The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-03-31

Awaiting Death for Participation
in the Mountain Meadow
Massacre.


From the San Francisco Car.
As we entered The Wardcn's Office I.ct
J was sitting alone IN the front room writ
ling. There was no mistaking the square
sturdy form, the firm, soldier-likc fen.
ltnres, the keen eyes or the genial, good.
)lnatnred smile that lii up the face OF The
Iold man as he arose TO shake hands aud
offer ms chairs. These two wears c0u.
, finement have deepcned somewhat ths
wrinkles on forehead and cheek and
rendered his face iIiile spare and care.
!. worn. yet he was cheerful. polite, court
rons. and hopeful. Age has crept rapid.
~ over him since his arrest AT PMignist
yet he looked hale and vigorous. bear.
ing his sixiy-fonr years with M erect
carriage q sprightly. elastic walk. ana 4
firm. military bearing. Skip the event.
} Of q single week IN the fall oi 1867. aud
} his record is that Of a brave. honorable
, pioneer, who ranked high rs iinancicI
and business manager among the early
Mormon leaders.
The closely written manuscript that hc
folded and laid away on the back part
of tlr table when the party entered was
the journal OF his life lie tells how he
was converted to Mormonism Of The
lperilous journey he made 10 Sanfc Fc 10
get the rrmiftances Of coin which the
soldiers Of the Mormon battalion sent
back 20 their wives who were waiting
al Council Bluffs. and OF the reasons. thr
inolives. the orders that cansrd him 10
be present nj the great massacre.
Lees eighteen wives show remarkable
fidelity 10 the Church. and tho readiness
OF Brigham Young 10 reward that fidrli-
lty l. remarkable. lIi~ confession details
the history Of the subsequent events ~
how. when the massacre brcainc known
aud talked about. Bri gham "A last cut
him of from the Church publicity. hut
privately assured Him iliat il YVES only a
Temporary measure fer MO hcnsflt oi the
Church. Cutting man on from the
Church divorces his wives. Eight wives
chose 10 bc divorced. and lett him IN
lone day. Three chose 10 remain. and
arc stu faithful To him. brigham ~
ways recognized Lee during his Souh-
ern frirs. and ou AT leaal one occasion
rode publicly bv his side. When Lees
mcSt .sithtul old wife, Farhael. aSkcd
him Al Beaver regarding Lee. Brigham
NcnMx's answer was. "TelI Brother Lee
Nearly twenty years mgo the massacre
WAS comrrtfei. but. thank God. il i not
too in,e frr the 'uliiimcnt OF tie quota
tinn placed ON ilse ciusS which stood at
the head "a the pit wherein Tie emf
grants bones We're buried. Lees con-
fcsri0r now renders the qnoiation per-
itinenf; Vengeance i> mine, will
rgYas.
Nestled close ~ the hasc of the high.
PERCEPTIONS cliif oi thn Nasatch range Is
4 huidinr Tint il destined 10 rrreiyc n
place III history. Years ago. when li-
plain ait .r waiiS were being erected /
heard shc workmcn say. III y intended
bN i;riaham Young A. a place 10 hold
tie Genvslcs. | was \ sevcn-scar Oh
boy then. and .he saving Was doubtless
n lest; bat when approached II pn The
late occasion referred 10 could NOT
help rcmarking. as examined Ilr old
mud structure. how widely those work
men missed the mark. The day had
come when the place has been
used 10 hold Brigham Young, and the
Gcniiles were his iailers
The prison j. about Xix miles south
ward from Salt Lake CITY. on the brow
Far 70 the north the waters OF The Great
SAT- Lake sulenly beat the shore.
When | interviewed Lee seventeen
prisoners were in the pcniicntiary. two
Iof whom were under sentence of death.
The Mormon authorities allow the
United States marshals no other prison
than this. hence the most noted crimi-
ngls arc often placed here 10 await the
day of their execution.
John ID. Lee has most Of the time been
confined AZ The pcnileniiary. Confined
Us a wrong term, for he is simply can
tive guest III the house nf the warden.
W hich is built in front and outside III
the enclosure. lie was not ironcd. nofl
incarcernted and not specially guarded
When captured he said 10 Marshal
Stokes. III YOU do not iron mo | pivel
you my word and honor that will notI
attempt 10 escape lie has alwavs ex- \
pressed full faith in bis ability 10 Justify
his conduct at tho Mountain Meadows.
The Mormon Church has utterly de-!
serted him; Mormon leaders dccrecdI
his death: Mormon witnesses rose NIL
and testified against linn, and MormonI
jury brought in the vcrditt ol guilty..
TO escape. he must violate his word utl
honor, evadc his guards and find III
way 70 Southern Utah through a country
tlickly settled with Mormons, any one
of whom would return him 10 Justice
Most of All. escape would deprive him
Of the last hope OF regaining the respectl
or sympathy Of mankind. His convic-l
tion waa as much surprise to hims WI
~ II was 70 the world. Now that he
has been sentenced 10 be shot. And NJ