ALONG THE DESERT BORDER. 141 



The Mormons, on hearing of the outrage, immediately repaired 

 to the scene of carnage, where they interred the dead ; after 

 which they took the living to their homes, where they were 

 kindly taken care of until their friends came after them." 



In spite of the assertions of the Mormons to the contrary, 

 there is no doubt but what they were the principal actors in 

 this fearful tragedy, and that they were closely leagued with 

 the Indians ; else why was it that small parties of Saints were 

 enabled to pass through a region infested by savage tribes, 

 which boldly attacked and robbed large bodies of American 

 Gentiles. Bishop Lee, of Beaver, afterwards confessed to being 

 one of the principals of the massacre, and that it was instigated 

 by Mormon officials. 



The country became more rough and uneven as we ad- 

 vanced. Filling our casks at a little stream which crossed our 

 path, we made a dry camp at nightfall, on the summit of the 

 rim of the Great Basin. As we were now approaching a region 

 infested by dangerous Indians, a council of war was held in 

 the evening, for the purpose of choosing officers, appointing 

 guards and making regulations for the government of our 

 company. Sydney Tanner, an old mountaineer and veteran 

 Mormon, was unanimously elected captain, and a gentleman 

 who figured in the New York Clipper under the nom de 

 plume of "Sporty" was chosen sergeant of the camp guard, 

 which was hereafter to be mounted at night ; each guard to be 

 composed of two men, and to stand so many hours at a time. 

 The passengers volunteered to stand camp guard, while the 

 more difficult horse guard was to be performed by the team- 

 sters. A short but comprehensive address Avas made by the 

 captain in regard to our intercourse with the Indians, so that 

 collisions might be avoided, after which the meeting broke up 

 with three loud cheers for the officers elected. Roughly clad, 

 sunburnt, and "bearded like the pard," we formed quite a 

 picturesque group, as we stood encircling a huge campfire, 



