Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-03-24

time the appearances indicated that the
attacking party were savages They
were dressed and painted like Indians
and initiated their ways so well as to
completely deceive the emigrants. But
while there were probably few Indians
among the lot the majority OF those who
harrassed the unfortunate travellers were
members of the Utah militia, headed by
Major John d. Lee. While the siege
lasted some OF these 6ends amused
themselves by pitching quoits and in-
dulging in other pastlmes when tenn
porarily relieved from duty. At last,
finding the work too slow, Lee sent
word back that his fight was not Who'll
ly successful. On receiving this infor-
nation Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Haight,
of the militia, ordered out reinforce
ments, with Instructions to those going
to Lees assistance that 'all but the lit
tie children of the party were to be
killed" Haight at the time had just
returned from military head quarters
at Parowan, where military council
had been held, and he was but giving
utterance TO the DEGREES of the"Church
devoting the company TO destruction.
When the reinforcements Joined Lee he
masscd all the troops near little
spring, aud made them speech, tell
ing them ''his orders from head quarters
were to kill all but the little children.
Then, at the head of his command, he
approached the emigraut camp, most of
his mock Indians having meanwhile
discarded paint and feathers. As he
advanced he sent out flag of truce, to
the great joy of the emigrants, who
dressed pretty young girl OF their
party
ALL IN WHITE
and placed her outside their defense, to
show that they. too, were disposed to
be friendly. Then followed parley,
and Lee told the emigrants the hills
were alive with Indians. He advised
them 10 leave their aims ~ measure
of safety, as the Indians wanted plunder
and not blood, aud his men would pro-
tect them back to the Norman settle
ments. The emigrants, at first, object
ed, but finally consented, and marched
out of their Notifications, without the
least apprehension of danger from their
professed friends. Not an Indian was
in sight at this time. BY Lees order
the men were separated from the women
and children, the latter going to the front.
Hall a mile the devoted band had
scarcely gone from their camp when, at
the monster Lees command, they were
shot dead, every one except the seven
teen little children Of the party, whose
lives the council" had ordered to be
spared. Before the women ofthe party
had all been killed one young girl is
reported to have rushed from the crowd
toward Lee. She first threw herself on
her knees before him aud begged him
to let her live. She then rose up and,
twining her arms about lis neck, cried
10 him to spare her, that she was going
to California to join her lover, who
anxiously awaited her there, and to
whom she was to be married on her
arrival. He repaid her confidence by
dragging her aside with vile intent, aud
because she resisted him and tried to
defend herself with knife she chansed
to have in her possession he shot her
through the head.
THE PLUMBER.
For years after the perpetration OF
this daring crime the property Of the
murdered emigrants was openly used
by their murderers, and The fate of the
missing ones for some time remained a
mystery, their death being laid at the
door of the savages. Some Indians did
participate in the massacre, but they
waited for the white savages 10 Set them
an example in human butchery, ouly
rushing from their ambush to surround
the euigrants when, by Lees order, the
first shots had been fired. After the
massacre, the bodies of the murdered
emigrants were lett on the open prairie
to be devoured by the, wolves. So
closely was the secret OF this terrible
deed guarded that not even in the north
ern Mormon settlements was it known
for long time that any white men had
participated in the slaughter. The first
authentic tidings of the fate of the emf
grants reached the outside world
through Mr.. William II. Rogers, a
Government Agent, who heard some
thing of it while crossing the Plains in
charge Of treasure train in 1857.
The next year he was appointed Indian
Agent in Utah, and was ordered TO res
cue the children, whcm it was believed
the Mormons had NEE
SAVED FROM THE sAvAsEs.
With the impudence of brigands the
"Latter Day Saints" demanded ran
som for their release. Mr. Rogers re-
fused the demand and gathered the
children together. To bis amazement,
one of the children, then about eight
years old, told him one day that it was
not Indians, but white men, that killed
their parents. With company OF cay
airy he went to the Mountain Meadows,
where a horrible sight net his gaze.
The skeletons of I20 men, women and
children were spread upon the field, the
flesh toru from the bones by hungry
wolves, and bullet holes through the
heads of most of the victims. A large
quantity OF hair from the heads of the
women was gathered up from the sage
L..I1a "a III tko .o..o.,. .x-..1 r~....r