The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-07-02

One of the dread mysteries of Nor
mon dom which the United States Judg dges
in Utah are endeavoring to unravel,
greatly to the CONSERVATION of the
"Saints," is the horrible massacre at
Mountain Meadows, of one hundred imi-
grants on their way from Arkansas to Cal
ifornia. AT the time we were told that
the unfortunate victims fell under the
wea pons Of the Canosh band of Paravant
Indians but various subsequent devel-
opments have established the conviction
that these were merely tools in the hands
of the Mormons themselves. An eye
witness Of the transaction has been found
at last, and from an off cial source at Salt
Lake, a statement of his account of the
affair has been sent to the San Francisco
Bulletin. He says the massacre was de-
signed aud carried into execution for
mere purpose Of plunder, to get posses.
sion of the thirty wagons and seven or
eight hundred head of cattle belonging to
the emigrants. The witness says:
"While | was residing ct Cedar City,
was called upon by Messrs. Isaac Hight,
John D. Doc aud ohm Highee-all three
Mormon military oficers--to 90 few
miles out south Of the city, which [ did.
There found 30 or 40 others, selected
from different settlements We were
addressed by the above officers, who told
us that they had sent out Canosh, the
Paravant Chief, with his warriors, to de-
stroy the Arkansas company, and that if
he had not done it we must; and that if
any Of them refused, or betrayed them to
the Americans, they would take good
care Of him hereafter. Here We were all
ordered on the quick march to the
Mountain Meadows, whore we found the
emigrants, with their wagons formed in-
to two circles, with their families in the
midst, trying to defend themselves
against the merciless and blood thirsty
savages, who lay around in ambush, kill,
ing them as opportunity presented
Hight and Lee formed their men into
two companies, and made a preeipitant
rush at the poor defenceless victims
The men inside of the circle rose up, but
instantly fell dead or mortally wounded,
under the fire Of the wretches who So
cruelty sought their Ives. Nothing re-
NAMED to be done, except to kill the
frightened females and their innocent
children clasped in their arms, Others
chung with desperation to their bleeding,
diving husbands, pleading in vain for
mercy at the hands of the Christians
who controlled the now more savage In
dian assailants. John d. Lee now sent
to the Indian chief and his men in am
bush to come out and finish the surviv-
orr, s,directing him to spare only the little
children who could not talk. The sava-
rcs came instantly with knives drawn,
/ aud speedily finished the bloody work
| The scene beggars description. The de-
moniac yells Of the savage monsters, min
eled with the shrieks and prayers of
| HELPLESS mothers and daughters, while
the death blows were dealing with uh-
finchinc hands, and scalps were torn
from heads which bloomed with beauty
and innocence but few hours before. -
Now the work of butchering ended. The
murderers threw the dead into two heaps,
covered them slightly with earth, and
left them TO feed the wolves and birds
Of prey, and return home with their
bloody booty of cattle and wagons, and
great quantity Of goods, etc "
The narrator Of the above facts also
furnishes the following statement of
crimes within his knowledge. He says
&C. D. Potter, VIM. Parrish and
Beetsou Parrish were all murdered on the
road to springville, in. tho month OF
March, 1857. All that is requisite tc
bring the murderers to justice, is thor
ough investigation by the United States
Courts Henry Forbes came into Spring
willie last Winter, from California, anc
put up with J. Terry, one Of our bish
ops policemen. A short time after h
was missing, and has never returned
His horse, saddle and revolver were soil
: Terry, and put to his own use"