The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-08-05
MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE.

At the opening of the trial of the
Mormons implicated in the Mountain
Meadow massacre, at Beaver, Utah,
Robert Kays testified as follows: Game
to Utah October 2, 1857, through
Mountain Mea lows saw piles of bodies
of woman and children, piled promls'
cuously; there we're sixty or seventy
bodies the children were from two
months old to twelve years the smaller
we're torn by wolves and crows; some of
the bodies were shot, some had their
throats cut, some stabbed, and all were
torn by wolves except one woman, who
laid a little way off, and appeared as if
asleep, ball hole in her left side; it
appeared the bodies were dead fifteen
days; seven of us saw it. Piles of mems
bodies were further on; didn't go to see
them: no clothing on the bodies, except
one sock on the leg of one man; none
were scalped.
AssateI Bennett called: Was at the
Meadows December, 1857; saw the
bones there; horrible sight; skeletons of
women and children; curls, long tresses
hair, dried blood; children 10 to u
wears; some skulls had flesh dried
on; the bodies had been covered
mp; wolves evidently dug them up
Phillip Linger Smith, defendent of
San Bernardo, California, called Pros
eeution entered nolle prosequi as to
himself. Lived in Cedar city from
1852 to 1857. Was at the massacre in
September, 1857 heard of the en-
igrants coming. The people were for
bidden to trade with them felt bad
about it saw a few of them at Cedar
heard rumors of trouble 8 nday. 1t
was the custom to have meetings of the
president and council, bishop and
council and high council. The matter
came up for discussion as to their de-
structiOn, Haight, Higbee, Morrill,,
Allen, Mills, myself and others were
there. Some brethren opposed their
destruction. I did. Haight jumped
up and broke up the meeting. I asked
what would be the consequences of
such an act Then Haight got mad.
The Indians were to destroy them. On
Monday, Higbee, White and I met
same subject again. I opposed the de-
struction. Haight relented, and told
White and to go ahead and tell the
people the emigrants should go through
safe. We did so, and on the road we
met John d. Lee. We told where we
were going, and he replied I have
something to say about that matter
we passed the emigrants at Iron Springs;
next morning we passed them again
as we came back they had twenty or
thirty wagons over a hundred people,
old men, middle aged men, old wO-
men, middle aged women, youths and
children near home / met Ira
Allen; he said the emigrants'
doom was sealed, the die cast for de-
struction three days after Haight sent
for me, and said orders had come from
camp didn't get along, wanted rein
forcements; that he had been to PrOwin,
and got further orders from Colonel ".
81. Dame to finish the massacre, to de
coy and spare only small children who
could not tell the tale. I went off, met
Allen, our first runner, and others.
Higbee said You are ordered out,
armed and equipped; 80 l went; Hop
kins, Higbee, John Willis and Sam
Purdy went along; had two baggage
wagons got to Hamplen's rancho in
the night, three miles from emigrants
there met Lee and others from the gen
eFal camp, where the largest number of
men were then found tha emigrants
not all killed. Bateman or Lee went
out with a white flag. A man from the
emigrants met them. Lee and a man
set down on the grass and had talk
don't know what they talked. Lee went
with the man into the intrenchments.
After some hours they came out and the
emigrants came ont with their wounded
in wagons ahead. The wounded we're
those hurt in the three days previous
fight. Next came the women, next the
men. As the emigrants came up the men
halted, and the women on foot and chill
dren and wounded went on ahead with
John d. Lee. The soldiers had to be
all ready to shoot at the word. When
the word halt came the soldiers fired.
I fred once don't know if 1 killed a
man not all killed at tine first fire.
Saw the women afterward dead, with
their throats cut. / saw, as ] came up
to them, a man kill young girl. The
men were marched IN donble hle first,
then thrown in single file, with the sol
diers along side. The emigrants were
congratulatiBg themselves on their
safety from the Indians. At last John
NJ. HiRbee came and ordered my squad
10 fire. Lee, like the rest, had firearms,
No emigrants were allowed TO escape
saw soldiers on horses to take on wing
those who ran saw a man run saw Bill
start on a horse and kill him, and
wounded man beg for life. Higbee cut
his throat. was told TO gather up the
little children. I went, and saw a
woman running toward the men, crying,
" NV husband, my husband A
soldier shot her in the back, and she
fell dead.