The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-03-24

stantly going on. Wednesday l reached |
the Meadows in company with the
whites and camped about half 6 mile
from the emigrants. Soon afterwards
quite body OF men arrived from Cedcr
City to take part in the work. I sent
runner to Haight for further Instructions.
The instructions we're brought back by
John M. Higbee, Major of the Iron
Militia. who then took command of the
party on the field. The orders were to
decoy the emigrants from their strong
hold, have the Indians kill the women
and larger children, the Mormon troops
to kill the men who were able to walk,
the drivers of the wagons and myself to
kill the sick and wounded. who were to
be@placed in the wagons. The orders ar
rived on Thursday night. There were
! fifty.eight whites on the ground. Many
of them were leading men in the Church.
A meeting was called and speeches made
by many of them. Highly stated our
orders as follows: at is the order of the
President that all the emigran,s be put
out of the way. Haight has received
orders from Colonel Dame that none
who are able to talk shall be spared.
They are our enemies and enemies of
the Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter
Day Saints; they are the advance OF
Johnston's army; they must all die. A
flag of truce will be sent to them in the
morning; we will promise to save their
lives and take them back to Cedar City.
When they surrender, Brother Lee will
take charge OF loading the children, sick
and wounded and the arms of the emf
grants in wagons. The wagons will take
the lead, the women and larger children
to follow in single file, men to follow
fifty yards behind the women. Indians
shall be placed in ambush in the cedars;
I (John M. Higbee,) will command the
troops. Two men will be stationed on
horseback to capture any who escape.
One of our men will march by each emf
grant on the right hand side. holding
their guns across their left arm. When
the women reach the ambush, the word
will be given, do your duty" The
msn will then shoot the emigrants, the
Indians kill the women and children, and
Brother Lee and the drivers will kill all
in the wagons who are old enough to
talk" The brethren were then sworn
to secresy. death to be the penalty for
telling anything that occurred on the
field. We then knelt down in a circle
and many prayers were offered for Divine
guidance. On Friday the orders for tn g
massacre were fully carried out. The
flag Of truce was sent. the emigrants sur
rendered, and all OF them but II small
children we're led out and killed, accord
} ing to programme. The bodies were
stripped and left naked on the field un.
ill the next day. On Saturday morning
Haight. Dame and others arrived on the
field. When they came to where the
dead wers lying Dame and Haight had q
; quarrel. Dame said: Il shall repor,
: this" How will you report it," said
Haight. Just as it is" was the reply
Eyes, I suppose SO, said Haight, land
implicate yourself with the rest" "No,
I will not implicate myself" said Dame,
"for I had nothing to do with it,
) Haight said: Colonel Dame. you know
damned sight better; you ordered il
done, and it is too ats for you to back
: out now and prove traitor to those who
have carried out your orders. will be
. damned if 1 will stand any foolishness
about it. l have only obeyed orders and
you know it," Dame was confused TO,
while and then said: II did not think
there were so many Of them, or I would
not have had anything to do with it,"
: Haight said: You ordered or counseled
me to do it, and now you want to 60 back
on itand lay it on those who obeyed your
orders I will blow you to hell before
7 you shall lay it on me; you have got to
stand what you did, God damn YOU
More was said to the same effect. but
. interfered and got the parties to make
up with each other, The dead bodies
were then gathered, thrown in a pile
. and covered with loose earth; they NUN.
bered something over hundred. The
brethren were then called together. and
speeches made by our leaders. We were
all again sworn to secrecy, binding our.
: selves under horrible penalties to remain