Murder

1976 — 317 p. Edges foxed. Tall 8vo. Original full cloth binding. Original priced dust jacket, slightly soiled. Hardbound. Very good. Mountain Meadows massacre was a series of attacks in Utah on the Baker-Fancher emigrant wagon train. Composed almost entirely of families from Arkansas the group was bound for California on a route that passed through the Utah Territory during a turbulent period later known as the Utah War. After arriving in Salt Lake City, the party made their way south, eventually stopping to rest at Mountain Meadows. While the emigrants were camped in the meadow, nearby militia leaders made plans to attack the wagon train. Intending to give the appearance of Native American aggression, their plan was to arm some Southern Paiute indians and persuade them to join with a larger party of Utah militiamen, disguised as Indians, in an attack. During the initial assault on the wagon train, the emigrants fought back and a five-day siege ensued. Eventually fear spread among the militia's leaders that some emigrants had caught sight of white men, and had probably discovered who their attackers really were. This resulted in an order by militia commander for the emigrants' annihilation. Running low on water and provisions, the emigrants allowed a party of militiamen to enter their camp, who assured them of their safety and escorted them out of their hasty fortification. After walking a distance from the camp, the militiamen, with the help of auxiliary forces hiding nearby, attacked the emigrants. Intending to leave no witnesses the perpetrators killed all the adults and older children (totaling about 120 men, women, and children). Seventeen children, all younger than seven, were spared. W7