Middletown transcript., 1922-10-09
MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE
NNE Of the little known chapters OF
u 10

4 H-NE III tuC i1ttic huO"h sh"ps~N"
~ American history-an episode
which is cloaked in mystery even to-
day--concerns itself with the massa-
ere of party Of emigrants, which took
place near Mountain Meadow, in utah.
In September, 1857, and for participa-
tion in which John D. Lee was exc
cuted some twenty years later
About hundred and forty men,
women and children were crossing the
continent at the time, on their way
from Missouri to the coast, aDd stopped
in Mountain Meadow, about 350 miles
west of Salt Lake City, to rest their
horses and to permit the members OF
the party to recupernte from the strain
OF their journey up to this point. Fa-
milar with the dangers of cross-coun-
try travel. they arranged their wagons
in circle with the women and chill
dren inside. and the men taking turns
at watching for signs of possible at
tack. Two days passed without any
indication of trouble, and the emigrants
we're on the point OF setting out on the
next portion of their trip when their
Outposts reported that apparently
hostile Indians had made their ap-
pearance at plumber Of points near
by.
Little by little the eneny's scouts
rrept closer, and then, as one of the
Missourians forced the issue by hold
ing up his hand as signal for peace
full conference, the sharp crack or a
rifle shot made it plain that the In
dams were intent upon an attack.
rather than a parley or the exchange
of goods. Hardly an hour of the en-
counter hnd passed, however before 1t
became plain that fully half of the nos
tile force were not Indians, but whites
--AIormons who had Joined forces with
the redskins in order to effect an ex'
termination Of the visitors who, they
feared. would undermine their inai-
en- q in mis- section of the country.
The combination of Indian cunning
an "A constant stream of ammunition
supplied by the whites was almost toe
much for the little band of emigrants
but. having been careful to pitch theii
camp in spot which commanded al
the available approaches, they. stoot
by their guns and resisted the siege ioi
four full days and nights. Finally, OF
the fifth day, they left the shelter o
their wagons under the promise o
protection by John ID. Lee, Mormon
bishop and Indian agent. Within TN
hour, however, all the adults and chill
dren over seven years of age had beel
slaughtered in cold blood, and II o
the younger children were then dis
tributed among Mormon families, bu
were afterwards restored to their re
ntiyes through the action of the gov
carnment
When. after an investigation of tn
matter by officials of the war depar
ment Lee was arrested and charge
with murder, he implicated Il numpe
of the highest officials in the Mormo
church in his confession of treacher
claiming that Brigham Young hlmse
mad full knowledge of the intende
massacre, and had taken no steps
prevent it.
"Goyernor Young told me- d
rlared Lee, that if | would stand |
and shoulder full responsibility f
fbe affair. it would be Il feather in II
cap some day, and that l shou
achieve celestial salvation, but he ad
ad tbat the man who shrunk from
responsibility of this kind would
certain TO be consigned to Hades Il
ever"
Desnite his confession, and the MAJ
eaSt evidence that he was far from
ing alone in the laying of the plans
yhe cold-blooded massacre, Lee W
executed ON March %, 1877, twen
years later. Government investit
fors developed clearly the fact II
Lee had been only catspaw in
whole matter, but when they attem
ed to place the blame where 1t
tonged. they We're frustrated at eve
turn by the far-fiung machinery of
Mormon church.
The identity of the real leaders
the Mountain Meadow massacre
never been definitely decided. and
temporary historians state that
would never have been convicted
IT not been for the fact that he
been ostracized by the Mormon chur
Brigham Young having instructed
adherents TO facilitate the progress
fhis prosecution. for reasons I
known to themselves.
WHO WAS JAMES ORD?