The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-25
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE.
COldbloOded Slaughter Of One Hundred and
Twenty Emigranls on the Plains.
John D. Lee, the Mormon Monster,
TO Be Shot Tomorrow.
A Graphic Sketch Of the Crime and Its
Consequences

In tho spring Of 1856 Elder Perley p Pratt OF tho
Mormon community. seduced from her homo the wife
OF Mr.. H. II. Mclean, a merchant, OF San Francisco,
to mako hcr his seventh wife On her flight the de-
serted husband his two children, very interest
ing boy and girl, to his lather.n law in Now Orleans
Some time sfterward tho mother left Salt Lake, got
the children and started back TO Utah with them. On
discovering this tho doubly injured father started in
pursuit Ho camo to Now York, heard OF Pratt hero
and tracked him from this point to- ST. Louis There
no lost him. Then no left for New Orleans, where he
heard that his wife and children then going
through Texas to Salt Lake, SO OF he went to Texas
In his search for the missing he had learned that
his wife had assumed tho name OF Mrs. P. p. Parker
and while travelling through Texas he contrived to in
tercept letters which he found bearing this
suporscrption On breaking the seal he they
were written in cipher He succeeded In finding the
key to tho CIPHER, however ana discovered that the
letters wcrc from Pratt and contained request that the
caravan with which Mrs. Mclean and her children
travelling should 60 TO the neigh borhood OF Fort
Gibson. IN the Cherokee Nation Confused and dis
prltcd, Mr. Mclean returned TO New Orleans, whence
he started for Fort Gibson assuming the Of John.
He made known his secret to the officers OF the
fort only. Here mis- vigiant and energetic pursuit OF
the fugitivcs rewarded He captured not only
his wife and children, but the scoundre who in tho
The United States Marshal took them before Commits
sioner Johu b. Ogden for trial The awoke in.
tense excitement at the time, and the popuace
clamored for vengeance the wretch who had deb-
eratey plotted and planned tho ruin OF prosperous
and happy family. Tho cipher letters produced
In court and Mr.. Mclean told such
WRONGS
that Pratt only escaped lynohng by being in
the Jail Even the complainant himself became so
enraged at time during the trial that in the very
to which he had for justice he clutched his
pistol to shoot Pratt then end there. And WONDER
for he told the law powerless to punish Pratt.
Early next morning the Mormon elder dismissed
and left the place secretly, but Mclean watched ana
pursued him, overlook him his road and killed hum
In his tracks
With his children Mclean returned to New Orleans
and the wife having meanwhile become raving
MAC was sent to al insane asylum
CRIME.
1t was this event, combined with the apprchendcd
appoint mcut OF territorial officers by the govern
mcnt that led to tho horrible of cmigrants
O; Mountain Meadow soon altcr-sllght motives for
such terrible Piece by piece to light the
fearful truth concerning that monstrous slaughter for
participation In which John D. Lee sentenced Lass
October to suffer the penalty of the law. En-
rched by the earlier discoveries in the gold of
California party Arkansas ners returned in 1856
their late homes with light hearts full pockets to
take back 10 the land OF gold their household gods,
wives, children add friends. The story Of their
n1aed hearts OF all their neghbors and very
large party got ready and set out literally pro-
vided for the trip across the continent The emgrant
srain must have numbered about lao souls in all,
and in property and money, horses, furniture and
camp equipments rich beyond all comparison with
the emigrant trains then moving westward. The men
for dafcn mir No n
Indians, and all cherished high hopes OF safe and
comfortable journey and prosperous future their
Intended new homo in the gold fields. Before they
had proceeded very far into the Territory Utah the
Mormons became informed OF their approach, and
deeming this
AN EXCELLENT REVENGE AND
PLUMBER
called a council at which II was determined order
out the Mormon militia 'ro follow and attack the
nccurscd Gentcs. and let the OF the Almighty
drink their blood" Meantime the Mormons assured
their unsuspec,ng victims by pretended friendly ad-
vice. They told them IL was too late the
Sierra Nevada Mountains by the Old cmigrant route
This was in the spring OF 1887 and the emigrants
told their better way would be to go through Southern
Utah and Nevada TO Los Angeles. They pro-
cecded as ADVISED and passed unmolesed Tor
some days through the settlements OF the Latter
Day Saints About the fourth day alter passing through
Cedar City The emigrant band canped little valley
we'll grassed and waered and sheltered by hills on
either side. " was beautiful spot Tor n camp, and
they admired IT'S natural advanta- es, looking upon
that earthly paradise which was so soon TO be 10
them field of ir,ghtiul slaughter While in camp at
this point their first intimaiiUn OF danger in the
form OF what they believed to be an Indian surprise
the rear The attack was sudden, but was met with
The prom ptness that characterized the of
that time. With great rapidly they parked their
wagons IN lines OF breastw0rks, behind which
gathered thor and children. They dug trenches
and arranged matters that and fuel could
BE- procured without leaving tho shelter thus provided
Thon with their old long rifles, they kept at bay the
attacking party without loss beyond that sustained in
he capture OF their animals, which run of at the
6rst fire.
pRorRAcrED SIEGE
For five days the assault was Kept up and the de-
fenco sustained without any definite result heing
lived at All this time the appearances Indicated that
the attacking party were savagcs. They dressed
aud painted Ike Indians and initiated thor ways
we'll as to completely deceive the cmlgrants But
whilc there probably few Indians among the lot
the majority OF those who harasscd the unfortunate
travellers members Of the Utah militia headed
by Major John d. Lee While the siege last of
heso tends amused themselves by pitching quoits and
INDUCING in other pastmes when tcmporar y relieved
from duty. Az last, finding the work too SLOW Lee
sent word back that his fight was not wholly successful
On receiving this Information Lieutenant Colonel isaac
G. Haignt of the militia, ordered out renlorcements
with Instructions TO those going TO Lees assistance
that "a but the little children OF the party were DO
Killed. Haight this timo had just returned from
"m,litary headquarters at Parowan, where military
council had been hold and he but giving uttcrrnce
10 decroes Of tho Church devotDg the company
TO destruction. When the achievements joined Leo
he masscd all the troops near little spring, ana nude
them speech, telllng them ms ofucrs roui meade
quarters to XII, all but tue lttle Children Then
At the head OF MS command he approached the emf
grant camp, most OF his mock lndians having mean
whc discarded paint and feathers. AS he advanced |
he ag OF truce, 10 the great Joy Of the emf
grants, who dressed prety young girl OF their party
IN WHITE
and placed her outside their dccnces, TO show that
they, too were disposed 10 be friendly. Then followed
parley aud Lee told the cmigraDts the hills were
alive with Indians. He advised them to leave their
arms measure OF safely, as the Indians wanted
plumber and not blood, and his men would
protect them back TO the Mormon settle |