Connecticut western news., 1874-11-27
MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE,
Evidence that It tVHs Committed by Mor-
 mons and not indians.

Evidcnoe that It 1VHs c COfn mttted by Mor-
 mons and not 1ndians.
 William H. Rogers, government agent, crossed the Plains with General Sidney Johnson's army in 1857, in charge of the treasure train. Rogers heard of the terrible massacre at Noun tain Meadow on his way across the plains. 1t was reported that the immi- grants were murdered by Indians. These immigrants we're white men, American citizens of Arkansas. Gen. eral Algernon s. Johnson's army was unable to reach Salt Lake City in sea. son, and was obliged to encamp at Fort Bridger for the winter of 1857. In the spring of '5S, 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 the 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 camp within fifty miles of any Mormon settlement. Consequently tho army was stationed at what is now called cold Camp Floyd" distance of fifty five miles southwestward from Salt Lake City. While located hero infor- nation was received in regard to the Mountain Meadow massacre, and the ac- tion of the government at Washington, appropriating $10, ,000 for the recovery of the children presumed to have been saved from the massacre and supposed A/> r. s1,& ', Ic af hn
 MT. Rogers, being appointed Indian mer of 1858, to proceed to the scene of the massacre and rescue the surviving children. He took a company of caxal- ry and left Camp Floyd for Cedar City, near the scene of the massacre. On arriving on the ground he found the bones of hundred and thirty human beings, men, women and children. In gathering up the remains for burial he discovered that a 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 CO., votes had eaten the flesh from the bones. A two-bushel basket of women's hair that was strewn around among the sage brush was gathered up by Mir. Rogers. It might be here stated that Mountain Meadow is situated twelve miles from Cedar City, and the same distance from temple of the Latter Day Saints.
 After Mir. Rogers had buried the bones of the immigrants that had been left to bleach within twelve miles of the Mormon temple, he returned to Cedar City and found the children in the hands of the Mormons, Lee, who is now under arrest charged with the crime, having two of the number. The Mormons asked pay from the agent for taking care of the children. Up to this time the world supposed the immi. grants were murdered by the Indians, but the subsequent relation will show how far the savage Indians were really connected with the affair.
 MT. Rogers gathered the children together, refusing to pay the ransom demanded for their release by the Mormons. After he had the children in his camp, near the Mormon settle ment at Cedar City, two of them, then about eight years of age, told MT. Rogers that Lee and the white men murdered their parents. Of course MT. Rogers was astounded at this, the first information he had received of the real authors of the diabolical massacre. He pursued his investigations among the children, and their testimony was corroborative of the intelligence he had previously obtained. It should be here stated that two Mormons came to the tent of MT. Rogers at midnight, about this time, and told him that theil hearts were pressed with grief, If he (the agent) would spare their lives they would give him a true history oi the awful massacre. Rogers told them to proceed and open their hearts, These two Mormons (the names oi whom MT. Rogers doeE not recalD told him they were summoned by John ID. Lee, the then commander of the Nauvoc Legion at Cedar City, to appear in In dian costume, painted, with long hair, fully to represent the native savage, prepared to go to Mountain Meadow, | The Mormons attacked the train of i'm migrants in the disguise of Indians. Lee, finding that the immigrants were too strongly fortified, after five days siege, retired back and dressed in citi' zen's clothes, decoyed the immigrants into surrender of their arms. This statement was made in full to MT. Rogers by the two Mormons we have referred to, thus corroborating fully the state ments made by the rescued children. Furthermore, they stated that the blooded stock and wagons of the i'm migrants were taken back to Cedar City to the Mormon tithing establish ment, and there sold at public auction for the benefit of the Mormon church.