Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-14
Fabens, imprisonment by the


Mol. w. III. FABENs, who made himself no
torious in the affairs of Central America, in
connection with Col KINNEY. "a few years ago
was taken prisoner by the Mormons last fall
while on his way to California. We find the
foilowings personal narrative of his sufferings,
the cruelties inflicted upon him, and his final
escape as communicated to the Utah CORES
pendent of the N. Y. Tribune: az
II arrived in Salt Lake CITY on the 18th of
October. on my way to California. and here
/ formed party of three men, disc arged
teamsters from the trains that were burned
by the MOrmons. Their names were James
Donohue, Peter Riley and James Tobin. After
staying few DAYS started southwark. on
our way to California. On our arrival at
Fillmore, | sent Tobia and Riley to pick out
a camp-ground. while Donohue and | stayed
behind TO purchase some oats for our animals
We stayed abnut four hours in Fillmore and
started to rejoin Tobn and Riley. About
three miles south found them both dead,
and not yet cold; their clothing all taken off;
their provisions and animals gone. Thinking
that we might meet with the same fate. we
returned back as far as the city of SpringVille.
There we were obliged to stop for a few days
for the purpose of recruiting our animals. /
put up with a man by the name of Daily, and
Donohue with Major Day Perceiving that it
was impossible to 90 either north and south.
and being watched by the MormOns day and
night. and followed by their guard wherever
we went rented house and concluded to
stay until the army came in. During the
month of December. Daily came to me and
stated that if / would give him the two horses.
saddles and brides, he would take me and
Donahue through to California. / gave him
the horses. He sold them. but he would not
tn f'ali NJ fhair
value. After waiting until February for
some recompense for my horses, had few
words with some of the MOrmOns concerning
them, and was told that / should get my
throat cut if | did not shut my mouth. | be-
lieved them, and thought it advisable to make
my escape from the valley. and make my way
Gen. JohnstOn's camp Although there were
some fifteen feet of snow on the mountains, /
started with man by the name of Brown,
Gentle, who had come from Provo City, and
whom / persuaded to 90 with me. On the 8th
of February we left Springville. and went as
far as Weber Canon. one hundred miles north.
There we met with Mr.. McNeal and Mr.. Miles
who bad made an attempt to escape, but
found the snow so deep that they had return
ed. persuaded them to go back and make
another attempt. We took to the mountains.
and got as far a. Yellow Creek some thirty
miles from Gen Johnston's camp. Having no
arms, we were captured there by party of
MOrmons. and brought back to one of their
forts on the Weber, where Brown made his
escape. and have since heard he arrived safe
at Camp Scott
McNeal, Miles and myself were taken to
Salt Lake City and confined there in mis-
cradle prison, filthy and dirty beyond descrip-
ton. We were searched, and what little
money we had was taken from US. We had
no clothing of any account, and what little
we had was all torn while we were going
through the mountains McNcal and Miles
sold their blankets to the prsOn-guard for
some clothing. / was taken sick, and was
very unwcll for several days, and would not
sell my blankets. As the weather was pretty
cold, feared | should need them. and for 81
days had no clothing but small woolen shirt.
At the end of that time McNeal managed to
patch his old pantalOons with rags which he
had picked up in the prison yard, and gave
them to me. About the middle of April
Miles was taken out of the prison. and the
MOrmOns stated that they were going TO send
him North. to California; since which time
nothing has been heard of him. A few nights
afterward McNeal made his escape from the
prison and called on Gov Cumming and
demanded his protection. The Governor told
him that situated as he was he could not give
him his protection. He returned to prison.
The next day he had ball and chain put on
him, and at midnight, between the hours OF
eleven and twelve, he was taken from his
prison and conveyed to the Penitentiary, and
there confined in one of the cells. On the Sth
of May the MOrmons hearing that the Govern
mpnt Commissioners were coming into the
city, took me from the prison. with guard OF
ten men, in a wagon, down TO the Pententiary,
and there put McNeal with the ball and chain
still on him. into the wagon with me. We
were carried 3l3 miles south of the city to a
place called Painter. On the road down
Nc\eal filed off his chain, and we made our
Try ana gain tTcii. JOnnSJOn'S camp. We
took To the mountains. but being out OF
provisions we were obliged to 20 into
Springville in the night. where a friend of
mine, whose name | refrain from mentioning
gave us something TO eat and kept us hid
in haystack ali night aud the next day He
also told us that Mr.. Powell. one of the
Commissioners, was in Salt Lake CITY. aud
we concluded that we had better see him and
find out if he would do any more for us than
Gov. Cumming. We were received very kind
ly 10y him. Since our arrival in the City
Gov. Cumming has made no inquiry about us,
and it is not known by him whether we are
still in the custody of the Mormons or not
Since the arrival of the army in the citv
have received much kindness both from the
officers in the army and civil officers for
which | tender my thanks.
W. II. FABENS.
Great Salt Lake City, U. T., July 10, 1855.