Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-03-24
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MAS.
SACRE.
1657-JOhn ID. Lee-1S77.

hibiting, John d. Lee, one of the ac-
tors ia the butchery at Mountain
Meadows, Utah. was shot yesterday.
Mountain Meadows was selected as
the place of execution, it certainly
being the most appropriate on ac-
count of having been the scene of
the terrible slaughter which Lee was
convicted of having led. The execu-
TONERS will not be known, in fact,
will never be known except to the
officers of the law, as they were to
be concealed when they fired the
shots that sent the soul of the double
dyed villain into the presence of his
many victims. A short review Of the
circumstan of this terrible affair
may serve to refresh the memory Of
our readers.
William H. Rogers, Government
agent, crossed the plains with Gen.
A. 8. Johnston's army in 1857, in
charge of the treasure train. Rogers
heard Of the terrible massacre at
Mountain Meadows on his way across
the plains. 1t was reported that the
immigrants were murdered by Indi-
ans. These Immigrants were white
men, American citizens, from Arkan-
sas. General Johnston's army was
unable to reach Salt Lake in season,
and was obliged to encamp near Fort
Bridger for the winter. In the spring
of SO, however, the army marched
into the valley of Great Salt Lake.
On approaching the valley they were
met by peace commissioners, sent
by the Government, who had pre-
ceded the army and had seen Brig
ham Young. Terms were at once
made between General Johnston nnd
the Mormon prophet tn the effect that
the army should not camp within
fifty miles of any Mormon settlement.
Accordingly the army was stationed
at what is now callcdOld Camp Floyd,
distance IF fifty miles south and
west of Salt Lake City. While To-
Gated there, information was received
in regard to the Mountain Meadows
massacre, and the action Of the Gov
eminent at Washington, appropriat-
ing ten Thousand dollars for the
recovery of the children presumed to
have been saved from the massacre,
and supposed to be then IN the hands
Of the Indians. Mr.. Rogers, being
appointed Indian Agent, was in
structed during the summer of 1858,
to proceed to the scene of the massa-
Gre and rescue the surviving children.
Accordingly he took company OF
cavalry and left Camp Floyd for &C.
dar City, near the scene of the mas
sacrc. On arriving at the ground he
found
THE BONES OF ONE HUNDRED AND
FIFTY HUMAN BEINGS.
Men, women and children--the once
flower and pride of an Arkansas vii
lagc. Let us draw, if possible, the
impenetrable veil of forgetfulness
over this gastly scene. The gloom y
contemplation, even at this distance
of vears, is better put aside as a mir
ror of horror now shattered by the
hope OF the avenging angel coming.
In gathering up the remains for burial
1t was discovered that a large num-
Der of persons had been shot through
the head. The wolves and coyotes
had eaten the flesh from the bones,
but the terrible evidences of this IN
human slaughter were strewn thickly
upon the scene. Chlldren's trinkets,
baby shoes, women's toilet articles
and women's hair lay here and there,
weather-beaten, yet recognizable. 1t
may be asked here who we're these
unfortunate ones who, crossing the
bleak and barren PLAINS to our hos
pitable coast, were so ruthlessly
slaughtered by Mormon fiends2
THE PIONEERS OF ARKANSAS.
In 1849, upon the first excitement
created by the gold discoveries in
California, several pioneers of Ar
kansas went to California in search
Of gold. They were successful, and
with their accumulated gains they
returned to their homes for the pur-
pose OF taking their families back
to the now Dorado in which they
were so fortunate. The train which
was soon made up, consisted OF forty
wagons. large amount of fine
blooded cattle and horses, and one
hundred and forty-six men, women
and children-probably one of the
wealthiest trains that had ever at
tempted to cross the plains. The
start was made in the early spring
Of 1857, we now forget the exact
date, and the first part Of the trip
was made without accident. On ar.
irving at Salt Lake. however, the
eve Of their dire troubles was upon
them; for on getting into the city
they were told by the Mormons that
it was too late to cross the Sierras
through the old emigrant pass,