Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-20

o. - UNDOUBTEDLY the darkest cnap'
ter in Mormonism is the Noun
tain Meadow massacre" commit
ted Friday, September II, 1857, four
days before Brigham Young issued his
proclamation forbidding United states
troops TO enter Utah Territory.
The Mormons controlled vast region
IN the heart Of the Rockies and had prac-
tically set up a dictatorship, with Brigham
Young as chief and with desperate tol-
lowers to execute church edicts and any
command the Mormon leader saw mt to
issue. He proposed that strangers, United
States troops-everybo dy-shOuld be BAR
red from passing through Mormon terri
tory without tribute of cash or life, ex-
cept with Mormon permission.
Proof of the so-called blood atonement
Of the Mormons was terribly shown in the
Mountain Meadow massacre. II MIS-
sourian or a citizen of Arkansas killed a
Mormon, any person from that state, man,
woman or child, found in Mormon terrific
~ was to suffer death. Thus the Nor
mons would be reyenged.
The tragedy leading up the Mountain
Meadow massacre was the killing Of Per-
ley p. Pratt. a Mormon who took the
wife Of Hector II. Mclean, a United
States custom house official from her
husband to Utah as his ninth wife. Later
Mrs. Mclean returned TO her husband,
saying that she had abandoned Mormon
ism, and thus obtained possession Of her
children. Then she fed and Pratt was
arrested, but the law did not seem to mt
his crime. He was released and Mclean,
finding letters from him TO his wife, shot
him. That was in Arkansas.
Still later forty families from Arkansas
about one hundred and forty men, women
and children-started for California by
way of Utah under the direction of Cap
tain Fancher. A majority Of the emf
grants were Methodists, and they were
accompanied by a clergyman. The cara
van was well equipped, with thirty horses
and mules and six hundred head of cat
tie and some of the people Travelled In
private carriages
on reaching Utah they were induced by
the Mormons to leave the government
highway through the mountains and go to
the south, heading for Los Angeles In
stead of Sacramento. This was to decoy
them into the southern settlements after
refusing them food or merchandise OF
any kind in exchange for money or
horses. The emigrants were ignorant of
the Mormon proclamation forbidding
troops TO enter the territory. and they
knew nothing Of the terrors about to fall
upon them.
When they had reached the Mountain
Meadow district, about $50 miles south
of Salt Lake, they were attacked by
few Indians and a lot of Mormons in
Indian disguise The emigrants formed
barricade OF wagons, frontier style and
speedily dispersed the enemy. Other at
tacks followed, with no better result
Then came Mormon strategy.
Headed by Major John d. Lee, COM
pany of Mormon militia came with flag
Of truce as friends. In return the emil
grants met them with little child dress
ed in white The Mormons said they had
av.1 hot fhaxy
would leave their arms and supplies be-
hind they would be taken to a place of
safety.
The emigrants fell into the trap, and
had proceeded but short distance. leav-
ing their wives and children behind, when
they were massacred. as were the chill
dren and women soon after.
DR. Charles Brewer. the assistant army
surgeon, who was sent with a company to
bury the remains two years later, thus
reported:
''I reached a ravine 50 yards from the
road. in which I found portions of the
skeletons OF many bodies-skulls, bones
aud matted hair-most of which, upon
examination. 1 concluded to be those Of
men. Three hundred and fifty yards fur
Their on another assembly of human re-
mains was found, which by all appear
ance had been left to decay upon the sur
face; skulls and bones, most of which
believe to be those Of women; some also
Of children, probably ranging from to
u years of age. Here, too, were found
masses of women's hair, childrens bon
nets, such as are generally used upon the
plains, and pieces of lace muslin, calico
and other materials. Many of the skulls
bore marks Of violence, being pierced with
bullet holes, or shattered by heavy blows,
or cleft with some sharp edged instru-
ment."
More than seventeen years passed be-
fore this crime was punished by the
United States government, and then Ma
jor John Z. Lee was executed.