New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-27
THE MORMON MASSACRE.

THE STORY OF MOUNTAIN MEADOWS AS TOLD BY AN
OLD FRoNrrERsMAN AND CONFIDENTIAL FRIEND
OF LEE.
SAN Francisco, March 25.-The Cal pub
fishes an interesting interview with Capt John Morse
concerning the Mountain Meadows massacre. The gen.
teman referred has figured during many years OF an
eyentful life rontiersman, prospecor trapper ana
trader, and in Utah prior TO the Mormon settlement
and for many years after IT, Al the time of the mlssa
ere he was living with some bands OF Indians not more
than thirty miles from Mountain Meadows, and Swo days
after the tragedy he visited the and saw the man.
ged bodies OF the slaughtered emf grants lying on The
ground they Lad been left by the destroying horde OF
Mormon fanatics and their allies, the Indians Capt.
Morse was intimate acquaintance OF Lee and this de-
parted saint in ltiOn occurring years before
the trial. admitted Morse bis completely in the atroc
ties, but, in his confession consistently in his on
hand declarations threw the responsibility OF the butch
cry upon the leaders OF the Mormon ChrcA and directly
implicated rs accessory before and after the fact Brig
ham Young Morse disputes Lees statement that there
Were 500 Indians present claiming that there were not
more than 800 in that whole section OF the country
The buchery was planned by Mormons and almost en-
trely done by them, the Indians not killing over half
Dozen He says plumber the chief incentive 10 the
massacre At that time the Mormons excessively
poor having money and scarcely anything else Ihey
would trade their produce with the Indians even for Ola
clothes. The ira n very rich one and excited
his residence Southern Utah. and the latter unbosomed
himself freely the subject of the massacre, which
seemed 80 dwell his mind that he constantly re-
yerted to it. Concerning the implication OF Brigham
Young with the massacre Morse relates an interview
with LIE:
The last time saw him was in MahOn County. Invent
to his rancho, and he received ctter-1 fact brought
IL 70 him myself from place called KaDab-wlch stated
that truops Lees track hunting him no, AMI he
mad better move little further He showed me the
letter. and said Lee this is all an internal lie; there
troops your track ut all THIS Is al ut up by
those AOrnunS in 70. George, wEer" Brigham Young
was whom Brl CHAM has influenced 10 get You ont or
the way" told him. You take advice and 20 INTO
breast of whole thng and you viii get along first
rate Iashcd HIM IL Brigham Young was interested IN
the massacre. He at first said No." said knew
better and H. said or course there u no uS' lying 10
you as matter OF course under orders. Brigham
Young knew everything ne was with me from the UDe
we left salt Lake, but the intention was 10 let them pass
on t1 Muddy and then catch ia. III ut Muddy DO yOu
SUPPOSE that any OF those know more OF them
Ito suppose they would have entered INTO tins ar
raugemcnt IL they had not believed In the Mormon
Church. and that this thing emanIted from Brigham,
their Mormon prophet q
Capt. Morse says attempt made to procure bis
testimony further than that he sent for to attend the
trial. but he did not appear being down on the Colo
RADIO River near Fort Yuma. Lee confidential with
him account OF their frequent solitary companonshp
OF prospecting and other expeditions and because he
knew NURSE had ncr sources OF information from the
Indians. Capt. Morse Is now resident of this city.