The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-10-12

ONE ~ the little known chapters q
~ American history--an episode
which IL 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 partlcipa-
ton In which John D. Lee was exc
cuted some twenty years later.
About a hundred and forty men
women and children wete crossing the
continent at the time, IN their way
from Missouri 20 the coast. and stopped
IN Mountain Meadow, about 800 miles
west OF Salt Lake City, to rest their
horses and 20 permit the members OF
the party to recuperate from the strain
OF their journey up TO this point. Fa-
mlliar with the dangers OF cross-coun-
try travel, they arranged their wagons
In a circle with the women and chill
dren inside, and the men taking turns
at watching fE signs OF possible at.
tack Two days passed without any
indication OF trouble. and the emigrants
were on the point OF setting out on the
next portion OF their trip when their
outposts reported that apparently
hostile Indians had made their APP
pearance at a number OF points near
by.
Little by little the enemy's scouts
crept closer, and then, as one OF the
MIssourians forced the issue by hold
ing up his hand as a signal for peace
full conference, the sharp crack OF q
rifle shot made II plain that the In
dians were intent upon an attack.
rather than a parley or the exchange
Of goods. Hardly an hour OF the en-
counter had passed, however, before II
became plain that fully half Of the hos
tile force we're not Indians, but whites
-Mormons who had Joined forces with
the redskins in order TO effect an OK
termination Of the visitors who. they
feared, would undermine their infiu-
ence in this section OF the country.
The combination OF Indian cunning
and a constant stream OF ammunition
supplied by the whites, was almost too
much for the little band of emigrants,
but, having been careful TO pitch their
camp In a spot which commanded all
the available approaches, they stood
by their guns and resisted the siege for
four full days ana nights Finally. on
the fifth day, they left the shelter OF
their wagons under the promise OF
protection by John ID. Lee, a Mormon
bishop and Indian agent Within the
hour, however, all the adults and chill
dren over seven years Of age had been
slaughtered In cold blood, and II of
the younger children we're then dis
tributed among Mormon families, but
were afterwards restored 10 their rel
atiyes through the action of the gov
eminent.
When, after an investigation of the
matter by officials of the War departs
ment. Lee was arrested and charged |
with murder, he implicated a number
of the highest officials In the Mormon |
church In his confession Of treachery
claiming that Brigham Young himself
had full knowledge OF the intended
massacre, and had taken no steps Il
prevent II.
Governor Young told me" dc
clared Lee, shat II would stand ui
and shoulder full responsibility fol |
the affair, II would be feather In my |
cap some day, and that | should |
achieve celestial salvation. but he add |
ed that the man who shrunk from q
responsibility OF this kind would be
certain TO be consigned to Hades for
ever"
Despite his confession, and the mank |
fest evidence that he was far from be-
ing alone In the laying OF the plans for
the cold-blooded massacre. Lee was
executed on March %. 1871. twenty
years later. Government investiga, |
tors developed clearly the fact that
Lee had been only catspaw 10 the
whole matter. but when they attempt
ed 10 place the blame where II be- |
longed. they were frustrated at every |
turn by the farnung machinery OF ths
Mormon church.
The Identity Of the real leaders In
the Mountain Meadow massacre has
never been definitely decided. and con.
temporary historians state that Lee
would never have been convicted had |
II not been for the fact that he had
been ostracized by the Mormon church,
Brigham Young having instructed hit
adherents 20 facilitate the progress Of
this prosecution. for reasons best
known % themselves