Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-08-20
MOUNTAIN MEADOW SECRETS.
A Tale That VIII Interest Somebody
In California.

Correspondence New York Sum
CHARLEsroy Is. c.. July 30th.-The
Mountain Meadows massacre among the
Mormons. in September, 1915. recalls IN
my mind the incident which gave II
birth. In June. 1857. had crossed the
mountains of Iudian Territory from the
northwestern counties of Texas along the
old Fort Townsend road. and found my
self in the city Of Van Buren,, Arkansas,
on the banks Of that river, within four
miles OF the Indian line. The trial OF
Farley Parker Pratt for stealing the
clothes of the children Of Mr.. q. V.
Smith, Of California, was then 10 pro-
cess before the United States District
Court. Pratt had induced Mrs. smith,
with her children, to leave her comfor-
table home in San Francisco, and nc
companying him as his spiritual wife to
Utah. She was q woman OF fine per-
sonal Appearance. Her high. fair fore
head, oval features, queenly department,
and dignifed behavior in giving her tes-
timony were overpowerinR. For five
long years she had endured the drunkard
in the silence OF her chamber. and now
she had determined to share with the
Apostle the trials Of life in Utah.
The apostle looked like the figures We
see on stained windows in European
cathedrals of the great st. Peter. Accord
ing to the advice of the attorneys, he Of
fered no testimony to the charge. hc-
cording to the custom of the bar on the
Western frontier, all the lawyers joined
against the Government, and as travel
ing BohemiSh Of that profession l re-
member joining in that advice. In this
great land OF America there was legally
no criminality in adultery, nor any lady
against the abduction of children, and
the only offense which Smith had brought
to Pratt's responsibility was the taking
of the clothes upon the persons Of hi
| (Smith's) children. Pratt was discharged
nominally by the Court, but kept ovel
night in the Jail to protect him agains
Smith.
Early the next morning your bohemian
was en- route for the Ozark mountain
pass. Ahead of him rode Smith on
fine horse, with several friends. Aheat
of them rode the Apostle on his littl
black mule. The mountains closed upol
the defile, and the aveneing busban,
closed upon the spiritual usurper Of hi
marital rights, The five shooter of Col
rang on the morning air, one barrel afte
another, until the two pistols he csrrie'
were exhausted. The Apostle zigzagRe'
down the narrow road, until derrin
gers only and last ball cut his mule
crupper and entered his own back
Then the Californian's knife CLEANED
for moment in the air. and it san
deeply in Pratt's back. Thrice
was lifted and sped before the Apos
tie tottered, and the Californian rode o
avenged.
was not witness at the inquest c
these Arkansas settlers upon that NUT
body. l wrote the verdict. The fore
man said: "Old Jesse Turner 9TH
leading lawyer at Van BUREN, could nc
have did it better" 1t was that "Parle
Parker Pratt came to his death at til
hands Of some person to the jury NJ
, known"
No one remained of the Pratt corteg
!, except Mrs. Smith and dark haired
stout young man, whom I remember q
Lee. He seemed to adore the Apostle
: and predicted vengeance for the act whe
he should report to Brigham Young. !
few days they departed upon the
lonely journey across the plains, and
r returned to the States. In the Fall
= heard of the Mountain Meadows ma
sacre.
The dead Apostle was buried abol
] eight miles from Van Buren,. The ma
0 Lee who accompanied him said that h
body would be removed TO Utah. | a.
not sure that it was, but think 1 woul
have remembered it if it had been.
Smith may have been from st. Loui
He married in New Orleans and move
to San Francisco, where the Mormo
first approached his domestic peace, al
finally ruined it. He was an intelligei
man, an employee in q railroad compan
and appeared to be beloved by the chi
| 6rap