Mower County transcript., 1907-04-03
CHAPTER XVI.

$ j y 3 49, !. I Z s. i
The Meadow Shambles.
They chose William Bateman to go
forward with flag of truce. He was
short and plump, with a full, round,
ingenious face He was chosen, SO
said Klingensmith, for his plausible
ways. He could look right at you
when he said anything; and the mo-
ment needed man Of this talent He
was to enter the camp and say to the
people that the Mormons had come
to save them; that on giving up their
/ arms they would be safely conducted
to Cedar City, there to await a proper
time for continuing their journey.
From the hill to the west of the be-
sieged camp they watched the 'plausl-.
BILE Bateman with his flag of truce
meet one of the emigrants who came
out, also with a white flag, and saw
them stand talking little time. Bate
man then came back around the end
of the hill that separated the two
camps. His proposal had been CRATE
fully accepted. The besieged emf
grants were in desperate straits; their
dead were unburied in the narrow en-
closure, and they were suffering great
~ for want of water.
Major Higbee, in command of the
militia, now directed Lee to- enter the
camp and see that the plan was car
ried out With him went two men
with wagons. Lee was to have them
load their weapons into one wagon,
~to separate the adults from the chill
dren and wounded, who were to be
put into the other, and then march
the party out.
/ AS Lee approached the corral its oc-
cupants swarmed out to meet him.
gaunt men, unkempt women and chill
dren, with the look of hunted animals
in their eyes. Some OF the men
, cheered feebly; some were silent and
plainly distrustful. But the women
laughed and wept for Joy as they,
crowded about their deliverer;; and
! wide.eyed children stared at him in q
friendly way, understanding but little.
| Of 1t all except that the newcomer was
4 desirable person.
It took Lee but little time to over.
come the hesitation of the few sus-
picious ones. The plan he proposed
was too plainly their only way of
escape from terrible death. Their
animals had been shot down or run
on 80 that they could neither advance
! nor retreat Their ammunition was
almost gone, so that they could not
lgiy~ battle. And, lastly, their provi-
sions were low, with no chance to re-.
plenish them; for on the south was
the most to be dreaded Of all Ameri.
: can deserts, while on the north they
had for some reason unknown to
themselves been unable to buy of the
abundance through which they passed.
Arrangements for the departure
were quickly completed under Lees
! supervision. In one wagon were piled
the guns and pistols of the emigrants,
together with half dozen men who
had been wounded in the four dava'
fighting. In the other wagon score
OF the smaller children were placed,
some with tear-stained faces, some
crying, and some graYely apprehen-
sive At Lees command the two wag-
ons moved forward. After these the
women followed, marching singly or
In pairs; some with little bundles Of
their most precious belongings: some
carrying babes too young to be sent
ahead in the wagon. A few had kept
even their older children to walk be-
side them, fearing some evil-they
knew not what.
One such, 9 young woman near the
last Of the line, was leading by the
hand little girl Of three or four, while
on her left there marched sturdy,
p1nk-faced boy of seven or eight,
whose almost white hair and eye
brows gave him a look of fright which
his demeanor belied. The woman,
looking anxiously back over her shoul-
der to the line of men, spoke warning.
" to the boy as the line moved slowly
forward.
Take her other hand, and stay
close. I'm afraid something will hap
pen-that man who came is not an
honest man. i tried to tell them, but
they wouldn't believe me. Keep her
hand in yours, and II anything does
happen, run right back there and try
to find her father. Remember now,
just as II she were your own little
sister" s..'sss
The boy answered stoutly, with
shrewd glances about for possible
danger.
l'Of course I'll stay by her.
wouldn't run away. If I'd only had q
/ gun he continued, In tones of regret
full enthusiasm, Il know II could have
shot some of those Indians but these:
what do you call them Mormons, -
they II keep the Indians away now z .
But remember don't leave my
child, for I'm afraid something warns
me-
Farther back the Others had now
fallen IN, 80 that the whole company
was In motion. The two wagons were
In the lead; then came the women
and some distance back OF these
trailed the line OF men.
When the latter reached the place
where the column Of militia stood