FROM UTAH.
Reported Destitution in Salt Lake Valley—The Troops, &c.
By way of California, we have some inter-esting items of news from the Mormons:
From the Los Angeles Star.
By a gentleman who arrived here last night [15th January] from San Bernardino, we have intelli-gence regarding the condition of the people in Salt Lake Valley.
A party from Salt Lake City, under Col. AMASA LYMAN, had reached the crossing of the Mohave, and encamped, for the purpose of procuring sup-plies of provisions, clothing and dry goods. There were twenty wagons in the train. It is reported that great destitution exists in the city, and that orders have been given to prevent further emigra-tion from San Bernardino. There is a large en-campment at the Mohave—about 100 wagons. A great number have lately moved out on the road. Col. LYMAN does not intend to come into San Ber-nardino, but to send for his supplies by some of the late residents. Those of the encampment who had supplies immediately forwarded them to the assistance of the suffering brethren in Salt Lake, intending to procure others from the Gen-tiles here. The reports are not doubted that great suffering exists in the valley, but the brethren and sisters are still desirous of pressing on to Zion, so that they may obtain the "endowments," and be considered worthy to suffer with the church.
The camp on the Mohave cannot be so devoid of the comforts of life, after all, as it might be sup-posed to be. We have heard it stated by several that, since the camp was established, there has been no less than fifty marriages, the young men of the party agreeing to take charge of all the young ladies, to which the latter freely consented, thus securing protectors through the long journey. Not only have marriages been celebrated whole-sale, in orthodox Mormon style, but the married ladies have contributed largely to the hilarity and pleasures of camp life, by adding to the population—there having been no less than 25 births.
SPECULATIONS ON MORMON MOVEMENTS.
Los Angeles (Jan. 21) correspondence of the San [--]cisco Bulletin.
I take it the last reliable news that we h[--] ceived is that which left the U. S. troops [--] Fork, in imminent expectation of a fig[--] enemy. [--] carrier from Salt Lake point, we [--] the rather unexpected tiding [--] there had been no fighting; that the troop [--] gone into winter quarters, &c. The faithful at Sari Bernardino were ordered to realize what effect they could from their hard-earned property, and leave at once for Utah; and soon after there are orders for no more emigration. Meanwhile, the various trains that started at different times are scattered along the route. Now, as what we have heard since some time in October is through Mor-mon sources, it may be true, or it may be intention-ally false for sinister purposes. Suppose Col. JOHN-STON'S force was cut up! The Mormons then are surrounded on all sides by snow, and have but one outlet—towards Southern California and the fron-tiers of Mexico. Suppose they organize an offen-sive force, they can only act in one direction, and that is this way. They have the whole route is their own hands; the San Bernardino emigration would form a line of supply. A large force, with a reserve to come after, could reach the Mohave, if not San Bernardino, before we could hear of it—except by the merest accident. Mormons are like "snakes in the grass," you know not where to find them. All these conjectures may be true or not ; but I believe there is no intrinsic reason or re-liable information against them.
We are but poorly prepared here to meet such an irruption. It takes a week, when the steamer is here, to get assistance from the North ; and two or three weeks when the boat is not here. Heaven grant, however, that no such emergency as I have spoken of may arise !
THE MURDER OF THE AIKENS BY THE MORMONS.
A rumor, says the Los Angeles Star, has been current in town for some time, to which we did not at first give credence, that two young men, THOMAS and JOHN AIKEN, formerly of this neigh-borhood, and who had been in confinement at Salt Lake City, were murdered on their way thence to California. A party of four started from the city; they procured guides and interpreters; but when about two days' journey west of Ogden City, they were set upon by Indians, and the whole four killed. The interpreters were not molested. We hope this may prove untrue. The AIKEN boys were well known in this city, and very much re-spected, Since they left for Salt Lake, we had previously repeatedly heard of their death—this time it comes to us on the authority of a man who had the narrative from the interpreters.
TROOPS FOR SAN BERNARDINO.—TWO compa-nies of infantry are to be stationed at San Bernard-ino, numbering nearly two hundred men. Major WISE, who is on his way down south by land, with a company of dragoons, will take command at the San Diego Mission. An unusual number of steam-ers are now advertised in the San Francisco papers to leave for ports on the southern coast and the Colorado river, by which doubtless United States troops and munitions of war will be immediately conveyed to the south western borders of Utah.
A MORMON BISHOP BUYING ARMS.
From the Alta California.
A few days since, a gentleman from the neigh-borhood of Los Angeles—whom we shall call "F-"—arrived here with instructions from his neighbors to purchase a cannon, and some small arms and ammunition, to be ready for use in self-defence in case of a Mormon inroad. "F." went round making his purchases,'inquiring for a cannon among other articles. A little wonder arose among persons not knowing him, as to what he wanted with a cannon; and an acquaintance told them that "F." was a Mormon Bishop buying arms to be sent to Salt Lake. "F." happens to have a face and form differing a little from the cannon mould, and the report was received at once as true, and the "Mormon Bishop" was pointed out to a num-ber of persons in the street, and the question was asked whether he should not be arrested, &c. "F." and his friends had a hearty laugh over the hoax. "F." has now gone to Sacramento to take advice of the Governor as to what should be done by the people of San Bernardino and Los Angeles in certain possible contingencies.
LATEST FROM SALT LAKE CITY. The following is an extract from a private let-ter, dated Great Salt Lake City, Dec. 6, 1857:
"The soldiers are at Fort Bridger, and I expect they will stay there all Winter. Their animals have given out, and can't come any further. They have shot 30 or 40 rounds at our bays several times, but have never drawn blood. Two or three times they have shot through their clothes. Our boys are all called home now. The people are in high spirits, and hope there will be no fighting to do, but that they will go off and let us alone.
Business is rather dull at present, but provisions are plenty, and the people can get along very well. Groceries are very scarce, but we live in hopes of better days."
