Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-07
The Mountain Meadow Massacre-Horr;bi.
CAnfeaSiau

Confession.
the salt Lake Valley Tan, Of February eetb,
contains statement from VIM. H. Rogers in 70,
gard TO the massacre at Mountain Meadows in
September, 1857, when 100 men, women and chill.
dren, emlgrants from Arkansas, We're murdered
by Mormons. ~N
AS soon as 1t became known that Judge Cradle
baugh intended holding court, and investigating
the circumstances Of the massacre, and that he
force his writs II necessary several persons yistd
him at his rooms at late hours Of the night. and
informed him Of different facts connected with
the massacre. All these that called thus stated
that it would be at the risk of their lives If II he
came known that they had communicated any.
thing 70 him; and they requested Judge Cradle
baugn, II ne met them In public in the day time
not TO recognize them Is persons that he had be,
fore seen.
One Of the men who called thus on Judge
Cradleoaugh confessed, In the presence of Mr.
Rogers, that he rticipated in the massacre and
gave the following account Of it:-Previous to the
massacre there was a council held at Cedar Citv
which President Haight and Bishops Highly and
or appointed a large number of men residino in
Cedar City, and in other settlements around. 10
perform the work Of dispatching these emigrants.
Inc men appointed for this purpose were instruct
ed 10 resort, well armed, at a given time, to a
spring or small stream, lying a short distance to
the left of the road leading into the Meadows and
not very far from Hamblin's ranch, but conct aIed
from 1t by intervening hills. This was the place
OF rendezvous; and here the men, when they
arrived, painted and otherwise disguised them.
selves SO as to resemble Indians. From thence
path or trail which leads from his spring diIect,v
into the Meadows and enters tie road some dis
lance beyond Hamblin's ranch By taking tbi.
route they could not be seen by an q one at the
ranch.
On arriving at the corral of the emigrants.
number Of the men were standing on the outside
by the camp-tres, which, from appearances they
had just been building. These were first fired
upon, and at the first discharge several of them
fell dead or wounded the remainder immed atelv
to the inside of the corral, and began fortify
ing themselves, and preparing for defence as well
| as they could, by showing their wagons closer to-
gether and digging holes into which to lower
them, so as to keep the shots from going under
and striking them. The attack continued in a
desultory and irregular manner for four or five
days. The corral was closely watched, and if any
of the emigrants showed themselves they were
instantly fired at from without. III they attempted
to 90 to the spring, which was only few wards
distant they were to fail by the rifles of their
assailants. In consequence of the almost certain
death that resulted from any attempt to procure
water the emis grants before the siege discontinued
suffered intensely from thirst. The assaiants be-
leving at length that the emigrsnts could not be
subdued by the means adopted, resorted to treach-
cry and stratagem to accomplish what they had
been unable to do by force They returned to
the spring where they had painted and disguised
themselves previous to commencing the attack,
and there removed those disguises, and again as
sunlfd their ordinary dress.
After this, Bishop Lee. with a party Of men,
retuI ned to the camp of the emig rants bearing a
white flag as signal of truce. From the position
Of the corral the emigrants We're able to see them
some time before they reached it. AS soon as they
discerned 1t, they dressed little girl in white
and placed her at the entrance Of the corral, to
| indicate their friendly feelings to the persons
bearing the flag. Lee and his party, on arriving,
were invited into the corral, where they staid
about an hour, talking with them about the at
| tack that had been made upon them Lee told
| the emiSrants that TIE Indians had gone off over
the hills, and that if they would lay down their
arms and give up their property, he and his party
would conduct them back to Cedar CITY; but il
they went out with their arms, the Indians would
look upon it as unfriendly act, and would again
attack them. The emigrants trusting to Lees
honor and to the sincerity of his statement con-
sented to the terms which he proposed, and left
| their property and all their arms at the corral
and under tie escort of Lee and his party started
| towards the North in the direction of Cedar CITY,
After they had proceeded about mile on their
way, at signal given by Bishop Highly, who
was one Of the party that went to the corral with
Lee the slaughter began
The men were mostly killed or shot down at
the first fire, and the women and children who
Immediately fled in different directions We're
quickly pursued and dispatched.
Such was the substance. If not the exact words
OF statement made by man to Judge Cradle
bdugh In my presence, who at the same time con-
1essed That he participated In the horrible events
which he related. lie also gave Judge c. the
names OF Is or 80 other men living in the region
VINO assisted In the massacre. He offered also to
make the same statement in court and under oath
II protection was guaranteed to him. He gave as
reason for dlvulging these facts, that thew had
tornented his mind and conscience since they
occurred, and he expressed willingness to stand
a trial for his crime