Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-24

court to-day, Philip Koger Smith, defen-
daDt, Of San Ber0ardino, Cal, was called. The
prosecution entered pole prosequi as to him
SELF He testified that the Meadows are forty.
miles south Of Cedar City, on the Caifor
MIA road; was at the massacre IN Septem-
Der, 1857. beard Of enigrants coming the
people were forbidden TO trade with them felt
bad about it; saw few of them at Cedar City;
this was Oh Friday; some swore and Higbee
foed them; they wen. oD heard rumors Of
trouble on Sunday; il was the custom to have
meetings of the president and council, the
bishops and council and the high council |
was bishop; the question as to their destruc
-tiou came up for discussion. Haight, Hlgbee,
Morrill,, Allen, Willis, myself aud others were
there. Some of the brethren opposed destruc-
ton. I did. Haigbt jumped up and broke
up the meeting asked what would be the
conse queoces of such 40 act Hal gbt then got
mad. The 1odlans were to destroy them on
Monday. Higbee, Haigbt, White aud | met
aud discussed the same subject again. | op-
posed their destruction Haipht releuted aud
told White and 10 90 ahead and tell the peo-
pie that the emigraots should go through safe
y. We did 50. On the road We met John
Lee and told him Wnere We we're going. He
replied that be had something TO say about
that matter We passed the eniprants at Iron
Springs. Next morning We passed them again
as We came back. They had tHenty or thirty
wagons aud numbered altogether over one
hundred persons, old aoi middle aged men and
women, youths and children. When near
home we met Ira Allen. He said that the
DOM OF the emlgrants Vas sealed, and that the
die was cast for their destruction; also that
Lee had orders to take men out and intercept
the eDlgrants, aud that Allen was to 90 on aud
counterfeit what We had done | went home
three days atterward. Haight sent for me aud
said that orders had come from camp that they
| did not get along and wanted reinforcemen,s :;
that he had been TO Parowan and got further
orders from Col. w. h. Dame to flush the
massacre, to decoy emigraDts out aud spare 90.
| went of and met Allen, our first runner, aud
others. Higbee came out and said We were
ordered out arm d and equipped, so | went
Hlgbee, John Willis, ADD Sam Purdy weot
along We had TWO baggage wagons With U.s.
We got to Hamblen's rancho 10 the night,
three miles from cmigrants. We there met
Lee and others from the general camp, where
the largest number OF men we're. We then
fouod that the emlRrants were not all killed
Lee called me out for consultation. He told
pe the situation the emigrants, he said we're
strongly fortified. There was no chance of
getting them out. Higbee gave orders to de
coy them out the best way We could. This was
agreed TO, and the command Was given to Jno.
u. Lee to carry out the whole plan. They
went to the camp Lee placed all the soldiers
10 a hollow square, and addressed them They
were all white men, about fifty in all. The To-
dlans we're in another camp; saw there Slade
and his SOD, and Jim Pearce and probably his
sons, too; all those FROM Cedar; and Bill
Stewart. Sewn, Jacobs; l thiok Dan. McFar-
Lap, 100. Slade and | were outraged, but We said
" What cao We do? We can't help ourselves. "
Just then the order to march was given, and
We had to 60. We We're put 10 double 6le Hig.
bee bad command OF part Of the men. We march
ed 10 sight OF the emigrants. Either Bateman or
Lee went out with white flag; man from
the emlgrants met them; Lee aud the man sat
dowu 90 the grass aud had talk; don't know
what they talked about; Lee went with the
man Into the lotreDcbments. After some hours
they came out and the enigrants came up with
the wounded 10 wagons ahead; the wounded
were those hurt in the three days previous
light; next came the women, and then The meu;
as the emgrants came up be men halted, and
the women on foot, with the children aud the
wounded, went ahead With John D. Lee the
soldiers had to be all ready to shoot at The wo-
men when the word halt came;the soldiers fred:
fired once; doo't know if | killed the ueu;
they were not all killed the first shot; saw the
women afteIward dead, with their throats cut;
l saw, as came up 10 them. mao kill a
young girl; the men were marched 10 double
file first. then throwo in single file, with soldiers
alongside: heard the emlgrants congratuiatiDg
themselves on their safety from the I0dians at
last; John NJ. Hlgbee came and ordered my
squad to t1re Lee, like the rest, had firearms; 90
emlgrants escaped; saw soldiers Oh horses 10
take 90 the wing those who ran; saw man
run; saw Bill Stewart, on horse. go after him
aud kill him; saw one wounded man beg for
his life, but Hlgbee cut mis- throat; the mau
said, Il would not do this to you. Higbee' =
he knew hin; after fred was told 10 gather
up the little children; as | went saw a large
womau running toward the men, crying My
husband my husbaud!' A soldier shot Der
10 the back. She fell dead As | weot on |
fouod wagons with wounded all out 90 the
ground and throats cut | went 90, and found
children, and put them 10 the wagon and took
them to HambIin's house. | saw 90 more.
The soldiers dispersed then. Two children
were wounded, one died al HambIin's; think
had to leave 1t. There We're many soldiers
from counties south whom did not know The
next day |, McCurdy aud Willis took the child
rem to Cedar City, leaving one at Pinto Creek.
On the road We met freight traia of wagons;
men living here 10 Beaver DOW we're Oh it. |
went to old Mrs. Hopkins and tod her | had
the cblldren; she GOT places for hem. | took
one girl baby home; my wife sucked it; after
ward l gave it to B!rkbeck, be having 20 chill
dren; they we're we'll treated, l believe; We got
good places for them; here were but few child
req; Wltoess with others, subsequently collect.
ed the property OF the massacred emgrants aod
placed it 10 the Church tithiug house. by order
OF Halght; Lee told witness be had reported
all the facts to Brigham Young; when wltuess
next saw Young, in the presence of Lee and
Charley Hopklos Young said: You have
charge of that property in the tithing eflce,
turned it over to John D. Lee; what you know
of this say nothing of it; don't talk Of it even;
and the property was subsequently sold at suc-
tiop by Lee and others; some of the cattle wen,
n Yale 70