The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-04-15

1 lengthy TOuIo SlOulu Hcb Id CODCtIb ouu
| refuse them assistance and hospitality. But
/ thev never knew that the "sngel of death, =
in the shape OF Brigham Young's second
| counselor, George A. Smith, general OF tne
Nauvoo legion, preceded their train,
preached to the Mormon settlers, ano
charged them, under pain OF excommunica-
ton from the holy church. not to sell proVl-
sions TO emigrants, or in anywise relieve theIr
wants and necessities, no matter how gre2t
or painful. And this order was 70 tnen
| sacred law. and held TO be lnvlolaole. ~
| is held that Smith was az that time also on
mission to Mai. John ID. L9e, the Indian
agent At Parowan, and carrying instructions
| from president" Youog to massacre the
amigrAnts. Near the border of Mexico, and
| ffty miles from Mountain Meadows, was
the heaauarter5 of the Indian agency OF the
territory.
THE NAuvoo LEGION, 300 STRONG.
was also encamped at this place. The town
was surrounded by an adobe wall about ten
feet high, and was entered through four
gates-one on each side Of the town. few
days since, in an interview with Col Dame,
one Of the commanders of the legion az the
massacre and now awaiting trial, the Times
correspondent was told that the wall was
built for protection against the Indians. But
| it is well known that the Indians were all
| friendly TO the MormOns received supplies
at their hands, aud were their allies Their
| leader. "Old Ksnosh," q half-breed, was
created bishop OF the Mormon church for
his red diocese. Before the emigrants
reached Parowan, council OF war was neid
within the walled city, wherein all the plans
and det ails of the massacre were agreed
upon-in accordance with Instructions from
headquarters at Salt Lake City. The Nauvoo
legion were directed 10 be in resdi-
ness immediately, with f1rsy rounds OF
ammunition, and the militia ofthe territory,
at that point, were officially ordered, by
written order to report for duty immedi-
ately. On their approach the outpost GUARDS
not fed the emigrants that they could not
enter the gates of the city, and they were
compelled 10 drive around 1t. AT tnat very
moment the troops were formed IN iine,
and receiving their arms and ammunitioos
for the commission of the bloody work they
were ordered to do. The persoRs who
planned the details OF this massacre were
| Lieut.. Gen. ID. ii. Wells, commanding the
Nauvoo legion, and who is row first privy
counsellor to Brigham Young; Brig.
Gen. Geo. A. Smith, the sec
ond privy counselor to Brigham,
and the third member OF
the theocratic governments; Col. w. III.
Dame. now indicted and awaiting trial, Col.
J. c. Haight, now indicted, and Msj. John
ID. Lse, who led
THE SLAUGHTER On TEE FIELD OF CARNAGE,
aud who is also awaiting trial at Beaver,
Southern Utah. The place selected for the
slaughter was Mountain Meadows, about
fifty miles distant from Parowap, where the
plans were matursd ia csuucil, and $50
miles south OF Salt Lake. The Mountain
Meadows arc about one aud a half miles
| long by one mile wide, and form the base OF
| precipitous mountain, oval in form, and
1 lcrrQ In nj Y Etn n ipVat
and west. The eastern end was walled In
| BY 4 ragged mountain side, and at its south
ern end the meadows abruptly drop into
| deep and rugged canyon below, darkened
by dense undergrowth and walled In by
high rock palisades. At this end oil tce
meadows, overlooking the canyon, grassy
mound, about $50 feet long by 100 wide,
almost abruptly rose to the height OF about
90 feet, and here was found the only spring
in the meadows. On this spot, about 30 feet
| from the spring, the emigrants camped. After
prayers TO their Almighty God for their
deliveTance from sickness and starvation,
the emigrantS sought relief from their
worldly troubles in the repOse of sleep. The
next morning. at the dawn OF light, Mon
day, Sept. :, 1857, they were awakened with
horror st the roar and rattle of musketry. A
few volleys and the firing comparatively
ceased, Ard when ths smoke had cleared
| away " was found tn2t six emigrants had
been killed and l3 woundsG-all males. I'm
1 mediately the entire camp was aroused aud
| win remarkable presence OF mind the
wagons were wheeled into line, and ia a
very short time sufficient earthwork was
! thrown uD to form an almost impenstrable
bsrricade. For six days aud ssveu nights
4 was this siege kept up, and during this time
| only 10 emisrants were killed and about a
dozen wounded. Only thres Mormcns were
wounded--none killed. OF the emigrants,
| several of those VINO were killed and
| wounded had at the tims entrusted them-
selves
WITHOUT TIE BARRIcADE
to obtain water from the adjacent spring,
which was covered by Mormon sharp
shooters. Nearly dying from thlrst,s woman
boldly ventured out, thinking they would
hardly harm her. She Immediately was
shot dead. Every effort to obtain water
from the spring, either by day or by night.
| was met by voiley of bullets from the am
| pushed sharpsh0Oters. As last resort, as
| an appeal for mercy, two little girls, under
six years of age, were clothed in pure white,
| and, hand-in hand they started TO che spring.
Almost Immediately they fell--their in
nocent little bodies riddled with bullets.
| Prayers for mercy having failed, and the
cruel slaughter still continuing uoabsled,
on the evening of the fourth day the emi-
| grants drew up petition, addressed to the
friends OF humanity everywhere, Stating
their perilous situation, and asking for im-
mediate assistaSSe. Attached to this petit
ton were the nj Is OF the emigranis, their
place OF nativity, Nsge, occupation, religion,
and names OF the society orders of wnicn
they were members Tne list of killed aud
wounded was also included. IL was pro-
posed to send this document 20 California
! about 200 miles distaut--the nearest place
from whence aid could be expected. TGree
emigrants. whose bravery is hon.
ored, though their names are
unknown, volunteered to under
take tbs perilous journey. That night,
mounted on the swiftest horses In the camp,
they " run the blockade" and on the wings
OF he wind sped ON their journey of hope
aud safety. Exhausted, almost famished
and aeutely suffering from extreme thirst,
the emigrants, on the seventh day of the
slegs, entertained terms OF cspitulatioD, aud
thus virtually sigued their own death war
rants An emigrant train was espied in the