The New York herald., 1877-03-23
novelty and suddenness of the summons made the


PASSING CEDAR CITY,
Our arrival at Cedar City, between the hours OF
one and two O'Clock in the morning. was appar-
emily unnoticed, Tor we moved in quietly, and the
cortege remained In the place only long enough to
secure some provender for the horses.
nooDwINKING THE NATIVES
No one was informed OF our purpose, and
those who witnessed the entrance and de.
parture Of the party were led to believe
.that it was mere military man9uvre OF no
loungers who stood on the tavern steps at that
early hour in the morning imagine that in the
wagon we had carried John d. Lee, the condemned
murderer.
SUCCESSFUL SECRECY.
Tho expedition was admirably planned for Sc
crecy, and It's movements were entirely successful
THE MORNING HALT.
hurriedly write these lines while the party Is
halted for rest, twenty miles beyond Cedar City,
and send them back by courier to be telo
graphed to the HERALD. Strict silence has
been enjoncd upon me until this moment, and
I am only permitted to give yon the facts
because it is considered safe to reveal them.
TIE FINAL ARRANGEMENTS
The execution will take place soon after our ar
rival on the scene OF the massacre-probably
yet decided whether the firing party
will he composed OF regular soldiers or deputy
marshas, but presume that the military will have
nothing to do with the execution OF justice, except
as guards to preserve the peace and prevent q
rescue.
HARD RIDE IN PROSPECT.
I shall return to Cedar City after seeing Lee
executed and telegraph the details thcrefrom. 1t
will be ride of over fortyfve miles, but am well
mounted and it is the nearest point of teegraphic
communication.
To show you what difficult country we are pass
ing through need only append a brief description
OF the route OF our march and the places through
which we have passed or must pass on our journey.
BEAVER CITY.
The city stands in the middle of Beaver Valley,
which is ten miles In width, and lies between the
Mineral and Beaver ranges of mountains. num-
ber OF small streams, forming the head waters OF
Beaver Creek, the valley from to west
at Beaver City. OF these, that known as
North Creek penetrates the Beaver range north
eastward of the city and derives its waters chiefly
from the slopes of Badly Peak a mountain II, ,73O
feet above sea level. Further north still Indian
Creek, another tributary Of Beaver Creek, drains
the rugged slopes Belknaps Peak, which is 14,s94
feet above the sea. The city Is built on the old
cmigrant trail from Salt Lake City to California,
now the mail route, and is the county seat
Fort Cameron, small military post, is situated
the eastern side OF the city, and distant about
two miles, Greenville and Adamsville, two small
Mormon villages situated near Beaver City, the
first four and the second nine miles to the west
ward. They are the road between Beaver and
Mincrsville village which stands at the southery
extremity OF the Mineral range.
THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY.
Being situated in valley, completely surrounded
by mountains, Beaver City is somewhat isolated.
A telegraph linc however, connects 1t with the
outer world, and enabled! me TO give you partcu-
lars Of what was transpirlng In regard to Lee and
his approaching doom. With the vast region to the
eastward, broken by rnnumerable ridges and fur
rowcd by deep canyons, and patched with broad,
sterile plateaus, and on the western side by great
stretches of desert intersccted by ridges and
monumcnted by solitary peaks and buttcs, the
vicinity of Beaver presents the strangest Of aspects
to one accustomed to Eastern landscapes.
THE MINES
Here and there the log shanties OF the minDrs can
be discerned on the mountain slopes. The shafts
structures in the midst of ruined region. The
ravines that scar the mountain forms give
the idea that some tremendous warfare Of
nature fought out in the Territory
leaving evidences OF the strife on every object
around. But the mines are being actively worked
and here and there give excellent returns for the
labor. Much iron abounds in this region. as is IN
dcated by the numerous springs OF water impreg-
mated with that metal that are found in every d.
rection.
FROM BEAVER TO CEDAR CITY.
Between these two points the road, which is a
continuation OF the old cmgrant trail, crosses the
mountains that limit Beaver Valley on the south
and descends into Parowan Valley near the westerly
end of Fremonts Pass. On the east sido of this de-
preston the lofty Parowan range Of mountains
lifts gigantic peaks toward the skies. But
on the westerly side the hills are com
paratively low and separate the valley
IRON parallel depression known as Rush Lake
Valley. In Parowan Valley is the water known as
Little Salt Lake, which receives the western drain
age OF the Parowan range. The roads from Miners
willie and Beaver City meet at the village Of Para
| goonah about four and half miles northcastward