Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-03-28
THE MAN AND THE MASSACRE

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THE MAN AND THE MASSACRE
In 1857, in or near the fall OF that
year, Brigham Young rebeled against
the enforcement Of United States laws
on Utah. 4 force Of troops was sent
against him. and it was while they
were marching on their way that a
large company of emigrants, mum ber-
ing nearly l50 people, on their way to
California, halted at Mountain Mead
ows to feed their cattle. While doing
this large body of men, whites and
Indians, and all disguised as Indians,
appeared and Immediately opened fire.
The emigrants returned it, and as often
as they got an opportunity they scooped
out holes in the ground and let down
the wheels of their wagons SO that tie
boxes would make a better defense.
The emigrants could not have been
overcome by such a force if the enemy
had not resorted to strategy. There
was spring near by where the emf
grants were corraled, and the enemy
soon took measures to cut off the sup
rly Of water. Having been compelled
to suffer the pangs of thirst for a long
time, they finally clothed number of
their little girls in white, and started
them off to fetch water from the spring.
The murderers opened fire on the
children, and they were obliged to put
back. Still the emigrants maintained
strong defense, and at last two or
three from the attacking party ap.
preached them under flag of truce.
Some of the emigrants went out and a
parley was held The leader of the
attacking party, who, although dressed
like an Indian, spoke English fuently,
demanded surrender, promising to
spare the lives of the prisoners and to
| escort them safely out of the country.
The conditions were readily accepted
They laid down their arms and
marched out. Their property, which
was considerable, was taken possession
of, and under the escort Of the Indians
they began their march toward Salt
Lake City. They had not gone far
when, at a signal, the enemy opened
fire On them, and the whole company,
with the exception of a few small
childen, was butchered One man es-
capped and ran away, but he was over
taken somewhere on the plains and put
to death.
The childen, about eighteen in mum.
ber, were distributed among Mormon
families. Lee, who was at the time of
the massacre sub-Indian agent, was
proven to have been the man who, dis
guised as an Indian, went down under
the flag Of truce and held the parley
with the emf igrants.
After it was found that white men
were engaged in the massacre Lee re-
moved down on the Colorado River.
He bought up large tract of land and
lived there perfectly isolated from ev-
erybody but his many wives and the
rest of his own household.
The trial Of the fend for his part in
the atrocity was finished the Both of
last October, and he was sentenced to
death. He chose, under the laws of
the State which gives that right, death
by shooting and was to have suffered
the penalty of the law Jan. 26 of this
year. But an appeal to the law stayed
his execution until to-day. Last nig ght,
under guard of United States troops,
he was taken secretly away from the
penitentiary at Beaver and presumably
to Mountain Meadow where his sem
tence is to be executed, unless rescue
is affected, which it is feared may be
attempted. Lee has left an autobiog-
rapby in which, it is said, he confesses
his pnilt and owes the facts in th;o