The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-12
A TALE OF HORROR.

The Mountain Meadow Massacre OF
1s57--Ffrst and Only Authentic Hts
Hundred and Thirty-hve Innocent
Gmigrants Ruthiessly Butchered--
The Deed Executed By she Mormon
Militia.
The Chicago Tribune prints the first
authentic account of the Mountain
Meadow massacre that has ever been
given to the world. 1t LIS written by 9
gentleman who has long resided in
Southern Utah, and who has expended
much time and labor In collecting the
facts and incidents embraced in his
narrative. We give the closing portion
of this thrilling and bloody chapter Of
Mormon history:
PREPARING FOR THE MASSACRE,
From the sworn afidav1ts of those who
participated in the slaughter it is con-
~c4usiveiy established that Brig. -Gen.
George A. Smith, Col. William 81.
Dame. Lieut. Gel. L. G. Haieht and
Maj. John d. Lee held q council of
war at BHrowan. They determined
upon the place, the manner, and all the
minor details of the massacre. Where
the California road crosses the Santa
Clara Canyon the crime was to be per.
Ipetrated. Shut in between the per-
EpaDdicular walls of rock. the very
wagons were to be piled up as a block
ade to prevent the escape of a single
soul. To make doub1y sure, however,
Ira Hatch was sent, with others, be-
| yond the canyon to the ssMuddy" to
y cut off stragglers. Guards were also
placed at Buckhorn Springs, nearly
seventy miles this side OF the Meadows.
and at all the springs and watering
places near Cedar City and Parowan.
These guards would be certain to dis
cover and shoot down any fugitiyes who
might accidentally escape.
The Utah militia received positive
military order to report for duty. The
very language of this written order was
chat they must come armed and equip
,ped as the law directs, and prepared
for field operations A highly respect
able gentleman tells me that he hap
eened to be lying on one side of high
adobe wall while the order was being
read to two men on the other side. He
did not dare leave for fear of be-
ing discovered, and was forced to
listen to the conversation. They were
directed to be in readiness witAin one
hour with forty rounds of ammunition.
These two men knew tho importof their
instructions. and sat down and cried
like chiIdren at the thought of the hor-
srible deed they were compelled to per-
form. They both said they would
rather leave the Territory and desert
homes and families than to engage in
the bloody work. To refuse to comply
with the order, however, was certain
death, for the guards stationed ct the
watering-places rendered escape impos-
sible.
READY FOR THE gEAUGETER.
From Cedar City the emigrants pro-
.ceeded southwest to the Meadows, . dis
tance of about forty miles. Camping at
the Meadows, they were quietly resting
their cattle and gaining strength to
cross the desert Suddenly, unexpect-
edlv. and fs rcely, on Monday morning,
SEPT. 10, 1857, they were attacked by
Indians.
At the very first Ere seven were killed
and ffteen wounded. EhoughtIess of
5anoer. totally unprepared. and in fact
1r5,iits most OF them were fast asleep,
.thav felI hopelessIy before the bullets
~ thail. 4lnseen foes. Had they pos
sesaea les bravery, less determination,
tI5ss entire party would have been mas
saeyasI 80 On the spot. With prompt
,,asa :5.as.s 8 DaraIleled in oh the history OF
T,ssIisn 1r's.s; warfare, these emigrants
.vIss.eIe.I their wagons into IA oblong
1.arraI and with shovels and picks |
sI,ragE nD the earth from the Oenter OF /
Ia corral against the wagon wheels.