The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-30

anu commercial. recalls some Oh Inc
particulars of the massacre, and gives
an account of the victims, which will be
found of interest. He says:
Every body has heard and read of the
massacre. Only few points need be
recalled. In midsummer, 1857, two
bodies of Missouri and Arkansas emf
grants crossed the PLAINS, for California,
together. One company called them
selves the Tough Boys" and were
wild, noisy blasphemous set. They were
all young men while the other company
was made up of families. Eli b. Kel
sey, then a good Mormon, camped with
this company on the Platte, and advised
them to separate from the others before
entering Utah, which they did. For
many years after the massacre the Nor
mons attempted to fix upon the second
train the wild conduct of the first. The
second party halted few days in Salt
Lake City, then took the southern route
to San Bernardino. No sooner had they
LETT the city than they were exposed to
thousand annoyances. No research
has ever been able to fix the responsible
| lity of these outrages. Some of the
Saints aver that the emIgrants destroyed
and oarchards; others pointedly deny
this. George A. Smith, next in rank to
Brigham, preceded them southwark, and
everywhere counseled the people to sell
them no grain. He says he did this be-
cause the United States army was march
ing against the Saints, and wanted the
grain to dry and cache in the mountains,
so as to stand, if necessary, year of
| war.
South of Mount Nabo all the towns
at that time were inclosed by walls, and
at many places the emigrants were re.
fused admission TO the town and com.
PEELED to make a wi de circuit. At one
place some Saints, either more merciful
or more avaricious than the rest, came
to them by night with grain for sale
At length they passed the last settle
ment, and paused at Mountain Meadow
few days to recruit their stock befor,
entering on the great desert. And now
comes the great mystery-who made th'
first attack? For many years the Nor
mons insisted that the Pahvant Indian
did, and dozen stories were told to just
ify them. One that the emigrants haC
poisoned spring at Corn Creek; anoth
er that they had poisoned an OK and Civ
en- the flesh to the Indians, and still an
other, that they had wantonly attacked
an Indian family and killed and Grip
pied all its members. These stories hav
in turn been proved false. The Indian
; as strenuously insist that the white mel
made the frat attack and called in tn
Indians to help them.
The next point of uncertainty is, whC
f issued the order for the Mormon militi;
to come together? Brigham Young wa
Governor of Utah and Commander-in
chief of the militia; George A. SmitI
was Maj, General in charge ofthe south
ern counties; William ii. Dame wal
Colonel of the'Iron County Regiment
of which John D. Lee was Major, am
Isaas c. Haighta Captain. Which On
of them originated the order? 1t is ad
milted by all that the militia came to
gether under regular call from the of
fcers, and that this call was signed b,
Dame, Lee and Haight; but where dId
the original come from? The Mormon
heory is that Haight and Lee forged al
order, az from Brigham Young. On
GENTLE theory is that George A. Smitl
, planned the whole affair, and directe,
its execution without the knowledge O
Brigham. The more radical Gentil
theory is that Brigham planned tn
whole thing beforehand, and sent Smitl
south ahead of the company to raise th,
people. But no evidence yet known es
Establishes this. One other curious fac
is to be noted. A messenger was sent t
Brigham from the militia, and starte,
back Immediately with message, bu
!, reached Cedar City two days after tn
! massacre. What were his intentions
OF course the two parties have exactl.
! opposite versions. The messenger sool
after died, and there was bat one ma
E in Utah who could have told-John v
Long clerk in Brigham's Office, VIII
alone heared the colloqny and wrote on
, the instructions. Long became intemper
ate, and in 1870 was cut off from th
Church. A few days thereafter he wa
found dead in water-ditch north c
Temple Block-"drowned" in thre
inches of waterl So the Mormon jur
decided anyhow, and nobody can prov
r that he did not drown.
d Thus rests the issue. Fifty men i
n this town and vicinity and a hundre
n more in Southern Utah testify they as