Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-04-05

nourishment, while would 20 down and get my
horse at camp. Passing along the road I saw
the dead strung along a distance of about half a
mile Women and children were killed by the
Indians. saw Shurtz with the Indians and no
other white man with them. When I came to
the men they lay about rod apart
aere L came up with Higbee, Bishop
Smith and the rest of the company. As
L came up Higbee said to me: Let US
search these persons for valuables," and asked
me to assist him, and gave me a hat to hold.
Several men were already engaged In searching
the bodies 1rephed that / was unwell, and
wanted to get upon my horse and go to the ranch
and nurse myself. My request was granted.
Reaching Hambhn's ranch, being heartsick and
worn out, lay down on my saddle blanket and
slept, and knew but little of what passed during
the night About dnybreak In the morning1
heard the voices of Col. Dame and Isaac G.
Halght heard some very angry words pass be
tween them, which drew my attention. Dame
said he would have to report the destruction of
the emlsIant camp and company. Haight said:
: How; Indian massacre" Dame said he
did not know SO well about that
The reply seemed to irntate Haight, who spoke
quite loudly, saying: How the hell can you re
port it any other way without duplicating your
self"
At this Dame lowered his voice almost to a
whisper. could not understand what he said
and the conversation stopped. got up and saw
children, and among others the boy who was
by an Indian and saved by me. That boy took
home and kept home until D.. Forney, the Gov
eminent Agent, came to gather up the children
and take them East He took the boy with 9TH
ers. That boys name was William Fancher.
His father was Captain of the train. He waa
taken East and adopted by a man in Nebraska
named Richard Sloan. He remained East sew
eral years, and then returned to Utah, and is
now a convict in Utah Penitentiary, having been
cynvicted the past year for the crime of highway
robbery He is know by the name of
Idaho Bill" But his true name is William
Fancher. His little sister was also taken East,
and is now The wife of man working for the
Union Pacific Railroad Company near Green
River. The boy (now mani has yet got scar
on his chin, caused by the cut on the wagon-box
and those who are anxious enough to examine
will find large on the ball of his left foot,
caused by deep cut made by an while he
was with me.
1 got breakfast that morning, and then all
hands returned to the scene of the slaughter to
bury the dead. The bodies We're all in a nude
state. The Indians, through a privilege given
them had stripped the bodies of every vestige
of clothing. Many of the parties were laughing
and talking they carried the bodies to the "a
vine for burial. They were just covered over a
little, but did not long remain SO, for wolves
dug them up, and, after eating the flesh from
them, the bones laid upon the ground until
buried some time after by Government military
officers. |.s.. .
At the time of burying the bodies, Dame and
Haight got into another quarrel. Dame seemed
to be terror-stricken, and again said he would
have to publish it. They were about two PAGES
from me. Dame spoke low, as if careful to
avoid being heard. Haight spoke loud, and
said: " You know you counseled it, and ordered
me to have them used up"
Dame said: 81 did not think there was so
many women and children. l thought they
were nearly all killed by Indians"
Haight said: Z" 1t is too late in the day for Won
to back water. You know you ordered and
counseled it, and now you want to back out"
Dame said: Have you papers for that3"
:" show me papers for that"
This enraged Haight to the highest pitch, and
Dame walked off.
Haight said: "You throw the blame of this
thing on me and will be revenged on YOU if 1
have to meet you in hell to get it"
From this place we rode to the wagons. We
found them stripped of their covers and every
particle of clothing. Even feather-beds had
been ripped open and the contents thrown upon
the ground in looking for plumber. / crossed the
mountains by the Indian trail, taking my little
Indian boy with me on my horse. The gathering
up of property and cattle WAS left in charge of
Bishop P. X. Smith. The testimony of Smith in
regard to the property and disposition OF it was
nearly correct.
must not forget to state that after the attack
messenger by the name of James Haslett was
sent with a dispatch to President Brigham Young,
pany, but he did not return on time. This had
no knowledge of until the massacre was COM
mltted. Some two weeks after the deed was
done Isaac @. Haight sent me to report to Gov.
Young In person. / asked him why he did not
send written report. He replied that I could
tell him more satisfactorily than he could write
and l could stand up and shoulder as much of
the responsibility as l could conveniently; that
it would be feather in my cap some day, and
that would get celestial salvation, but that
man who shrank from it now would go to hell.
went and did as / was commanded. Brigham
asked me if Isaac G. Haight had written letter
to him. 1 replied: mot by me. He wished me
to report In person.
can right" said Brigham. "Were you an
eyewitness to the most of it3"
I" / was, ;" replied.
Then proceeded and gave him full history
Of all, except my opposition; that left out en-
tirely. l told him of the killing of women and
children and the betraying of the company.
That told him was opposed to, but did not
say to him to what extent l was opposed to it,
only that was opposed to shedding innocent
blood.
why" said he, "you differ from Isaac
(Haight), for he said there was not drop of in
nocent blood in the whole company"
When was through he said it was awful that
he cared nothing about the men, but the women
and children was what troubled him.
/ said: p" President Young, you should either
release men from their obligations sustain
them when they do what they have entered into
the most sacred obligation to do"
He replied 81 will think over the matter and
make it the subject of prayer, and you may
come back In the morning and see me-" f-
/ did so. He said: " John, feel frst-rate. 1
asked the Lord if it was all right for that deed
to be done, to take away the vision of the deed
from my mind. And the Lord did so, and feel
frst-rate. 1t is all right. The only fear have
is of traitors" eFr5E W.
He told me never to lisp it to any mortal
being not even to Brother Heber.
President Young has always treated me with
the friendship of father since and has sealed
several women to me since and has made my
home his home when in that part of the Terri
tory, until danger has threatened him.
This is a true statement according to the best
of my recollection. JOHN D. LEE.
This statement have made for publication
after my death, and have agreed with friend
to have the same, with very many facts pertain
ing to other matters connected with the crimes
of the Mormon people under the leadership of
the priesthood, from the period before the butch
cry of Nauvoo to the present time published
for the benefit of my family, and that the
world may know the black deeds that have
marked the way of the Saints from the organize
ton of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Later
day Saints to the period when weak and too
pliable tool lays down his pen to face the
e1ecutioners' guns for deeds of which he
is not more guilty than others who to-day
wearing the garments of priesthood and living
upon the tithing" of a deluded and priest-rid-
den people. Ny autobiography, if published,
will open the eyes of the world to the monstrous
deeds of the leaders of the Mormon people, and
will also place in the hands of the attorney for
the Government the particulars of some of the
most blood-curdling crimes that have been COM
mitted in Utah, which, if properly followed up,
will bring many down from their high place in
the church TO face offended justice upon the gal
lows. So mote it be. JOHN D. LEE.