Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-04
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW
MASSA GRE.

THE MUM IIIN uEdDOW
MASSA GRE.
s.lri - =,
The New York Sun says Inc trlal
OF John ID. Lee IN Beaver utah, ior
participation IN the Mountain meadow
massacre of 1857, promises to have one
good result, if no other. The judicial
investigation viii afford the people an
opportunity to learn from authentic
testimony the true history oil that rc-
voting outrage,
The tragedy occurred at a tune oil
great excitement III Utah. brigham
Young was then Governor of the Ter,
ritory, and likewise Superintendent OF
Indian Affairs, having received his ap-
pointment to those offices from Presi-
dent Fillmore, though Alfred Cumming,
with a commission in his pocket from
President Buchanan, was on his way
to supersede him as Governor, accom-
panied by q military force OF about
three thousand men, under the COM
mand of Col. Albert Sidney johnson,
to enforce his claims. There had been
great turbulence IN Utah numerous
outrages on emigrants by persons IN
the guisc Of Indians had been nscribed
to the Mormons ana the 1entlle
Judges Of the Federal courts had all
left the Territory, which IN fact was
in state OF rebellion. The question
OF armed resistance to the troops was
seriously discussed, though subsequent
ly this idea was abandoned.
During this period OF excitement,
namely, in August, 1897, a large train
of emigrants on their way to California
reached Salt Lake City. 1t was the
finest train that had ever attempted
the overland route. Several elegant
carriages were among the vehicles, for
the accommodation OF ladies of the
party, and there were many women
and children in the train. 1t is said
that the finest Of these carriages was
for years afterward used by family
of Mormons. Alter laying in their
supplies in Salt Lake City, this party
proceeded toward California, and that
was the last that was known OF them
for long time. 1t was fully year
before any Of their friends received the
least intimation of their fate.
Three hundred miles from Salt Lake,
on the road to Los A.ngeias, California
is meadow five miles in length by
one in breadth, with avery fine spring
at one end, afiording an excellent camp
ing ground. Here the cmigrant party
encamped in order to recruit their STOCK
before entering upon what was then
called the Great Desert, and here, IN
the month OF September, the massacre
took place.
According 10 the commonly accepted
story OF the slaughter, the emigrants
were attacked while encamped by In
dians, who had been set upon them py
Mormons, ana py Mormons disguised
as Indians, and ten or Twelve men
were Killed before any one understood
that they Were IN danger Inc re,
mainder OF the party at once seized
their arms, intrenched themselves Dc
nlhu 'ncir "agoas, anu Prop",ou p a,' ,oa
uc.eri,,hcu ros's.a"oo' ~, woeA H
WIN .nclr women anu oh.ureh DnE
IN thc 'rchchcs 'ney hau uue. .no oni',
gran's ma'hla'neo lnc,r Pos,1,on, anu %
seP. .ncir cneniss Nv oay, An'n M rhs
norinon' ro'v,V9u Y" sua'Ssy. .hs s
nr'ng py tno Inu'''s oo"seu anu VI,
ocsicgeu party, iooninB up Wy inoau
ow, saw q wagon iui Oh whi,c men
coming toward them Inese men
proved 10 DC Jonn ~ Lcc anu o,hei
mormon uign'.aries, VINO o"srcu -
meuiate WIN thc ihui'ns' hs tne
Mormons ana lndians We're known 70
be on good terms, the oiier was giadly
accepted, and after Lee and his associ'
ates had conferred with the attacking
party oi savages, II was agreed tha'
the emigrants should surrender their
arms and other properly, ana return
by the road they came Inc Mormohs
on Their part promised 10 guard ana
protect the party untii they shouid
reach the settlements
Having given up their arms, the
emigrants left their wagons and stock
and started northward on foot The
women and children were in front, the
men followed, and in the rear was q
guard of forty Mormons. Hardly had
this sorrowful procession started on its
way when a fire was poured into them
from an ambush, followed by an at
tack from the Mormons in the rear
and in few minutes one hundred and
twenty men, women, and children lay
slaughtered upon the ground. Seven
teen of the youngest children were
saved and adopted by Mormon families,
and it is said that three men escaped
immediate death. But one Of these
was afterward murdered by the Indi.
ans another starved TO death, and the
third was killed upon the Colorado
though by whom II Is not known.
The evidence produced in the pend.
ing trial all goes to show that this nc.
count of the massacre is substantially
correct. Philip X. Smith, one Of the
defendants, who was Mormon Bishop
at the time of the massacre, appeared
as States evidence, and gave a full
description of the slaughter with all its
horrible details, as well as an account
Of the deliberations among the Nor
mon leaders which preceded the butch.
cry, in which, against his will as he