New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-18
CAMP SCOTT, Nov. ~, 1857.

CAMP SCOTT, Nov. ~, 1857.
am permitted by Judge Eckels to transmit to
YOU the copies Of affidayits which inclose. Ihe
originals are Oh file in the Office of the Clerk OF the
District Court for Green River County.
believe that they all explain themselves, with
out the necessity of any comment their contents.
Jackson Gum, who is mentioned by Mr.. Simpson
as being probably acquainted with some Of the
band of Mormons who burned the train on the Big
Sandy is said to have been one Of the three team
sters who were frozen to death near our camp on
the Sweetwater in the snOw-storm Of Oct. 1o and
o. He would have been an important witness TO
the Government in the prosecutions which must re-
ut from that transaction.
Simpson, Eads and Rupe have recognized in the
sum of $500 each for their appearance as witnesses
before the Grand Jury of the District Court for
Green River County ut its next session.
EADQUARTERs or THE ARMY FOR UTAH, GREEN RIVER
COUNTY, IS.
United State of An,erica, Territory Of Utah.
Lewis Simpson, being duly sworn, states oath that
he is citizen Of the United States, "a years of age
and was in the employ of Russell g. Waddel in Octo-
Der, 1852, as wagonnaster of one of the Government
supply trains.
On October G, 1857 about o'clock a. m, I arrived
with my train at the big bend of the Big Sandy and
camped in rayne which runs about north and south,
and Is crossed by the main road which about east
and west. had come from point about fourteen
miles east, from which had started about o'clock
u. N. At that point the train had lan the pre-
vious day, and had inspected tue of my team
sters and served out ammunition to them. They
well armed with rifles ard shotguns; some Of them
had pistols also.
After corralling on the morning of the 9TH we ate
breakfast, and then went with assistant, 10 get
up the cattle, which had been driven in northerly
direction up the ravine. We had got them up AMI
were driving them down the ravine, when my assist
ant sad that he saw a dust on the road west of the
rayne. had proceeded TO within fifty yards Of the
train, when saw 20 men on horseback around it, all
armed with rifles and Colts rev0lvers navy sze.)
counted II more, also mounted and armed. on this
bluffs around.
At that moment man rode up to me, who demanded
my revolvers. had two reyOlvers. This man war
Lot Smith, Mormon He told me his name. lie
appeared to be IN command Of the party, and they
called him Captain" told him that he couldn't
get my pistols. He and then galoped side by side
to the train. Tie corral formed on each side Of
the ROAD and my inen were busy all around it, getting
ther private baggage out Of the wagons. 1 asked
them at once where their guns were and David Poole
pointed ana showed them 10 me lying in pile at the
western entrance Of the corral and guarded by six
nen on horseback with their revovers cooked.
Smith then said that I'd better give up my pistols
by good means or he'd take them by other means:
and gave them up. The men had got their things
out about this time and were jawing around me. /
sskea smith what he was going to do. He said
order be was going to do that. He answered: "By
Gov. Youngs." He then told me TO take two wagons.
yke up the cattle for them and 90 back to the States
SAID that must first drive the cattle TO Green River
lie SAD ne didn't thin get them there, but might
Try took the two Northwestern wagons from the
'orral and proceeded to load them with provisions
ana with my men things. The Momons kept hurry
ny us, ana saying that they couldn't wait much
longer When got the teams hitched up he told me
10 take them away quick or he going 10 burn the
tram. took them about 30 yards on the road west
nom the rayine. While taking them, l los, sight Of
nothing that was going on.
When the wagons had gone that distance on the
road, returned to the corral Part Of Smiths band
haa dismounted taken axes with which my boys had
been splitting wood for fires, and began 10 hack aud
split up the ox-yokes. With these Jokes they then
built four fres, at the four corners Of the corral
They then picked up the burning fragments and set the
fronts Of the wagon sheets fire. ard while these
blazing they threw burning fragments of yokes
into the wagons. MY men had most Of them returned
from their wagons few feet west from the ak
Those Of Smiths band who had dismOunted then got
upon their horses again and watched the wagons burn
IL was BY this time IL o'clock. Smith then demanded
my mule, and also my assistant sand took them
Hen lie aid part Of his band rode off in every direc.
ton except westerly. watched NTH ride up 90 the
eastern bluf On top Of it he fred his revolver three
or four tin es-I think as signal to other Mormons
Just before he left he asked if should fire on him
and his men. answered No. He said he wouldn't
uLst me, and LEFT the six guarding the arms, at
TIE same time ordering me to ride back to my wagons
on another mule, which be let me have. / did as he
ordered me- and when had got there all the rest OF
MS band rode of, saying Good evening"
Then and my boys returned to the corral The
wagon wheels were not ignited, but all the bodies
were so wrapped in flames tina, any effort TO save
them would have been Guitless. ] ordered my mss