The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-12-11
The Mountain Meadow Massacre.

John ID. Lee. the Mormon, who Is be-
lievtd 10 have been the leader of the band
who, IN 1897, mastered party of Arkan-
sas eInigrants az a place called Mountain
Meadow. in southern Utah. i now in the
hands Of the United States authorities. and
Is 10 be brought 10 trial for his participa-
ton in that terrible outrage. The slaugh-
ter Of those emigrants was one ofthe most
cruel and treacherous acts ever committed
on this continent. A train had started
from Arkansas TO cross the plains for Cali
fornia, which included the families of sew
eral Arkansans who had been fortunate in
the California mines. together with some
OF their rich neighbors. The train num-
bered li6 men. women and children. with
about forty wagons and large herds of
blooded stock. The emigrants were well
armed. fully provided with supplies, and
had with them about Sl50.OO0 i'm gold.
They arrived In salt Lake City In the fall
OF the year. and were told by the Nor
mons that il was too late IL cross the ST.
ezra Nevadas by the old emigrant route,
but that they would find practicable pass
by going through Southern Utah and
crossing Southern Nevada 10 Los Angeles.
They followed this advice. and when EN-
camped in the narrow valley called Noun
tain Meadow. 800 miles southeast of Salt
Lake City. they were suddenly attacked,
as they supposed. by Indians. These they
kept at bay for five days, and on the sixth
the supposed Indians had vanished. On
that day large body of white men ap-
preached from the direction OF Cedar City,
bearing white flag, and il is said that
these men were Mormons commanded by
Lee. The story told AND generally be
lieved is that Lee induced them TO give Up
their arms under the pretext that he
could not otherwise protect them
from the Indians. and then, while profess
ing To guide them TO a place of safety,
treacherously fell upon them from the rear
and murdered them all i'm cold blood with
the exception of two little children seven
years old and fourteen Others between the
ages of one ard five. The report was
then spread that the emigrants had been
killed by Indians. and Gen. Sidney John
stoH sent detachment Of troops 10 inves-
tigatc the matter. The officer i'm COM
mand of this detachment found the bones
OF the missing emgrants wolves had
eaten the flesh. The children who had
been saved he found in the hands OF Nor
mons in Cedar City. Lee having two of
them. These were surrendered, and IL
was from the oldest of them that it was
learned that their parents had been killed
by whites instead Of Indians. IL Is said
that some of the Mormons who were with
Lee made a confession TO the same officer,
but whether this Is truc or not. il Is GER
tain that il has always been believed that
Lee was the leader of the murderous gang.
though whether Brigham Young knew of
or countenanced the massacre is ques
ton upon which various opinions have
been expressed. lt is TO be hoped that
the arrest of Lee will be followed by fair
trial that the whole truth In regard to
the atrocious affair may be brought TO
light, and that the guilty parties. whom
soever they may be, will, after their long
term of fancied security. at last be made to
suffer the just penalty of their crime.