Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-24
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW
MASSACRE.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS GIVEN
BY LEE.

| New YORK, March %. A document Of several
columns, certified to by United States District
! Attorney Howard as having been written by John
d. Lee, is furnished tonight
The main points different from that published
yesterday are that Lee did everything in his pow.
CIR to avert the slaughter of the emigrants al
| Mountain Meadows, mourning thereby the dis.
| pleasure of the heads of the Mormon church al
the solemn council which ordered the slaughter.
Alter agreeing in council to lure the emigran
from their train by flag Of truce, and pretend to
be friendly to them to them from the Indians
who had twice previously attacked them, the pro
| gramme was carried out.
lie says he and McMurdy were in charge of the
wagons IN which were seventeen children and five
wounded men. Samuel McMurdy. councillor IN
Bishop p. X. Smilh (Klingen Smitn) drove out on
| the load. His wagon had the seventeen children,
ciothlng and arms. Samuel Knight drove the
other team, with five wounded men and one boy
about fifteen years old
walked behind the front wagon TO direct the
course and to be sure being in the heat of the
slaughter. But this kept to myself. When we
got larry turned TO the east, motoned McMurdy
TO steer north across the valley. l at the same
Tune told the women who were next to the wagon
10 follow the road up to the troops, which they
did. Instead of saying to McMurdy not to drive
so fast, as he swore my trial, said to the con-
trary to drive on, as my aim was TO get out of
sight before the firing commenced and which we
did.
COM
pany when we heard the first firing. We had to
dflve over ridge of rolling ground and down on
low Hat. The firing was simultaneous along the
whole line.
The moment that the firing CONNIE need, Nc.
Murdy halted and tied his lines across the rod of
his wagon box, stepped down coolly with double
oafrelled shot gun and walked back to knights
wagon, who had the wounded men and was about
twenty feet in the rear. As he raised the piece he
said, lord, my God, for it is for the kingdom OF
n at ua do IL - Gral 4 4.
ed two men, Sam'l knight had muzzle loading
rifle. and he shot and killed the three men, and
then struck the wounded boy on the head, who
fell dead.
In the meantime drew five shooter from my
belt, which accidentally went off, cutting across
McMurdy's buckskln pants in front below the
crotch. McMurdy said "Brother Lee you are
excited. Take things COOL You was near killing
me. Look where the ball cut" pointing to the
place IN his ponts.) A this moment heard the
scream OF child looked up and saw an Indian
have little boy by the hair Of the head, dragging
him out of the wagon, with knife in his hand
getting ready to cut his throat.
sprang for the Indian with my revolver in my
hand, and shouted to the top of my voice :;
"Arick coma cat too sool,' (stop you fool. The
child was terror stricken. His chin was bleeding.
| supposed it was the cut of knife, but after
wards learned that it was done on the wagon box
as the Indian yanked the boy down by the hair of
the head.
| Indian seized little girl by the hair. rescued
her. AS soon as could speak l told the Indians
that they must not hurt the children. That
would die before they should be hurt That we
would buy the children. Before this time the
Indians had rushed up around the wagon in quest
OF blood, and despatched the two runaway wound
ed men.
would say that if my shooter had not prema-
turely exploded would nave had hand in dis
patching the five wounded men. / had lost con-
n my and nal. -Lo.
about. saw an Indian pursue little girl who
was fleeing. He caught her about one hundred
feet from the wagon and plunged his knife into
her.
| said TO McMurdy that he had better drive the
children to Hamblin's rancho, and give them some
| nourishment, while | would &C down and get my
horse at the camp. Passing along the road saw
the dead strung distance of half mile The
women and children were killed by the Indians
When came to the men they lay about rod
apart.
came up with Bishop Smith, Higbee, and the
rest of the company. As came up Higbee said
TO me, LET US search these persons for yauables,
and asked me to assist him. He gave me hat to
hold. Several men were already engaged in
searching the bodies. | replied that was unwell
| aud wanted to get upon my horse and go TO the
rancho and nurse myself My request was grant
cd. Reaching Hamblns rancho, being heartsick
| and worn out, lay down on my saddle blanket
and slept and knew but little of what passed dur
ing the night.
The next morning, when all hands returned to
| the scene of the slaughter to bury the dead, the
bodies were all in nude state. The Indians
through the night had stripped them of every ves-
tage of clothing. Many of the parties were
laughing and talking they carried the bodies to
the rayine for burial
They were Just covered over little, but did not
long remain so, for the wolves dug them up, and
after eating the flesh from them, the bones laid
upon the ground until buried some time after by
| a government military officer.
The remainder, as to his interview with Brig
ham Young, etc, is the same as prn ted yester-
day.