The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-01-20
MORMON HISTORY.
A Horrible Story of Cold-Blooded Assas,
SinatiOn.

the Mountain Meadow massacre and then
turned States evidence, has brought to
light dabolical deed which was com
mitted by Brighams agents in Septem-
bcr, 1857. The following story is from the
Trucklc Republican of December %, and
was related to the editor of that journal
about year ago by one of the prophet
tavoritc assassius: The Aiken party,
composed Of the Aiken brothers, "A man
known as Colonel, one named Buck and
two others, started East from California
just as Johnson's army was entering
Utah. They were wealthy gentleman of
an adventurous, speculative turn, and had
the finest outfit Of mules, equipments,
guns, pistols, etc, cvcr seen in Salt Lake
City. They carried with them about
$500 in gold. On the Humboldt they
fell in with train going East, and trav-
cled with the emigrants until they reach
ed the Utah settlements Near Ogen they
were arrested as spies, brought to Salt Lake
City and closely confined. Utah was under
martial law, and this fact was the pretext
for this outrage. The emgrant train came
along and vouched for the men as being
good honest gentlemen, but without effect
Their money was too tempting a prey.
: After being incarcerated some time, two
were left in prison, and the four others
! sent by the Mormons to California, under
an sccort. The apparent fairness of this
move vani>hes when we learn that the
! escort was Porter Rockwell, John Lot and
! One-eyed Miles. three of the blackest-
/ hearted williams that ever lived When the
/ party arrived at Nephi, council was called
among the Mormons, and sixteen men
were appointed % use up the Aiken party.
The few who opposed the cold blooded plot
were silcnced by the argument that it was
! Gods will expressed through his prophet
/ Brigham. At midnight 4 team was fitted
4 out and driven on ahead ofthc Aiken party.
who were asleep at Nephi. The next even
ing just as the victims were camping at the
/ Sewer river, party of men drove up from
the opposite direction and asked permission
to camp with them.
/ THE PLOT OF THE MURDER
Was well planed. The Aiken party never
suspected that these men were asSaSsins,
/ who had been in Nephi the night before
They were pleased to have company, and
the camp fires were built side by side The
MormOns outnumbered their victims four
to one, yet were too cowardly to make the
attack until sleep rendered the poor victims
helpless; then they pounced upon the sleep
ing, defenceless fellows and struck them on
the head with king bolts, clubs and iron
bars The Colonel bounded up, and bruised
and bleeding as he was, escaped in the
bushes. y second one of the Aiken boys
sprang to his feet, but was shot down
The other two were Drained where they
lay. The three lifeless bodies were thrown
into the river, and the brother who was
shot down revived when he come in con-
tact with the cold stream. Poor fellow, a
night of horror awaited him which was
worse than thousand deaths Crawling
over the cruel pebbly bottom Of the river,
drenched, bleeding and half dead, the man
reached the willows near the camp. Here
he lay shivering with fear and heard the
murderers boast Of the brutal deed. Sum
moning all his strength the wounded man
crawed away through the bushes
AND STARTED BACK TO NEPHI.
1t showed lightly during the previous
day, and that night there was a bitter,
biting frost Aiken had on nothing but his
pants and shirt. The crisp snow and the
sharp stones cut his feet until he could
hardly endure the pain. Weak from loss
of blood, dazed and stunned by blows on
his head, cold, deserted and lonely, weary
and worn out, the man travelled all night
long. Naught but thoughts of a murder
ed brother lying manSlcd and unburied in
the black waters of the Sewer gave him
strength to press forward to where he
vainly hoped for assistance. Just at dawn
he completed his twenty-six mile journey,
aud fell exhausted at the foot of the little
hill in the outskirts of Nephi. He had
fallen in front of a house, and from the
inmates he learned that one of his com
rades had likewise escaped and had ascended
the hill only few moments before. Wild
with the hope that it was his brother, he
struggled to his feet and staggered onward.
In spite of all his efforts he fell heavily four
or fye times, and could not rise until he
had lain still and rested for few moments.
When he reached the hotel he found the
Colonel instead of his brother The poor,
halfmurdercd men uttered not word, but
locke in each Others arms fell swooning
to the ground Even the Mormons who
looked upon the scene were affected to
tears.
CoLD-BLooDED ASSASSINATION
Awaited these brave fellows after all.
Thoughtlessly they told that they recog,
nized some of rheir murderers The hotel
was guarded day and night by the Nor
mons lest the victims should escape. The
hotel-kesper was in league with the assas-
sins. His team had hauled the murderers
to the Sewer When three weeks had
passed, the wounded men had SO far re-
covered as to wish to return to Salt Lake
City. The hotel-keeper refused to let them
go until his bill was paid They had escaP
ed with nothing but gold watch and
silver mounted Colt's revolver. ThelI