The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-24
BY TELEGRAPH.
Mountain Meadow Massacre Testi-
mOnY.


BEAVER, Utah, July 90.
In the trial of Lee and others to-day, for
the Mountain Meadow massacre, Philip
Clingman Smith, one of the defendants
who has turned states evidence, testified
as follows Was at the massacre, Sept.
1857 heard of emigrants coming people
were forbidden to trade with them, and
felt bad about 1t saw few of them at
Cedar this was Friday on Sunday, as
was custom, we had meeting of the pres
ldent and council bishops / was bishops
the matter came up and there was dis
cussion as to the destruction of the en-
igrants Haght, Highee, Marrill, Allen,
Willis and others were there's some of them
opposed the destruction | did ; Haight
jumped up and broke up the meeting |
asked what would be the consequences of
such an act then Haight got mad and
said the Indians were to destroy them on
Monday Highee, Haight, White and l
met on the same subject again l opposed
the destruction Haight relented and told
White and l to go ahead and tell our peo-
pie that the emigrants should 60 through
safe; we did so; on the road we met John
Lee and told him where and why we were
going he replied, 81 have something TO
say about that matter; we passed the emil
grants at Iron Springs next morning we
passed them again as we came back they
had twenty or thirty wagons and over
hundred people, old men and middle aged,
old women and middle aged, youths and
children near home we met Ira Allen
he said the emigrants doom was sealed
the die was cast for their destruction; that
Lee had orders to take men and go out and
intercept them; Allen was TO go and coun-
teract what we did | went home three
days after Haight sent tor me and SAID or
ders had been received from camp they
wanted reinforcements that he had got
further orders from Col. W. III. Dame TO
finish the massacre, to decoy out and
spare only small children, who could
not tell it If; then went off
| met Allen, our first runner, and
others Higbee came out and said you are
ordered out, armed and equipped, so l
went Hopkins, Higbee, John Wilson and
Sam Purdy went along; we had two bag
gage wagons got to IIamblins rancho in
the night, three miles from the emigrants
there met Lee and others from the general
camp, where the largest number of the
men were then found the emigrants not
all killed Lee called me out, for consul
tation. one side he told me the situation
emiGranis were strongly fortified no
chance to get them out Iiigbee was or
dered to decoy them out the best he could
that he agreed 10 and the command was
given to John ID. Lee to carry out the
whole plan they went to camp Lee
called out the soldiers in hollow square
and addressed them they were all white
men, about fifty in all the Indians were
in another camp saw there Sladc and his
son, John PeaIce, probably his sons too
all those from Cedar, and Bill
Stewart, Levins, Jacobs, Thco. Rcardon,
McFailan, two; Slade and | were out
ragged, but we said, "What can we do we
can't help ourselves ?" just then an order
to march was given had command of part
of the men marched in sight of emigrants;
either Boteman or Lee went out with a
white flag man from the emgrants met
them Lee and the man sat down on the
grass and had talk don't know what
they talked Lee went with the man into
entertainments after some hours they
came out and the emigrants came up with
wounded in wagons; ahead of the wounded
fight next came women, next men as
the emigrants came up the men halted and
women on foot, children and wounded
went on ahead with John D.. Lee the SOL
diers had to be all ready to shoot at the
word when the word halt came the SOL
diers fred once don't know if killed any
one the men were not all killed at the first
shot saw the women afterwards dead with
their Threats cut saw as l came up
to them man kill young girl
John Higbee gave the order to my com
pany to fire no emgrants escaped saw
| soldiers on horses to take ON wing those
who ran; saw a man run saw Bill Stew
art, on horse, 60 after and kill him saw
one man beg for his life Higbee cut his
throat; the man said, 81 would not do this
to you, Higbee"; he knew him after !
fired +; was told to gather up the little chill
dren as | went; saw woman running to-
ward the men crying, "My husband, my
husband a soldier shot her in the back
she fell dead as ! went on found wagons
with the wounded all out on the ground
and their Threats cut went on and found
children put them IN the wagon and took
them to Hamblin's house saw no more
soldiers two children were wounded, ont
died at Hamblins took the rest to Cedar