New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-16
=. IN
The Mountain Meadow MASSACRE.

sufficient.
4 Without coming to conclusion on the subject
the House adjourned.
The Mountain Meadow Massacre.
/ HoRRTBLE CoNFEssIoN.-The Salt Lake Valley
Tan, of February 30, contains o statement from
VIM. H. Rogers, in regard to the massacre at
Mountain Meadow, in September, 1857, when 100
men, women and children, emgrants from Ar
kansas, were murdered by Mormons. In COM
pany with DR.. Forney, Superintendent of Indian
| Affairs for Utah Territory, Mr.. Rogers, about a
year SINCE traversed the district of country where
the massacre occurred. The scene of the tragedy
is thus described:
When we arrived here in April, 1859, more than
| q year and half after the massacre occurred, the
ground, for distance more than d hundred yards
around central point, was covered with the skel.
etons and bones OF human beings interspersed in
places with rolls or punches Of tangled or matted
hair, which, from its length, evidently belonged
to females. In places the bones of small children
were lying side by side with those of grown per-
SONS, as if parent and child had met death at the
same instant and with the same stroke. Small
bones and dresses, and scraps of female apparel
were also to be seen in places the ground there
like the bones of those who wore them, bleached
from long exposure, but their shape was in many
instances, entire. In gulch or hole in the ravine
by the side of the road, large number OF leg and
arm bones, and also of skulls could be seen stick
ing about the surface, as if they had been buried
there, but the action of water and digging of
wolves had again exposed them to sight. The
entire scene was one too horrible and sickening
for language adequately to describe.
On the authority of information communicated
in his presence to Judge Cradlebaugh by partici-
pant in the massacre, Mr.. Rogers describes the at
tack on the emigrants, the protracted siege which
they endured, and finally the treacherous artifce
by which they were induced to surrender-when
all were brutaly murdered. He says:
As soon as it became known that Judge c. in
tended holding court, and investigating the cir
cumstances OF the massacre, and that he would
have troops TO insure protection and enforce his
writs if necessary, several persons visited him DIT
his rooms, at late hours of the night and informee
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 it became known that
they had communicated anything to him; and they
requested Judge Cradlebaugh, Il he met them ID
public in the day time not to recognize them as
persons he had before seen.
Ore Of the men who called thas on Judge Grades
baugh, confessed that he participated in the mas
sacre, and gave the following account Of it:
Previous 20 the massacre there was council
held at Cedar City, which President Haipht ana
Bishops Highly and Iced attended. AT this council
they designated or appointed q large number of
men residing in Cedar City and in other settlements
around, to perform the work of dspatching these
emigrants. The men appointed for this purpose
were instructed to resort, veil armed, at given
time, TO spring or small stream, lying OF short
distance to the left of the road leading into the
Meadows, and not very far from Hamblnts ranch,
but concealed from it by intervening hills This
was the place Of rendezvous aud here the men,
when they arrived painted and otherwise disguised
themselves as to resemble Indians. From thence
they proceeded, early on Monday morning. by
path or trail which leads from his Spying directly
into the Meadows, and enters the road some dis.
lance beyond Hamblin's ranch. BY taking this
route they could not be seen by any one at the
ranch.
On arriving at the corral of the emqrapts. 4
number of the men were standing on the outside
by the camp fires, which, from appearances they
had just been building. These were first fred upoIs
and at the first discharge several of them fell dead
or wounded; the remainder of them Immediately
ran to the inside of the coral, and began fortfyng
themselves, and preparing for defense as well "a
they eoald by showing their wagons closer together
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 aesnltorY and ir-
regular manner for four or five days. The corral
was closely watched, and if any Of the einigrants
showed themselves they were Instantly fred at
| from without. II they attempted to go to the
spring. which was only few yards distant they
were sure to fall BY the rifles of their assailanfs
In consequence Of the almost certain death that re-
suited from any attempt to procure water. the EN-.
igrans, before the siege discontinued, suffered in
i tensey from thirst. The assailants believing a,
length that the emgrants could not be subdued by
the means adopted resortea to treaehery and
stratagem to accomplish what they had been un
able to do by force, They returned to the sprinl
where thew had painted and disguised themselYe;
previous to commencing the attack, and there re
moved those DISCUSSES and again assumed their or
binary dress.
After this, Bishop Lee. with party of men, re
turned to the camp of the emigrants, bearing
white flag as signal of truce. From the position
of the corral, the emigrants were able to see then
some time before they reached it. As soon as the,
discerned it, they dressed little girl in white
nd hnra ttp anfr rpR aF fbp arral In ind
j cate their friendly feelings to the persons bearin
the flag. Lee and his party, on arriving, were In
vited into the corral, where they stad about a
hour talking with them about the attack that ha
been made upon them. Lee told the emigrant
that the Indians had gone off over the hills. an
that if they would lay down their arms and give u
!, their property, he and his party would conduc
them back to Cedar City; but If they went on
with their arms the Indians would look upon it q
an unffiendly act, and would again attack then
The enligrants, trusting 10 Lees honor and to tn
sincerity of his statement, consented to The term
which he proposed, and left their property and a
their arms at the corral, and under the escort
Lee and his party started towards the north in tn
direction of Cedar City. After they had praceede
about a mile on their way, on signal given b
Bishop Highly. who was one OF the party, that wei
to the corral with Lee, the slaughter began.
The men were mostly killed or shot down at tn
first fire, and the women and children. who imm,
diateIy fed in different directions, were quick
i pursued and dispatched.
Such was the substance, if nat the exact word
of statement made by a man to Judge Cradl
baugh In my presence, who, at the same tim
confessed that he participated In the horrib
/ | events which he related. He also gave Judge
the names oftwenty-aye or thirty other men liyiu
In the region, who assisted in the massacre. 4
offered also to make the same statement in cou
and under oath, IL protection was guaranteed
him. lie gave rs a reason for uynlgtng the
facts, that they had torinented his mind and co.
science since they occurred, and he expressed
4 willingness te stand 4 trial for his crime.
sraAYHD.--A bay pony strayed. See advertis