The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-03
Misfenaug.
MOUNguIN MEADOW MASSA ORE.

me DfedUW NOfyU &uenteen Years Ago
John d. Lee has been arrested at
Cedar city, Beaver county, Utah, on the
charge of being concerned in the horri-
BILE Mountain Meadow Massacre, over
seventeen years ago. The story of the
massacre, which may have been forgot
ten by many, is as follows:
William II. Rogers, a Government
agent, crossed the plains With General
Sidney Johnson's army in 1857, in charge
OF the treasure train. Rogers heard of
the terrible Mountain Meadow massa-
ere on his way across the plains. 1t was
reported that the emigrants were muir
dered by Indians These emigrants
were white men, American citizens of
Arkansas. General Algerncn S. John
sons army was unable to reach Salt
Lake City in sea on, and was obliged to
encamp at Fort Bridger for the year l847.
In the spring of 1858, however, the army
marched into the valley of the Great
Salt Lake. On approaching the valley
they were met by Peace Commissioners,
sent by our Government, who had pre-
ceded the army and had seen tue great
prophet of the Latter Day Saints.
Terms were made between General
johnson and the Mormon Prophet to
the effect that the army should not en-
camp within fifty miles of any Mormon
settlement. Consequently the army was
stationed at what is now called "0ld
Camp Floyd" a distance of fifty-fve
neI O. I Il
City. While located here information
was received in regard to the Mountain
Meadow massacre, and the action of the
government at Washington, appropria-
ting $4,000 for the recovery of the
children presumed to have been saved
from the massacre, and supposed to be
in the hands of the Indians. Mr. Rog-
ers, being appointed Indian agent, was
instructed, during the summer of 1858,
to proceed TO the scene of the massacre
and rescue the surviving children. He
took company of cavalry and left
Camp Floyd for Cedar City, near the
scene of the massacre. On arriving on
the ground he found the bones of one
hundred and thirty human beings, men,
women and children. In gathering up
the remains for burial he discovered
that large number of the murdered
persons had been shot through the head
the ball entering the back part of the
head and coming out at the front. The
wolves and coyotes had eaten the flesh |
from the bones. A two bushel basket of
womens hair that was strewn around |
among the sage brush was gathered up
lNv,A suhk hnr Inu tnI
that Mountain Meadow issituated twelve |
miles from Cedar city, and the same dis
tanCe from temple of the Latter Day |
Saints. n
1t apL lars that in lS49, upon the ex-
element created by the gold discoveries |
in California, several pioneers of Arkan-
sas went to California in search of the |
precious metal. They were very sue
Cessful. In the fall of 1856, with their
large accumulated gains, they returned |
to Arkansas for the purpose of taking |
their families and some of their rela-
tives to settle in the new FL Dorado, in
which they had been so fortunate. They
were known to be very wealthy train.
In the spring of 1857 as we have stated,
they started across the plains. They
purchased large amount of blooded
stock, and fitted out train of about 40 |
wagons. They numbered about one
hundred and forty-six men, women and
children. On arriving at Salt Lake City
they were told by the MormOns that
they were too late to cross the Sierra |
Navada mountains by the old stage
route. The MormOns assured them
that there was a better pass by going
down through Southern Utah, passing
through Southern Nevada, going over
the range of the mountains, and coming
out near Los Angeles, Lower California.
This route the MormOns assured the en-
igrants to be practicable and safe. Plac-
ing confidence in the reports and state
ments of the Mormons, the emigrants
started by the southern route. Passing
down through the settlements of the
Latter Day Saints tlnmolested, they en-
Camped at what is known as Mountain
Meadow, little narrow valley dividing
the hills and mountains on each side,
with plentiful supply of grass and wa
ter-a beautiful place to camp. Little
did these emigrants think that in a short
time this beautiful spot would in short
time be their sepulCher, the scene of
sanguinary massacre-the worst massa-
ere that we have any record of in the
history of the bloody deeds of the saw
ages upon the early defenceless AmeIi-
can settlements. The horrid story of
the Indian murders in Wyoming Valley,
which Campbell so eloquently depicts,
affords no psrallel to the butchery of
these emigrants at Mountain Meadow.
While encamped in this lovely spot they
were attacked from behind the adioin-
ing hills by, as they supposed, Indians.
Several of their number were wounded.
The pioneers, however, being used to In
dian warfare, and well skilled with the
handling of the old Kentucky rifle, were
able to keep their assailants at long
range. Their wagons were drawn into a
circle, forming sort of fortifCation.
The wheels were sunk down to their AK
letrees. EarthwOrks were thrown up on
the outside of the wagons, making a
temporary but somewhat formidable de-
fence. A ditch was dug from this forti-
tication to spring near at hand to ena-
BILE the emigrants to reach water under
cover. For five long days they were able
TO susta N themselves here without any
furthellf loss in wounded or killed.
Their stock had been captured and
driven off early in the morning. On
the sixth day they discovered a large
body of men coming up the road from
toward Cedar city. No firing had been
done that morning, and no supposed In
dians in sight. A white flag was hoisted
by the white men approaching them,
and these doomed emigrants, believing
the newcomers to be friends, dressed
beautiful girl in white and placed her
outside of the fortifcation in token of
The presumed friends at
once approached. They were Mormons
Latter Day Saints-and headed by
John d. Lee. the man inst arrested tor
participation in the massacre
that followed. A parley ensued. Lee ,
told the emigrants there erelarge num-
hara nf Indiana in fba h;Ilo. bt,f &c fhav | l