Year: 1860

THE MOUNTAIN MEADOW MASSACRE-HORRIBL


CONFESSION.


The Salt Lake Valley Tan, Of February 29h contains
a statement from VIM II. Rogers, IN reCgrd TO the
sacre at Mountain Meadows in September 1857, when
l2O men, and children emigrants from Arkansas
were murdered by Mormons.


As soon as it became known that Judge Crldebaugh
intended holding court, aud investigating the crcum
stances Of the massacre, and that he would have troops
70 ensure protection and enforce his ws if necessary
several persons visited him az his late hours of
the night aud informed him of different facts connected
with the massacre. All these that called thus stated
that il would be the risk of their lives if became
known that they had communicated auythng to him
and they requested Judge Cradebaugh ii he met them
in public in the day tme not to recognize them per
sons that he had before seen.


one of the men who called thus on Judge Crldebaugh
confessed in the presence of Mr. Rogers that he partc
pated in the massacre and gave the following account of
il Previous to the there council held at
Cedar CITY, which President Haght and Bishops Highly
aud Iced attended. At this council they designated
or appointed a large number OF men residing in Cedar
Citv aud in other settlements around to perform the
work Of dspatching these emigrInts The men appoint
ed for this purpose instructed TO resort we'll armed
at given time spring small stream lying short
distance to the left OF the road leading uto the Meadows
and very far from Ilamb.ins ranch but concealed
from it by intervening hills This was tue place OF rem
devious and here the men, when they arrived painted
and otherwise disguised themselves TO resemble In
dians. From thence they proceeded early on Monday
morning. by path trail which leads from his spring
directly into the Meadows and enters the road some dis
tance beyond Hamblin'S ranch. BY taking this route
they could not he seen by any at the ranch.


On arriving al the corral OF the emigrans, number
of the men standing the ouside by the camp
fires which from appearances, they had just been build
ing These were first fired upon, and at the first dis
charge several of them fell dead wounded the remain
der Immediately the inside Of the corral and be-
gan fortfyng themselves and preparing for defence
well as they could by showing their wagons closer to-
getber and digging holes into which to lower them
TO keep the shots from going under and striking them
The attack continued in desultory and irregular man.
ner for four or five DAYS. The corral closely watch
ed and if any of the emgrants showed themselves they
were instantly fired at from without If they attempted
TO 90 10 the spring which only few yards distant,
they were sure to fall by the rifles Of their assaAnts


I'm consequence of the almost certain death that resulted
from any attempt procure water the emgran before
the siege discontinued suffered intensely from THIRST
The aSSaints, believing at length that the emgrahs
could not be subdued by the adopted resorted to
treacherv and strategem to accomplish what they had
been unable TO do by force They returned to the spring
where thew had painted and disguised themselves pre-
vious 10 commencing the attack, and there removed
those dsguses and again assumed their ordinary dress
After this Bishop Lee with party OF men, returned
10 the camp of the emigrants bearing white flag as
sisnaI of truce From the position of the corral, the
emigrants we're able them some time before they
reached it. As soon they dscerned 1t they dressed


little girl in white and placed her at the entrance oil the
corral TO indicate their friendly feelings TO the persons
bearing the flag Lee aud his party, on arriving, we're
invited into the corral where they stad about an hour
talking with them about the attack which had been made
upon them Lee told the emigrants that the Indians
had gone off over the hills and that il they would lay
down their and give up their property be and his
party would conduct them back 10 Cedar City; but
they went out with their arms, the Indians would look
upon % - su unfrIsndly acL and venld again attack