DEAR  SIR:  Agreeable  to  your  request  that  I  should  inform  you
whenever  any  movement  of  the  Indians  took  place,  of  any  importance,
in  this  part  of  your  superintendency,  I  wish  to  say  to  you  that  some
Indians  came  in  yesterday  from  the  north,  with  reports  that  some
whites  had  been  murdered  some  200  miles  north  of  this,  on  the  Cali
fornia  road.  The  reports  were  so  vague  and  contradictory  that  at  first


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  105

I  did  not  consider  it  worthy  of  credence ;  but  having  afterwards  learned
that  some  Indians  had  in  their  possession  some  horses,  mules,  oxen,
and  other  property  unusual  for  them  to  traffic  in,  trying  to  trade  the
same  to  citizens  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  I  thought  best  to  institute
an  inquiry  in  reference  to  the  matter.  I  fear  the  report  is  too  true,
though  there  is  much  contradiction  in  regard  to  the  circumstances  and
extent  of  the  murder.  One  report  is,  that  two  Indians  entered  a  camp
of  emigrants  to  do  some  trading,  and  were  killed  by  said  emigrants.
The  Indians  then  gathered  their  forces  and  revenged  their  death  by
killing  five  men  and  two  women  belonging  to  said  camp.  Other
reports  make  the  number  of  the  whites  killed  more,  and  state  other
causes  for  the  massacre.
I  send  this  by  Mr.  Nichols,  bishop  of  this  settlement,  who  will  give
you  further  particulars.  I  also  send  by  him  a  daguerreotype,  which
has  been  obtained  from  the  Indians  by  one  of  our  citizens  and  given
to  me  to  send  down  to  you  It  is  stated  by  the  Indians  to  belong  to
some  of  the  murdered  party.
Yours,  with  much  respect,

SAMUEL  SMITH.
Dr.  FORNEY,  Superintendent  Indian  Affairs.
SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH,
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August  2,  1859.
