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Show MAY BE ERADICATED. 189 doubtless influencing the emigrants in their decision. The escort arrived, and the unsuspecting emigrants abandoned everything, and marched out of their fort. The women and children were in front, the men behind them, and the guard in the rear of all. In this order they marched a short distance, when at a given signal the " Indians" rushed upon-the party, shooting dead by the first volley, the men and af terward the women and children, except seventeen of the latter who were supposed to be too young to tell the tale of this horrid butchery. No injury was sustained by the es cort. Judge Cradlebaugh very graphically describes this massa cre in a speech he delivered in the House of Representa tives, when a delegate from Nevada Territory. The Judge appends to the speech the affidavits of a number of individ uals, that convict, beyond all question, the Mormons as the perpetrators of this crime. The evidence of their guilt may be summed up as follows : First, the statements of friendly Indians, giving the particulars so minutely, and so in accordance with known facts, as to be of themselves very strong evidence. They explained how the Mormons dis guised themselves, and pointed out the place where they as sumed the disguise. Second, the testimony of apostate Mormons, who resided in the locality, and knew of the plans of the murderers, and how they were executed. Third, the testimony of some who actually participated in the crime r and afterward went to Judge Cradlebaugh at night, being afraid to do so by daylight, and gave a full account of the horrible affair. These parties offered to go before a court of justice, and testify to the facts if they could be guaran teed protection in their lives after doing so. The statements of these parties corroborated the statements of the Indians. Fourth, the statement of the children who escaped, who were old enough to observe and remember. In speaking of these children the Judge remarked : " I recollect one of them, John Calvin Sorrow, after he found he was safe, and before he was brought away from Salt Lake City> although not then nine years of age, sitting in a contempla- |