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

train, or the Arkansas train, were pass
ing through Utah on their way 10 South.
ern California. At Salt Lake City they
had trouble with the authorities and
we're forced to leave Salt Lake City.
Every person belonging to the Mormon
Church was forbidden to sell them pro-
visions or assist them id any way, as they
were considered the deadly enemies of
the Church. This feeling was strength
ened by the fact that some of the emf.
grants claimed to have been participants
in the murder of. the prophets at the
Carthage Jail. When the emigrants ar
rived at Cedar City they had violated
some of the City ordinances and defied
the Mormon authorities This gave
Haight and his associate leaders of the
Mormon Church pretext for destroying
the entire train. The subject was
brought up in the Council at Cedar City,
and after full discussion for aud against
the murder, it was decided that the In
dams should be placed upon the war;
path and given sufficient arms and pro-
visions by the whites to enable them to
destroy our enemies, as we then called
all Gentiles or opposers of the Mormon
religion. went to Cedar City on the
7th of September. On Sunday evening
I was met on the edge OF the town by
Isaac @. Haight. His word was law to
all people in that locality; to disobey his
orders was certain death. He said he
wanted a long talk with me. We took
some blankets and went to the old IRON
works and slept there that night, SO We
could talk in private. He told me all
about the emigrants. what orders be had
received from Dame and others in au-
thority. the decision of the Council, how
the emigrants were to be killed, and the
reasons OF the Church authorities for
this action. then believed that Haight
spoke with an inspired tongue; all that
he said believed was true. l asked
Haight what authority we had for tho
massacre? He said at is the will of all
in authority. They have no pass from
any one and are all liable to BIZ killed as
common enemies for the country is in
war now and no one has a right to go
through Utah without pass from Brig
ham Young, Col. Dame or myself. "
He then gave me full instructions.
had to obey or die. 1 had no wish to
disobey for l then believed my superiors
to be the mouth.pieces of the God of
Heaven. My orders were to go home to
Harmony, stir up the Indians around
there, put them on the war.path, sent
Carl Shirts to the Southern settlements
and outlying Indian tribes, and bring
them all ct once against the emigran.s.
was to have general control of the In
dams, but the Indians were to do all the
| killing. SO the Mormops could not be
blamed for it. He said this had been
agreed upon in council and was the wish
of the entire people. asked him if we
had not better send word to Brigham
Young. He said: mo, we are acting by
orders. The Northern Indians are now
on the war-path following the train, and
not one OF the crowd can escape. We
will call it an Indian massacre and nc
white man shall be known in the matter
There is no danger of shedding innocent
blood if the whole damned pack are
killed, for they are the worst lot of ruff
fans and outlaws that ever visited Utah.
Monday morning l started home to carry
out my orders, and on my way passed
several bands Of Indians following thu
emigrants. promised to 60 with then
next day. Tuesday morning, about day
light, about three hundred Indians at
tackled the train where it was camped al
Mountain Meadows. They succeeded
in killing seven men and wounding six
teen more of the emigrants. One Indiar
was killed and many wounded; some O.
them afterwards died. An Indian run
ner reached my house early Tuesday
morning and told me Of the battle ane
repulse of the Indians, and demanded
my immediate presence on the field
I crossed the mountains and reached the
Meadows about noon. The emigrants
cattle, about four hundred or five hun,
dred, were scattered over the Meadows
and the Indians had already killed abou
seventy head Of thin. The emigrauts
camp was about one hundred yards from
the spring. They had corraled thei
| wagons In a circle. chained tho whael,