Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-09-30

0ssoes Oassaees.
Chr Rock, Oregon, Aug. Ia, 1859.
EDuToRs STATS DEMockAT.-Doubt-
lesA ere this reaches you, You will have
heard Of the massacre Of emigrsnts on
the Sublette Cut OF route to Califor-
mia; but thinking that few pa,ticu-
lars from an eye witness ,Esy not be
unistsrsstisg. sead you thin comma.
nicatiou.
Az train consisting Of four wagons
with twenty men, several women and
children, and large drove Of horses,
mules. and cattle were passing through
the long cannon, which il fifty miles
north Of Salt Lake Valley, on the 18th
alt they we're attacked At noon by
seventy five disguised Aormous and
Indians. who rushed upon them from
. gorge 10 the mountains and COM
meuced IN indiscrimioase slaughter.
At the first FIRE four men we're killed,
and eight dangerously wounded, one
Of them MORALLY, among the wounded
was . womas and several children
Tho emigrants being taken entirely by
surprise, and seeing no hope Of a sue
cesaful resistance, yielded at discre-
ton. The maruders then plundered
the train of everything valuable in it,
even not then content, mutilsted the
dead bodies, and bar bsrously murder
cd little girl aged three years, one
Of the iuharnau wretches. out Of pure
deviIishness, dashiug her upon tho
rocks, mangling her in the most hor-
rble manner. The stock Was then
driven of the wagons destroyed, aid
the survivors turned destitute into the
mountain.
The names ofthe murdered men are
T. F.& w. p. Shepherd, W. E. Diggs
and C. Kains, from Missouri.
On the east branch Of Raft River,
where We camped last Saturday night
there vas every evidence Of fearful
tragedy, portions Of wagons, OK yokee,
&c, still burning, clothing partially
consumed, perforated with bullet holes
and saturated with blood, strewn in
every direction, showed plainly that
another train had been murdered here.
Although we have made thorough
examination, We failed TO discover
the slightest clue as to who the victim
Of this Wholesale murder we're.
That the perpetrators Of these out
RACES are Mormons, there can be no
doubt The manner Of the attack,
their conduct, and the huency with
which they spoke English, proved con-
cl1sively that the majority of them
were the followers OF brigham Young.
1t Z" becoming question of no
small moment to the emigrants on this
road, rs to how long the lenient policy
Of Government is goisg to ermit the
thievish band Of vagabonds who are
congregated At Salt Lake, to carry on
their course OF murder and plumber.
and still 60 unwhipt OF justice. Some
body is to blame. The number Of
soldiers in Utah, and the expense in
CURED By the Government, is amply
sufficient to protect the emigrants, if
the proper course was pursued. As
long xs the affairs at Salt Lake CITY
are conducted in the manner they now
are, these outrages will be continued.
The location of tho Mormon city gives
these cut-throats an opportunity of
Watching the emigrants from the nun.
erous hiding places in the mountains,
aud while their innate cowardice pre-
vents them from disturbing large trains,
whenever an unprotected small one
comes along, it is plundeIed and the |
unofendiog emigrants murdered with |
every circumstance OF barbsrous cruel
~.
A more rigorous policy should be
adopted and the Mormons compelled |
to give mp the authors Of these butch
cries, or the iron arm Of retributive
justice DO suffered to fall, and such
summary punishment visited on the
heads Of this horde of fsnatical mxrau.
derA - the enormity Of their crimes
deserve. Simple justice to hundreds
Of our fellow citizens demand that the
Mormons be compelled to stop their
murderous warfare on the em. grants,
Or else be exterminated a. outlaws and
enemies Of mankind.
Parties Of Mormons painted and
1isgoised IS Indians. 90 out from Scott
Lake City, plumber the emigrante, drive
he stock to the city and dispose Of it
and yet 60 unpunished. In
hopes that immediate steps will be
AIKEN to bring these worse than savapes
. condign punishment, and prevent
ne repetition Of these high handed
'atrsges, subscribe myself,
Yours truly, VAN. |