The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-28
The Mountain Meadow Massacre

The Mountain Meadow Massacre.
Lee, One of the Leaders, Finally Expiates His
.u,. ...Oe 4.s 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 the penalty of
his crime. &s, =. &c.,
! 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
IL wished to. speak to that man
pointing to Mr.. Fennim0re, who was
liking his canvas near by to take Lees
photograph preceding the shooting. T
Lee calling to the artist, Fennimore
replied, sin a second. Mr.. Lee.'' and
waiting till the artist assented his
readiness to listen Lee said {: 81 want
to ask you a favor. I want you to
furnish my three wives each with
copy of the photograph meaning the
one being taken] a copy of the same to
Rachel A., Sarah G.. and Emma B."
Mr.. Howard responded for the artist,
''1Ie says he will do it,Mr. Lee Lee
repeated the names over carefully:
saying, ''please forward them" He
then rose and said IL have but little
to say this morning. Of course / feel
that am upon the brink Of eternity.
and the solemnities OF eternity should
rest upon my mind at the present. II
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
ings with regard to all these things.
l feel resigned to my fate. l feel
as calm as u summer morning.
l 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. I am not an inf
del. | have not denied God or his
mercy. [ am a strong believe in
those things. The most regret is the
parting with my family. Mant of
them are unprotected and will be left
fatherless. When l speak of those lit
tie ones they touch a tender q ord
within me. Here Lees voice falered
perceptibly. have done nothing de-
slgned]y wrong in this affair. 1 used
my utmost cndeavors to save the peo.
pie. I would have given worlds, were
they at my command, to have avoided |
that calamity, but could not. am
sacrificed to satisfy feelings, and am
used to crafty parties, but l 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.
shall never go to a worse place
than the one am now in. 1have said
it to my family, and 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 a true believer in the COS.
pei of Jesus Christ. do not believe
everything that's now prscticed and
taught by Brigham Young, 1 do not
agree with him. believe 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. I used to
make this mans will my PLEASURE, and
did so for thirty years. Sch how and
what 1 have come to this day.. 1 have.
been
SACRIFICED IN A COwAR Oily, DAs.
TARDLY MANNER! 80.
There are thousands of people in tho
church, honorable, good-hearted, that
l cherish in my heart l regret to leave
my family. They are near and dear
to me. These are the things to rouse
my sympathy. declare I did nothing
designedly in this unfortunate affair.
did everything in my power to save
all the emigranrs, but ] am the one
that must suffer. Having said this I
feelreslgned. 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 a prayer CONNIE nd
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 tho word ''fire - and !
exactly at II O'Clock five guns were !
fired, penetrating the body in the re.
rinn Of In 1,1o~k Too &oO