Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-06-03
Dtrrrrru artirIrs.

THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MAssAcRE.-A
Tale of Horror.--It will be remembered that
some time ago company of one hundred
emigrants on their way from Arkansas to CAL
fornia, were massacred at Mountain Meadows,
by the Indians, as was reported but various
subsequent Developments have established
the conviction that these were merely tools
in the hands Of the Mormons themselves -
An eyewitness of the transaction has been
found at last and the San Francisco Bulletin
has received from an official source at Salt
! Lake, statement Of his account of the affair.
/ lie says the massacre was designed and carri
ed into execution TO get possession of the
thirty wagons and seven OF eight hundred
head Of cattle belonging to the emigrants.-
His statement, which is as follows, reveals
most shocking exhibition Of cruelty and
crime. That civilized beings could be guilty
of such conduct seems hardly credible
While | was residing at Cedar City, !
was called upon by Messrs Isaac Hight, John
/ ID. and John Hgbee--all three Mormon mill
itary officers--to go a few miles out of the
city, which ] did There | found thirty or
4 forty others. selected from different settle
mcnts. We were addressed by the above
officers who told US that they had sent Can.
osh. the Paravant Chief, with his warriors
TO destroy the Arkansas company. and that if
he had not done it we must and that if any
of us refused, or betrayed them TO the Amer-
cans, they would take good care Of him here
after. Hero we were all ordered on the
quick march to the Mountain Meadows.
where we found the emigrants, with their
wagons formed into two circles, with their
/ families in the midst, trying to defend them
selves against the merciess and blood thirsty
sayages, who lay in ambush, killing them as
opportunity presented
Hight and Lee formed their men into two
companies and made precipitant rush at the
poor dcfenceless victims. The men inside
Of the circles rose up, but instantly fell dead
or mortally wounded under the fire Of the
wretches who so cruelty sought their lives.
Nothing remained 10 be done except 20 kill
the frightened females and their innocent
children clasped in their arms Others chung
with desperation TO their bleeding, dying hus-
bands, pleading in vain for mercy az the
hands of the Christians who controlled the
no more savage assaiants.
John ID. Lee now sent to the Indian chief
and his men in ambush 70 come out and finish
the survivors. directing him to spare only the
little children who could not talk. The saw
ages came instantly. with knives drawn, and
speedily finished the bloody work. The
scene beggars description. The demoniac
yells Of the savage monsters. mingled with
the shrieks and prayers Of helpless mothers
and daughters while the deaih-blows were
dealing with unainchng hands, and scalps
were torn from heads which bloomed with
beauty and innocence but few hours before.
Now the work Of butchery ended The muir
/ darore fltrovp tno 1rad INT, turo baarg oor,,
ed them slightly with earth, and left them TO
feed the wolves and birds Of prey and re-
turned home with their booty Of cattle and
wagons and great quantity of goods &c.
---------s-----
/ FROM THE PAcIFGo.-The California pa
pers report that the weather has been warm
in that region, and the rapidly melting snow
has raised the rivers to flood height The
winter was very severe in Oregon, and the
season had proved disastrous to cattle, mules
and horses, as they persisted in large numbers.
The first earthquake ever known in Washing
ton Territory occurred on the ID Of April
Buildings were shaken so as to excite con-
siderable alarm, but no material damage was
sustained. The whale ships have had bad
weather and poor luck in the Pacific the past
winter. The ships which cruise for whales
on the coast of California have been success
full 1t is reported that several new guano
islands have been discovered by American ycs-
sells. The volcano OF Mauna Loa still pours
out its liquid fires The editor of one Of the
Sandwich Island papers, who witnessed the
play of this fiery fountain, describes it as fol-
lows:
This part of the scene was one of true
grandeur-no words can convey a full idea of
it to our readers. The molten fiery rcdnoss
Of the lava. ever varying, ever changing its
form, from the simple gurgling of a spring to
the hugest fountain conceivable, is scene
that when viewed will be painted in all its
splendor and magnifoence, on the memory of
the observer till death. Large boulders of
red-hot lava stone. weighing hundreds, if not
thousands. Of tons. thrown up with incon-
ceivable power high above the liquid mass,
could be occasionally seen falling outside or
on the rim of the crater, tumbling down the
cones and rolling over the precipice, remain
ing brilliant a few minutes, then becoming
cold and black, were lost among the mass of
surrounding lava
MARKEr AT NORM ANDovER.-The sec
ond market day Of the Essex Agricultural
Society was held Tuesday at North Andover,
and was as successful As was auticinated --