Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-15
Utah News.

Utah News.
A letter from Fort Bridgcr, U. T., dated
Odd April, contains the following, in relation
to Mr.. John W. Powell, son of our irioud
Humphrey B. Powell, esq of Loudoun:
alluded in my last letter to the arrival
with Mr. Ficklin, Of Mr.. J. W. Powell from
the Flathead country. 1t will be seen IN the
article copied from the Dsseret News that be
is charged with an active anticipation IN the
Indian d faculties on Salmon River. Ia re-
futation of these charges, MIR. Powell made
the following affidavit in regard to the mat
ter, in answer to the intcrrogaties OF Chief
Justice Eckels:
"Territory Of Utqh, Green Ricer County,
ss.-J ohm w. Powell, being duly sworn, upon
his oath deposeth aud saith, that he came
into the Territory aforesaid IN July, 1850;
his life has been threatened by the Mormons,
hut with the exception of the loss Of proper
ty, be has never been injured by them; ne left
the Territory Of Utah 10 August, 1896, with
an outfit Of Indian goods for the purpose OF
trading with the Bonnack and Shoshonee
| Indians: be was at Fort Linhi, on Salmon
River, 10 February, 1858; there he found SIX
| Bounack and some Shushoncc lodges; these
! Indians stated that war party OF Aez-Perce
| Indians bad been at the Mormon Fort IN
search of them (the Bonoacks;) that the Nor
mons had furnished this war party with arms
and ammunition: had fed them on the pro-
ducts of their 1.-THE Bonnack's) lands; that
subsequent to this, the borses belonging to
the Bonnaeks and Shoshonees were stolen by
the Nes Perces; that they had never received
any conversation from the MormOns for the
land occupied by them; and they were on
this account enraged at the MormOns, and
would drive off their stock; the BOnnacks in
CURED of him if the Government OF the Uni
ted States would accept Of their services and
| allow them to Join them in fighting the Nor
mons: he told theGa that the United States
was strong and would not allow them to join
them in their difficulties with the MJrmons:
the Indians then determined to attack the
Mormons; he warned the Mormons; and told
them to guard their stock; he was not en-
gagged in the affair in any manner; six In
dams attacked the Mormons, killed two and
wounded others; drove off all their cattle and
some of their horses; he states that Brigham
Young had eudeavorcd to bride these Indians,
who attacked the Mormons to join them in
fighting the troops of the United States; he
also says that be has seen cattle 10 possession
of the Mormons which he knows to have
been stolen from immigrants; this is all
he knows IN relation II the Indian and
Mormon difficulty at Fort Limb, and further
saith not JOHN ". POWELL"
Subscribed and sworn to before me, April
81, 1858 I'D. X. EcKELs,
"Chief Justice OF Supreme Court, |. I
1t appears from the report of the L. 5
Marshal, to the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the Territory, dated 9th April
that Mr.. Powell was one of party Of thir
teen citizen volunteers, organized by the
Marshal, which bad just returned from ar
expedition for the purpose of procuring sup
plies of cattle aud provisions from the Ia
dams encamped on Bear River. The expe
dition failed Of its object, and it was feared
that our troops would soon be reduced TO the
necessity Of subsistIng upon their mules
The Marshal states facts, which 90 to show
that, under pretence Of protecting Governor
Cumming from annoyance and intrusion
Brigham Young had surrounded him with q
vigiant guard, who prevented the people from
communicating with him, and prevented him
from obtaining the sentiments of the masses
The latest dispatches received from Gov.
c., at Fort Bridger, were dated on the Sd
instant, at which time he was about starting
I for O trip to the southern settlements, il
company with Young. He expected to re-
turn TO the Fort 10 ten days from that date
| Much distrust is expressed in regard to the
good faith OF the Mormon leaders, in their
! late peaceful professions.