Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-07-23
The Mountain Meadow Massacre

, created "A sensation among the Mormon
some of whom il is said have fled frol
the city of latter day saints" as il
deed they may well do, if concerned i
that horrible butchery of nearly IA
men, women and children. John L
Lee is one of the persons whose trial
is announced will soon take place. LIE
is called Bishop" and reports ar
that he will turn States evidence, ant
this last is what has so frightened SOM
Of the "saints." The circumstances o.
the massacre are recalled by the an
nouncement of the trial.
The massacre took place September
1857. A party of 40 emigrants, m en-
women and children were peacefully
passing through the southern portion Of
the Mormon country with their wagons
and animals on the way to the southern
portion of California. When near a
Mormon settlement they were suddenly
attacked by what was at first supposed
to be Indians. The emigrants at once
formed corral" by driving their
wagons around in circle, and from be-
hind this barricade made gallant de-
fence for two or three days, when Nor
mon Bishop" came to them and prom
ised that if they would give up their
arms they should go on their way in
peace. Knowing that the Mormons had
the Indians under complete control and
not suspecting the treachery of the for
mer, the emigrants acceded to the prop
osition, No sooner was this done than
the Indians recommended firing and did
not stop their bloody work until all of
the now unarmed emigrants were MUIR
dered, except dozen or twenty children
who were takenby the Mormons to bring
up in their church. 1t is expected to
prove that more than half of the pre-
tended Indians were Mormons. 1t can
easily be shown that by far the greatest
portion of the plumber of the emigrants
was taken by the Mormons to their set
tlement.
THE MASSACRE SUSTAINED BY THE
CHURCH.
An attempt was made by United States
officials to punish this dreadful deed.
but Brigham Young, who was then and
for years afterward, in the fulness of his
power, forbid all investigation into that
as well as into host of other murders
undoubtedly committed by his authority
or sanction. A monument erected by
United States officers to mark the SPOT
OF the massacre was torn down by the
Mormons. President Buchanan, in
1858, madea feeble attempt to assert
the authority of the government He
sent the 9th Regular Infantry, with some
additional force, to Salt Lake CITY, but
as on their arrival at Echo Canon. a few
miles this side of the city, they found a
force Of twenty thousand Mormons, I'M
w. wv cJhiiIletiu Vi IJlGub. STH0efal
Wells of the Mormon militia, prepared
to oppose their farther progress, they
came to halt. Here the United States
troops were tainted with cowardice, and
grossly insulted daily by the Mormons. |
Col. Albert Sidney johnson of the 9th
Infantry, who commanded, quietly pre-
pared for the attack. He and his men |
were furious, and would have scattered
the vagabonds who opposed them to the
four winds, but the day before the ad
vance was to have been made courier
arrived from Buchanan, directing that
5he troops remain where they were.
THE MATTER HUsHED UP.
1t is said that Col. johnson fairly shed
tears Of rage and disappointment at
this order. He would have been sup |
ported, if necessary by twenty thousand |
men from California, where the news of |
the Mountain Meadow massacre had
created deep and intense indignation.