Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-13
Condition of the MormOns.

The Times publishes letter from Fort
Leavenworth, giving the statements OF air
Lola, who is represented to have just escaped
from Salt Lake City with different idea ot
the condition of the MormonS than that gen
orally entertained Mr. Loba, the letter states,
is q Swiss, who formerly held a high official
position in his own country, but having been
converted to Mormonism, tood his family to
Utah. There he soon became dsGusted, ard
watching his opportunity fed, bringing his
family with him, and is low in destitute circuu-
stances He thinks that the MormonS will
make no organized resistance. They have no
powder factory, and only one cannon. Their
military organization is OF the most miserable
kind. H. estimates the total population OF
the Valley at 1900 souls. Of their counting
every male from Is to 90 years of age, he
estimates that they are not TO exceed 1000
capable Of bearing armS--whie not more than
3 500 Of the whole number, in his opinion,
would make even pasSahle soldiers, under drill
ling by skiIIful men. Not one in ten OF the
entire male population have fire arms of any
description and large proportion of those
they have are ont of repair and worthless
He has no confidence in the statement that
the Mormons have fortified Echo Canon. except
it NAV be by digging bitches, and posing
rocks to be rolled down from the overhaRging
cliffs. Their boasts of mines under the road,
and all that sort Of thing, he scouts as idle
nonsense. In short, he considers the Morn0ns
destitute Of any effective power OF resistance
to even the small force already under command
of Gen. Johnston, and maintains that brigham
Yoang's entire reliance has been based upon
his hope Of being able to deter the United
States from attempting to deal with him, by
laying boasts of his ability to wage successful
resistance He thinks that Brigham will not
surrender, but retreat to the North, after dcs-
troying Salt Lake City.
In relation to the social condition of the
Mormoas, he gives Uhe most appalling pictures,
especially in relation 10 the treatment of the
woman Most Of them will hail the army as
their deiivererS.
The letter makes statement, which almost
exceeds belief, in reference to the large mum
Der of em;grants who went to Salt Lake last
year iournying with hanl carts over the plains
About 900 persons were collected from Eu-
rope. money to the amount $53 for each family
being collected to defraY the expenses of their
emigration On arriving at the Missouri river
they were told that, 10 try their faith, God
had directed them to make the journey over
the plains on foot, drawing the carts, which
where provided for them by Brigham Young'S
agents at 1000 per cent profit. This was
about the first Of September. The letter then
continues as follows :
Here, t, en-, they stood, with twelve hun
dred miles of weary travel on foot before
them, and the N ne less rigors or a Northern
winter staring them in the face. The com
moncst humanity would have inspired the lea
dcrs of the dcIuled band to stay their steps
until the opening spring. But they seem TO
have been obliyioIs to apv such scntiment.-
They rot I'D another revelation from on hirh.
in which the travellers were bidden onward
and assured that th. aprels Of the Lord would
be apon their right and their left shielding
them from harm. oroyidin2 them srstananca
and protection, anil conducting them rei0ic;n.