The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-03-20
AZ MOUNTAIN MEADOW.
BRIEF STORY OF THE MASSACRE
THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD.


An attempt is now being made to give
Congressional aid to those who were
.rved at the time of the Mountain
NJ ,adow massacre in 1857. That terri
biz slaughter of innocent women and
CHI dran, as well as of uuarmed men,
took place so long ago that but few now
remember any of the details surround.
ing it. A band OF emigrants number.
ing. it is variously stated, from 100 to
80, had started from Arkansas to reach
the gold fields Of California. Their
train consisted of some 600 head of cat.
tie, 80 wagons, and 30 mules and horses,
and the total value of their possessions
vas between 500, 600 and $40 600.
They had proceeded as far as Cedar
City, Utah, and it was alleged that dur.
ing their journey from Salt Lake City
to that place the emigrants had been
guilty of poisoning streams and of com.
mitting other outrages These charges,
it is believed, had no foundation, but
were brought to cast reflection upon the
enigrants and TO enable the Mormons to
throw the responsibility of the crime
upon the Indians.
The attack commenced on Sunday, and
the emigrants at once placed their
wagons in n circle, dug pit in the
center, in which they placed their wives
and children, and prepared to stand u
siege. In this way they offered more
resistance than was expected and with
stood the attack for four days. During
this time their ammunition gave out
and many suffered intensely from thirst,
for water could only be obtained at
night, and the trip to the creek, although
but a -hort distance. was attended with
great Peril, as the approach was covered
by the Indians.
Finally company of Mormon militia
appeared, and one Of their numl er rs
sent forward with flag of truce. These
Mormons agreed TO protect the emf.
grants if they would lay down their
arms and ammunition to avoid further
exciting the Indians. This was done
John ID. Lee, who was afterward exc
cuted for being the principal parlicipator
i'll this horrible crime, in his confession
gave the following as the plan of the
massacre, which he asserted was ar
ranged and ordered by high Mormon
officials.
1t was arranged that Lee should con.
cIude terms with the emigrans, and rs
soon as they had delivered themselves
into the power of the Mormons should
start for a rancho on the eastern side of
the meadows with the wagons and
arms, the young children, and the sick
and wounded. The men and women,
the latter in front. were to follow the
wagons, all in single file, and ON each
s,de of them the militia were to be
drawn up two deep, and with 90 PAGES
between their lines. Within 200 yards
Of the camp the men were to be brought
to a halt until the women approached
n copse of scrub oak about mile dis.
tant, and near to which Indians lay in
ambush. The men were now to re.
sumo their march, the militia forming
in single file, each one walking by the
side OF an emigrant, and carry his
musket on the left arm. As soon as
the women We're close to the ambus-
cade Higbee one of the Mormon lead
ers, who was in charge of the detach.
ment, was to give the signal by saying
10 the comm md: "Do your duty"
whereupon the militia were to shoot
down the men, the Indians were to
slaughter the women and children.
sparing only those of tend II age, and
Lee with some of the wagoners was to
butcher the sick and wounded. Mounted
troopers were to be in readiness to pur-
sue and slay those who attempted to
escape, so that, with the exception of
infants, no living soul should be left to
tell the tale of tie massacre.
This diabolical program was fully car
ried out to the letter. All the men.
women, and children over seven year
OF age were butchered and but II lives
were spared. These were of children
varying in age from two months to
seven years. All the stock and prop
erty we're carried off and the bodies of
the dead we're stripped and robbed of
every ornament or money found OH
them.
But the lamest attempt was made to
bury the victims A little earth was
scattered over the bodies. but the first
rain washed that away and the remains
bccame prey to the wolves and coy.
otes. Many of the bodies were fright
fully mutilated and when, two years
afterward, detachment of United
States troops was sent to decently inter
them skulls and bones were found scat.
tered for the space of mile around the
ravine, whence they had been dragged
ly wild beasts Nearly all the bodies
had been gnawed by wolves so that few
could be recognized and their dismem-
bered skeletons were bleached by long
exposure. Many of The skulls were
crushed in with the butt ends of mus
kets or cleft with tomahawks; others
were shattered by firearms discharged
close to the head. A few remnants of
apparel, torn from the backs of women
and children, still fiuttered among the
bushes, and near by were masses of hu-
man hair, matted and trodden in the
mold.
These bones were carefully gathered
together and buried, and over them was
built cone shaped cairn some 12 feet
in height and leaning against its north.