The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-12-10
November, 1857.
Horrible Massacre on the Plains.

The Los Angeles California; Star has
the following letter giving some particulars
of n recent massacre on the overland route
70 California:
san BENARDINo, October 4, 1857.
take this opportunity of informing YOU
of the murder of an entire train of emf
grants, on their way from Missouri and
Arkansas to this State, via Great Salt Lake
City, which took place, according to the
best information can acquire, (Which is
primarily through Indians at the Noun
tain Meadows, which are at or near the
Rim of the Great Basin. and some distance
south of the most southern Mormon set
Elements, between the 10th and 18th ulti-
mo. 1t IS absolutely one of the most hor-
rble massacres have ever had the pain
ful necessity of relating
The company consisted Of about one
hundred and thirty men, women, and
children, and including some forty or fifty
capable of bearing arms. They were in
possession OF quite an amount Of stock,
consisting of horses, mules, and oxen. The
encampment was attacked about DAYLIGHT
IN the morning, so say the Indians, by the
combined forces of all the various tribes
Immediately in that section of the coun.
try. 1t appears that the majority Of them
were slain ut the first onset made by the
Indians. The remaining force formed
themselves into the best position their cir.
cumstances would allow; but before they
could make the necessary arrangements
f,r protecting themselves from the ar.
rows there were but few left who were
able to bear arms. After having corral
ia their wagons, and dug ditch for
their protection, they continu ID to fire upon
the Indians for one or two days, but the ,
Indians had so sccreted themselves that
| according to their own statement. there
was not one of them killed, and but few
wounded. They (the emigrants) then sent /,
out flag of truce, borne by little girl,
and gave themselves up to the mercy of
tho savages, who Immediately rushed in
and slaughtered all of them, with the cx-
;epton of fifteen infant children, that have
since been purchased with much difficulty
by the Mormon interpreters.
presume it would be unnecessary for
all practical purposes TO relate the causes
which gave rise to the above described
| catastrophe, from the simple fact that ie
will be attributable to the Mormon pcos
| pie, let the circumstances of the case be
what they may. But it seems, from a
statement which | received from Elders
William Mathews and William HYDE.
who were in great Salt Lake City at the
| time this train was there, recruiting their
fit out, and We're on the road To this
| place at the time when they were murder.
ed, but several days journey in the rear
->omewhcrs about the Beaver Noun.
tainS, which i between Parawan and Fill-
more citieS-that the causes were some.
thing like these: The train campcd as
Corn Crccn, near Fillmore City, where
there is AN Indian village, the inhabitants
| of which have raised a crop OF wheat and
few melons &c; and in trading they
! gave them cash for their wheat, and
they not knowing the value Of coin were
severely cheated. They wanted a blanket
for Il sack of wheat, but they gave them
fifty cents, and told them that that amount
would buy blanket.
Tney also had an OK with them which
had died, and they put strychnine inhm for
the purpose OF poisoning the Indians; also
put poison of some description in the wa.
ter, which is standing in holes. This oc~
caSIoncd several deaths among them with,
IN few days after the departure OF tho
tram. Aud upon this, it seems, the In
dians gathered themselves together, and
had no doubt chosen the place of attack,
and arranged every thing before the train
arrived at the place where they were mur.
dered. j. WARp CsRIsrIAS.
~.<
Earthly PARsnIsE.--A lady writer ia
the Ohio Cpltivator saws:
A sweet country honse, with roses and
hohey-suckles trained to climb over il; with
good taste, beauty and intelligence within;
toll enough to insure health. and leisure To-
court acquaintance with books and flowers
and the love6ness of nature. with rcer,
plenty, and love, is surely one Of the para.
discs which Heaven has left for tho attain.
rnent Of man.