New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-15


The st. Louis Republican publishes a letter from
Denver city dated Jan. %, from which we extract
the following:
A gentleman who has but recently arrived in the
city, called on me to day, and gave me account
of horrible massacre on the Surplus Cutoh,
about fifty miles north of Salt Lake City, during
the latter part of last August. 4 party of emf
grants their way to California, was attacked by
a party of men painted and dressed like Indians,
who rushed upon them in the night, took them by
| surprise, and murdered seven Of the party; the
others escaped to another train camped back from
| them the road, distance OF ten miles. The
| assassins did not pursue them, as they probably
| knew of the other company, and were afraid Of
| coming In contact with them.
/ Among those murdered Mr.. Stevenson,
| formerly resident Of Lawrence, Kansas, and his
| niece Miss Lizzie Stevenson, young lady lG or IS
| years of age. Mrs. Stevenson, wife of the mur-
dered man, begged of the savages not to kill them;
| one of them replied in good English, " that they
were determined to kill them ALL" He then lev
eled his rifle and shot Mrs s., whck took effect in
her right hip. Supposing her to be dead, they left
her. Catching up the infant son of woman they
had already killed, they struck its arms and legs
! off with knife, and then threw the sufferer into
the bushes by the wayside to die.
The next morning the bodies of seven persons
were found and properly inferred; two of the
company were missing, whom they supposed to
have been taken off as captives. Mrs. Stevenson
was found alive. her wounds were cared for, and at
last accounts she was in Carson Valley, kindly
attended by the settlers there, and intended. as
soon she was able, to 60 on to California, and
from there back to her home in the States by a
safer route.
When found, the corpse of Miss Stevenson bore
unmistakable evidence of having been outraged
by those bloody fends, under whose cruel treatment
| she died. Her clothing had been drawn up over
| her head and securely fastened.
Mr.. Stevenson and his family left Lawrence for
California some time during the latter part of May
| Nv crlp
| Wright and John Gilmore, both of that city, who
| who came on as far as Fort kearney with him.
| There they separated; Mr.. s. with his family to
| i0n train for California and Messrs. W. and G.
| for this city. Other partea here, came along
at the same time, and from what Information has
been gained from my informant they are satisfied
that the parties murdered were from Lawrence.
The gentleman who brings this heart-rending in
telligence. censures with great severity the
duct of Capt. McCloud, who, with a company of
| men, was encamped near the scene OF the mas
sacre He refused to clear the road of these des-
peradOes, whom all supposed to be bent on mis-
chief; and when earnestly entreaed by his second
| in command, Lieut.. Hight, to go down the road
| and protect the emgrants, he refused, and post
poned it till the morning, when it was too late
Lieut. Hight, finding his Captain unwilling to start
out, asked for a company of twenty-five men, that
he might go down and prevent bloodshed. But
the Captain obstinate, and the brave Lieutenant
| was f0el in his desire to do his duty.
My informant was one of the first on the ground
| in the morning after the murder, and assisted in
| the sad task of burying the dead. He has been
soldier in the United States army for the last three
years and took part in the burial of the victims of
| the Mountain Meadow massacre, year or two
| ago. He says the MOrmons and some of the old
mountaineers do more murders on the Plains than
| the Indians, who are always charged with them.
| They live by robbery and assassination, and sew
| eral of them accumulate immense property
thereby. He also says that too many of the Off
GERS in command of the companies are more inter
| ested in cheating the Government than in render
| ing the highway safe for travellers.
| The presence of the troops does not intimidate
| the Mormons and their murderous allies, nor re
strain them from the preparation of the most cruel
| massaCres when they think they can make an at
tack with safety, and profit t. themselves in pc
| cunary point Of view. They know where the
troops are expected and are posted in their plans
and movements. and are thereby easily enabled to
avoid them when they purpose deed of blood.
| The military here is not sufficient to do any real
effective service in rendering the roads safe for
| emigration
If the Mormons continue they have done,
numbering emigrants, force will organize in this
section sufficiently strong to punish them severe
| w. and drive them from the country. We are only
nine days travel from Salt Lake City, and our
people, who have frequently been outraged by
| hearing of massaCres by the MOrmons, are eager
| for d fray and many would delight to hang Brig
| ham Y0un to the nearest tree.
The main Travelled route between this city and
| California OF from the banks Of the Missouri river
10 tie shores Of The PaciIc is the most dangerous
highway to travel over in slnall parties i'll the
| known world, for nowhere such bloody and
cruel assassinats be found, including Indians, Nor
mons and their blood.thiraty allies, and no other
road on the globe present SO bloody record
| as that of the route to California.
Our local news at this time possesses but little
interest to the distant readers of your Journal.
The Herald Of this city publishes the following
| items from the mountains:
The miners look extremely well and every one
is making large preparations for the coming spring
| Hundreds of ne@ mills are to he put mp, and the