Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-06-04
A TALE OF HORROR.


One Of the dread mysteries Of Mormondom
which the United States Judges in Utah are
endeavoring TO unravel, greatly 10 the con.
sternation of the Saints" is the horrible
massacre, at Mountain Meadows, Of one hun
dred emigrants, on their way from Arkansas
to California AT the time we were told
that the unfortunate victims fell under the
weapons of the Canosh band Of Paravant
Indians but various subsequent develop
ments 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 from
an official source at Salt Lake, statement
Of his account Of the affair has been sent TO
the San Francisco Bulletin. He says the
massacre was designed and carried into exc.
cution for mere purpose of punder, TO get
possession Of the thirty wagons and seven or
eight hundred of cattle belonging 10 the
emigrants. The witness says:
awhile ] was residing at Cedar City, ]
was called upor by Messrs. Isaac Hight,
John ID. Lee and John Highee-all three
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 as that they had sent
out Canosh, the Paravant Chief, with his
warriors, to destroy the Arkansas company,
aud that if he had not dene il 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 Mea-
dows, where we found the emigrants, with
| thei: wagons formed into two circles, with
their families in the midst trying to defend
themselves against the merciless and blood
thirsty savages, who lay around in ambush,
killing them as opportunity presented
| Hight and Lee formed their men into two
companies, and made precipitant 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 lives
! Nothing remained to be done, except TO kill
the frightened females and their innocent
children clasped in their arms. Others clung
with desperation to their bleeding, dying
husbands, pleading in vain for mercy at the
hands of The Christians who controlled the
now more savage Indian assaiinuts. John
ID. Lee now sent to the Indian chief and bis
men in ambush to come out and finish the
survivors, directing him to spare only the lit
tie children who could not talk. The sava.
ges came instantly with knives drawn, anc
speedily finished the bloody work. The
scene beggars description. The demoniat
yells OF The savage monsters, mingled will
the shrieks and prayers of helpless mother;
and daughters, while the death blows were
dealing with unhinching hands, and scalps
were torn from heads which bloomed will
beauty and innocence but a few hours before
Now the work of buteherinn ended. Th'
murderers threw the deaG into two heaps
covered them slightly with ;earth, and lef
them to feed the wolves and birds Of prey
and returned home With their bloody boot
Of cattle and wagons, and great quantity o
goods, etc."
The narrator Of the above facts also fur
pishes the following statement of crime
within his knowledge. lie says
sc. ID. Potter William Parrish and Beet
son Parrish were all murdered on the road t
Sprngville, iu the month of March, 1851
All that is requisite to bring the murderer
to justice, is q thorough investigation by tn
United States Courts. Henry Forbes cam
into Springville last winter from California
and put up with j, Terry, one of our bishop
policemen. A short time after he was mil
sing, aud has never returned. His horse
saddle and revolver we're sold by Terry, an
, put to his own use."