The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-19
Rirbmunh qispatrb,
MONDAY MORNING SEPT. 10, 1854


| The Late Exciting Events at Utah. Mas
| sacre of Sergeant Pike by a Mormon.
| A Salt Lake correspondent of the Boston
| Traveller gives an Interesting account of the
| recent excitement at Salt Lake, arising from
| the murder of Sergeant Pike He says
| l had hardly returned from tie post-ofiice.
1 after depositing nay Inai when / learned of
/ the arrival OF an expressman from Salt Lake
| city, sent through by Messrs. Porter. giving
| the General commanding information that
| Sci geant Pike, of the 10Th Infantry, who was
| IN the city awaiting trial for alleged as
sauit, &c, oh Mormon BY the name of Spen-
Ger. had been shot; and further, that the Ives
| OF the party OF officers and soldiers who ac-
| eompanled the accused were in danger of be-
| ing sacrificed by Mormon mob.
lhe circnms siances, as related by an eye-wit-
ness OF the attack, We're as follows: Sergeant
fike ana four OF his companions We're stand
ing IN front OF Salt Lake Hotel, on the side
walk situated in one of the principal thor
oughiares OF the city, when q Mormon by the
name of Spencer, the party that accused the
sergeant OF having assaulted him, with num-
Der OF other Mormons, stepped up, Gazing
PIKE by name, sying, "you are the man that
struck me in Rush Valley at the same time
shooting him with six-shooter which be had
IA his hand, before addressing Pike. The ball
hit tke handle of a dirk knife, glanced and en-
tered the left side, just above the hip, and
came out through the right breast. The
sassin immediately fled, followed by the friends
ana comrades OF the wounded man, but they
band OF " "Danites,'' among the number the
notorious Bill Hickman and =" Eph Hanks"
a few Gentiles followed him through alleys
ana across fields and fences, until he took
shelter IN an adjacent corn field. which was
packed by some fifty of the coniederates of the
murderer, armed Tor the purpose of prevent
ing his arrest. In this manner he was allow
ed 10 escape. The streets and avenues We're
nlled with MormonS at the time. The affair
took place about3 O'Clock in the afternoon
The news spread among the Gentiles in a
very brlef space OF time, all preparing TO de-
iehd the party from camp to the last if attack
ed mob OF several thousands of MorInons
gathered around the hotel in which the officers
aud soldiers took shelter. Threats were made
by the populace which indicated that they
contemplated Wlplng the whole party out.
Ii the Mormons had killed, or in any way
maltreated the officers and soldiers that re-
malned IN Salt Lake City after the murder of
Pike, L am confident that il was the intention
OF Ien. Johnson TO march all his available
force on the city, and without a parley, race
1t to the ground. The same day that Pike was
shot, the body of 4 man was found at the Hot
Springs, with his head entirely severed from
ms body. The head had been put out of the way.
The same night another body was brought
into the city which had been found al the mouth
Of emigration kanyon ii had three pistol
shots in it; had been dead but few hours
Night before last two more bodies were found
beside the road, at the point of the mountains
between camp and Salt Lake City.
No arrests or investigations are thought of
by the Morlnons in such cases Brigham
Young knows how they are brought about,
and 1t is no one else'S business.
The funeral took piaceas above, and was the
most imposing that has ever taken place in our
army on the occasion of the burial of a non-
commissioned officer Three regiments of in-
tantry, squadron of dragons, battery OF
light artillery, and "A detachment of sappers
and miners. The officers of each regiment. in
full uniform, followed in the rear OF their re-
spectiFe corps. Gen Johnson and his staff
followed in the rear of the whole