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Show 101 calling the k i l l i n g "another result of American bribery among the Indians, who like congressman have t h e i r price. A degrading move for a great nation to hire the savage to murder because of t h e i r r e l i g i o n . " 1 0 This was grievous news indeed. If the army was r e a l ly operating in the North, the enemies of Zion had actually succeeded in surrounding them, according to intelligence received in Salt Lake City. The Mormons accused John W. Powell, a trader who lived among the tribes in the vicinity of Fort Lemhi, of inciting the Indians to attack the mission with the intention of obtaining the Mormons' stock to sell to the army. B. F. Ficklin, a quartermaster agent for the Utah expedition, was known to have been in the area trying t o obtain stock for the army but had suspiciously disappeared the day of the attack. Both Powell and Ficklin were charged with complicity in the affair, but the Mormons were unsuccessful in getting the pair convicted. While Salt Lake was s t i l l reeling from the news from the Salmon River country, another report of government bribery among the Indians reached the city. On March 10 a report came through that the Indians had taken Echo Canyon, the key to the Salt Lake defense, and were holding i t for Johnston's army.11 A company of m i l i t i a was immediately dispatched to the canyon, and the rumor proved t o be unfounded; but the incident served to point out how susceptible the Mormons had become t o such hearsay. Church leaders seemed almost at the mercy of such reports. Unfortunately, decisions had t o be made before most of these rumors could be verified. In t h e i r zeal, the Mormons had overreacted to the threats they saw surrounding them on every side. Throughout the campaign, charges of Indian alliances were hurled back and forth between the Mormons and the government. It appears, however, that while both sides official prohibitted such practices, each party was guilty of this |
