The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-22

found shortly after by other parties
coming up to town.
Prosperity and peace prevailed once
more; thrift and industry resulting in
good crops, etc, while immigration
from Europe and the states kept in
creasing cur population, and in the
year 1856. together with several others,
l went to California by the northern
or Humboldt route. Among our COM
pany were Judge DTummond and DR..
Hart Qndian agent whose terms were
nearly expired. At many settlements
on the route. and at every possible
place in California, Judge Drummond
would utter some remarks full of
venom, and circulate reports that the
Mormons were on the wargath, and
had destroyed the federal judicial lib
rary of 100 volumes Cor perhaps more).
and that Brigham Young had burned
all the records belonging TO the terri
tory. Hearing such falsehoods circu-
lated so openly, l approached DR.. Hart
who was an honorable and reliable
man. and spoke to him about these re-
ports, but he only said. Il know that
there is not a word of truth in what
he says. 1 don't consider him a re-
sponsible person" [ knew too, that all
this report was nothing but revenge.
which. as il proved later, turned out 10
be a blessing TO the Mormon COM
munity and every state west of the
Mississippi reaped something from this
revenge.
On arriving in California, Drummond
sent his scandulous reports by letter to
the government at Washington. D. c.
After nearly two years stay in Cali
foTnia, we returned TO Great Salt Lake
valley, which we reached in December,
1857. The first news received was that
an army OF the United States contain
ing 5000 men and officers. under Colonel
A. 5. johnson was camped at Hamms
(Blaeks) Fork until the spring opened
up. It was then, and has often since
been, reported that this army was
marching on Utah, to punish the Nor
mons for being rebels-destroyin prop
erty, etc, as Drummond had reported.
Some governme NJ supply trains entered
the territory. and these Governor Young
had burned. Early in the year 1858,
Colonel Thomas L. Kane, son Of the
chief justice, came By way of California
to Utah on a secret mission IS to the
trouble out here. It was not Colonel
He had been the guest of more than
one family before. But this time he
came incognito as DR.. Osborne, the
special envoy Of President James
Buchanan. DR.. Osborne kneQ- very we'll
that there was no act of disloyairy, and
felt in his heart sure that DrummOnd's
reports were not reliable. He had sew
cral interviews with President Young
and his counsellors and the upShCt was
that the troops now camped ar the
state line should pass through, DIR.
Osborne returning by way of the army
at Hamm's Fork. there met Alfred
Cumming. recently appointed governor
By President Buchanan. In July an
other commission of three-Messrs.
Gilbert, Perry and Burr, came and
interviewed the presidency of the
church. The socalled investigation was
held in the old Council house. with
open doors and windows (for July is
warm month in Utah) and / was sitting
in one of the windows and heard all
that was said. The accusations, con-
tanned in the reports were read one
by one and Mr.. Young replied TO them.
At the one pertaining 20 the burning
OF the government supply trains he
openly acknowledge that it was done.
When asked If it was treason. he
stances alter cases. Gentlemen. was it
not better to burn those wagons, than
10 have bloodshed and loss Of life?''
And they replied that it was. After
little more talk, the whole truth as TO
the arny's presence came out. Towards
the close Of July. 1855. the army passed
through the deserted city. only about
% men were present, and marched on
across the Jordan and pitched camp
near Camp Floyd, which became the
best military pos in the west.
AS l have JUS stated. the army as
ii passed through the city found ii
deserted, only about % men remaining
in the city Where were the res?