Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-11
Chilly gresa ANA 9akotaiau
MORMON TROUBLES.
Rumors Regarding a Threatened Out
break ut salt Lake CITY.

l
In military circles the absorbing
theme of discussion is the situation at
Salt Lake City and the recent move
ment of troops In that direction. Re-
ports from the Mormon country the
past few days have been of q decidedly
sensational natu~e. The disposition at
headquarters, on the part OF the officers
lu charge, ls to discuss the situation us
lutte az possible through the newspap-
ers. The commanding officers here say
they would gladly give all information,
but the situation on the present occa-
sion is peculiar, and as a result no IN
formation can be given respecting the
movement OF troops. 1t appears to be
generally understood, however, that the
here Is not IN II sense
moving upon lis own responsibility ID
the premises, but is acting under orders
from q higher authority, which had
MAPPED out a plan OF action that may de-
velop some sensational features. Gen
erui Schoiel1 was wiling to lmpart
such information as he r%ightfully could,
tut some points he would not discuss.
Said he: Il can assure you of one
thing; in my opinion there is not the
slightest danger from any outbreak OF
| Mormons at Salt Lake City that the
war department will not be we'll able at
the same time fully prepared to cope
with"
"Whau of the situation of Salt Lake
City?"
las L am advised the papers have fully
and correctly outlined 1t, except where
the statement ID ready that an army OF
10000 armed Mormous is ready tor an
attack upon the government forces and
property. | do not believe the Nor
mons have q thousand men drilled ano
armed for, that or any other purpose
There IS no danger of any Mormon out
break, because they are not well organ
lied, are poorly armed and poorly drill
led. The government troops at Sal
Lake City are amply sufficient to pro
tect the city and the government In
t~erests. No Mormon mob could cope
with our well framed sharp shooter
there While neither admitting no
denying that troops had been ordereC
TO Salt Lake Clty, the general said tina
the policy of the department is Away
to endeavor to anticipate trouble anc
prevent q disturbance rather than wal
until trouble comes. General Schotielt
and General Sheridan were together
great deal while the latter was here, AM
the commanding officer is thorough,
informed as to the situation. Genera
Schofield said that the papers woul,
doubtless have full advices regardinI
the arrival of any troops at the Mormo
stronghold. Respecting the merits c
the trouble he was unable to talk. A.
information was to the effect that tn
trouble thus far had been over the Unit
States marshal who had shot a Mormon
The reports indicated that he was a!
tackled because of his vigilance in dil
charging his duty. The peculiar situf
alton of affairs in Utah leads to frequer
misunderstanding between the munic
pal and government authorities. q
D course no man, whatever his official pos
: ton, has O right TO transgress the CIV
laws when they do not conflict with til
higher law of the land, and If con
mits felony or other crime he is ament
able to the proper authorities. But
any officer representing q higher autho'
ity than the municipal shoots o perso
and claims that it was In the perform
ance of his dnty, he has q right to al
peal to the government for protectio,
and it then remains for the Unite
States court to determine how he is
be tried. 1t is a frequent occurrent
on the frontier that men accuse
of crime and pursued by mobs fiji
to the nearest government fort. FL
war department does not, of course, pr
sumo upon q mans guilt or %innocenc
% but if q man calls upon the troops
protect him from any %unauthorize
g body, he is entitled to that protectio
Army officers who were seen yesterdf
differed somewhat in their ideas of Il
outcome of affairs in Utah. Ii was bel
ID some quarters that every day four
the situation growing more seriou
The Mormons are uneasy, and feel tn
they are being unduly presented. Oh
officer said that the gentiles were respo
sible for much of the turbulent feelln
and that several of these latter poop
were only too anxious to provoke host
tiles for the sake of the fat contracN
which they hoped to obtain for arm
supplies, etc. On the other hand, it
claimed that the gentiles have suffere
from a species of persecution from I'll
Mormons that is little understood in I'll
!, east, and each day adds fuel to IL
flames.