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THE
MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
MASSAGRE
By JOSIAH F. GIBBS
AUTHOR OF "LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF MORMONlbM"

LOOKl^MJ SOljlH

Grai'C^ of 'One Uuiuit ed and '1/iitty Emigianti — Victlmi of Moi mon Blood-atonemcnE at Moinitfl'm '
Meadows, Septembei /bt/i, jSS7

ILLUSTRATED BY NINE FULL-PAGE
AND ftVE HALF-PAGE ENGRAVINGS
, FROM PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
aN THE GROUND

COPYRIGHTED BY >^,.
SALT • LAKE TRIBUNE PUBLISHING CO M PAN V
'. - NINETEEN HUNDRED TEN .

THE
MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
MASSACRE

By JOSIAH F. GIBBS
Author of
"Lights and Shadows of Mormonism"

ILLUSTRATED BY NINE
FULL-PAGE AND FIVE
HALF-PAGE ENGRAVINGS
FROM PHOTOGRAPHS
TAKEN ON THE GROUND

COPYRIGHTED BY
Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Co.
NINETEEN HUNDRED TEN

NOTE TO SECOND AND FUTURE EDITIONS

Because of the faulty memory of an aged Mormon, who gave me the
name of Isaac. Laney as that of the man who was brutally beaten at
Parowan, in southwestern Utah, because he sold a few onions to the emi
grants who perished at the Mountain Meadows, a slight error crept into
the first edition of "The Mountain Meadows Massacre."
Since its publication I have been most fortunate in meeting a wealthy
man, now residing at Oakland, California, who lived next door tb Wil
liam Laney at Parowan at the time of the massacre, and from him learned
the truth of the incident. His recollection of that incident has been veri
fied by reference to a letter received a year ago from Judge James S.
Aden of Tennessee, whose brother was a victim of the religion-crazed
fanatics who exterminated Captain Charles Fancher's companions at the
Mountain Meadows. Judge Aden's recollection of Laney 's name was
DeLaney. And because of the fact that I could learn nothing of any man
by that name the Judge's interesting story of how his father aided Wil
liam Laney, while the latter was a Mormon missionary, and how his
brother was entertained by William Laney at Parowan, and given a few
onions, was omitted from the first edition. It is now given in full. Also,
at the recent Mormon general conference, I met the nephew of William
Laney, and who told me that it was his uncle instead of his father, Isaac
Laney, who lived at Parowan.
The above explanation has been given for purpose of disarming Mor
mon critics who are ever alert to even the slightest discrepancies that
may find their way into the writings of those who presume to criticise
the conduct and motives of the Mormon leaders. JOSIAH F. GIBBS.
Salt Lake City, Utah, October 17th, 1910.

en's

« '^''

INTRODUCTION.

Some five years ago a prominent Salt Lake editor, in a letter to the
writer, said: "The Mountain Meadows massacre is an incident that
should be forgotten." The gentleman, a well-known Gentile, was in
error, the human family learns only by experience. The lessons taught
by the tragedies of the past come down to us in the form of history and
become danger signals along the highway of advancing civilization, and
warn us of the peril that marches hand in hand with human passions,
with ignorance and superstition.
Speaking specifically, the Mountain Meadows massacre should not be
forgotten as long as Mormon writers, pulpiteers and missionaries use the
"Missouri Persecutions," the "Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith,"
and the "Expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo" as influences for prose
lyting. Nor should the discussion of any prominent tragedy cease until
the causes that unerringly led up to the act shall have been eradicated,
or until the lesson that it teaches is no longer necessary. The Mountain
Meadows massacre should be kept before the public until unquestioning
obedience to the will of the Mormon "prophets" shall be no longer ex
acted from the Mormon people, or until its deadening, damning influence
is exterminated. Those who suggest such lapses of memory as that sug
gested by the Salt Lake editor do so in the interest of "peace in Utah,"
a "peace" that would be purchased by the surrender of justice to in
justice, of right to wrong, of the present to the future — a surrender in
Utah of moral progress and civil liberty to mercenary advantages and
political bribes held out by the "prophets" and the Mormon and pro-
Mormon press as the price of silence.

AGENCIES OF WHICH THE MASSAOEE WAS THE LOGICAL
RESULT.
The details of the Mountain Meadows massacre have been repeatedly
told. Embittered Mormon "apostates" and greedy fomanoers have dis
torted the awful incidents; Mormon historians and subsidized writers
have submerged the truth and endeavored to shift the burthen of the
terrible crime to the Indians; and thus far none of them have, seem
ingly, been able to grasp the elusive forces that unerringly led up to the
tragedy, or they have failed to state them.
With malice toward none, least of all toward the misguided assassins,
and in a spirit of even-handed justice, the attempt will be made to as
semble the fragments of causation and history and join them together in
a, consecutive narrative.
And it is well to here remark that the story of the massacre is largely
drawn from the evidence of unwilling Mormon witnesses who testified
during the second trial of John D. Lee; from close personal contact with
the religious and social life of Utah from 1857 to the present time; from
an intimate acquaintance with the people of southern Utah, and from a
personal study of the locality known as the Mountain Meadows.
An Intelligible grasp of the remarkable religious and social condi
tions that existed in Utah just prior to the massacre, and of which it
was one of the logical results, cannot be imparted without quoting from
the sermons of some of the Mormon "prophets." .And it is a fact well
known to Mormon leaders and historians that the expulsion of the
Latter-day Saints from Missouri, the killing of Joseph and Hyrum Smith,
and the expulsion of the church from Illinois were but the logical results
of the ' ' revelations, ' ' sermons, aid writings of the Mormon leaders, and
which inspired the rank and file of the Mormons with grotesquely exag
gerated views of the religious and political mission of Mormonism, and of
their own importance.
Following are excerpta from a few of the "prophets' " sermons:
"God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece of the children of Israel,
and he will make me to be God to you in his stead, and the elders to
be mouth for me; and if you don't like it you must lump it." — From
sermon by the "Prophet" Joseph Smith, Jr., Nauvoo, April, 1844; clipped
from the Mormon Deseret News of July 15, 1857.

"The first principle of our cause and work is to understand that
there is a prophet in the church, and that he is at the head of the Church
of Christ on earth. Who called Joseph Smith to be a prophet? Did the
people or God? God, and not the people, called him. Had the people
gathered together and appointed one of their number to be a prophet, he
would have been accountable to the people, but, inasmuch as he was
called of God, and not by the people, he is accountable to God only . .
. . and not to any man on earth. The twelve apostles are accountable
to the prophet and not to the church for the course they pursue, and we
have learned to go and do as the prophet tells us. ' ' — From sermon by
Brigham Young, at Nauvoo, 1843, published in Millennial Star, Liverpool,
England, Vol. XXL, page 741.

"The fact of the matter is, when a man says 'you can direct me
spiritually, but not temporally,' he lies in the presence of God; that is, if
he has got intelligence enough to know what he is talking about." —
From sermon by Joseph F. Smith (the present-day Mormon "prophet")
at Prove, Utah; from the Deseret News, May 20, 1896.

The above quotations prove beyond the possibility of successful con
tradiction that the "prophets" of the Mormon church are, if their claims
be accepted, vicegerents of God, that they act "in his stead"; that
those of the Mormon people who deny the right of the "prophets" to
"direct" them "temporally," "lie in the presence of God," and that
the "prophets" are "accountable to God only, and not to any man on
earth." Also from President Brigham Young we learn that "we (the
Mormons) have learned to go and do as the prophet tells us."
The subserviency of even the apostles of the Mormon church is well
illustrated in the following:
"Now, whatever I might have obtained in the sha'pe of learning, by
searching and study respecting the arts and sciences of men — whatever
principles I may have imbibed during my scientific researches, yet, if the
prophet of God should tell me that a certain principle or theory which I
might have learned was not true, I do not care what my ideas might have
been, I should consider it my duty, at the suggestion of my file leader, to
abandon that principle or theory." — From sermon by Apostle WElford
Woodruff at Salt Lake City, April 9, 1857, recorded in Journal of Dis
courses, Vol. I,, page 83.
And in the face of the plain assertions of their leaders the Mormon
people deny that they are ruled spiritually and temporally by one man —
that they are slaves to the dicta of one man who claims to rule them
by the authority and in the name and stead of God! But when the
dupes of the Mormon "prophets" deny that self-evident fact they should
remember that they "lie in the presence of God."
DOCTRINE OF "BLOOD ATONEMENT" AND ITS RESULTS.
Necessarily, the believer in unquestioning obedience to the dictum
of one man, or his agent or agents, is a fanatic, and there is not a
6

devout Mormon on earth who would not commit murder if he ' were
ordered to do so by the chief "prophet" or one of his agents in whom
he had confidence. If he would not obey the order then he is not a
"firm believer in the (Mormon) faith." The voice of the "prophet" is
the voice of God to him, and he has no alternative but to '"go and do
as he is told." Otherwise, "he lies in the presence of God."
And the reader will readjly comprehend the awful significance of the
combination of blind obedience and the doctrine of blood atonement, or
the doctrine that one must submit to capital punishment for certain
offenses which, as the Mormon "prophets" claim, were not included in
the atonement of the Son of God. Add to that combination the fact
that those blood atonement executions are to be carried out under the
authority of the leader of a religious organization, and not under any
civil process, and one will have a partial perception of the conditions
that existed in Utah under the rule of the "prophets" from their occupa
tion of Utah, in 1847, to 1880. Mormons deny the existence of those con
ditions, but they will not deny the accuracy of the following quotations:
"There is not a man or woman who violates the covenants made with
their God (in the Mormon temples), that will not be required to pay the
debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must
atone for it; and the judgments of the Almighty will come, sooner or
later, and every man or woman will have to atone for breaking their
covenants. ' ' — From sermon by Brigham Young, March 16, 1856, Journal
of Discourses, Vol. III., page 247.

"What do you suppose they would say in old Massachusetts should
they hear that the. Latter-day Saints had received a revelation or com
mandment to 'lay judgment to the line- and righteousness to the plum
met'? What would they say in old Connecticut? They would raise a
universal howl of ' how wicked the Mormons are. They are killing the
evildoers who are among them. Why, I hear that they kill the wicked
away up yonder in Utah. ' . . . What do I care for the wrath of
man? No more than I do for the chickens that run in my dooryard. I
am here to teach the ways of the Lord, and lead men to life everlasting;
but if they have not a mind to go there, I wish them to keep out of my
path. ' ' — From sermon by Brigham Young in 1855, Journal of Discourses,
Vol. III., page 50.

"If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats." — From
red hot blood atonement sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Dis
courses, Vol. II., page 311. At the conclusion of the injunction to "cut
their throats," "all the people said 'amen!' "

"I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and
7

in this kingdom (the Mormon 'kingdom of God')? I believe that there
are a great many; and if they are covenant -breakers, we need a place
• designated where we can shed their blood. ... If any of you ask, do
I mean you, I answer yes. If any woman asks, do I mean her, I answer
yes. . . . We have been trying long enough with these people, and I
go in for letting the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed, not only in
word but in deed." — From sermon by Jedediah M. Grant, second coun
selor to Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. IV., pp. 49-50.
It is not necessary to give the details of the blood atonement murder
of William E. Parrish and his son Beason for "apostasy," at Springville,
in 1856; of the murder of Eosmos Anderson by the leading priesthood of
the Parowan "stake of Zion" in 1856, because Philip Klingensmith,
bishop of Cedar City, Utah, coveted the buxom Scandinavian stepdaugh
ter of Anderson as his plural wife, and whom Anderson also wanted as
his plural, and with whom, as alleged, he had committed adultery as the
last and surest effort to secure a "recommend" to enter the "holy order
of celestial marriage"; of the castration of Tom Lewis, at Manti, Utah,
in 1856, because Bishop Warren Snow was leeherously ambitious to polyg-
amously marry the girl with whom Lewis was keeping company; of the
inexpressibly cowardly murder of William Hatton at Fillmore, 1856, by a
man who could be named, and who was the agent of the "prophets, seers
and revelators" at Salt Lake City, and whose handsome widow the un
speakable "Prophet" Heber C. Kimball soon after added to his celestial
harem; of the murder, by prophetic instructions, at Farmington, during
the spring of 1858, of four of the Aiken party, and while "Johnston's"
army at Ham's Fork was preparing to enter Utah, and of the cowardly
' assassination of two others of che Aiken party by a present high church
man and his companion, who, under pretense of conducting them from
Utah by the southern route to California, shot them in the back at a point
some four or five miles south of Nephi, about 110 miles south of Salt Lake
City; of the midnight murder, later on, of King, Brassfield and others
who became obnoxious to the Mormon leaders. This is an abbreviated his
tory of the Mountain Meadows massacre — not of the entire diabolical re
sults of the teaching of unquestioning obedience and blood atonement by
the vicegerents of the Mormon god.
Any one with ordinary intelligence can comprehend the terrible re
sults of the license to murder which is embraced in the excerpta that have
been quoted from the bloodthirsty sermons of two of the chief "proph
ets" of the Mormon church.
The preaching of blood atonement was accompanied by two years —
1856-1857 — of hysterical repentance called the Mormon "reformation."
The larger portion of the "Saints" confessed their sins to the "block
teachers," to the "ward bishops," or, as in many instances, to Brigham
Young, to whom many of the sinful Saints went with their tales of
iniquity. It was a time of confession, of the "renewal of covenants"
by rebaptism, and the intensification of indescribable fanaticism, frenzy
and violence. S

The reason for those violent outbreaks on the part of the "prophets"
is alleged to have been the effect of the unrestrained liberty, even license,
of frontier life, which affects alike the saint and the sinner; the latter,
of course, being the more willing victim. Even some of the "saints of
the Most High" descended to stealing and worse crimes. That, and the
influx of traders, trappers and others not of the Mormon faith, created
apprehension on the part of the "prophets" that the "kingdom of God,"
which they had ' ' established in the top of the mountains, ' ' would perish
because of the iniquity of the people.
It was the hope that it might cheek the carnival of crime that
prompted the Mormon leaders to inaugurate the ' ' reformation. ' ' No
truthful history of the religious hysteria, frenzy, fanaticism and diabolism
of those early days in Utah has ever been written. It was as if civiliza
tion had been forced backward four hundred years with the spirit and
practice of the Inquisition in full control.
Another condition that added to the frenzy of the "prophets" was
the presence of federal oflicials who attempted to enforce the "common
law" in cases of polygamy, and who were regarded as usurpers of the
divine right of Brigham Young to be a despot. The conflict between the
civil law, represented by the government officials, and the ecclesiastical
rule of Brigham Young became so acute that the Gentile officials fled the
territory. In order to aid its officials in the enforcement of the law the
government, in the spring of 1857, dispatched an army of 2500 men to
Utah, which further incensed the Mormon leaders and their followers
against the government and against all Gentiles within and without the
Mormon empire.
As governor of Utah, and vicegerent of the Mormon deity, Brigham
Young issued a proclamation, of which three paragraphs only are neces
sary: "Therefore, I, Brigham Young, governor and superintendent of In
dian affairs for the Territory of Utah,
' ' First — Forbid all armed forces of every description from coming into
this territory, under any pretense whatever.
"Second — That all the forces in said territory hold themselves in
readiness to march at a moment's notice, to repel any and all such
invasion. "Third — Martial law is hereby declared to exist in this territory,
from and after the publication of this proclamation; and no person shall
be allowed to pass or repass, into or through, or from this territory with
out a permit from the proper officer. ' '
That the Mormon leaders were determined to make desperate resist
ance to the entry of the federal troops is proved by the following self-
explanatory letter: "Great Salt Lake City, Sept. 14th, 1857.
"Colonel William H. Dame, Parowan, Iron county:
"Herewith you will receive the governor's proclamation declaring
martial law.

"You will probably not be called out this fall, but are requested to
continue to make ready for a big fight another year. The plan of opera
tions is supposed to be about this. In case the United States government
should send out an overpowering force, we intend to desolate the terri
tory, and conceal our families, stock and all our effects in the fastnesses
of the mountains, where they will be safe, while the men waylay our
enemies, attack them from ambush, stampede their animals, take the sup
ply trains, out off the detachments and parties sent to the canyons for
wood, or on other service. ' To lay waste everything that will burn —
houses, fences, fields and grass, so that they cannot find a particle of
anything that will be of use to them, not even sticks to make a fire to
cook their supplies. To waste away our enemies and to lose none; that
will be our mode of warfare. TIius you will see the necessity of prepar
ing, first, secure places in the mountains where they cannot find us, or,
if they do, where they cannot approach in force, and then prepare for our
families, building some cabins, caching flour and grain. . . . Concil
iate the Indians and make them our fast friends.
"In regard to letting the people pass and repass, or travel through
the territory, this applies to all strangers and suspected persons. Your
self and Brother Isaac C. Haight, in your districts, are authorized to
give such permits. Examine all such persons before giving them such
permits to pass. Keep things perfectly quiet, and let all things be done
peacefully, but with firmness, and let there be no excitement. Let the
people be united in their feelings and faith, as well as works, and keep
alive the spirit of reformation. And what we said in regard to saving the
grain and provisions we say again. We do not wish to shed a drop of
•blood if it can be avoided.
' ' This course will give us great infiuence abroad.
(Signed) "BRIGHAM YOUNG (Prophet);
"DANIEL H. WELLS (Lieutenant General.'
"Certified to under seal by James Jack, notary public, August 16,
1876."

Brigham Young's letter to Dame is a curious mixture of governor of
Utah and king of the Mormon ' ' kingdom of God ' ' — a blending of the
civil and ecclesiastic authority, as was intended by the founders of Mor
monism. It should be particularly noted that Bishop Colonel Dame and Presi
dent Colonel Haight were authorized, as military and ecclesiastical
authorities, in their districts, to issue "permits" to "pass or repass"
through the territory.
It will be observed that President Young's letter to Dame bears date
of September 14, while the date of the proclamation is that of September
15. In the discussion between Haight and John D. Lee on the night of
about September 3, it is alleged by the latter that Haight told him that
the massacre of the emigrants "is the will of all in authority. The emi-
10

grants have no pass from any one to go through the country, and they
are liable to be killed as common enemies, for the country is at war now.
No man has a right to go through this country without a written pass."
The conversation between Haight and Lee occurred about twelve
days before the proclamation is alleged to have been promulgated. Pres
ident Young received word on the 24th of July, 1857, that Johnston's
army was en route to Utah, and it is unbelievable that the astute Brigham
would have waited until September 15 to issue his "proclamation" de
claring the existence of "martial law."
Under all the circumstances it is not an injustice to charge that,
after the massacre, the date of the proclamation was changed from August
to September for the purpose of destroying the plain evidence that the
massacre of the emigrants was authorized by the proclamation, inasmuch
as the emigrants had no "permit" to pass through the territory.

11

THE DOOMED ARKANSAS COMPANY.
Little is known of the personnel of Fancher's company. No doubt
the larger number was from Arkansas. There were many from Missouri,
and a few from other states.
William Eaton, whose niece is living in Salt Lake City, was a native
of Indiana. During the early fifties he went to Illinois, where he secured
a farm. Early in 1857 he met some men from Arkansas who were visiting
relatives in Illinois preparatory to moving to California with the Fancher
company. Eaton sold his farm, took his wife and little daughter back to
Indiana, and joined the company in Arkansas. The last letter received
hj Mrs. Eaton from her husband stated that all was well, but subse
quently she learned that the company had been exterminated.
William A. Aden, another of the victims, was born in Tennessee, and
was about twenty years old at the time of the massacre. A recent letter
from his brother, James S. Aden of Paris, Henry county, Tennessee, states
that his brother was an artist, and relates an interesting incident that
occurred in Paris several years prior to his brother's departure for Cali-
fonia, and which forms the basis for another interesting incident at Paro
wan, Utah.
William Laney, a Mormon elder from Utah, was proselyting in the
vicinity of Paris. He secured the courthouse and proceeded to expound
Mormonism. A number of mischievous lads, among whom was William
A. Aden, pushed a small cannon to the rear of the courthouse, and while
Elder Laney was preaching the boys discharged the small piece of ord
nance. Elder Laney thought that an armed mob was upon him. He
abruptly discontinued his discourse, ran from the building and sought safe
ty in hurried flight. On his mad race out of town he met the father of
young Aden, who took him home and cared for him during the elder's
stay in the vicinity.
Early in 1857 young Aden left Tennessee for California. He sketched
scenery along the route, and on his arrival in Utah went on to Provo,
about 47 miles south of Salt Lake City, where he did some scenic paint
ing for the Provo Dramatic association. On the arrival of the doomed
Arkansas company he joined them and went on to the Mountain Meadows.
Frank E. King and wife traveled with the Fancher company from
Pacific Springs, Wyoming, to Salt Lake City, where, owing to the sickness
of Mrs. King, he was compelled to remain until December 4, when he
went on to Beaver, 210 miles south of Salt Lake City, and thus escaped
the fate that lurked for the company in southern Utah.
The author of this story of the massacre is indebted to Mr. Frank E.
King for much interesting data relative to the company, and of his expe
rience in Utah about the time of the massacre, and will, therefore in
troduce him more fully to the reader.
On Mr. King's arrival in Beaver the bishop of the ward advised him
12

to remain during the winter as the Indians, after the massacre, were
more than usually hostile toward Gentiles. Mr. King remained during
the winter, and, notwithstanding the friendliness of the bishop, was
twice ordered to move on by some of the fanatics. On May 15 Mr. King
again started for southern California, and reached Cedar City on the 17th.
Quoting from Mr. King's letter, he says:
"I had not tinhitched my team when John M. Higbee and Ellas
Morris, second counselor to Isaac C. Haight, ordered me to leave before
the sun rose the next morning. ' '
Mr. King regarded the order as ominous, and returned to central
Utah. After living in Manti and other towns he joined the first colony
of settlers in Marysvale, Piute county, Utah, where he resided until some
five years ago, when he moved to Grant's Pass, Oregon.
Although the writer 's intimate acquaintance with Mr. King extended
over a period of twenty-five years, I never heard him mention the Moun
tain Meadows massacre, and. knew nothing of his association with the un
fortunate company until his son, Charles, who resides in Marysvale, last
winter (1910) told me that his father traveled in FancTier's company.
Soon after the discovery I wrote to Mr. King and received some of the
information which is used in this history of the massacre.
There were certain questions in dispute, and with my first letter to
Mr. King I inclosed a list of questions which, with the answers, are given
herewith: Ques. — Kindly give the names of as many members of the company
as you can remember?
Ans.' — Fancher, Dunlap, Morton, Haydon, Hudson, Aden, Stevenson,
Hamilton, a family by the name of Smith and a Methodist minister.
Ques. — Give the Christian names Gf_the two Dunlap girls and their
ages? Ans. — Eachel and Euth, aged sixteen and eighteen years, respectively.
Ques. — How many wagons and carriages in the train?
Ans. — Forty.
Ques. — How many men capable of bearing arms, and about how many
women — married and single, large girls included?
Ans. — About sixty men, forty women and nearly fifty children.
Ques. — About how many horsemen in the train?
Ans. — About twelve, as near as I can remember.
CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN UTAH.
The settlemeuts in Iron and Washington counties were less than six
years old, and distant 240 to more than 300 miles from Salt Lake City.
Mail lines had not been established. All communication with Salt Lake
was necessarily by special ijiessenger or by the slower means of those who
occasionally went to and fro on business. At the tiihe- of which we are
writing the people of those remote southern settlements were in the
throes of the Mormon "reformation," and the news of the approach of
Johnston's army served to intensify the frenzy. They had three years'
breadstuff on hand, but were continually urged to husband it for the
expected "big fight" with the United States.
13

JOHN DOYLE LEE.

PERSONNEL OF THE LEADING ASSASSINS.
Isaac C. Haight resided in Cedar City, about 260 miles southwesterly
from Salt Lake City, and forty miles northeasterly from the Mountain
Meadows. He was president of the Parowan "stake of Zion," and as
such was the ecclesiastical agent in Iron county of President Brigham
Young, to whom all the presidents of "stakes" reported, and to whom
they were directly responsible for their acts. Haight was also lieutenant
colonel in the Iron county militia, and upon him must ever rest the larger
part of the odium for the inception and details of the massacre.
As bishop of the Parowan ward of the Parowan ' ' stake of Zion, ' '
William H. Dame was under the ecclesiastical direction of President
Haight. But as colonel in command of the military district comprising
Iron and Washington counties Dame was the military superior of Haight.
John M. Higbee resided in Cedar City, was first counselor to Isaac C.
Haight in the Parowan ' ' stake of Zion, ' ' and was major in the Iron
county militia.
The practice of conferring ecclesiastical, civil and military powers on
the same individual has been a distinguishing feature of the Mormon
church from its beginning in 1830. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mor
monism, was at once the representative of the Mormon god upon the
earth, mayor of Nauvoo, and lieutenant general of the Nauvoo legion.
And just before his death in 1844, the Mormon "prophet" was nominated
for president of the United States by the Democrats under his spiritual
control. And it is an inexorable law that the ecclesiastical power of the
Mormon hierarchs is superior to that of the civil and military divisions,
or adjuncts, of the church.
And there is no doubt that Dame reluctantly became an abettor
of butchering the emigrants because of the fact that Haight was his eccle
siastical superior.
There is a popular and widespread impression that John D. Lee was
the leader and arch criminal of the massacre. That is not true. He
held ho special office in the priesthood, but was farmer to the Indians
under Superintendent Brigham Young. Lee was a man of medium height,
heavy build, and possessed more than average intelligence. As an abjecr
slave of the Mormon priesthood he was a willing tool of his "file leader'-
in deeds of violence. Lee's father was, a member of the "First Families
of Virginia," and had not the son become tainted with Mormon super
stition, and the victim of the fatuous doctrine of unquestioning obedience
to the self-constituted vicegerents of God, he would doubtless have lived
and died an honored mem,ber of society.
Philip Klingensmith was bishop of the Cedar ward and Samuel Mc-
Murdy was his first counselor.
Except in so far as it is necessary in the discussion of the details of
the tragedy, it would be an act of wanton cruelty to name the others of
the fifty-five white men who were present at the massacre. The public
naming of those men would serve no purpose, and would add unnecessary
weight to the cross which hundreds of their innocent descendants are
bearing. 15

The great majority of the men who participated in that almost un
paralleled crime were not murderers in the generally accepted definition
of the word. They v/ere irresponsible victims of gross superstition, and,
almost without protest, they stained their souls with blood in the effort
to perform the will of God, as they understood the order to commit mur
der. Tie execrations of those now living, and of those who will read the
story of the tragedy at the Mountain Meadows in the years to come
should fall upon those who taught the doctrine of unquestioning obedience
and blood atonement, and upon those present day "prophets, seers and
revelators" who teach that a Mormon "lies in the presence of God"
when he declines to surrender his temporal being to the representatives
of an alien and despotic priesthood.
Such were the people, and such were the conditions that awaited
Captain Fancher's company of one hundred and fifty souls.
ROUTE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
It was about the middle of August, 1857, when the Arkansas emi
grants emerged from Emigration canyon and camped on Emigration
square, the present site of the Salt Lake city and county building.
After laying in such supplies as could be obtained in Salt Lake City
the emigrants proceeded southward, following the well beaten road that
stretched out southerly and then southwesterly to southern California.
According to Mr. Frank E. King the company was short of supplies
when they left Salt Lake, At Nephi, about 100 miles south of. Salt Lake,
they made the attempt to purchase fiour of "Eed Bill" Black, who ran
the fiour mill, but were peremptorily refused. A like effort was made at
Fillmore, sixty miles south of Nephi, and with like results.
At Corn creek, fourteen miles southwesterly from Fillmore, the emi
grants laid over a day or two to permit their work animals and cows
which they were taking to California to graze on the then luxuriant pas
turage of that locality. During their sojourn at Corn creek one of the
emigrants' animals died. A portion of the carcass was eaten ,by some
of the Pahvan Indians, who yet have an encampment near the creek. It
is reported that four of the Indians died, presumably from the effects of
eating the diseased meat.
That incident has been worn threadbare by Mormon and pro-Mormon
historians, who charge that the emigrants poisoned the carcass for the
express purpose of killing some of the Indians.
And those same historians also assert that, as an act of revenge, the
Indians followed the emigrants to the Meadows and there exterminated
them. Those historians also charge that the emigrants poisoned the
water of a spring with the purpose, as is alleged, of killing more Indians.
The second charge will receive first attention.
The nearest spring is a half mile or more north of where the emi
grants were camped, and twice that distance from the old camp ground
of the Indians. The spring is in the nature of a slough in soil highly
charged with alkali, of which the water contains an appreciable quan
tity. Not even an Indian would drink the water from that spring while
the pure mountain water of Corn creek was within a, few rods of where
16

the Pahvans were camped. It would have required many pounds of
poison to have been effective on life, and the emigrants would have poi
soned their cattle, which were grazing on the bottom land near the slough.
The emigrants were well within that section of Utah where the In
dians were periodically at war with the Mormons, and which continued
until the close of 1866. The Pahvan tribe was strong and restless. Less
than four years previously Moshoquop, the war chief of the Pahvans, and
a fraction of his band murdered Lieutenant Gunnison and his exploring
party of nearly a dozen men as an act of revenge for the killing of Mosh
oquop 's father by a hot headed emigrant.
The Fancher company was not an aggregation of fools or lunatics.
They knew that they were within the power of an enemy that was then
preparing for war with the United States. Their failure to obtain food
supplies, and the sullen behavior of the Saints would have convinced men
of ordinary sense and caution that theirs was a dangerous situation.
And they knew that scores of places, like the defile known as Baker's
pass, not twenty miles away, where a dozen Indians could waylay and
murder a hundred men, must be traversed before they could reach the
open country of the Nevada deserts.
And at the second trial of John D. Lee, in 1876, Nephi Johnson, a,
devout Mormon and Indian interpreter, forever disarmed the lying Mor
mon historians by declaring that no Pahvan Indians were present at the
massacre. A portion of Johnson's evidence, as also that of other wit
nesses, is given in the appendix at the close of this narrative.
The fact is, western Indians, when pressed for food, eat the flesh of
diseased animals; and that the Pahvans knew that the emigrants were
.blameless in the matter of the death of four of their braves is abundantly
proved by the fact that they did not molest the strangers.
At Beaver, about forty-eight miles from Corn creek, the emigrants
made another unsuccessful attempt to purchase supplies.
On their arrival at Parowan, thirty miles south from Beaver, the
emigrants encamped outside the "fort" or earth wall surrounding the
Mormon residences and gardens. By some means the emigrants succeed
ed in purchasing a small quantity of wheat, but there was no mill in the
settlement. Among those who visited the camp of the emigrants was Elder Wil
liam Laney, who has before been mentioned as a missionary in Tennes
see. William A. Aden immediately recognized Elder Laney as the man
whom he, with other boys, had frightened by the discharge of a small
cannon in the rear of the courthouse at Paris. Aden at once made him
self known to the elder, who recollected that Aden 's father had given
him shelter when he believed that his life was in danger, and cordially
invited the young T'ennesseean to visit him within the fort. Aden ac
cepted the elder's hospitality and visited his home where Elder Laney
had two wives living in the same cottage. Aden noticed that the elder
had a fine patch of onions growing in his front yard and asked to pur
chase some of them. Elder Laney called his wives and instructed them
to pull the onions for Aden. The onions were presented to the son of
Laney 's benefactor in Tennessee. For that slight act of reciprocal kind
ness the bishop of Parowan sent two young men by the name of Carter
IV

to Laney 's house. The latter was called out to the sidewalk where one
of the young thugs beat him into insensibility with a club. Laney 's
wives dragged him into the house and protected him from further assault
by the emissaries of the Mormon priesthood. Laney 's injuries affected
him during the remainder of his life. The incident serves to illustrate
the fanaticism and hatred that inspired the Saints to commit the final
act of extermination 'of the emigrants.
From Parowan the road turns sharply to the southwest, and thus
continues eighteen miles to Cedar City, where the emigrants made another
ineffectual effort to purchase provisions. But Joseph Walker, who was
running the flour mills, ground the wheat which had been obtained at
Parowan. Bishop Klingensmith sent an elder to Walker and ordered him
not to grind the wheat. The sturdy and bluff old Englishman said to
the bishop's agent: "Tell the bishop that I have six grown sons, and
that we will sell our lives at the price of death to others before I will
o.bey his order. ' ' During many weeks after the incident the emissaries
of the bishop hounded Walker, and one night while at work in the smut
ting room of the mill he saved his life by blowing out the candle, thus
thwarting the assassins who were lurking near the window of the room.
And although Joseph Walker knew by whose orders, and by whom, the
Mountain Meadows massacre was perpetrated, he lived and died a Mor
mon. Once thoroughly converted to the belief that Joseph Smith was a
prophet of God, a little thing like the massacre at the Meadows doesn't
even jar the faith of the average Mormon.
It is very likely that the emigrants had neglected to apply at Salt
Lake City for "permits" to pass through the territory of the United
States. They were American citizens, pioneers of Arkansas and Mis
souri, and were not accustomed to asking for permits to travel the public
highways. If defenders of the Mormon ''prophets" accept the theory
that Brigham Young's "proclamation" declaring martial law was not in
effect at the time the emigrants were en route to the Meadows, and that
"permits" were not necessary, they abandon the only possible excuse, or
apology, for the massacre — that under all the circumstances it was a mil
itary necessity, and must, forsooth, concede that it was a religious murder,
and that "by their fruits ye shall know them."
Cedar City was the last town on their route to California, and the
last place where Brigham Young's order regarding permits could, without
a massacre, be enforced. And "Brother" Isaac C. Haight was the last
man on the route who was "authorized" by the Mormon "prophet" to
issue permits. And there is no doubt that Haight insisted that the orders
of his religious master in Salt Lake City be fulfilled to the letter, and that
the emigrants resented the insult.
Whether true or false, unfortunately the emigrants cannot be called
in rebuttal, the Mormons of Cedar City have been insistent in their
charges that the emigrants' conduct was rude, defiant and .boisterous. It
is alleged that they fired their pistols in the air, ' ' swore like pirates, ' ' and
defied the town authorities to arrest them. It is also asserted that some
of the emigrants from Missouri boasted of having aided in driving the
Mormons from that state, and with having nelped kill "old Joe Smith"
at Carthage jail in Illinois. It is also affirmed that the emigrants swore
If-

te*

'V. ¦"i"i*,.x,ft--^

The Mountain Meadows — Lool<ing southwesteriy from rim of basin. (Fig. 1, IViassacre hill.)
that they would take provisions by force from the small hamlets and
ranches through which they expected to pass on their way down the
Santa Clara river.
Fancher's company turned westerly, following the old emigrant trail
to California, and camped at the southwest corner of the Cedar co-opera
tive field. According to Mormon statements, it was there that the emi
grants committed their last depredation, although they passed through
Pinto, six miles northeasterly from the Meadows. According to rumor,
they used some fencing for fuel, thus opening the Cedar field to the tres
pass of range cattle and horses.
The emigrants were then about thirty miles northeasterly from the
Meadows. We will precede them and make the reader acquainted with
the topography of the locality.
THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS.
The Mountain Meadows are situated about twen'ty-five miles south
easterly from Modena, a distributing station on the Salt Lake, Los An
geles & San Pedro railroad, in the southwesterly part of Iron county.
A few miles north of the Washington county line the land rises quite
rapidly to the southwesterly "rim of the Great Salt lake basin." Be
ginning at the "rim," and descending gently toward the southwest some
two miles, is a narrow valley or depression similar to scores of others
[vhieh occur in the higher altitudes of the Eocky mountains. A low, un
dulating bench, occupied by sparsely growing scrub cedars and pinyon
pines, forms the eastern boundary of the depression, while low hills and
ridges roll away toward the west a mile or so, where they vanish in the
east base of the Beaver Dam range of mountains.
The locality is about 6000 feet above sea level, and fifty years ago the
narrow strip of bottom land was covered with luxuriant high altitude
grass. With the exception of clumps of scrub oak and scattering cedars
on the hillsides, there is nothing to relieve the monotony of the bare hills
and ridges. A few springs weakly emerge from the hillsides and bottom
land and furnish all the water within a distance of several miles. Well
down toward the lower end of the depression a small spring emerged from
the sward within a,bout thirty yards to the southeast of where the emi
grants went into camp for the last time. To the west, and within twenty
rods of the spring, the south end of a low ridge rises from the fiat and
reaches out a quarter mile or so toward the north. The crest of the
ridge is strewn with blocks of basalt, and forms a natural rampart. The
base of the eastern hillside is not more than thirty rods from the spring,
and is occupied with clumps of oak brush.
About thirty rods northeast of the old camp grounds is a compara
tively high hill of small dimensions, from the base of which a low swell,
or rise of ground, extends southerly to the bench. T'o the south and east
of the swell, a few rods from its summit, is a depression covered with a
dense growth of mountain sage. Across the depression, some thirty rods
to the south, the base of the bench is bounded ,by a gully some twelve feet
lieep — deeper now than at the time of the massacre. The south side of
the gully is conspicuously marked by two large clumps of scrub oak, and
beyond the hillside is occupied with sage, scrub oak and scattered cedars.
21

The east clump of oak was the scene of the most terrible incident of all
that heartless butchery.
Although the nights were somewhat chilly in the high altitude of the
meadows, the days were quite warm, and the emigrants knew that three
or four days' travel would take them down into an altitude of about 1500
feet, and out on the blistering sand and gravel strewn plains and mesas
of southern Nevada, where, in some localities, the watering places are
fifty miles apart, and scant forage for animals. Doubtless those consid
erations again prompted them to rest their cattle for the hard journey
that awaited them. And had conditions been otherwise they were really
conserving time and comfort in the delay.
THE CONSPIRACY.
About September 7, or the Sabbath following the departure of the
emigrants from Cedar, a meeting of the priesthood was held in the com
bined school and meeting house on the public square.
There had been hatched in the cruel, priest-ridden brain of Isaac C.
Haight a plot to exterminate the emigrants. His scheme was to collect
the Indians within a radius of sixty miles and loose them upon the
strangers, and he would put the question to the brethren at the meeting.
He was already assured of the enthusiastic support of Bishop Klingen
smith. The subject of the extermination of the emigrants was duly presented
to the priesthood (nearly every man in the Mormon church holds the
priesthood), and was discussed at considerable length. A few of the
elders opposed it, while others warmly approved the measure that was so
in harmony with the teachings of the ' ' prophets ' ' and with the ' ' spirit
of the reformation. ' ' The arguments waxed warm and caused considera
ble commotion. While the excitement was at its height a commanding figure entered
the building. The man was Laban Morrill, who presided over the spir
itual and temporal welfare of the Saints at Johnson's Fort, a small set
tlement a,bout six miles northerly from Cedar. Laban Morrill would have
attracted attention anywhere among his f ellowmen. His fine head, strong,
yet kindly features and dignified bearing Inarked him as an altogether
superior man. After seating himself Mr. Morrill turned to an elder and
asked him the cause of the excitement.
After listening a few minutes to the speeches for and against the
measure, Laban Morrill arose and dispassionately pointed out the unwis
dom and inhumanity of the proposed deed. President Haight and Bishop
Klingensmith contended for the perpetration of the infamous crime. They
urged that the Lord's prophet had said: "If any miserable curses come
here, cut their throats." It was not advice, it was a command. And the
emigrants surely came within the meaning of the term "miserable
curses." Had they not boasted of having aided in driving the "Lord's
chosen people" from Missouri? And had they not also boasted of helping
to murder the Lord's greatest prophet, Joseph Smith? And had they not
also threatened to raise an army in California and aid in exterminating
the Mormons? Such were the arguments used by Haight, Klingensmith and others to
22

inflame the passions of the elders, and to "keep alive the spirit of the
reformation," as President Young had advised. But the masterful pres
ence of Laban Morrill, for the moment, apparently stood between the
emigrants at the Meadows and destruction. The discussion was long and
stormy, but Morrill finally forced an apparent compromise. He de
scribed the ineffaceable stain that such an infanmy would bring upon the
church, and upon the descendants of those who participated in the crime.
As a last, and more forcible, argument he told the elders that President
Young had not been consulted in the matter, It was then agreed that
action be deferred until reply could be received from a message that
would ,be sent the next day to President Young. With that understanding
the elders dispersed, and Laban Morrill returned home "feeling," as he
subsequently expressed it, ' ' that all was well. ' '
It was nearly dark of an evening some three or four days prior to
the priesthood meeting just described, when President Isaac C. Haight
walked out on the public square at Cedar City. Evidently he was expect
ing someone. He had but a few minutes to wait.
A man of medium height, heavy build and square, smooth face rode
up and dismounted. After the usual greetings, and a compliment to the
newcomer for his promptness in responding to the summons, Haight told
Lee that he had an important matter to discuss with him, and suggested
that they take some blankets and spend the night in the unused iron
works building (subsequently used for a .distillery), where they would
not be disturbed.
During the night the plot for murdering the emigrants was fully dis
cussed, and the details, so far as possible, were arranged. Nephi Johnson,
a youth of nineteen years, and an excellent Indian interpreter, was
selected to ' ' stir up ' ' the redskins in the vicinity and send them down to
the Meadows. Johnson was to represent to the Indians that the "Meri-
cats ' ' — Gentiles — were at war with the Mormons and Indians, and that
the emigrants were going to California -with the avowed purpose of re
turning with an army to exterminate the Mormons and Indians. Carl
Shirts, Lee's son-in-law, was assigned to a like mission among the In
dians near St. George, and Oscar Hamblin was to lead the Santa Clara
Indians to the Meadows.
To those not acquainted with the inner workings of the hierarchal
despotism called the Mormon church, it may appear incredible that Nephi
Johnson and the others would consent to become tools in a scheme so
diabolical, so cruel and inexpressibly treacherous, .but the facts to be
related will remove the last doubt. Subsquently, Nephi Johnson testified
that he was afraid of personal violence if ne refused, and that he had
known of instances where men had been "injured" for refusal to do as
they were told. By an ingenious ruse, at the last moment, Johnson
avoided personal participation in the wholesale murder.
The afternoon following the priesthood meeting James H. Haslam,
now residing in Wellsville, Cache county, Utah, started on his memorable
ride to Salt Lake City, bearing the message of inquiry as to the disposal
of the emigrants. The story of that ride, of the relays of horses, of the
delay because of the indifference of the bishop of Fillmore, and of other
incidents would be interesting, but regard for brevity compels their
omission.

THE ATTACK.
In the days of those long and strenuous journeys across the western
portion of the continent the emigrants were wont to drive their wagons
into a circle with the tongues on the inside for convenience in getting
into and out of the wagons. The arrangement served admirably for a
fort in case of attack, and formed a corral into which the work animals
were driven and held while being yoked or harnessed.
That the emigrants had no suspicion of danger is proved by the hap
hazard position of their wagons when the first attack was made, and by
the other fact that no guards were with their animals. The evidences of
the feeling of security aid in disproving the charge that they were
guilty of unprovoked acts of aggression and violence in Cedar City.
The morning of September 13 found the men, as usual, early astir.
On the east side of the wagons several camp fires were sending up their ^
cheery light, thus relieving the darkness that precedes the early dawn.
The forms of men were distinctly outlined against the bright light from
burning cedar and sagebrush. There was no premonition of danger. Jets
of fiame, followed by the cracking of rifies and the fierce warwhoops
from the throats of more than a hundred Indians startled the men from
their fancied security. Seven men fell dead or mortally wounded. The
triumphant yells of the Indians were mingled with the screams of women
and the cries of children suddenly awakened to the peril that menaced
them. In the excitement, confusion and terror the men secured their
arms and, guided by the pandemonium on the hillside, returned the fire
with such precision that three Indians were killed and several wounded.
The redskins had been promised an easy victory over the white men,
and that none of them would .be injured by the "enemies of the Lord."
Very naturally, the reds were surprised as well as frightened at the re
sult, and hastily withdrew, carrying with them their dead and injured
over the brow of the hill.
The disgusted braves held an impromptu powwow, and immediately
dispatched a messenger over the east range to John D. Lee, at Harmony,
and his presence demanded at the Meadows. (See appendix.) On Lee's
arrival the dead and wounded Indians were pointed out to him as the
disastrous results of the attack. According to Lee's statement, the In
dians insisted that he at once lead them to victory, or, failing, they would
wreak vengeance on the Mormons because of their duplicity in the matter
of promised divine protection.
Lee avers that he believed the emigrants had been "sufficiently pun
ished," and that, in order to gain time and to quiet the frenzy of the
Indians, who were from Cedar and Parowan, he told them that he would
go down to the Santa Clara and hurry up the Indians who were pre
sumed to be en route to the Meadows. 24

East hillside, from which Indians made first attack. (Cross indicates position of emigrant camp.)

After some parleying Lee was permitted to depart. When some
sixteen miles distant he met about one hundred Indians from St. George
and the Santa Clara under the direction of- Carl Shirts and Oscar Ham
blin. With the Indians were some fifteen white men from St. George and
the outlying hamlets. As it was then evening the white men went into
camp at the upper crossing of the river, while the reds went on to the
Meadows. From Lee's story of the massacre, the truth of which has not been
challenged by any defender of the Mormon faith, we are induced to be
lieve that the first intimation that he had that white men were to par
ticipate in the butchery was when he met those fifteen men, whom he
names, at the upper crossing of the Santa Clara. The camp fire talk of
those men removed the last doubt of the intention of the priesthood of
the Parowan stake of Zion to blood atone the emigrants. Lee's state
ment that he spent the night in tears and in supplications to God for
some manifestation or sign that the contemplated sacrifice was approver
of heaven is at once sincere and pathetic.
EMIGRANTS' HEROIC DEFENSE.
Immediately after the first attack the emigrants drew their wagons
into a circle and chained the wheels together. A rifle pit, large enough
to protect the women, children and wounded, was dug in the center of
the corral. A few feet northeast of the rifle pit a circular excavation
about six feet in diameter, and at present about two feet deep, is a pa
thetic witness that the emigrants made an a.bortive effort to obtain water
by digging, and which remains as evidence of their desperate plight.
During the forenoon of the 14th Lee and the other white men rode
from the Santa Clara to the Meadows. Lee immediately sent a dispatch
to Haight, which closed as follows: "For my sake, for the people's
sake, for God's sake, send me help to protect and save these emigrants."
From a careful analysis of the evidence and statements of those
present at the tragedy, and from an inspection of the topography of the
Meadows, it is certain that the Indians were camped at a spring about a
half mile below the camp of the emigrants, and that the white men
camped on the small rivulet to the northeast of "Massacre hill," or in
the depression which has been described as being over the "low rise of
ground," some fifty to sixty rods northeasterly from the camp of the
emigrants. Some time during the afternoon Lee crossed diagonally over the
meadow to the northwest, for the purpose, as he claims, "to take a look
at the situation." The emigrants recognized him as a white man, and
immediately displayed a white flag. Charley Fancher, son of the captain,
and another boy were sent out to interview Lee. But, as he asserts, he
hid from the boys, because he had not received word from Haight regard
ing the final disposal of the emigrants. After a close search for Lee the
boys returned to camp. They were not fired upon, which is the only
gleam of light in the darkness of the infamous details.
, Toward evening the Indians made a detour from their camp to the
west, and among the ridges and foothills of the Beaver Dam range ap-
26

Looking westerly across recently made gully. Fig. 1, basalt ridge from behind which Indians made second attack;
indicates position of emigrant camp; S, spring as now appears.

preached the basalt ridge to the west and northwest of the improvised
fort of the emigrants, and began the second attack on the beleaguered
strangers. Lee heard the screams of the women and children, and ac
companied by Oscar Hamblin and another man ran across the meadow for
the purpose of quieting the redskins. Before reaching the shelter of the
ridge, as Lee asserts, he received two bullets through his clothing and one
through his hat. 'The incident has not .been disputed by those who ap
pear to think it their duty, in the interest of their church, to blacken the
memory of John D. Lee. Aided by Oscar Hamblin Lee quieted the In
dians by pleading with them to desist until word could be received from
the big Mormon chief at Cedar City.
ASSEMBLING OF WHITE ASSASSINS.
Whether or not Lee's message was received by Haight prior to dis
patching a number of the elders to the Meadows is uncertain as well as
immaterial. Certain it is that during the 14th William C. Stewart, a
high priest and member of the Cedar City council; Bishop Klingensmith,
Samuel McMurdy and about thirty-flve other white men, under command
of Major John M. Higbee, arrived at Leachy spring, in a canyon descend
ing to the east in the range that divides Cedar City from Pinto, and
about seventeen miles from the Meadows, where they camped for the
night. Some time during the night of the 13th William A. Aden and two
other young men left the camp of the emigrants, and after eluding the
white men and Indians started toward Cedar for the purpose, if possible,
of obtaining assistance. Arriving at Leachy spring they were challenged
by Stewart, to whom Aden stated the nature of their mission. Stewart
&nd another night guard replied with their guns, and the young artist
from Tennessee was the first victim of those blood atoning priests, who
shot him in the .back. One of Aden's companions was wounded, but, with
the other emigrant, escaped and succeeded in reaching their camp.
Until the return of Aden's companions no doubt the emigrants hoped
that none other than Indians were concerned in the assault upon them.
The cowardly murder of Aden was sufficient to convince them trat the
redskins were merely the allies and tools of the white men, and that
they were face to face with annihilation. Even if any of them could
escape in the darkness they would surely perish on the desert. Within
their inclosure they had buried seven of the brave defenders of the women
and children, and others were wounded — even then dying. Any attempt
to describe the efforts of those heroic men to comfort their wives and to
calm the terror of their children would be as fruitless as unprofitable.
Out on the desert, with the stars looking down on the final sepulchre of
the emigrants, we are compelled to leave them to their reflections. Not
until those men, women and children meet their destroyers and the Mor
mon "prophets" before the bar of eternal justice will the whole truth of
the tragedy be known. And not until then will the story of what trans
pired in the camp of the emigrants be told.
Higbee and his companions arrived at the Meadows the morning after
the murder of Aden. Haight 's orders were handed to Lee. The nature
28

of those instructions need not be stated. Lee claims. that his entire being
revolted, but he knew the consequences of refusal.
Why the emigrants did not inclose the spring at the time of forming
their corral is inexplicable except on the theory of the excitement that
accompanied the attack. Prior to the 15th they secured water during
the night time. It appears, however, that on the 15th the supply was
exhausted. Two men went out to the spring, and while a rain of lead
spattered around them, filled their pails and reached the fort in safety.
On another occasion two men went out after wood and, while the bullets
whistled .by and tore up the ground around them, coolly chopped the
wood and returned to the inclosure. The foregoing is the tribute paid
to the courage of those men by John D. Lee. That those shots were fired
from the top of Massacre hill, within fifteen rods of the Mormon camp,
is proved by the fact that the spring was sheltered from attack from
miscreants on the ridge to the northwest by the intervening wagons, and
the other fact that all other points were unprotected from the return fire
of the emigrants.
The evening of the 15th again witnessed the assembling of the In
dians behind the basalt ridge. Again they poured volley after volley
into the improvised fort, and were answered with energy and precision.
One of the Santa Clara Indians was killed and three others were wounded.
Disgusted with the second failure of divine protection, some of the reds
rounded up a bunch of the emigrants' cattle and returned to their camp
on the Santa Clara river.
The Mormons were astir early on the morning of the 16th. The
ruddy glow of a dozen camp fires lighted up the small depression and
cast weird shadows as the men walked to and fro or squatted around the
fires while preparing the morning meal.
WJiile yet dark the men were summoned to prayers. Under the blue
vault of heaven, from which the angels must have looked down with
infinite sorrow on the hellish scene, those wretched victims of unquestion
ing obedience, of superstition and fanaticism, knelt in the form of a
"prayer circle." With heads bowed in abject servility to an alien god,
and each right arm raised in the form of a square, those unhappy dupes
listenfed while one of the "servants of the Lord" asked the blessing of
their god upon the deeds they were about to enact, and for divine pro
tection while they were "avenging the blood of the prophets who died
in Carthage jail, ' ' and the martyrs who perished in Missouri and Illinois.
The invocation ended, the brethren convened in ' ' council. ' '
It has ever .been the boast of the Mormon priesthood that all questions
of importance to the church are submitted to the Saints and are decided
by ' ' common consent, ' ' and which, being interpreted, means consenting to
the will of the Mormon god's vicegerents, or, failing, they "lie in the
presence of God." And because of that rule the "council meeting,"
convened for the ostensible purpose of debating the measures embraced
in Haight 's program for the disposal of the emigrants was a burlesque.
The fate of the emigrants had been predetermined by Isaac C. Haight,
who was the direct agent of the "holy" vicegerents who resided at Salt
jjake. The "council" was merely a ratification meeting. Some there
29

Looking southwesterly from top of Massacre hill, from which shots were fired. "Dry land" wheat field In middle,
place where male emigrants were murdered. Cross over grave and old encampment.

and

were who had the courage to oppose the infamous measures, but their
voices were feeble in the presence of ."the leading priesthood."
Jacob Hamblin, brother of Oscar Hamblin, and a trusted missionary
to the Indians, owned a ranch some two miles northeasterly from the
Meadows, and near the junction of the roads from Modena and Cedar City
to the Meadows. At the time of the massacre Hain,blin was not at
home. But Samuel Knight, from the Santa Clara; was temporarily ranch
ing near the Hamblin place. During the forenoon of the 16th a messenger
arrived at Hamblin 's and requested Knight to go with his team over to
the Meadow.s. Knight must have known of the attack on the emigrants,
and very likely suspected the reason for the request. He pleaded the ill
ness of his wife. The request was then made for the use of his team.
Knight explained that his horses were only partly broken, and that if the
demand were imperative he would go with them. Such, in brief, was
Knight 's testimony at the second trial of Lee.

THE MASSACRE.
Unless it was the natural dread that nearly all men feel when con
science rebels at the vision of trSachery and carnage, there is no explana
tion of the postponement of the final arrangements for the massacre until
2 p. m. At about that hour William Bateman, carrying a white fiag, and
accompanied by Lee, appeared on the low rise of ground which separated
the camp of the Mormons from that of the emigrants. Bateman went on
to within a short distance of the corral, where he paused and awaited
some sign of recognition. A man named Hamilton went out to Bateman,
and after a short parley the former returned to the corral. Within a few
minutes Hamilton again went out and told Bateman that the emigrants
would put themselves under the protection of the flag of truce. Bateman
waved his flag, and the curtain was lifted on one of the most inexcusable
and atrociouus crimes of all the centuries.
Lee hastened down to the corral, followed by two teams driven by
McMurdy and Knight. The emigrants drew aside one of their wagons,
thus opening the corral. McMurdy, followed by Knight, drove into the
inclosure. The emigrants were burying two men who had just died of
their wounds. Conditions within the camp can best be described in the
words of John D. Lee.
"As I entered the fortiflcations, men, women and children gathered
around me in wild consternation. Some felt that the time of their happy
deliverance had come, while others, although in 'deep distress, and all in
tears, looked upon me with doubt, distrust and terror." Describing his
sensations, Lee continues; "My position was painful, trying and awful;
my brain seemed to be on fire; my nerves were for a moment unstrung;
humanity was overpowered, as I thought of the cruel, unmanly part I
was acting. ... I knew that I was acting a cruel part and doing a
damnable deed. Yet my faith in the godliness of my leaders was such
that it forced me to think that I was not sufficiently spiritual to act the
important part I was commanded to perform. ... I delivered my
message, and told the people that they must put their arms in the wagon,
so as not to arouse the animosity of the Indians. I ordered the children
and wounded, some clothing and arms, to be put into the wagons." In
speaking of the defensive condition of the camp, Lee says: "If the
emigrants had had a good supply of ammunition they never would have
surrendered, and I do not think we could have captured them without
great loss, for they were brave men and very resolute and determined."
Continuing, Lee says:
"Just as the wagons were loaded (Adjutant) Dan McFarland (of St.
George) came riding into the corral and said that Major Higbee had

Looking northeasterly — Fig. 1, top of Massacre hill; Fig. 2, spot where male emigrants were murdered;
grave, and place of encampment. Burned area in foreground.

cross over

ordered great haste to be made, for he was afraid the Indians would re
turn and renew the attack before he could get the emigrants to a place of
safety. ' '
In the meantime the militia, nearly fifty in number, moved over the
low ridge and proceeded close down to the emigrant camp and, in single
file and about six feet apart, took positions on the southeast side of the
road. The Indians, some two hundred strong, secreted themselves in the
rank sage and behind cedar trees in the near vicinity of the Mormon
camp. Nephi Johnson's horse had learned the trick of untying his halter
rope when it was carelessly fastened. Johnson, as I have been informed
by his intimate friends, carelessly tied his horse to a cedar tree, then

Lool<infi: southerly from Massacre hill — Fig. I, place from where Nephi Johnson
looked down on the massacre; Fig. 2, temporary refuge of Dunlap girls; Fig. 3, where
women and children were murdered.
stepped back and watched the intelligent brute untie the knot and scam
per up the hillside to the south. Johnson o.btained permission from Major
Higbee to go after his horse, and took a position on the point of the bench
from which he had an unobstructed view of the entire field.
Two wounded men and a number of children, "too young to tell
tales, ' ' were placed in Knight 's wagon which emerged from the corral
preceded by Lee and McMurdy 's wagon. Following Knight's wagon
were the women and children old enough to "tell tales." When the
women reached a point about one hundred yards northeasterly from the
corral, the male emigrants, in single file, and about six feet apart, were
34

permitted to begin the line of march. When they were opposite the
militia the latter stepped forward and, keeping a few feet to the right
of the emigrants, joined in the death march — following the women and
children. The horses driven by Samuel McMurdy were unusually fast walkers,
and Lee, who had charge of the first division of the emigrants — the women
and children, was forced to repeatedly admonish McMurdy not to travel
so rapidly. The respective localities had been carefully selected for the
slaughter of the men and women, and it would not do to have McMurdy
pass the point where the Indians were secreted until the word was given
to begin the carnage. The arrangements were made and carried out with
all the precision of a legalized execution.
There can be not the slightest doubt that the men knew the meaning

Looking northwesterly — Fig. 1, clump of oak bushes where Rachel and
Ruth Dunlap found temporary refuge; Fig. 2, Massacre hill; Fig- 3, where
women and children were murdered.
of the peculiar formation of the procession. If there were danger of an
attack by the Indians why was it, they thought, that they were not per
mitted to retain their firearms and aid in the protection of their wives
and children? But, through unparalleled treachery, they were then pow
erless, and there was probably the hope that those so dear to them might
be spared. That no word of protest was spoken is the strongest com
mendation of their heroism and evidence of their resignation.
Major Higbee was mounted and occupied a position on the summit
of the low elevation over which the wagons and women and children must
pass. The advance section of the procession passed over the elevation
35

and were partially, if not entirely, hidden from those in the rear, when
Higbee gave the command: "Do your duty! "
Terrified by the explosion of firearms and yells of the Indians,
Knight's horses reared and plunged. He leaped from the wagon, caught
his horses by the bits, and turned his face from the awful scene.
One of the wounded men in Knight's wagon was holding his com
panion in his arms. While Knight was quieting his frightened horses
McMurdy ran to Knight's wagon, raised his gun and exclaimed:
"0, Lord, my God, receive their spirits: it is for thv kingdom that
I do this!" Tie gun exploded and the bullet killed both men. Samuel
McMurdy had surely "kept alive the spirit of the reformation"; he had
vindicated his right to hold the "holy" Mormon priesthood,' and to be
first counselor to Bishop Klingensmith.
According to Nephi Johnson less than three minutes were consumed
in the work of death.
During the excitement and confusion attending the massacre, two
girls, Eachel and Euth Dunlap, made a desperate attempt to escape the
carnage. From the evidence, and from a careful study of the ground,
the girls must have been on the north side of the group of women and
children when the attack was made. Running to the east on the north
side of Knight and McMurdy 's wagons, they turned to the south and sped
toward the bench, where clumps of oak bushes seemed to invite them to
a temporary refuge. Clambering down the steep side of the gully they
crept into the oaks on the opposite brink. They were then about thirty
rods from the scene of death, over which the smoke from exploding fire
arms hung in a hazy cloud from which there no longer issued protesting
cries of women and the pitiful screams of children.
During a few brief minutes Eachel and Euth Dunlap believed they
were saved from the white and red butchers. Very likely no thought en
tered their minds of the fate that awaited them on the desert — the thirst
and hunger that surely lurked for them amid the inextricable maze of hills
and desert canyons. They dreamed not that if they escaped to some
habitation the occupants, under pain of death, must surrender them to
the blood atoning priests because, forsooth, they were old enough to tell'
the story of the massacre. Their only hope was to see the setting of the
sun and to feel the sheltering mahtle of night descend upon them.
One or more of the assassins must have seen the terrified girls as
they raced toward the gully and reported the fact to the chief from Paro
wan, who found the girls and dragged them from their hiding place. The
Indian sent for Lee, and on his arrival asked what should be done with
them. When informed that they were beyond the age limit prescribed by
Haight, the chief pleaded that they were "too pretty to be killed."
Divining the sentence pronounced by Lee, the elder girl dropped to her
knees and with clasped hands cried out: ''Spare me, and I will love
you all my life!" But she died, as her sister- had died, and at Lee's
hands. (Lee vehemently denied the awful charge.) For pitiful story of
attempt by Hamblin 's Indian boy to save the girls, see appendix.
Note. — Since the massacre, rumors have been persistent to the effect
that prior to their death- those girls were outraged by those who murdered
them. The charge was so terrible, so diabolical and inhuman that, as a
36

Mormon, and later on an "apostate," I could not believe the rumor — it
appeared to be just another Mormon canard to further .blacken the mem
ory of John D. Lee. There was, however, something in the terms of the
girl's appeal that is inexplicable when considered apart from the rumor.
Last winter (1910) I met a devout Mormon woman in southern Utah, who
was a girl at the date of the massacre; and she assured me that the rumor
is entirely trustworthy; that she remembers hearing the women of St.
George discuss the awful fate of the Dunlap girls. ' ' And, ' ' the lady con
cluded, "we Mormons have never been accused of charging crimes to our
people when the accusations were not true."
Jacob Hamblin was on his way from Salt Lake to his ranch near the
Meadows when the massacre was perpetrated. Hamblin 's Indian boy,
Albert, who was about sixteen years old, and whom the former had

Looking easterly from north side of gully in which the Dunlap girls
were ravished and murdered. Fig. 1, clump of oak bushes In which the
girls found temporary shelter.
adopted, was present at the massacre and witnessed the ravishment of
the Dunlap sisters and the cutting of their throats. On Hamblin 's ar
rival at the ranch the boy conducted him to the clump of oak brush
where the bodies of the girls, nude and bloated, furnished ghastly evi
dence of the truth of the young Indian's story. Subsequently, Hamblin
interviewed the Indian chief, who was Lee's partner in that special
crime, and who verified the young redskin's story, and repeated the
words used by the elder girl when pleading for her life.
The above is the substance of Hamblin 's testimony on that incident
as given at Lee's second trial. 37

We will draw the curtain on the scene, leaving those religion-crazed
fanatics to the judgment of a merciful God, and the logic and lessons
to the public.

On the old camp ground of the emigrants Major Carleton of the
United States army and other kindly hands reared a monument of
boulders which cover the remains of Captain Fancher and his company,
which, the spring following the massacre, were buried by Jacob Hamblin
in the rifle pit digged by the emigrants. Major Carleton also erected a
rude cross upon which he carved the legend: "Vengeance is mine, and
I will repay, saith the Lord.'' Some miscreant destroyed the cross.
Easterly and westerly the monument is about twelve feet long by six

Monument erected by Major Carleton over grave of emigrants — Looking
southerly.
feet wide. The west end is now about four feet high, and the east end
is a foot or so above the ground. From the east end of the grave the
earth descends to the bottom of a deep gully, made by floods during re
cent years, and unless protective measures are soon taken the spring and
summer floods will eat away the last visible evidence of the Mountain
Meadows massacre.

The once carpet of grass has vanished, and in its place is a d&nse
growth of mountain sage. The spring that supplied the Fancher com
pany with water now oozes up from a .bog near the bottom of the
gully. And all around the landscape is an indescribable desolation — a
3.?

vista of gray sage and barren hills. Seemingly, the God of Justice has
visited the locality with the withering blight of his displeasure — but
Mormonism yet lives, aggressive, arrogant and defiant.
As the occasional visitor, with bared head, stands by the desert
grave, his imagination recalls the death march up the valley. Through
the silence of more than fifty years is heard the echoes of exploding
firearms. The shrieks of women and children mingle with the frenzied
cries of fiends incarnate, then the death like silence returns. He seems
to feel the touch of spirit hands, to hear the murmur of spirit voices
pleading for remembrance of their wrongs, and for human justice for the
false and criminal leaders of the system whose doctrines and example
inspired their destruction, and who continue to traduce their victims as
their only defense of the ruthless murder of those who surrendered under
the sacred aegis of the flag of peace!

FURTHER DETAILS— FROM MAJOR CARLETON 'S REPORT.
Prior to the publication of the foregoing story of the massacre re
peated efforts were made to obtain a copy of Maj. J. H. Carleton 's report
of the tragedy made to the war department during the spring of 1839.
Each effort was fruitless until the 29th of this month, when, by a fortu
nate incident, it was learned where the loan of a copy could be obtained.
In the compilation of the material from which the major made
his report it became necessary to interview leading Mormons then resid
ing in southern Utah, among whom was Jacob Hamblin, who has been
sufficiently introduced to the reader. And inasmuch as the participants
in the massacre had been enjoined to "keep silent" on the subject, and
all Mormons were interested in shielding their "brethren" and their
church from the odium of the crime, it was impossible to obtain the
truth. As has been proved by Jacob Hamblin 's evidence in the second
trial of Lee, he knew every important detail of the crime, but in his in
terview with Major Carleton he placed the entire responsibility for the
tragedy upon the Indians. When the latter were interviewed they denied
the responsibility, but, like their Mormon friends, they were reticent as to
the details of the crime and the identity of the participants.
It was only by analysis of the testimony of the Mormons and In
dians whom the major interviewed, and noting the numerous contradic
tions, that he was able to justly charge the crime to the Mormon priest
hood of southern Utah. Under such conditions it is a marvel that Major
Carleton was able to sufficiently unravel the entangled web of falsehoods
to enter even upon the confines of accuracy. Every important detail of
the major's report, not given in the text of this story of the massacre, is
given in the following excerpta, which will be highly appreciated because
of the additional information regarding the personnel of the seventeen
children saved from the slaughter. The Author, October 31, 1910.
The Muddy river branch of the Pahute Indians, now residing on the
reservation near Moapa, on the Salt Lake, Los Angeles & San Pedro
railroad, were a murderous lot of savages at the time of the massacre.
That, and the additional fact that their headquarters were more than 150
3 'J

miles from the Mountain Meadows, doubtless induced the Mormons to
implicate the Muddy Indians in the crime. During his determined efforts
to get at the facts Major Carleton interviewed prominent men of that
division of the Pahutes. They replied as follows:
"Where are the wagons, the cattle, the clothing, the rifles, and other
prop6,rty belonging to the train? We have not got or had them. No;
you will find these things in the hands of the Mormons."
While camping at the Mountain Meadows, May, 1859, Major Carle-
ijn interviewed Mrs. Jacob Hamblin, who lived within two or three miles
of the Meadows at the time of the massacre. Following is the major's
report of the interview:
"Mrs. Hamblin is a simple minded person of about 45, and evidently
looks with the eyes of her husband at everything. She may really have
been taught by the Mormons to believe it is no great sin to kill Gentiles
and enjoy their property. Of the shooting of the emigrants, which she
herself had heard, and knew at the time what was going on, she seemed
to speak without a shudder, or any very great feeling; but when she told
of the seventeen orphan children who were brought by such a crowd to
her house of one small room there in the darkness of the night, two of
the children cruelly mangled, and the most of them with their parents '
blood still wet upon their clothes, and all of them shrieking with grief
and terror and anguish, her own heart was touched. She at least, deserves
kind consideration for her care and nourishment of the three sisters
(Eebecca, Louisa and Sarah Dunlap, the younger sisters of Eachel and
Euth Dunlap, whose pitiful fate has been detailed), and for all she did
for the little girl, about 1 year old, who had been shot through one of
her arms, below the elbow, by a large ball, .breaking both bones and cut-
ing the arm half off."
A few of the children saved from the slaughter were subsequently
taken to the Indian farm at Corn creek, where, it is asserted, the emi
grants had poisoned the water. One of those girls, named Elsie, so it is
credibly reported, remained at Corn creek and later on became the wife
of a highly respected stockman — a gentleman who was widely known in
Utah. The other sixteen children were taken to Salt Lake City and de
livered to Dr. Forney, United States Indian agent, who sent them to
their relatives in Arkansas and other states. Of the personnel of tho
children Major Carleton reported as follows:
' ' Sixteen of these were seen by Judge Cradlebaugh, Lieutenant
Kearney, and others, and gave the following information in relation to
their personal identity, etc. The children varied from 3 to 9 years of
age, ten girls, six boys, and were questioned separately. The first is a
boy named Calvin, between 7 and 8 years; does not remember his sur
name; says he was by his mother when she was killed, and pulled the
arrows from her back until she was dead; says he had two brothers older
than himself, named James and Henry, and three sisters, Mary, Martha
and Nancy.
"The second is a girl who does not remember her name. The others
say it is Demurr.
"The third is a .boy named Ambrose Miriam Tagit; says he had two
brothers older than himself and one younger. His father, mother and
40

two elder brothers were killed; his younger brother was brought to Cedar
City; says he lived in Johnston county, but does not know what state;
says it took one week to go from where he lived to his grandfather's and
grandmother's, who are still living in the states.
' ' The fourth is a girl obtained from John Morris, a Mormon, at Cedar
City. She does not recollect anything about herself.
Fifth, a boy obtained from E. H. Grove; says the girl obtained from
Morris is named Mary and is his sister.
"The sixth is a girl who says her name is Prudence Angelina; had
two brothers, Jesse and John, who were killed. Her father's name was
William, and she had an uncle Jesse.
"The seventh is a girl. She says her name is Frances Harris, or
Home; remembers nothing of her family.
The eighth is a boy too young -to remember anything about him
self. ' ' The ninth is a boy whose name is William W. Huff.
"The tenth is a boy whose name is Charles Francher" (Fancher).
(Note, — Charles Fancher was the sou of Capt. Charles Fancher, who
was in command of the train, and was 11 years old. He was small for his
age. He had a brother about 9 years of age, who was also small for his
years, and which, no doubt, was the reason for their escape from the
fate of those who were believed to be over 8 years old. Mormon children
are baptised at 8 years, when, from the Mormon viewpoint, they reach
the age of responsibility. Thus it was that the emigrant children under
8 years were not regarded by the Mormon priests as being responsible
for the sins of their parents, who were murdered in obedience to the
endowment oath to "avenge the blood of the (Mormon) prophets and
martyrs." It was from the lips of Charley Fancher, soon after his ar
rival from the vicinity of the tragedy, that I heard the first story of the
massacre. In his childish way he said that "some of the Indians, after
the slaughter, went to the little creek, and that after washing their faces
they were white men." During his staj^ in Salt Lake City I frequently
played marbles with Charley Fancher on First South, a half block or so
west of Main street. — The Author.)
"The eleventh is a girl who says her name is Sophronia Huff.
"The twelfth is a girl who says her name is Betsy.
' ' The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth are three sisters named Re
becca, Louisa and Sarah Dunlap. These three sisters were the children
obtained from Jacob Ham,blin.
"I have no note of the sixteenth.
"The seventeenth is a boy who was but 6 years old at the time of
the massacre. Hamblin 's wire brought him to my camp on the 19th in
stant. The next day they took him on to Salt Lake City to give him
up to Dr. Forney. He is a pretty little boy and hardly dreamed he had
again slept on the ground where his parents had been murdered."
It was twenty months after the massacre when Major Carleton en
camped on the Meadows. His description of conditions will be inter
esting. He said:
"The scene of the massacre, even at this late day, was horrible to
look upon. Women's hair, in detached locks and masses, hung to the
41

Sdige bushes and was strewn over the ground in many places. Parts of
little children's and of female costumes dangled from the shrubbery or
lay scattered about. ' '
From Major Carleton 's statement of the number of skulls and other
human bones which he gathered up and buried, it is evident that Jaco.b
Hamblin 's statement of the number of skeletons which he collected and
buried was exaggerated, or that there were many more people in the com
pany than has been heretofore estimated. And some of the bones were
found a mile or so from the old camp ground, at points to which the
coyotes had dragged them.

42

TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF JOHN D. LEE.
During the year 1875 Lee was tried for his part in the massacre.
There were seven Mormons and five Gentiles on the jury. It was a mis
trial. The Gentiles voted for conviction, the .Mormons for acquittal.
The -wave of indignation that swept over the United States convinced the
Mormon leaders that at least one Mormon must be sacrificed in the
interest of their church. Haight and Higbee were hiding in the wilds of
Arizona or Mexico. Klingensmith had taken refuge with a band of In
dians in Arizona at a place on the south side of the Colorado river, op
posite Eldorado canyon, in southern Nevada, where he took unto himself
a squaw as his fourth or fifth wife. He voluntarily became a .witness
for the people during the first trial of Lee. He saved his neck, but lied
with such facility that his evidence was of no value to the government,
and after his discharge he returned to his wickiup on the Colorado.
The second trial of Lee occurred in September, 1876. The Mormon
witnesses that could not be found during the first trial were easily
located for the second trial, and .became eager witnesses on every fea
ture of the evidence that was necessary to convict John D. Lee. But
the attorneys for the government found it impossible to awaken the
slumbering memories of the elders of any evidence that would convict
others of the assassins.
Another significant feature of the trial was that the marshal who
subpoenaed the jurors must have received a "hunch," for he secured as
many Mormon jurors as the law permitted.
It was believed by the marshal who had charge of the arrangements
for Lee's execution that if the Mountain Meadows were selected as the
place for the final ordeal that the condemned man might, on the tragic
ground, .be induced to make a statement of the inside facts which
would enable the representatives of the government to work more intel
ligently in the matter of bringing other guilty men to justice.
It was about 10 a. m., March 23, 1877, when Lee and his execu
tioners arrived at the Meadows. Photographer James Fennemore of
Beaver, where Lee was tried; Josiah Eogerson, a Mormon telegrapher;
a number of newspaper correspondents, including S. A. Kenner of the
Deseret News, and a small number of spectators were present.
Prior to the execution Lee accompanied the marshal and a number
of those present over the field and pointed out the respective localities
of chief est interest. But no useful information was divulged.
Lee's coffin was brought from the wagon and placed near the mound
of stones which cover the remains of the emigrants.
A covered wagon was drawn up to within a few paces of the coffin.
Five holes had been made in the cover, and five men were seen to dis
appear within the wagon. 43

'V* V' i

k ' ' ' < V I »

standing near his final receptacle, Lee made a brief farewell speech
in which he denied any intent to do wrong. He claimed, and rightly,
too, that he had been betrayed — sacrificed in the interest of the church
to which he had given his whole life. Continuing, the doomed man said:
"Still, there are thousands of people in this church that are honora
ble and good hearted friends, some of whom are near to my heart. There
IS a kind of living, magnetic influence which has come over the people,
and I cannot compare it to anything else than the reptile that enamores
Its prey till it captivates it, paralyzes it, and it rushes into the jaws of
¦ death. I cannot compare it to anything else. It is so. I know it. I
am satisfied of it." '
Lee's vision swept the scene qf former carnage. He looked out on
the repulsive ridge from which had been poured the deadly missiles into
the emigrant camp. Furtively he glanced at the monument erected by
Major Carleton. Mortals will never know the thoughts that, with tor
rential confusion, leaped through the brain of the doomed man as he
sat down on his coffin for the crucial ordeal. He asked that his arms be
not pinioned, and that his eyes be not bandaged. The first request was
granted. United States Marshal William Nelson fastened a handker
chief over Lee's eyes, then stepped to one side. Lee clasped his hands
over his head and said to the marshal: "Let them shoot the balls
through my heart! Don't let them mangle my body! "
The marshal called "Eeady, aim, fire!" A sharp,- simultaneous
explosion, and the victim of unquestioning obedience had paid the mortal
demand for vengeance, had satisfied the doctrine of human justice!

Lee was the husband of nineteen wives, one of whom, however, was
a ' ' spiritual ' ' wife. By eighteen of his wives he had sixty -four chil
dren, fifty-four of whom were living at the time of his death.
His last wife, Ann Gorge, was married to him by Heber C. Kimball
about 1865, which created considerable gossip among the Saints of
southern Utah where every incident of the massacre was well known.
And it will be proved by the evidence of Jacob Ham.blin, given at Lee's
second trial, that Brigham Young and his second counselor, George A.
Smith, knew every detail of the massacre which was" known to Jacob
Hamblin, and he knew all of the facts and the name of every prominent
participant within a very short time after the occurrence of the tragedy.
At the time of Lee 's interview, on September 29, as proved in the
appendix herewith, Lee told President Young that there was "not a
drop of innocent blood in the company" of emigrants. If no "innocent
blood" was shed at the Meadows, under the "revelation" on plural
marriage given to the first "prophet," then was John D. Lee and the
other assassins guiltless before the Mormon god, and there was no ob
stacle in the way of Lee and Haight taking more plurals after the mas
sacre, and becoming members of the Utah legislature. Indeed, the addi
tion to their harems of more plurals was, according to the polygamy
"revelation," a certain means of salvation and exaltation. Under the
teachings of that "revelation" the debauching and murder of the Dun
lap girls was no bar to the highest exaltation in the Mormon "celestial
45

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Immediately after the execution — Note the weird forms above the coffin.
March' 23, 1877.

kingdom of God"! Paragraph 26 of the "revelation" reads as follows:
"Verily, verily I say unto you (Joseph Smith), if a man marry a
wife (or wives) according to my word, and they are sealed by the holy
spirit of promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall
commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant
whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder,
wherein they shed innocent blood — yet shall thej- come forth in the first
resurrection, and enter into their exaltation. . . . "
For further details and particulars regarding the culpa,bility of the
leaders of the Mormon church, the reader is respectfully referred to the
appendix herewith.

APPENDIX.
TESTIMONY OF LABAN MORRILL— SECOND TRIAL OF LEE.
Laban Morrill moved from Johnson's fort and became one of the pio
neers of Piute county, settling at Junction, now the county seat. He died
some ten or fifteen years ago, leaving a large family which, like their
father, is highly respected.
At the second trial of Lee, and after the usual preliminaries, Mr.
Morrill testified as follows:
"We had formed a kind of custom to come together about once a
week, to take into consideration what would be the best good for those
places. I happened on Sunday (about September 7) to come to Cedar
City, as I usually came, and there seemed to be a council. We met to
gether about 4 o'clock, as a general thing, on Sunday evening after ser
vice. I went into th« council and saw there a little excitement in regard
to something 1 did not understand. I went in at a rather late hour. I
inquired of the rest what the matter was. They said a company had
passed along toward Mountain Meadows. There were many threats given
concerning this company.
"As I said, there appeared to be some confusion in that council. I
inquired in a friendly way, what was up. I was told that there was an
emigrant train that passed along down near Mountain Meadows, and
that they had made threats in regard to us as a people — said they would
destroy every d — d Mormon. There was an army coming on the south
and north, and it created some little excitement. I made two or three
replies in a kind of debate measure that were taken into consideration,
discussing the object, what method we thought best to take in regard to
protecting the lives of the citizens.
"My objections were not coincided with. At last we touched upon
the topic like this: We should still keep quiet, and a dispatch should be
sent to Governor Young to know what would be the best course. The
vote was unanimous. I considered it so. It seemed to be the understand
ing that on the coming morning, or the next day, there should be a mes
senger dispatched. I took seme pains to inquire and know if it would
be sent in the morning. The papers were said to be made out, and Gov
ernor Young should be inforrc'ed, and no hostile course pursued until his
return. I returned back to Fort Johnson, feeling that all was well. About
eight and forty hours before the messenger returned — business called me
to Cedar City, and I learned that the job had taken place. I can't give
any further evidence on the subject at present."
W. W. Bishop, counsel for Lee, elicited the information from Mr. Mor
rill that when he referred to "the job" he meant the killing of the em
igrants. United States District Attorney Howard then put the following
re-direct questions: 48

Ques. — Did you say that a messenger was to be sent down to John
D. Lee? Ans. — I did, but I did not see him start. I understood at the time a
messenger was to be sent.
Ques. — What did you understand?
Ans. — ^I understood there was to be word sent down towards Pinto
creek. Ques. — For what purpos-o?
Ans. — To have the thing stayed according to contract, to agreement
made. Ques. — What do you mean by the thing being stayed? Was the mas
sacre of that emigrant train discussed there at all?
Ans. — It was, sir; and some were in favor of it, and some were not.
Ques. — Who were they?
Ans. — Bishop Smith (Klingensmith) I considered, was the hardest
man I had to contend with.
Ques. — Who else spoke about it?
Ans. — Isaac Haight and one or two others. I recollect my compan
ions more than any one else.
Ques. — They were very anxious and rabid, were they not?
Ans. — They seemed to think it would be best to kill the emigrants.
Some of the emigrants swore that they had killed old Joseph Smith; there
was quite a little excitement there.
Ques. — You have given us the names of two who were in favor of
killing those emigrants — who were the others?
Ans. — Those were my companions, Isaac C. Haight and Klingen
smith. I recollect no others:

And who after reading the testimony of Laban Morrill, and noting
his sincerity under the most trying conditions — to tell the truth, and to
shield others of the elders, can deny that the conspiracy to murder the
emigrants was initiated by the direct agent of the Mormon leaders, and
was discussed in a priesthood meeting of the chief ecclesiastical authori
ties of the Parowan stake of Zion?

TESTIMONY OF JACOB HAMBLIN— SECOND TRIAL OF LEE.
Question by Howard — Who else did he mention?
Ans. — He mentioned m.y brother (Oscar Hamblin) being there,
bringing some Indians there. Sent him word of this affair (the massa
cre) taking place, and for him to go and get the Indians, and bring up
the Santa Clara Indians.
Ques. — ^Your brother, then, brought the Indians to the Meadows, and
then left there?
Ans. — Yes, he told me so. (The fact is, if Oscar Hamblin left the
Meadows after taking the Indians there, he returned and aided Lee in
restraining them when they made their second attack on the emigrants.)
Q.ustion by bishop^Have you ever given a report of it (the mas
sacre) to any of your superiors in, the church, or officers over you?

Ans. — Well, I did speak of it to President Young and George A.
Smith. Ques. — Did you give them the whole facts?
Ans. — I gave them more than I have here, because I recollected
more of it.
Ques. — When did you do that?
Ans. — Pretty soon after it happened.
Ques. — You are certain that you gave it fuller than you have told
it' here on the stand?
Ans. — I told everything I could.
Ques. — Have you told it all?
Ans. — No, sir, I have not.
Ques. — Then tell it.
Ans. — I will not undertake that now. I would not like to under
take it.

TESTIMONY OF NEPHI JOHNSON— SECOND TRIAL OF LEE.
Question by Bishop — State whether you were under any compulsion
(to go to the Meadows).
Ans. — I didn't think it was safe for me to object.
Ques. — Explain what you mean, that is what I want. Where was
the danger — who was the danger to come from if you objected — from
Haight or those around him — from the Indians, or from the emigrants?
Ans. — From the military officers.
Ques. — Where?
Ans. — At Cedar City.
Ques. — Was Haight one of those military officers?
Ans. — Yes, sir.
Ques. — Who was the highest military officer in Cedar City at thaf
time? Ans. — I think it was Isaac C. Haight.
Ques. — You thought it would not be safe to refuse; had you any
reason to fear danger — has any person ever been injured for not obeying,
or anything of that kind?
Ans. — I don't want to answer.
Ques. — It is necessary to the safety of the man I am defending,
and I therefore insist upon au answer. Had anj' person been injured for
not obeying? Ans. — Yes, sir, they had.
Question by Howard — Were you acquainted with the Indians — tha
Pah Vant (Pahvan) Indians?
Ans. — Yes, sir; somewhat acquainted. . ."
Ques. — Were any of the Pah Vant Indians down there?
Ans. — I didn't see any.
During the night of the day of the massacre President Isaac C.
Haight and Bishop William H, Dame arrived from Cedar and Parowan,
respectively, and camped at Hamblin 's ranch. The next morning with
John D. Lee, they -visited the scene of the carnage where sixty men,

forty women and about thirty children were lying naked on the ground,
having been stripped of their clothing and jewelry.
Haight, Dame and other leading elders made speeches, the substance
of which may be gathered from answers by Nephi Johnson to questions
asked by W. W. Bishop, Lee'n attorney.
Ques. — Is it not a fact that after the property was all gathered up
at the Meadows, and you were ready to start for Iron Springs, that
speeches were made to the men present, by those in authority, in which
speeches you were ordered to keep it a secret forever?
Ans. — There were a great many speeches made.
Ques. — At the Meadows, before you left there, was it not told you
in a speech then made to you, that it must be kept a secret; that it
would be best to keep silent? Were not you so advised by your leaders?
Ans. — Yes, sir. IN DEFENSE OF THE EMIGRANTS.
In reply to my inquiry of Frank E. King as to the conduct of the
people who were traveling in the Fancher company, he replied, under
date of March 15, 1910, as follows:
"From the time that wo overtook them (at Pacific Springs) they
were not boisterous, or in any way uncivil. You would hardly ever hear
an oath from any one."
Although to the point, Mr. King's replies were brief, as he always
was in his intercourse with his fello-vv men.
The following affidavit is self explanatory:
' ' State of Utah, County of Piute — ss.
"William L. Jones, Eeuben De Wit, George T. Henry and Josiah F.
Gibbs, being first duly sworn, and each for himself, deposes and says:
We are residents of Marysvale, Piute county, Utah. And that during
our residence in Marysvale we were personally acquainted, during a
period of more than twenty years, with Prank E. King who, until about
five years ago, was also a resident of Marysvale, Piute county, and that
the said Frank E. King was an industrious, upright citizen, and of un
questioned veracity.
(Signed) "WILLIAM L. JONES, (ex-Postmaster.)
"EEUBEN DE WIT, (Justice of the Peace.)
"GEOEGE T. HENEY, (Postmaster.)
"JOSIAH F. GIBBS."
"Subscribed and sworn to before me, tris 15th day of August, 1910.
"WILLIAM E. WHITE, Notary Public.
"My commission expires March 16, 1913."
An estimable lady (a Mrs. Evans), yet living at Parowan, visited
the camp of the emigrants at Parowan with other Mormon girls, and is
earnest in her statement that in every respect the enugrants conducted
themselves as ladies and gentlemen. Her statement was made to a gen
tleman of high repute in the official life of Utah, and is published with
out the knowledge of either of them.

The charge that the emigrants resisted arrest at Cedar clearly
proves that they declined to ask for permits, and for which the inex
pressibly detestable ecclesiastical tyrant, Isaac C. Haight, commanded
their arrest. The demand wac made by the emissaries of a fanatical
and brutalized priesthood that was then in open rebellion against the
United States. In resisting arrest by the servile agents of the Mormon
"prophets," because they ignored the right of bigots and rebels to pre
vent them from passing through a portion of the domain of the United
States until they secured passes, they were guiltless of infraction of any
law, rule or order of their country, and were justified in their resistance.
The Arkansas company was composed of representative American
citizens — prosperous men and women who were seeking homes in the
"Golden West." And after being murdered under a flag of truce they
were stripped of their clothing and left naked upon the desert, a prey to
coyotes. Their property was divided among their assassins — an aggre
gation of religion crazed bandits whose only defense of their crime is the
unsupported charge that the emigrants cursed the Mormons and boasted
of having helped "kill old Joseph Smith."
As an illustration of the desperate and lying defense of the Mormon
"prophets," and in defiance of the fact that Jacob Hamblin told him
the whole truth of the massacre, Brigham Young, on January 6, 1858,
wrote James W. Denver, commissioner of Indian affairs, Washington, D.
C, as follows:
"Sir: On or about the middle of last September a company of emi
grants traveling. the southern route to California, poisoned the meat of
an ox that died, and gave it to the Indians to eat, causing the immediate
death of four of their tribe, and poisoning several others. This company
also poisoned the water where they were encamped. This occurred at
Corn creek, fifteen miles from Fillmore City. This conduct so enraged
the Indians that they took measures for revenge."
The above letter from Brigham Young to James W. Denver has been
herein proved to be totally and wickedly false, and as such, and as the
best that the chief "prophet" could do to besmirch the memory of the
emigrants, furnishes a complete vindication of the character of the com
pany that perished at the hands of Brigham Young's slaves at the Moun
tain Meadows on or about September 16, 1857.

And, in the final analysis, the reader should remember that Isaac
C. Haight and others of the leading priesthood of the Parowan stake of
Zion, some seven or eight days before the massacre, sent a message by
James H. Haslam to President Young inquiring as to the disposal of the
emigrants. President Young's reply: "Permit. the emigrants to go in
peace," and his admonition to Haslam "not to spare horseflesh," so
often and fervently quoted by Mormons, proves that President Young
knew that the fate of the emigrants was at the disposal of the priest
hood of the Parowan stake of Zion, and not at the disposal of the In
dians. He had guilty knowledge that the massacre was contemplated

hj his slaves in Iron county. And although his farseeing statesmanship
grasped the consequences of the deed, and although, when too late, and
as a matter of policy, he did all that he could to stay the hands of his
blood atoning assassins, he knew, when the massacre had been consum
mated, by whom the hellish deed had been done. Therefore, his letter
to James W. Denver is proved to have been false in every respect, and
that President Young descended to falsehood — even perjury — as a meas
ure of protection for his people and his church.

ELDER PENROSE'S "DEFENSE" OF BRIGHAM YOUNG
AND THE CHURCH.
On the evening of October 26, 1884, Elder Charles W. Penrose, then
editor of the Deseret News, and since elevated to the apostolate, made
a lengthy, rambling and mendacious address to a large audience of
Saints in the twelfth ecclesiastical ward meeting house, Salt Lake City,
and attempted to dispel the shadow that can never be lifted from the
memory of those who, by their teachings and gross fanaticism, were re
sponsible for the Mountain Meadows massacre. Penrose's was the first
extended attempt to defend the Mormon "prophets," and it was a total
failure. In September, 1875, Brigham Young was summoned to appear as a
witness in the first trial of John D. Lee. The condition of his health
would not permit of his attendance, and in lieu thereof, certain interro
gatories were forwarded to him at Salt Lake City, and which were an
swered by him under oath.
One question, only, and its answer are all that is required to prove
that Brigham Young, or other affiants, testified falsely.
Question ninth — Did John D. Lee report to you at any time after
this massacre what had been done at that massacre, and if so, what reply
did you make to him in reference thereto?"
Answer — Within some two or three months after the massacre he
called at my office and had much to say with regard to the Indians, their
being stirred up to anger and threatening the settlements of the whites,
and then commenced giving an account of the massacre. I told him to
.stop, as from what I had already heard by rumor, I did not wish my
feelings harrowed up with a recital of detail."
With seeming glee Elder Penrose quotes the above affidavit to
prove that it was some time after the massacre before President Young
knew anything about the affair further than ' ' rumor, ' ' and that he
would not permit Lee to tell the story. Then, with singular stupidity,
Elder Penrose proceeds to prove that President Young was a falsifier by
putting his son 's affidavit against that of his father 's. Elder Penrose \
hysterical zeal to also prove that Brigham Young did not know that the
massacre had been concocted and perpetrated by the presiding priesthood
of Iron county, led him into the fatal error of securing an affidavit from
John W. Young to prove that Lee charged the massacre to the Indians.
But that affidavit proved too much in another respect.

According to his affidavit, John W. Young, son of Brigham Young,
was 13 years old at the time of the massacre, and was office boy for
his father. After stating those facts Mr. Young continued as follows:
' ' I distinctly remember one day in the latter part of September, 1857,
being in my father's office when John D. Lee, travel worn, entered the
office and asked for a private interview with Governor Young.
"It is distinctly impressed on my mind beyond the power of time
t'o efface, how Lee described the terrible deed which he said was com
mitted by the Indians at Mountain Meadows."
From John W. Young's affidavit it is learned that Lee's visit was
made immediately after the massacre, and that he did not "stop" at the
command of President Young.
Not satisfied with pitting the affidavit of John W. Young against
that of his father's, Elder Penrose secured a statement from Apostle
Wilford Woodruff that, in every respect, supported the statements made
by the "prophet's" son.
So eager was Elder Penrose to prove his stupidity and to fix the
date of Lee's arrival at President Young's office, that he examined' the
voluminous diary kept by Apostle Woodruff and discovered that it was
on September 29, 1857, or thirteen days after the tragedy at Mountain
Meadows. No comment on the Woodruff and John W. Young contradic
tions to President Young's replies to the interrogatories in the Lee trial,
and to his letter to James W. Denver, are necessary.
Elder Penrose's discourse in the twelfth ward was delivered more
than seven years after the exeution of Lee, and the world then knew a
portion of the truth relative to the massacre. And in his anxiety to
mitigate the hideousness of the crime, he committed the usual Mormon
blunder of attacking the moral status of the murdered emigrants. If
that were not his intent why did he quote the following paragraph from
Apostle Woodruff's diary, and which had not the slightest bearing on
the subject matter of his discourse?
"Brother Lee said he did not think there was a drop of innocent
blood In the camp, for he had two of the children — (of the seventeen
that were saved) in his house, and he could get but one to kneel do-wn at
prayer time, and the other would laugh at her for doing it, and they
would swear like pirates. ' '
("You elders of Israel will go into the canyons, and curse and
swear, G — damn and curse your oxen, and swear by him who created
you. I am telling you the truth. Yes, you rip and swear and curse as
bad as any pirates ever did. ' '
Doubtless Apostle Woodruff had, for the moment, forgotten the
above selection from a sermon by Brigham Young in the early fifties — ¦
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 211, and that "swearing like pirates"
was not regarded as evidence that there "was not a drop of innocent
blood" among the "elders of Israel"; and that profanity among the
Saints in 1853 was not regarded as sufficient cause for blood atoning
them. But the "elders of Israel" had entered into the "new and ev
erlasting covenant," and were, therefore, immune from all crimes "ex
cept the shedding of innocent blood" or the blood of the Mormon
"prophets.")

If the Indians, as alleged by John W. Young and Apostle Woodruff,
had been the sole perpetrators of the crime, why the attempt to par
tially condone the crime of the redskins who knew absolutely nothing,
and cared less, of the moral status of those whom they murdered? The
more the "prophets" and their agents squirm and wriggle in their at
tempts to get from under the fearful responsibility for that crime the
deeper do they sink into the quicksands of perfidy and guilt.
The massacre occurred on or about September 16, and John D. Lee
was at President Young's office on the 29th. During the interim Lee
remained a part of one day at the Meadows; it required one day for
Lee to reach his home with the girls, and it would require full ten days
to make the trip from Harmony to Salt Lake City. Therefore, the girls
might, possibly, have been at Lee's residence two days before his de
parture for Salt Lake City. It was probably the second day after the
massacre when Lee first asked the girls to join the family in prayers.
Before those children, less than 8 years old, there was ever the vision of
the slaughter. No doubt the girls .had witnessed the murder of their
mother, or mothers. Very likely they were clinging to their skirts wnne
Lee and the others struck, them down. Doubtless thev had seen tWilr
older brothers and sisters slain by those monster fanatics of an alien
church. Very likely they had heard McMurdy 's frenzied cry of "0,
Lord, my God, receive their spirits, it is for thy kingdom that I do
this!" Is there wonder, then, that but one of those children knelt at
prayer with the inhuman fanatic whose hands were red with the blood
of their parents?
And those children "swore like pirates!" On the 16th of this
month, September, 1910 — the fifty-third anniversary of the massacre,
while on a visit to the Mountain Meadows for the purpose of investi
gating the condition of the emigrants ' grave, and to secure photo
graphs of the grave and vicinity, the writer stood by the cairn on the
desert. In imagination, the emigrants filed away up the valley under
a flag of truce. Again the silence of that mountain solitude was broken
by the cries of women, the screams of children and the rattle of fire
arms held by those wretched victims of blind obedience. Even after
the lapse of fifty-three years, "swearing" would not only have
been a relief, but would have been appropriate. Who, then, but arch-
hypocrites could blame those girls for swearing? And who, but fiends
incarnate, would claim that "there was not a drop of innocent blood
in the camp" because one of those children refused to worship at the
shrine of a god who would permit the representatives of his "holy
prophets" to commit such a diabolical crime?
Apologists for, and defenders, by implication, of the Mountain Mea
dows massacre have ever attempted to palliate that crime by the be-
smirchment of the characters of the slain! Out upon such driveling,
sickening cant and hypocrisy!
In defiance of the testimony of Jacob Hamblin during the second
trial of Lee to the effect that "Pretty soon after it (the massacre) hap
pened,' he "told them (President Young and George A. Smith) every
thing I could," and his story was complete. Apostle Woodruff, in his
affidavit, used by Elder Penrose, affirms that neither he nor Brigham
55

Young knew anything about Lee's participation in the massacre until
the year 1870, when they obtained the information from Apostle Eras-
tus Snow of St. George, Utah! (It should be remembered that Jacob
Hamblin 's report was made to Brigham Young and George A. Smith.)
Subsequently Lee was excommunicated in Salt Lake City, instead of in
one of the southern stakes of Zion, where he could have secured wit-
•Jesses, and have been "present in court." The haste and irregularity
of Lee 's excommunication prove that the belated act was forced by pop
ular clamor — that it was merely an expedient, or grand stand play, with
the express purpose of deceiving the people of the United States!

It may be contended by some of the "prophets" and their agents
that the practice of blood atonement is a thing of the past. But, from
the saints' viewpoint, it is a law of God, and his laws are eternal.
Given the absolute dominion for which these latter-day "prophets"
are sleeplessly working, the torrid sermons of Brigham Voung and
Jedediah M. Grant would be as mild in comparison as a summer zephyr
to the vitriolic mouthings of the present insanely fanatical ruler of Jo
seph Smith's "Kingdom of God."
The hell born twins of unquestioning obedience and blood atone
ment are merely sleeping; the fires of Mormon fanaticism are merely
smouldering. Yet, from the darkness of moral blindness and bigotry of
Mormonism, the personality of Laban Morrill rises like a shaft of light,
and serves notice to the world that there are Mormons who are infi
nitely better than their religion.

On a recent trip to the Meadows I went over to Pinto and from that
point visited the scene of the massacre. It was my good fortune to be
received at the home of Benjamin Piatt, aged 78 years, who was work
ing for John D. Lee at the time of the massacre. Mr. Piatt is an in
telligent Englishman, and withal a devout member of the Mormon
church. It is to Mr. Piatt that 'the public is indebted for the following
information which was freely imparted during the ride over to the
Meadows for the purpose of securing photographs of the "monument"
and vicinity.
In the context of this story of the masascre Lee's version of the
first attack by the Indians has been given, and in which Lee claims that
he was not present. Mr. Piatt avers that Lee's statement was not cor
rect, and that the following version is the truth:
On the Sunday preceding the massacre fourteen Indians, an escort
of the Cedar Lamanites, arrived at Lee's home at Harmony. Lee ob
jected to accompanying the Irdians, but after a brief consultation Leo
departed with them toward the Meadows. Comanche, one of the reds,
objected to the program of slaughter, but was finally induced to accom
pany the expedition. 56

Mr. Piatt is relieved from responsibilty for the following narrative,
but it is true, nevertheless. The party camped at Leachy spring. Dur
ing the night the leader of the Indians dreamed that both his hands
were filled with blood, and was alarmed at the significant omen. He
related his dream, the next morning, to Lee who interpreted the "double
handful of blood" as a victory for the redmen, and that they would se
cure the blood of the emigrants.
Mr. Piatt's statement regarding the day of Lee's departure agrees
with all the facts in the case, and which are as follows: The first at
tack took place at about daylight on Tuesday, and after which Lee went
down to the Santa Clara river where, according to Lee's statement, he
met Oscar Hamblin and fourteen other white men with a band of In
dians. The second attack was made on Wednesday evening. On Thurs
day the militia arrived at the Meadows. The massacre was perpetrated
on Friday. Early on Saturday morning Haight and Dame went from
Hamblin 's ranch over to the Meadows, and after viewing the results of
the slaughter, and admonishing the elders to keep the fact of their par
ticipation a "secret forever," and to lay the burden of the crime on the
Indians, the entire party left the Meadows for their homes. They could
easily get to Leachy spring in time for the night's encampment, and
.Lee could easily reach his home early in the forenoon of Sunday, which
is the day that Mr. Piatt says he arrived in Harmony.
Mr. Piatt related how Lee and his Indian escort rode into the stock
ade fort and around it to the well on the south side. In his autobiog
raphy Lee says that the Indians gave a whoop of victory, and after a
repast on watermelons departed to their camp. Mr. Piatt avers that the
Indians made no oral demonstration of victory.
At the afternoon meeting of the Harmony Saints, according to Mr.
Piatt, John D. Lee gave a lurid description of the massacre, and that he
seemed to glory in the deed which he said was the "will of the Lord."
Asked if, in after years, Leo exhibited any feeling of remorse, Mr.
Piatt answered that he did not; that Lee was the same jovial, com
panionable man that he was pripr to the massacre.
While condemning in the strongest and most earnest terms the leaders
in the massacre, Mr. Piatt averred that John D. Lee was the personifi
cation of hospitality toward all who called at Harmony, and related
many acts of kindness and generosity to himself.
The years of silence on the massacre have passed, and the people of
southern Utah now talk as freely of the tragedy as on any other sub
ject, and deeply lament the ineffaceable stain that, unjustly, is the heri
tage of those who were residents of Iron and Washington counties at
the time of the massacre, but who were guiltless of participation in, or
sympathy with, the deed.
Many stories of the awful incidents, some true, others false, are in
circulation among the people of southern Utah. Mr. Piatt related a piti
ful story about Albert, Hamblin 's Indian boy, guarding the hiding place
of the girls during several days, and secretly sharing his food, which
he took over to the Meadows while herding cows in the vicinity, with
57

Eachel and Euth Dunlap before they were discovered, ravished and mur
dered as before related. But, unfortunately for the Indian boy, the
story is not true.
Another interesting story, of the truth of which there is no doubt,
was told by Mr. Piatt as follows:
On one occasion when the emigrants were out of water they sent
a child, a little girl dressed in white, to the spring. She was fired upon
but escaped unharmed.
Notwithstanding that the people of southern Utah are familiar with
nearly all the incidents of the massacre they have thus far, as a gen
eral truth, failed to grasp the central force that was responsible for the
devilish act. Their abiding faith in the "divine mission of Joseph

Monument, looking southeasterly — Benjamin and Joseph Piatt on left
and right, respectively. September 16, 1910.
Smith," and their certainty that the Mormon "prophets" can do no
wrong, blinds them to the forces that unerringly led up to the massacre.
But there are scores of young men and women who are now demanding
that the truth be told. Their reason teaches them that the assigned
causes, or reasons, for the mtissacre, are insufficient to account for all
the facts. They are now asking: "Why did those fifty-five men, pro
fessed followers of the merciful Son of God, commit a crime at which the
civilized world stood aghast? If it was murder for plunder, why is it
that only one assassin was punished for the crime when the name of
every one of the murderers was known to the leading religious and civil
authorities of Utah at the time of Lee's trial, or could have been ob-
58

trained had there been any inclination to punish them? "There is some
thing hidden," they say, "something mysterious and inexplicable as
to the impelling motive to the crime. What is it?"
While not complete, the youth of Utah, and the people of the world,
may, in the foregoing pages, learn the basic causes that led up to the
Mountain Meadows massacre.

59

With its bogus, claim to Divine Origin, and to the Divine Right of its
"Prophets" to rule the world politically as well as spiritually; with its enor
mous wealth and political solidarity ^by which it compels the influence of
Manufacturers, Merchants, Railroad Magnates; United States Representa-
ti-ves, Senators, even Presidents, in the protection and perpetuity of
POLYGAMY
Mormonism is an EVER-INCREASING MENACE to Individual .Effort, and'
to Personal Liberty as enunciated in the Constitution and embodied in
National and State laws' of this Republic.
The -recenty-publlshed volume of 535 pages (illustrated) entitled
Lights and Shadows of Mormonism
57 Josiah F. Gibbs
wllf guide you by sure and easy paths to .the "inner temple" of the Mormon
Anarchism tlnat is sleeplessly working to overthrow the American Republic.
The Author of "Lights -and Shadows- of Mormonism" was . born and
. reared in the JWormoli Church, and his more th^n fifty years' experience
in Utah, has made him familiar with the Systepa's history, doctrines, poll-:,
oies, and practices from its inception to the preisent time. ,
Of the , hundreds of commendatory letters received from re,aders of
"Lights and Shadows of Mormonism" — students of this Twentieth', Ceiitury
Problem — the following highly-appreciated recognition of the merits'Tif-'the-
work is from a personal letter from Jjlrs. Angle P. Newman, of Lincoln,
Nebraska, and is published with her permission. Mrs. Newman's commen
dation' is more hjghly prized becBiUse ol her intimate knowledge of Mormon
ism and her unerring grasp of Its political danger to this Republic. During'^
•the Nation-wide fight to unseat Apostle-Senator, Reed Smoot — the chosen
emissary of i.th-e law-defying "Prophets," and agent of- the Mormon oligarchy
¦ Mrs. Newman was one of the prominent figures among the nOble and patri
otic .women who opposed the stealthy advance of the Utah -Hierarchy to a
prominent place in the affairs of the General ;Government, m^A who failed be
cause of the political bribes- held out to Senators by the religio-politico Im-
perium in Imperlo ifi Utah.
, Mrs. Newman says:
"With unqualified pleasure Ihave reacf every line of "Lights and Sha
dows of Mormonism' — pleasure that so high an order of talent has been en
listed in a theme so evasive, so illusive, so treacherous, and withal so world
wide in its scope. .You have wrought "for the ages, for truth, for liberty.
You have also treated tl^e subject from, a standpoint untouched by others,
and have left its pages unmarred by bitterness."
.-."Lights and Shadows of Mormonism" may be obtained from your local
book-dealer or, failing, order direct from
The Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Company
;Sak Lake City, Utah
Price, Cloth, $1.50, postage paid

This pamphlet, "The Moun
tain Meadows Massacre," can
be obtained through any
book dealer in the United;
States, or from ,
The Salt Lake Tribune
Publishing Company
' Salt Lake City -
at the following prices, post-
agej^^aid: •

One

copy

^^-^0

Jo. 40

Three cofM-'^ ^^'Jj<^te ^^^1^^^,

-t*f

'i?

^H

( JUL 18 1932 j

CENTURY PRINTINQj SALT LAKE OI,TY

I^^:^"