MORMONS LEAVING SALT LAKE, CITY.
The party of Col. KANE, which left Camp Scott on the 16th of May, arrived at St. Louis on the 15th instant. The news is thus stated in the St. Louis Democrat:
"Gov. CUMMING had returned to Fort Scott from Salt Lake City. He stated that almost instantly upon his arrival at the Mormon city he found the population mov-ing off. The movement, had indeed commenced and shortly increased till the entire people of the northern settlements were in motion. Brigham Young formally delivered into his hands the 'great seal' and all State records. The Mormon chiefs appeared particularly so-licitous that Gov. Cumming should take possession of these momentous documents, relying upon this measure as the only one for their preservation. They were urgent that the Governor should at once deposit, them in a fire-proof safe. The reason of this soon transpired with the discovery that extensive preparations had been skilfully made to give the city to the flames, a la the Russians at Moscow. Large quantities of dried fence-wood had been arranged in many houses, which a match would have kindled to conflagration. Happilly better counsels pre-vailed among the leaders, and strenuous endeavors were successfully made by the major part of the population to prevent the catastrophe.
"Having received the capitulation of Brigham, and taken efficient means to prevent the still dreaded burn-ing of the city, Gov. Cumming deemed it proper, if pos-sible, peacefully to prevent the migration southward, and set off after the trains. The whole population of the northern settlements were on the road, a few guards alone being left in the villages. The number of men, women, and children could scarcely be less than thirty- five thousand. Many were far advanced, so that it was useless to pursue them. The forward trains were three hundred miles southward down the valley, The Gov-ernor counted seven hundred and fifty wagons laden with families. They were abundantly provisioned. Many hundreds had 'hutted' by the way, i. e., had built adobe houses of the read mud. The cold and heavy rains had disappointed their expectations of the dry weather neces-sary to the permanency of such structures, and had washed away their walls. They were thus left exposed to the winds and rains. But there appeared no very serious suffering, though much and trying inconvenience. The attempt, to procure a general abandonment of the march was of course futile.
"There is uncertainty about the destination which the Mormon leaders now propose to themselves. They keep their own counsel in this respect with remarkable close-ness. The suggestion that they were bound for Cedar City is rather discredited by the fact that they have driven large herds of their cattle much southward of that point. It is feared that they may coalesce with some of the Indian tribes of the South, which are already suf-ficiently vexatious, and thus give much trouble to the Government. They themselves complain bitterly of the treatment of roving parties of Indians who, finding them defenceless on the road, cannot resist the temptation presented by so much booty. The Indians ridicule the Mormons, saying they are squaws and can't fight.
"Camp Scott remained healthy. The accounts of inade-quate provisions have been exaggerated. The quality of their fare is alone matter of complaint, with the troops. Gov. Cumming has taken efficient steps to remedy all inconvenience, and preclude the possibility of suffering in the army from this source.
"About twenty miles west of Platte Bridge Col. Kane met the supply train of Col. Hoffman, and also the Uni-ted States Commissioners, for whose arrival Col. John-ston has hitherto been reported as waiting.
"The departure of the Mormons appears to be con-ceived by their leaders and by those in the American camp as probably the best course feasible. The coolness, address, and firmness of Gov. Cumming in securing the adoption of this alternative to war are strongly attested by the eye-witnesses of his conduct. His management of the army in its critical circumstances also elicits and we doubt not deserves warm encomiums."
19th Century Mormon Article Newspaper Index
