The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-03-29

" Wv L xX1XNO ON nv
The Mountain Meadow Massacre.
Lee, One Of the Lealers, Finally Expiates Hi.
Crime.
In the month of September 1857 a
company of emigrants en- route to Cal
ifornia were brutally murdered while
passing through Utah. Twenty years
passed before any one was punished
for the crime, but on Friday, the 22d,
John D. Lee, one of the alleged lead.
ers OF the massacre paid tho penalty OF
his crime.
At 10 a. m. precisely Lee was
brought OUT upon the scene of the mas.
sacre at Mountain Meadow, before the
executing party, and seated on his
coffin, about twenty feet from the
shooters.
After. Marshal Nelson concluded
reading the order of the court, a.
1924 a. M, he asked Lee if he had
anything to say before the execution
was carried into effect. Lee said
81 wished to speak to that man.
lpointing to Mr.. Fennimore, who was
liking his canvas near by to take Lee s
photograph preceding the shooting. !
Lee calling to the artist, Fennimore
replied, ''In second. Mr.. Lee,' and
waiting till the artist assented his
readiness to listen Lee said 81 want
to ask you favor. I want you to
furnish my three wives each with a
copy OF the photograph meaning the
one being taken a copy Of the same to
Rachel A., Sarah c. and Emma B."
Mr.. Howard responded for the artist,
''ue says he will do it, Mr.. Lee" Lee
repeated the names over carefully;
saying, ''please forward them.' lie
then rose and said !: II have but little
to say this morning. Of course 1 feel
that am upon the brink of eternity,
and the so]emnities of eternity should
rest upon my mind at the present.
have made out,or endeavol ed to do so,
a manuscript and an abridged history
OF my life. This will be published.
Sir, have given my views and feel.
lngs with regard to all these. things.
l feel resigned to my fate. l feel
as calm as a summer morning.
have done nothing Intentionally
wrong; my conscience is clear before
God and man, and am ready to meet
my Redeemer. This it is that places
me upon this field. am not an inf.
del. l have not denied God or his
mercy. [ am a strong believer in
those things. The most regret is the
parting with my family. Many of
them are unprotected and will be left
fatherless. When speak of those lit
tie ones they touch a tender chord
within me. Here Lees voice faltered
perceptibly.] have done nothing de.
signed]y wrong in this affair. l used
my utmost cndeavors to save the peo.
pie. l would have given worlds, were
they at my command, to have avoided
that calamity, but could not. l am
sacrificed to satisfy feelings, aud am
used to crafty parties, but am ready
to die. have no fear of death. 1t
has no terrors, and no particle of
mercy have I asked, for do not fear
death.
l shall never go to il worse place
than the one am now in. have said
it to my family, and I will say it to-
day, that the government of the United
States sacrifices their best friend, and
that is saying great deal, but it is
true. am true believer in the Cos
pei OF Jesus Christ. l do not believe
everything that's now practiced and
taught by Brigham Young. do not
agree with him. I believe he is lead
ing the people estray, but believe in
the gospel as taught in it's purity by
Joseph Smith in former days. | have
my reasons for saying this. used to
make this mans will my pleasure, and
did so for thirty years. See how and
what | have come to this day. have
been
SACRIFICED IN A CoWARDLY, DAs-
TARDLY MANNER.
There are thousands of people in tho
church, honorable, good-hearted, that
cherish in my heart regret to leave
my family. They are near and dear
to me. These are the things to rouse
my sympathy. l declare 1 did nothing
designedly in this unfortunate affair.
[ did everything in my power to save
all the enigrants, but ] am the one
that must suffer. Having said this
feelresigned. ask the Lord my God
to extend His mercy to me, and re-
ceive my spirit. My labors are here
done. The last moments and the
death.
After the speech Parson Stokes,
Methodist, made prayer commend
ing the soul of the condemned man to
God.
Immediately after this the hand
kerchief was placed over Lees eyes
and he raised his hands, placing them
on the top of his head, sitting firm.
Nelson gave the word ''fire - and
exactly at II o'clock five guns were
fired, penetrating the body in the re-
gion of the heart. Lee fell square
back upon his coffin, dead. His death
was instantaneous. The body was then
placed in the coffin and the crowd dis.
persed.
There were about seventy-6ve per-
sons, all told, on the ground. Not a
child or relative of Lee was there.
The best of order prevailed. All pro.
nounced the execution a success.
Lees last words to Nelson were,
"Aim at my heart
LEES CONFESSION,
Lee left long confession written in
February which gives a history of the
massacre. According to this document
a few Mormon leaders aided by a
band of Indians did the work. Lee
claims to have been forced unwilling.
~, in the matter and places the chief
responsibility upon President Haight
and Colonel Dame. According to his
story an effort was made to dislodqe
the emigrants from their camp for two