, and that he could collect,
if needed, as many more on short notice.
Mr. Fine is well known here as a man of
veracity and had good opportunities of obtain
ing the opinion of the Immigrants, and they
all appeared to have more fear of the Mormons
than of the Indians, and the general feeling
among them is that the Mormons led the In
dians in their attacks and murders.