Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-23
Effect OF MOrmOnism i!
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MAS
SACRE.
Confession Of John D. Lee.
IMPLICATION OF MANY PROMINENT
MORMONS.

New YORK, March %. a Beaver City, Utah
depatch says soldiers were sent southwark Tues
day night it is believed to capture Haight, Higby
and other prominent Mormons implicated in tn,
massacre by Lees confession.
| Marshal Nelson is acting as if he feared trouble
A crowd of Lees friends and sympathzers can b.
organized here which the marshal cannot hope tS
cope with. 1t will not be at all surprising il al
| attempt is made by his friends to rescue Lee, sno
whether defeated or successful, a bloody struggle
will follow.
John ID. Lee, the Mormon bishop, has confessed
| the Mountain Meadow massacre was the result OF
| the direct teachings of Brigham Young, and was
| done by the orders Of those high in authority
| The immediate orders for the massacre were is
sued by Col. Dame, Lieut.. Col. Issac c. Haight
| and the Council at Cedar City, Utah.
He narrates the details of the massacre in q
vivid manner, and says of the treacherous plan to
| lure out the emigrants by flag of truce:
Twas to follow the flag of truce and make
| treaty with the promise Of protection. l was also
to get the arms of the emigrants and get the sick
| and wounded and also children into wagons, then
the troops under Highly would meet the emgrants
The Indians were to remain in ambush.
The women were 10 go ahead. The Indians
| were then to kill the women, the militia were 10
kill the men, and the drivers of the wagons were
| to kill the wounded and sick in the wagons.
council of war wvs held by the Mormons and
we had prayer circle and it was agreed that it
was the will of God to do as ordered
On Friday morning the emigrants had a white
| flag flying and the Mormon brethren again as.
| sembled. Speeches were made and all expressed
| themselves willing to act.
The emigrants then surrendered and put their
arms, sick and wounded, and their children into
| the wagons. While burying their dead the emf
grants burst into tears, and said they feared
| treachery.
As soon a, the wagons were loaded the train
started. The emigrants marched in single file
the women and large numbers OF children being
ahead. When the WAGONS halt mile off the
fire commenced The Indians killed all the child
rem, and large number of the women. The
Mormons killed the men, and the drivers with me
killed the sick and wounded. We saved seven
teen children. The dead were stripped and mutt
| lated, and corpses left on the field.
Haight then sent me to Salt Lake City, TO re-
| port to Brigham Young, promising me a crown
| celestial as my reward.
/ made my report to Brigham Young ten days
| after the massacre. l told him everything
knew, and said to him, "You must sustain us OIL
| release us from endowment oath to ayenge the
| death of the prophets"
Brigham Young said he would communicate
with God. | went back next morning, when
Young said, "Brothcr Lee, not drop OF innocent
| blood has been shed. ] have gone to God in
prayer. God has shown me it was just act. The
people did right, but were a little hasty. | have
direct evidence from God that the act was a just
| one; that it was in accordance with Gods will.
susta you and the brethren in all that you did
All fear is treachery the part of the brethren
concerned Go home and tell the brethen | sus-
| tain them. Keep all as secret as the grave. New
| Ell tell any one, and wiite me letter laying al
| the blame on the Indians"
William c. Stewart was the most bloodthirsty Of
| any one there. lie cut Threats just for amuse.
| ment-every one there who took part in the kill
| ing, did it as a religious duty. We were at that
| time in the midst of excitement Of reformation
and were made to believe that the fullness of time
had come; that Mormons were to conquer the
world at once, and inherit all the wealth of the
| universe; that Christ was to come and rule for q
thousand years, and that the Mormon doctrine
was to be universally accepted.
My journals and private writings have been DIES.
| troyed by order Of Brigham Young. have moth
| ing left but my memory to give as my account o
| the foul deeds done in Gods name during the
years when Brigham Young was chief ruler in
Utah.
| know of many other murders castrations anC
| all Of which have fully stated in writings deliv
cred to my attorney, W. w. Bishop.
| have told tho whole truth, and the God l an
| soon to meet face to face, knows that my asser
| tons are nothing but truth.
(Signed) JOHN D. LEE.
| SALT LAKE, March %. The U. S. Marshal lef
| Beaver, Utah, last evening, with John ID. Lee
| 1t is supposed the execution will take place q
Mountain Meadow, upon the scene Of the massa
ere. These movements will be kept quiet as pos
ble, as it is feared attempt at rescue win b,
made. A company of soldiers attended the party
Mountain Meadow is about 80 miles from Beaver
| CITY, and about IL miles from Pine Valley, the
nearest telegraph office.
| company of troops with Lee passed Ceda
| City at one o'clock this morning.