New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-23
TILE MASSACRE AND TRIAL.

TO CONCEAL IT FROM THE WORLD.
Molmonsm in the West, like the religion of
that other Prophet in the orient has sought to propagate
itself By force 1t was in 1884 that Joseph Smith
outraged the moral sense OF the inhabitants OF the little
town Of Nauyoo in Illinois by attempting to put in prac-
tce his poly gamous principles. When denounced ana
onposed FOR IL sought by violence to destroy his enc
mics and was shot dead he leaped from window To
escape the fury mob which had become mad with ven
ceancc Brigham Young chosen to succeed him; I'LL
nos revoked the Mormon charter; the saints departed
for the West some remained but expelled at the
mint of the bayonct; all reassembcd again az Council
Bluffs and thence proceeded to the salt Lake valley,
where they arrived in the Autumn OF 1915. SAT- Lake
City was founded; engrants came from the Od word;
President Fillmore made Young the Governor OF Ctah;
in the following year with threats Of violence he
forced Federal judges TO leave the Territory; he
was then removed and Col Stoptoc of tho United
States army appointed in his place. With battalion Of
soldiers Col -eptoe reached Utah in Sj but could not
maintain himself and resigned. Other officers commits
stoned by the Government, went To Utah they 100 were
harasscd and terrified until IL Feeiry 1876, an armed
mob OF MormOns, nstigatcd By sermons from brigham
Young broke the United States District Court room
and at (! pont OF the bOwicinife compelled Judge
DruDmoud to adjourn bis court without day; all the
other Government officers, with one exception, were
forced take flight. In tie following year new Gov
ernOr was appointed and 300 men sent to protect h
Young still claiming to DO Governor, denounced the
advance Several supply trains cut of by mounted
MOrmoas, and 800 seized and driven to salt Lake
CITY. Oycrtakcn by snOw-st0rms the army went into
Winter Guarters aud the newly commissioned Governor
declared the Territory to be in state of rebellion.
John d. Lee was an elder in the Mormon Church at
that time and of its most devoted ana anac mem
bers. 4 ceremony in the church permits man to
choose his father Lee many years before he crossed
the Missouri River had chosen Brigham Young; and,
when he lived In NauyOO was accounted most dntllul
son. While these disorders were prevailing IN Titan he
wasa faithful supporter OF the Mormon cause, and in Sep
tenber 1sjT when the United states soldiers were Oh
their way to SAT- Lake City he led the bloody work at
Mountain Meadow. The story Of that day-one OF the
darkest in the history OF American border CIVILIZATION
as very recently related 10y resident Of salt Lake Cy,
is as follows: In the summer OF 1897 large train OF
emierauts from Arkansas their way TO Cafor-
MIA; they numbered 1lO souls, including men, women,
and children IN officer of the United states Army who
saw them at OFaon's Bluffs the Platte
River in the month OF July said II was the finest
tram that had crossed the plains Ii was owned
BY wealthy and had fine stock richly oraincltcd
carriages for tie and children ana considerable
sum or money IN its possession. II reached salt
Lake City safety. and the members were advised to
t. what was known rs the Southern route, az the old
trail WAS liable TO he DISTRACTED ny snow al the Time
they would reach the Sierra Nevada. When 200 mikes
south OF salt Lake they inquired OF prominent NoinohS
where ihcy could find good on vhcn 70 recruit
beautiful upland track I've miles hong b. one in width
aud king between tic Great Basin and the Colorado
River.
Tho dav after thcr lett Cedar CITY n council OF Nor
mon leaders was held, and it Is now believed that The
massacre vas tntD and there determined upon lh'
real mature of that council viii probably never hc Know n
on the same night party Of about sixty white men, ia
ldfa de sc besides larger number Of real savaScs.
folioc! ~" grant train They we're reHcAed lA Tie
mori:.. Willie eating breakfast in the meadow without
note oi warning yo!,y discharged IN thciI midst
and 10 or II persons Killed outright. Tie a'"nirhrd
cIisrs hs. y recovered their surprise, aud arranged
their wagons aud threw mp urcGstg0IS for defense or
five DAYS and nights tncy whsoyd the attacks At IN
tcryals tie NoI,on7 amused them elves ai pitching
auuits anI other pa times, until fraly unable 70 over
come the ca.gan they resolved upon work OF STRAIT
cry. Tho EIBS suspended, and the lhdl'hH
apparently disappeared. On the morning oi thc
sixth day the little party saw wagon
load OF men coming into The valley; all white
men who bad uufu3lr,! the United states tag. Ih,y
were received by the cmigrant3 VITA great coGdly IL
their defenders; yodug gir IN gay attire was sent out
TO meet them. Among the men IN the wagon were
John D. Lee ana Isaac C. fImght Tnoy at once CHARGED
the cnier,uts with having poisoned certain spring
from which Indians had drank and dei-a Sprin% when
is 50 large and rapid that who has seen il says bar
rel OF arsenic cuLld not have poIs0reI it, Lee ana
Wais said this the cduso Of The attack from the
Indians; that they were friendly terms with the
AGES, and would conduct treaty Ihey fetfcd ana III
few hours returned, saying the Indians were greatly
enrngcd; that their only surrender by the
eni.rants of all their property especially their arms
and return to the East by the route they had taken in
coming. Lee, with other 3iomOns IN the party, offered
TO make tie delivery and conduct tho emigraus back
This proposed was accepted and the arms were given up;
with the Latter Day Saints guide they proceeded
to hc north on foot After walking about mile the COM
pauy entered Ticket OF scrub oaks large pile OF
roc,s In this thicket the Indians and disguised white
men were concealed John d. Lee the signal Halt"
and the bloody work began
i. terrible scene has been wen described by graphic
writer in The Sacramento Record Union, who has coGrte-
Ousy placed AT the disposal Oh HE Ilb' NJ ptooIc'''
U. his account.
lie SAYS: suddenly Lee brought his gun TO bis
shoulder aud fired woman in tie forward wagon,
killing her Instantly IT the signal for the massacre
Indians rose from behind bushes, painted MofmonS
stcpncd from behind cOnccdmcnts and all along the line
the men ana women shot down Ike cattle in the
shameless While Lee and his aids dragged women and
Youths from the wagons and cut their threats from car
tocar II &, the most hcartcss, cOdboOded deed that
ever disgIaccd the pages Of history The cowaldly
sasins could not baye reformed one single act that
would have added 10 the blacl ncss Of their perAdy
They feigncd friendship and sympathy, they Induced
these brave men to lay aside every weapon and then
shot them down like dogs. The venerable ayheaded
clergymrn the sturdy farmers the stawart young men,
and the heaTdless youtlsall cut down By
and above their dead bodies waved the Stars and Stripes
Sick women in 70 leave the corral were driven up
| TO the scene OF slaughter. butchercd and stripped
Come lhe younger refused to Join in the dreadful
work Jim Pearce shot 10y his own father for pro
tccting gill that crouchod at his feet! The bullet
cut deep sash his face, and the fugr0wed scar is
there to-day. Lee Il said 10 have shot girl who
cnging to his son. a Of heartrcndlng nmors
afoat about the deeds OF that hour. one rumOr
from girl who lived in Lees family for years She
told Mr. Gcadle the author OF several works, thai