The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-25

power, anss all have done for him aud the Nor
mon Church.
conKksroxDrsr Did you get any OF tho omgrants'
property
LEx-I never the property OF the en,igrants
received any OF it until afterwards Il Cedar
City. I had some OF tho stock aitcrward, as Indian
agent for tho Church, and turned II 10 the In
dians
uE DESCRIBES THE MASSACRE
Commemorative you been here often since the
cmigrant massacrey
Lgr-No; have not been 10 this place. 10 my know
edge. since the massacre was through these mead
ows only twice before the tragedy
Here Lee pointed out to the positions occupied
by the Indians At the timc and continued -
"They were hidden behind the sage brush and could
not be by the emigrants"
CoKRgsPoyDEST--Aro you satisfied you have had
| q far triaif
LEx-No. The witnesses on the trials against me
TO lies. for which they will have 10
Nephi Johnsons testimony relative to mo false
as hell
xox-coxxrrrAL
In regard 70 . question George A. Smiths &C
gong through the settlements urging the peo-
pie sell grain to tho migrants. he refused to
speak, saying that he did not wish to place consfuc
lions on tho conduct Of others He would not say
whether the parties responsible for the acted
10 accordance with orders the higher authorities
OF the Mormon Church.
.This affair."" said be. "has been the greatest trial
Of my NE and Of my faith. | tho selected
70 shield this people. was refused un opportunity
on my Nrst trial show that when these
Meadows four with me- Even after had
had tho aldavit OF Of them taken his death
bed, tho Court refused 10 consider IL
LEES FAMILY
CoaxYspoNDKNr-How many children have you?
LxD-l have fifty children, many grandchildren,
and iour Observation-Disclosures. When think OF my
large family, Of tho little remaining, and their
mothers who have been good wives 10 me, feel for
them very much. There Lee showed evident emotion
! do no, death only regret my ing to die
account Of my family.
CoRREspoxDENr-You to be brave enough.
Lrk-Yes. could give tho word Of command when
they 10 shoot me, for am innocent before men
and the angels meet the mysteries OF hereafter
without dread, relying as do, upon the mercy OF God.
A READER.
CoRRIspoNDESr--You seem TO have read good deal
LEE-Yes. have read good many books IN the
course my life, and ut time had a large library
OF my own; and was a librarian at tme in
Nauvoo I have made tatements about Brigham
Young In my forthcoming book which is soon to be
published by my counsel, Mr. Bishop. That book is
| true history OF my lite
commemorative you prayed for strength in
this last trial?
LAE-Ycs. and hope for strength and will have con
fdence to the last for my hands not dripping with
blood. ! believe every man Is amenabo In q future
state Tor tho deeds. done here. II man prepared
he will 90 into tho presence OF Cod II no. he will go
into preparatory state.
REVENGE
CoRREsPoxDxNr-Are you resigned TO your fateY
LKR-Oh, yes. l have requested my boys not TO
seek revenge for my killing but to leave vengeance 10
God.
NEW STATEMENT.
whilo thus conversing was standing with
Lee at o little distance outside OF the camp, Mar
shall Nelson and District Attorney Howard being
u.s. II then half-past nino O'clock and the DIS
trict Attorney interrupted US by saying that he had
some business to transact with the prisoner.
Lee then signed statement attested by three wit
ncsses reference point OF the massacre,
ut least so understood.
DREARY scEyE.
No dreary scene be imagined than those
Mountain Meadows From tho point Of tho
sucre to the migrant camp measures u distance OF
about a mile and a halt Tho meadows are cut up
into deep gullics and covered with sage brush and
scrub oak. A. the lower part where the omigrants
euca'npcd IL seen Aurcerers Spring, tho point
where the first acts Of the assassins per.
petrated. This spring twenty years ago on
level with the surrounding country; but It has
silce been washed until II forms q terrible guch somo
twenty feet in depth aud eight or ten rods wide.
MONUMENT.
Coming down to the castery bank of this ravine Is
the monument OF loose stones erected by Lieutenant
Price about thirteen years ago. of these stones
have slid down the declvity. Tho ravino monument
10 oblong in outline and about twenty feet length,
boing some three feet high. Under the monument at
time OF is erection placed oil the bones that
could DO obtained on the field; but on uncoverlng
some OF them to-day down to tho level OF the earth,
we discovered no traces OF bones.
TRACES THR ILL-vArED CAMP
The traces Of the emigrant camp OF twenty years
but dmly visible but the entire surroundings of the
spot show that camp capable Of more complete in.
vesimcnt by enemy could hardly be imagined Di-
rec,ly east the hill from which Lee watched tho
movements of tho doomed emigrants, while the
west hiding places where any number OF Indians
could rest with safety and every exit 1t was
scarcely necessary for the imagination Of your
correspondent 70 DO exercised In nndng tho path
which the little girls dressed ir white passed to the
spring to obtain water for the furnishing camp for II
lay clearly defined the landscape.
Before the arrangements for his execution
pleted Lee cooy pointed out to Marshal Nelson som
points In the vicinity evidently with view OF show
ing the movements OF tho Inflated people previous TO
their being cruelty massacrcd
Before O'Clock the soldiers. under the command
OF Lieutenant Paterson had been placed wagons and
driven to the scene OF the cm.grant camp, where he
great criminal expiate his share dreadful
work of butchcry. Tho civilians accompanying the
officers were still kept back for time Some OF the
soldiers posted the adjoining hills 10 guard
against surprise from any quarter.
coNcEArLxG THE FIRING PARTY.
The wagons were meanwhile placed in limo near tho
monument and army blankets las tened over the
wheels Behind this lmprovisod the squad OF
men who mad been appointed to shoot Lee DO
stationed. The purpose Of this conccalment Of the
firing party to prevent the composing II from
being by auy onc there being reasonable lear
that some of the numerous relatives of Lee might
wrcak vengeance tho heads OF his executioncrs.
MAKING THE COFFIN.