Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1877 — JOHN D. LEE. [ARTICLE]

JOHN D. LEE.

*» njnrc\.ql w ** *** rite waa ConvletoA. and Jtar. Who! *F Deeitti—Uta Comfewlotu Baur Um, U, y. March Jig. , Lee wm brought out upon the soeneof the massacre at Mountain Meadows, before th* .executl»g«. party, and eeat ad bn his coffin, about twenty feet from the ehooters. Being asked If he had anything Dea artfe aruF sakJj among other I have done nothing designedly wrong in thia affair. 1 used- my utmost endeavors to save those people. I Would have given worlds, were it at my command, to have avoided that calamity, but loouldnot. lam sacrificed to satisfy feelings, and am used to gratify parties, but I am ready to die. I have no fear of death. It has no terrors, and no particle of meroy have I asked from the (lourt, nor have 1 asked the officials to spare my life. Ido not fear death. 1 shall never go to a worse place than the one I am now in. Ido not believe everything that is now practiced and taught by Brigham Young. Ido not agree with him. I believe ho is leading people aSruy, but I behove in the Gospel ae taught in itspurity by Joseph Smith in former days. 1 have my Nasons fer saying thia I used to make this man’s will my pleasure, and did so for thirty years. See how and what I have oome to thia day. 1 have been sacrificed in a oowardly, dastardly manner. There are thoußanaa of people in the Church, honorable, good-hearted, that I cherish in my heart. X declare Idid nothing designedly wrong in this unfortunate affair. I did everything in my power to stive all the emigrants, but 1 am the one that must suffer. Having said this I feel resigned. I ask the Lord my God to extend His mercy to me, and receive my spirit. My labors are done hero. After the speech, Parson Stokes (Methodist) made a prayer, commending the soul of the condemned man to God. Immediately after this a handkerchief was placed over Lee’s eyes. He raised his hands, placed them on top of his head, sitting firm. J Nelson gave the word to fire, and exactly at eleven o’clock five guns were fired, penetrating the body in the region of the heart, and Lee fell squarely back upon his coffin, dead. His death was instantaneous. There were about seventy-five persons, all told, on the ground, but not a child or relative of his was there. The best of order preyailed. THE CONFESSION. The following is the correct copy of the epufession of John D. Lee, carefully compared with the original, penned by Lee -sinfie his second trial ahd since his sentence to dentil. It was written by him without aM "or advice:

STATEMENT OF JOHN D. LEX OF FACTS CONNECTED WITH THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE. ■ In the month of September, 1857, the company of emigrants known as the “ Arkansas Company” arrived in Parowan, Iron County, Utah, on their way to California. 'At Parowan, Young Aden, one of the company, saw and recognized one William Laney, a Mormon resident of Parowan. Aden and his father had rescued Laney from an anti-Morinon mob in Tennessee, several years before, and saved his life. He (Laney), at the time he was attacked by the mob, was a Mormon missionary in Tennessee. Laney was glad to see his friend and benefactor, and invited him to his house, and gave him some garden sauce to take back to the camp with him. The same evening it was reported to Bishop (Col.) Dame that Laney had given potatoes and onions to the man Aden, one of the emigranta. When the report was made to Bishop (Dame, he raised his hand and crooked his little finger in a significant manner to one Barney Carter, his brother -in - law, tone of the “ Angels of Death." br; without another word, walked went, to Laney’s house with a long picket in ms Hand; called Laney out, and struck him a heavy blow on the head, fracturing his skull, and left him on the ground for dead. C. Y. Webb and Isaac Newman, President of the High Council, both told me they saw Dame's maneuvers. James MeGuffee, then resident of Parowan, but through oppression has liSm forced to leavs there, and is now a merchant in Pahranagat Valley, near Pioche, Nev., knows these facta. About toe last of August, 1857. some ten days before toe Mountain Meadows massacre, a company of emigrants passed through Cedar City. George A. Smith, then First Counselor in the Church, and Brigham 'Young’s right hand man, came down from Salt Lake City, preaching to different settlements. I at that tone Was in Washington County, near where 8t George now stands. He sent for me. I went to him, and he asked me to take him to Cedar City by way of Fort Clara and Pinto settlements, as he was on business and mnflt visit all the settlements. We started. On ow way up through the panon we saw herds of Indians, ana he (Geo. A. Smith) remarked to me that these Indians, with the adAfter pausing a s&oit timers'•flH to me, “Brother Lee, what do you think the brethren would db'tth company of emigrants should come down through here making threata? Don't you think they, would pitch into them?" I replied that they certainly.would. This seemed to please htrnj and Wjp-fa said to ine, “And you really think the brethren would pitch into to tend to it that emigrants are permitted to pass if you want them to pass unmolested.” He contorted“l asked - (metering Haight) toe same question, and he answered me just as you do, and I expect the boys would pitch -into panics to pass without molestation he must instruct CoL Dame or Mai. Haight to that effect, for if they are not ordered otherwise they wjJJ use them up by the help of toe Indians. He they might expect a big fight next spring with the United States. President Young aid not innaia: we rtß.na up for our ngnts, andWßlno longer l ter nditaM upon b/onr onefl"--* From toe Ist to the 10th of September, 1857, a Haight wanted me to go to Cedar City that eveniatfSgthout faiL This was Saturday. He told me that a large company of emigranta had gone forth. I then lived at Harmony, twenty miles south es Qe Ae summons. President Haight met nite.. It Was pear sundown. We spent too night in an open house on some htam£e|p, where we talked mosh all night He told me thkt 'a obmpahy of emigrants hKd passed i through temstwodkys before, threatening the Mormons with destruction, and that one of them liad said he had helped to kill old Joe Smith and hit brother Hiram: that other member® of the company of emigrants had helped drive the Memmqns put of JKaaouri. The others said they had them strung np before the mow blew; that one of the emigrants cwßedtele of his <H(M fa pair of Sl“® toC eStonA tariff several ox tne emigranta had Used all irmoe or throats andproftlnity. Jdhn M. Higbee, City Marshal, had informed-themthat H was a breach of the city ordinance to use profane language, whereupon one of them replied (with oaths) that he did not case for Mormon tews or the Mormons either, thhdAey teH fodgM thMKWH|y through Indians, acid'would,do it through Mormons, and if W(H* w Br&famTtoid hir priests would not sell their provisions, they would Mktr. write . anyway. They could get it;that, thug raging, ON of them let loose his long whip and killed two ohickens, and threw them into hie

wagon; that Widow Evan* said, "Gentlemen, those are my chicken.; plea-e don’t kill them. I am a poor widow." That tfioy ordered her to that up or they would Now her brain, out, eto; that itay had been raising trouble with all the settlements and Indian, on their way; that We were threatened on the north by Johnstonsgrtny; that now oar safety depended on prompt and immediate action; that • company of Indian, had already gone south from Parowan and Cedar City to aurpi ue the emigrant, who were then at Mountain Meadows, ana he Wanted me to return home in the morning (Sunday) and .end Qari Bhurta (Indian interpreter) from my home (Harmony) to raise the Indian, south (at Harmony, Washington, and Banta data) '-Na tta Indiana from the north and malm cn attack upon the emigrant, at the Meadows. . I said to him: “Would it not be well to hold a council of brethren before making a move?" He replied that every true Latter-Day Saint that regarded their covenant, knew wall their duty, and that the company of emigrant* had forfeited their live, by their acta, and that Bishop P. K. Smith (Klingen Smith) and Joel White bad already gone by way of Pintos to raise Indian, in that direction, and those that have gone from Parowan and here will make the attack and may be repulsed. “We can’t now delay for a court oil of brethren. Return immediately and start Carl Bhurta. Tell him that I ordered you to tell him to go, and want you to try and get there before the attack is made, and make a plan for the Indians, and will send Nephi Johnson, the interpreter, to, the Meadows as soon as he can be got to help Carl Bhurta manage the Indians." I did jurt as I was ordered. The Indian, from the north and about Harmony had already started : for the Meadows before I reached home. Bhurtz started immediately to do his part. I arrived at home in the night and remained till morning. I thought over the matter, and the more I thought the more my feeling* revolted against such a horrid deed. Bleep had fled from me. I talked to my wife Rachel about it. She felt as I did about about it, and advised me to let them do their own dirty work, and said if things did not go just to suit them, blame would be hud on me. She never did believe in blood atonement, and said it was from the devil, and that she would rather break such covenant if .he had to die for so doing, than live to be guilty of doing such at}, act. I finally concluded that I would go; that I would start by daybreak in the morning and try and get there before the attack was made on the company, and use my influence with the In.tfana to let them alone. I crossed the mountain, by the trail, and reached the Meadows between nine and ten o’clock in the morning, the distance from my place being abort twenty-five miles; but I was too late. TjfiPattack ted been made just before daybreak In 'the morning. The Indians were repulsed with one killed and two of their Chiefs from Cedar shot through the legs, breaking a leg for each of them. The Indian* were in a terrible rage. I went to some of them that were in a ravines They told me to go to the main body, or they would kill me for not coming before the attack was made. While I was standing there I received a shot just about the belt, cutting through my clothes to tty skin some six inches acmes. The Indians with whom I was talking lived with me at Harmony. I was an Indian former. They told me I was in danger, and to get down into the ravine. * said it was impossible for me to do anything there, and I dare not venture to camp or to the emigrants without endangering my life. I mounted my horse and started to meet Carl Bhurta. I traveled sixteen miles, and stopped on Megotsy to bait my animal, as there was good grass and water. I had rode it over forty miles without eating or drinking. This is the place.'where Tobin met his assassinators. About sunset I saw Bhurta and some ten or fifteen white meri and about 150 Indians. We camped. During thenight the Indians left for the Meadows. I reported to the men what had taken place. They attacked the emigrants again about sunrise the next morning, which was Tuesday, and had one of their number killed and several wounded. ’ The white men reached the Meadows about on* p. m. On the way we met a small band of Indians returning with some , eighteen or twenty head of cattle, ttos.pf the Indians was wounded in the shouldefW.They were encamped east of the emigrants at some springs. On our arrival at the springs we found about 200 Indians* among whom were two wounded chiefs, Moqueetus and Bill. The Indians were in a high state of excitement. They had killed many cattle and horsps belonging to the tympany. I counted sixty head near their encampment that they had lolled in revenge f or wbtinding their men. By the assistance of Oscar Hamblin (brother of Jaoob Hamblin) and Bhurta we succeeded in getting the Indians to desist from killing any more stock. That night the company of emigrants had corralcd all their wagons but one for better defense. This corral was about 100 yards above the springs. This they did to get away from a ravine south, the better to defend themselves. Attacks were made from the south ravine and from the rocks on the west The attack was renewed that night by the Indians in spite of all we could do to prevent it When the attack commenced, Oscar Hamblin, William Young and myself started to gs to the Indians. When opposite the corral to the north, bullets came around u* like a shower of hail. Wo had two Indians with us to pilot us. They threw them? selves flat on the ground to protect themselves from bullets. I stood erect, and asked my Father in Heaven to protect me from the - missiles Of .death, and enable me to reach the Indians. One ball passed through my hat and the hair of' my head, and another through my shirt, grazing my arm near the shoulder. A most hideous yell of the Indians commenced. The cries and shrieks of the Women and children so overcame me that I forgot my danger and rushed through the fire to the Indians, and pleaded with them in tears to desist. I tola them that the Groat Spirit would be angry with them for killing women and children. They told me to leave hr they would serve me ih the same way, and that I was not their friend, but the friend of their enemies; that I was a squaw, and did not have the heart of a brave, and that I could not see blood shed without crying like a baby, and called me cry-baby, and by that name I am ; known by ail the Indi*'-*to this day. I ow* my life on that occasion to Oscar Hamblin, who was a missionary with the Indians, and had; much influence with the Santa-Clara Indiana They were the ones that wanted to kill me. Hamblin shamed them, and called them dogs and wolves for wanting to shed the blood of their father (myself), who had fed and clothed them. We finally prevailed on them to return to camp, where we would hold a council; that I would send for the big Captains to come and talk. We told them they had punished the emigrants enough, and maybe they had killed nearly all of them. We told them that Bishop Dame and President Haight would come, and maybe they would give them. part of the cattle, and let the company go with the team*. In this way we reconciled them to suspend hostilities for the present. The two that had been with Hamblin and myself the night before said they had seen two men on horseback come ont of the emigrant camp under full speed, andthatthey went toward Cedar City. Wednesday morning I asked a man —I think hi* name was Edwards—to go to Cedar City and say to President Haight for God’* sake, for my sake, and for tire sake of suffering humanity, to send out men to rescue that company. Thu day we all lay still waiting order*. Occasionally a few of the Indians withdrew, taking a few head of animals with them. About noon I crossed the valley north of the corral, thinking to examine their location from the west range. The company recognized me as a white man, andseottyo litde boy* about four years old to meet me. Ihid from them, fearing the Indians who discovered the children. I called the Indians, who wanted my gun or ammunition to kill them. I prevailed with them to let the children go back to camp, which they very soon did when they saw the Indian*. I crept np behind some rock* on the west range, where I had a full view of the corral. In it they had dug h rifle pit The wheels of their wagons were chained together, and the only ■how. for the Indian* was to starve them out or shoot them** they went for water. I lay there . some taro hours and contemplated tbeirmtuation, arid wept like a child. When I returned to camp, some six or eight men ted come from Cedar City. Joe White, William C. Stewart and Elliott C. Weldon were among the number,-but they bad no order*. They had tome merely to see how thifigs were. The Meadows are about fifty miles from Cedar City. Thursday the messenger from Cedar City returned. President Haight had gone to Parowan to confer with CoL Dame, and a company ot men and orders would be sent or* to-mor-row (Friday); that tip to ths time he left the Council had come to no definite conclusion. During this time the Indian* and men were engaged in broiling beef and making their hides np into 1--t— I had flattered myself that the Hood■had was Mac end. After the emigrants *aw me cross the valley they hoisted a white flag in the midst of their cocxaL

Friday afternoon four wagon* drove np with armed men. When they saw the white flag in the corral they raised one also, but drove to the springs where we were, and took refreshment;' after which a council meeting waa called of the President*, Bisbops, and other Church officer* and members, of the High Council, Societies, High Priests, eta. Maj, John M. Higbee presided a* Chairman. Several of the dignitaries bowed in prayer, invoked the aid of the Holy Spirit to prepare their mind* cud guide them to do right, and carry ont'the counsel* of their leaders. Higbee said President I. C. Haight had been to Parowan to confer with CoL Dome, and their counsel and order* were that this emigrant -*■»? moat be used up. I rentity; “JJfea. ■rew and children?" “AIL" said M, ~except •uch a* are too young to tell tales, and if the Indians cannot do it without help, we must help them." 1 commenced pleading for the company, and I said though some of them have behaved badly they have been pretty well chastised. My policy would 'be to draw off the Indians, let them have a portion of the loose cattle, and withdraw with them under the promise that they would not molest Che company any more; that Che company would then have team* enough left to take them to California. Told them that this course could not bring them into trouble. Higbee said, “The white men have interposed, and the emigrant* know it, and there lie* clanger in letting them go.’’ I said, “What white man interfered?” He replied that in the attack on Tuesday night two men broke ont of the corral and started for Ce-' dor City on horseback; that they were met at Richey's Spring by Stewart, Joel White and another man whose name has passed from ine. Stewart naked the two men their names when they met at the Spring, and being told in reply by one of the men that his name was Aden, ana tliat the other was a Dutchman from the emigrant’s company, Stewart pat A pistol at Aden’s breast and killed him, saying: “Take that, curse you.” The other (the Dutchman) wheeled to leave as Joel White fired and wounded him. I asked him how he knew the wounded Dutchman went back to the emigrant’s camp. He said because he was tracked back, and they knew he was there. I again said that it was better to deliver the men to them and let them do anything they wished with them, and tell them we did not approve such thing. Ira Allen, High Counselor, and Robert Wiley and others, spoke, reproving me sharply for trying to dictate to the priesthood; that it would set at naught all authority; that he would not give the life of-one of our brethren for a thousand such persons. “If wo let them go,” he continued, “they will raise hell in California, and the result will be that our wives and children will have to be butchered, and ourselves, too, and they are no better to die than ours, and I am surprised to hear Brother Lee talk as he does, as he has always been considered one of the staunchest in the Church; now he is the first to shirk from his duty." I said, ‘ ‘ Brother, the Lord must harden my heart before I can do such a thing.” Allen said, “It is not wicked to obey the counsel.’’ At this juncture I withdrew, walked off some fifty paces, and prostrated myself on the ground, and wept in the bitter anguish of my soul, and asked the Lord to avert that evil. While in that situation, Counselor C. H. Hopkins, a near friend of mine, came to me ana said: “Brother Lee, oome, get up, and don't draw off from the priesthood. You ought not to do so. You are only endangering your own life by standing out. You can’t help it. If this is wrong, the blame won’t rest upon yon.” I said, “Charley, a worse move than this people ever made. I feel it.” He said, “Come, go back and let them have their way.” I went back, weeping like a child, and took my place, and tried to be silent, and was until Higbee said they (the emigrants) must be decoyed out through pretended friendship. I could no longer hold my peace, and said I, “Joseph Smith said that Goa hated a traitor, and so do I. Before I would be a traitor I would take ten men and go to that camp and tell them they must die, and now to defend themselves, and give them a show for their lives. That would be more honorable than to betray them like Judas.” Here I got reproof, and was ordered to hold my peace.

The plan agreed upon there was to meet them with a flag of truce; tell them that the Indian* were determined on their destruction; that we dare not oppose the Indian*, for we were at their mercy; that the best we eould do for them (the emigrants) was to get them and what few traps we could take in wagon*, to lay their arms in the bottom of the wagon, and cover them up with bed-clothes and start for the settlement a* soon a* possible, and trust themselves in our hands. The small children and wounded were to go with the two wagons, the women to follow the wagons, and the men next ; the troops to stand in readiness on the east side of the road to receive them. Bhurtz and Nephi Johnson were to conceal the Indian* in the brush and rock* till the company was strung out on the road to a certain point, and, at the-watchword, “ Halt; do your duty,” each man waa to cover his victim and fire. Johnson and Schurtz were to rally the Indians and' rush upon and dispatch the women and larger children. It was further told the men that President Haight said that if we were united in carrying but the instructions we would all receive a celestial reward. I said I was willing to put up with a less reward if I could be excused. “ How can you do this without shedding innocent blood?” I asked. Here I got another lampooning for my stubbomess and disobedience to the priesthood ; was told that there waa not a drop of innocent blood in the whole company of emigrants. They also referred to the Gentile nations who refused the children of Israel passage through their country when Moses led them out of Egypt; that the Lord held that crime against them, and when Israel waxed strong the Lord commanded Joshua to slay the whole Nation, men, women and children. “Have not’these"people done worse than that to us? Have they not threatened to murder our leader and prophet, and have they not boasted of the murder of the patriarchs and prophets, Joseph and Hyrum? Now, talk about shedding innocent blood?” They said I was a good, liberal, free-hearted man,.but too much of this sympathy would be always in the way; that every man now had to show* £m colon; that it wa* not case tQ have a Judas in camp. Then it was proposed that every man express himself; that if there was a man who would ■at keep a close mouth they wanted to know it tteu.

This gave me to understand what I might expect if I continued to oppose. Maj. Higbee said: “It is right. Let Brother Dee take an expression of the people.” I knew I dare not refuse, so I had every man speak and express himself. All said they were willing to cany out toe counsel of their leaders; that the leaders had the Spirit of God, and i knew better what was right than they did. They then wanted to know my feelings. I replied: “I have already expressed them." Every eye was upon me as I paused, but, said I, “You can do as you please. I will notoppose you any longer.” “ Will you keep a dose mouth?” was the quertkat.) “I will try,” was my answer. I will here say that fear of offending Brigham •Young and George A. Smith had saved my life. I was near being “blood-atoned” in Parowan under J. 0. Il Smith in 1854, but of this I have spoken in my autobiography. Saturday morning all Was ready, and every man assigned to hie post of duty. During the , night, or rather just before daylight, Johnson and Shurtz ambushed their Indians the better to deceive the emigrants. About eleven o’clock a. m. the troops under Maj. Higbee took their position on the road. The white flag was still kept up in toe corral. Higbee called William Bateman, of toe ranks, to take a flag of truce to the corral He was met about half way with another white flag from the emigrant camp. They had a talk. The emigrant was told that we had cotte to reacue them if they would trust us. Both men-with flags returned to their respective places and reported, and were to meet again and bring word. Higbee called mo out to go and inform them of the conditions, and, if accepted, Dan McFarland, brother to John McFarland, the lawyer, who acted as aid-de-camp, would bring back word, and .then two wagons would be sent for the fire-arms, children, clothing, etc. I obeyed, and the terms proposed were accepted, but not without distrust. I had as little to say as pnuriWa Li fact, my tongue refused toperfarm its office. I eat down on the ground in the corral near where some young men were engaged in paying their last respecta to some person who had j art died of a wound. A large, flashy old lady came to me twice, arid talked whilel saktistre. Hfflw related their troubles; said that seven of their number were killed and fate-nine wounded on the first attack; that several had died since. She asked me if 1 was an Indian Agent. I said: “In one sense 1 an*, as the Governor has appointed me farmer to the In<fiana.”ltold her this to satisfy bee. ■ 1 heard afterward that the same question

w«* asked and anasfersd in tbs ant manner by McFarland, who had been sent by Higbee to the corral “ to hurry W up for fear tint the Indian* Would comb back "»1 be upon them.” When all was ready, Samuel McMurdy, counselor to Bishop P. K. Smith (Klinger Smith), drove out on the lead. Hi* wagon had the seventeen children. Nothing and arms, Samuel Knight drove the other team, with th* five wotnoded men and one boy About fifteen ystu* old. I walked behind the front wagon to direct the course and shun being In the heat of the slaughter; but this I kept to myself. Whesi we got turned fairly to the east, X motioned to McMurdy to steer north across the valley. lat toa W* women who we*e in the oaa ae rpnow the road ap to ths troops, which they did. Instead of saying to McMwrdv not to drive so fast, a* he swore to on my trial, I mid, to the oontnuv, to drive on, as my alm VW' to get out of sight before the firing commenced, which we did. We wore about half a mile ahead of the company when we heard the first firing; We had driven over a ridge of rolling ground and down on a low flat The firing waa simultaneous along the wholeline. The moment the firing commenced' McMurdy halted and tia( his lines across therod of Ins wagon-box, stepped down, and l coolly, with a double-barreled shot-gun;, walked back to Knight'* wagon, which had the wounded men, and was about twenty feet in the rear. A* he raised his piece, he said: “Lord, my God, receive their spirits, for it is for the Kingdom of Hetaven’s sake that we do this," fifed, and killed two men. Saul Knight had a miuzlo-loading rifle, and he shot and killed the two men. then struck the wounded boy on the head, who fell dead. In the meantime-1 drew a five-shooter from my belt, which accidentally went off, cutting across MoMnrdy’s buckskin pant* in front McMurdy *a»d: “Brother Lee, yon are excited. Take thing* cool; you waa near killing me. Look where the ball out" (pointing to the place in bis pants). At this moment I heard the scream as a child. I looked up and saw an Indian have a little boy by the hair of his head, dragging him out of the hind end of the wagon, with a knife in his hand, getting ready to-cut his throat I sprang for the Indian with my revolver in my hand, and shouted at the top of my voice: “ Avick, ooma cot too sooet" (stop, you fool.) The child was ter-ror-stricken. Hi* chin was bleeding. I supposed it was cut by ths knife, but afterward learned- it was done by the wagon-box, as the Indian yanked the boy down by the hair of the head. I had no sooner rescued the child than another Indian seized a little girl by the hair. I rescued her, and as soon *s I could speak I told the Indians they must not hurt the children; that 1 would die before they should be hurt; that we would buy the children from them. By this time the Indians had rushed np around the wagon in quest of blood, and dispatched the two runaway wounded men. In justice to my statement I would say that if my shooter had not prematurely exploded I would have had a hand in dispatching the five wounded. I had lost control of myself, and scarce knew what I was about I saw an Indian pursue a little girl who was fleeing. He caught her about one hundred feet from the wagon, and plunged his knife through her.. I said to McMurdy he had better drive the children to Hamblin’s Ranch and give them some nourishment, while I would go down and get my horse at camp. Passing along the road I saw . the dead strung along a distance of about half a mile. Women and children were killed by the Indians. I saw Bhurtz with the Indians and no other white man with them. When I came to the men they lay about a rod apart. Here I came up with Higbee, Bishop Smith and the rest of the company. As I came up Higbee said to ine: “Let us search these persons for valuables,” and asked me to assist him, and gave me a hat to hold. Several men were already engaged in searching the bodies. I replied that I was unwell, and wanted to get qpon my horse and go to the ranch and nurse myself. My request was granted. Beaching Hamblin’s ranch, being heartsick and worn out, I lay down on my saddle blanket and slept, and knew but little of what passed during the night. About daybreak in the morning I heard the voices of CoL Dame and Isaac C. Haight. I heard some very angry words pass between them, which, drew my attention. Dame said he would have to report the destruction, of the emigrant camp and company. Haight said: “ How; as an Indian massacre?" Dame said h* did not know so well about that. The reply seemed to irritate Haight, who spok* quite loudly, saying: “How the hell can you roport it any other way without implicating youri self?” At this Dame lowered hi* voice almc*t to a whiaper. I could not understand what he said, and the conversation stopped. I got up and saw children, and among others the boy who was pulled by the hair of his head out of the wagon by an Indian and saved by me. That boy I took home and kept home until Dr. Forney, the Government Agent, came to gather up the children and take them East He took the boy with others. That boy's name was William Fancher. His father was Captain of the train. He was taken East and adopted by a man in Nebraska named Richard Sloan. He remained East several years, and then returned to Utah, and is now a convict in Utah Penitentiary, having been cyn victed the past year for the crime of highway robbery. He is now know by the name of “ Idaho Bill.” But his true name is William Fancher. His little sister was also taken East, and is now the wife of a man working for the Union Pacific Railroad Company near Green River. The boy (how man) has yet got a sea* on his chin, caused by the cut on the wagon-box, and those who are anxious enough to examine will find a large scar on the ball of his left foot, caused by a deep out made by an ax while he was with me. 7 1

I got breakfast that morning, and then all hands returned to the scene of the slaughter to bury the dead. The bodies were all in a nude state. The Indians, through a privilege given them, had stripped the bodies of every vestige of clothing. Many of the parties were laughing and talking as they carried the bodies to the ravine for burial. They were just covered over a little, but did not long remain so, for wolves dug them up, and, after eating the flesh from toixsi, the banes laid upon the ground until buried some time after by Government military officers. At the time of burying the bodies, Dame and Haight got into another ouarreL Dame seemed to be terror-stricken, ana again said he would have to publish it They were about two paess from me. Dame spoke low, as if careful to avoid being heard. Haight -spoke loud, andsaid: “ You know you counseled it, and ordered me to hive them used np.” Dame said: “I did not think there was so many women and children. I thought they were nearly all killed by Indians.” Haight said: “It is too late in toe day foryou to back water. You know you ordered and counseled it, and now you want to back out.” Dome said: “ Have you papas for that?” or “ show me papers for that.” This enraged Haight to the highest pitch, and Dame walked off. Haight said: “You throw the blame of this thing on me and I will be revenged on you if I have to meet you in hell to get it.” From thia place we rode to toe wagons. We found them stripped of their covers and every particle of elothmg. Even feather-beds had been ripped open and the contents thrown upon the ground in looking for plunder. I crossed the mountains by the Indian trail, taking my little Indian boy with me on my horse. The gathering up of property and cattle was left in charge of Bishop P. K. Smith. The testimony of Smith in regard to the property and disposition of it was nearly correct. I must not forget to state that after toe attack a messenger by toe name of Jama Haslett was sent with a dispatch to President Brigham Young, asking his advice about interfering with toe company, but he did not return on time. This I had no knowledge of until the massacre was committed. Some two weeks after the deed was done Isaac 0, Haight sent me to report to Gow. Young in person. I asked him Why he did not send a wruten report. He replied that I could tell him more satisfactorily than he could write, and ! could stand up and shoulder as much of the responsibility as I could conveniently; that it would be a feather in my cap some day, and that I would get celestial salvation, but that-a man who shrank from it now would go to belt I wort and did as I was commanded. Brigham asked mo if Isaac 0. Haight bad written a tetter to him. I replied: “Not by me. Ho wished me to report in person.” “AH right,” said Brigham. “<«• I°° an eye-witness to tot most of it?” 41 1 wm,” I replied* Then I proceeded and gave him a full history of all, except my opposition; that I left out entirely. I told him of the killing of women and children and toe betraying of theoompony, , That I told him 1 was opposed to, but I did not

say to Mm to what estMt I was oppawd to It, •fly that I «m* *ppb**i to tlxdding tanoesnt hland. . • Why," Mid to, -you dUftr from Imm (Haight), for to said Star* was ost a drop of ita nooont Hood in the whole company.” * * When I was through, to mid itwasowfal; tet to cared* nothing about *M men, batthewomm and child r— srss what troubled hi*n - fi'r I said : ,” President Yotaig, you should either releute men from their Obligation* Or sustain them when they do what they have ootared into the most sacred obligatioD to do." He rep Hod: “J will think over the matter and make it the sufrfect of prayer, and you may oome back in the morning ana see m*a" •, 1 did so. Ho *aid4 “ John-1 feel first-rate. 1 asked the Lord if itwa* all rfcht for tistt deed to be dune, to take away the vision ot the deed from my mind. Ana the Lord did so, and I feel first-rate. It is all right. The only fear 1 Ban* is of traitor*.’’ HetoMmenetar to lisp- »to snff modhl being, not even to Brother Heber. , President Young hae always treated mw with the tnuidabiD of * fftthwiprai, mid ha* aealbd several women to me sined, and has made my home his home when in that port of tto 1 Territory, until danger ha* threatened him, Tbi* i* a true statement,, according to the-bast of my recollection. John D. Lra, This statement I have made for publication after my death,' and have agreed with a friend to have the sama, with | very many facta pertaining to other matter* connected! with the crimes of the Mormon people under tire leadersNp- Of the priesthood, iron; the period before the butchery of Nauvoo to the present time,' publfehed for the benefit of my family, and that the world may know the blAck' deed* that Have marked the way of the Saints from the organisation *f the Church of Jesus Christ of the Laterday Saint* to th* period when a weak and too pliable tool lay* down hi* pen to face the executioner*’ gun* for deeds of which to is not more guilty than others who - to-day are wearing the garments of priesthood' and living upon tto “tithing" of a deludsd and prieet-rid-denpeople. My autobiography, iff published) will open the eyes of tto world to-the monstrous deeds of the leaders of the Mormon' people, and will alto place in the bands of the attorney for the Government the particular* of some of the most blood-curdling crimes that have been committed in Utah, which, if properly foUowed up will bring many down from their high place m the church so face offended justice upon the gal-

low*. Bo mote it be.

J OHN D. LEE.