[By papers received by the Star of the West ]
VERY LATE FROM UTAH.
THE THREATS OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.
THE ARMING OP THE MORMONS.
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.
The Sacramento Union, gives a narrative of C. G. Langdon, formerly connected with the United States surveyor's office in Utah. We extract the following:
I was engaged as a clerk in the United States surveyor's office, and witnessed the breaking-up of the United States Court, and, as the Mormons expressed it, the stampede of Uncle Sam's officers I felt that the crisis had come, the blow had been struck, an insult flung in the face of our Govern-ment that could not be calmly borne. I have as yet been disappointed.
Brigham Young had publicly declared that no United States officers should again set their feet into the Valley, and I wished to know the extent of the preparations they were making. I visited the arsenal, found they had a fair display of ar-tillery. I also visited their public and private workshops, saw them casting cannon-shot, and manufacturing grape and canister in great abundance, and some fifty men making Colt’s dra-goon-size revolvers. Much more information I obtained in regard to the alliance formed between the Mormons and Indians, their plan of attack upon the troops, etc., at least sufficient to make myself a mark to vent their fury upon, and hurl their darts of destruction at, viz., the Danites.
Accordingly, on the 25th day of July, when crossing the street, I was assailed by a party of ruffians, was knocked down and most shamefully beaten with clubs and stones. I was literally cut and bruised and mangled all over my head, face, breast, hands, and arms. I was taken home un-conscious, and had it not been for some emigrants there who interposed, I should have been brutally murdered in the streets, and without the least pos-sible chance to defend myself .
All was quiet until the night of the 27th of July ; I was disturbed by loud rapping at the back door of the office, (I lived next door,) and also heard voices at the front door ; I heard Mr. Wilson raise the window above and ask what was wanted ; he was ordered to come down and deliver himself up under arrest by the authority of Governor Brigham Young. He asked what charge they had against him; “Come down, and we'll d—n soon show you," was the reply.
The next heard was the door being broken open, and the voice of Mr. W in expostulation with them ; the entreaties of his wife, begging for them to spare her husband, mingled with their oaths and obscene expressions, rendered the scene per-fectly heart-sickening. I lay almost powerless with the pain of my wounds and conflicting thoughts and emotions, until, suddenly, I was thoroughly aroused by hearing them beneath my window, at the back door. I told my wife not to make a noise, or even cry ; she did not cry, but her last words were, "For God's sake, George, fly! Go—go—if you can—I—I—cannot see you murdered! Oh, go ! and I will do the best I can to detain them"
I had time to put on a pair of pantaloons and one stocking, when, without any ceremony, the door was burst open, aud a posse of midnight assassins entered below. I motioned to my wife to extinguish the light, which she did ; they immediately made a rush for the stairs (expecting, no doubt, that I was preparing for fight, but I could not have killed a mouse then); I stopped and kissed my infant boy, perhaps for the last time on earth—then barely had time to leap from the window, and in doing so I cut my foot very badly; it seemed the fates were against me ; but, suddenly, the thought struck my mind that if I could possibly make my escape, I might probably be the means of saving Wilson, thinking they dare not execute their bloody pur-pose on one alone, as the other would be too formi-dable a witness against them ; for I thought of my wife and my child ; yes, I might yet live to rescue him from the blighting influence of their teach-ings—from a life of poverty, ignorance and wretch-edness. Thus, with renewed energy, I pursued my way through the corn fields and thickets, bare-footed and bare-headed, and nearly nude; but, at last, I found a friend who relieved me all that lay in his power, by giving me a pair of moccasins and an old hat. Thanks, my friend; may you never want relief.
I was hotly pursued several days. The next morning after I started for California I had the satisfaction of seeing seven of my pursuers, mount-ed and armed to the teeth, pass me within twenty yards, while I was secreted behind a sage bush ; I could not refrain from a smile even then in my critical position, to see their knives and pistols lying to their belts, while I had not even a pen-knife. I have not yet heard from Salt Lake, and do not know the fate of Wilson. If he escaped with life, it was by being compelled to take oath to support and fight for the Mormon cause. He has, however, sufficient philosophy to know that no such oath would have any force or obligation.
I entertain but little fears for the safety of my wife and child; the Mormons seldom molest or harm a woman, except to coerce her into measures that are sometimes very disagreeable. I rely en-tirely on the well-known fortitude and firmness of my wife, and do not think I shall be disap-pointed.
The Los Angeles Star publishes a deposition of Mr. Ellis Eames, in relation to the condition of affairs in Deseret and the late massacre :
We learned from Dr. Dunion, surgeon to Brig-ham Young's army, that they had taken a vote at Salt Lake City, that if the United States army found its way into Utah, they themselves would burn the city, towns, forts, &c., and lay every habitation in ashes. That they had already picked out secret places in the mountains, to "cache" their provisions, and make their future abode with the Indians. The Doctor stated that arrangements were already entered into that, pro-vided the army should enter the settlements, every city, town, and village in the States of California, Missouri, and Iowa should be imme-diately burned; that they had men to do this who were not known to be Mormons ! And that they would cut off all the emigrant trains, army stores, stock, &c.; that no man, woman, or child should hereafter cross the plains without being scalped ! That they depended upon and expected the Indians to perform this infernal and cowardly part of their designs.
After I left the Mormons, I got along peaceably with the, Indians, who are not directly under Mor-mon influence, I staid at Painter Creek several days, within six miles of the scene of the late hor-rible massacre, where I joined the company of the United. States mail to San Bernardino. While at Painter Creek, I saw some of the Mormons draw-ing some of the wagons belonging to persons who fell in the late massacre towards Cedar City ; they did not explain to me anything of their business, or of their possession of the wagons; seemed very distant and indifferent in their communications. I asked no questions; I wished to avoid suspicion.
After leaving Painter Creek, and arriving at the field of blood, I discovered several bodies that were slain, in a state of nudity and a state of pu-trefaction. I saw about twenty wolves feasting upon the carcasses of the murdered. I noticed that the women and children were more generally eaten by the wild beasts than the men, Mr. Hunt and his companions often laughed, and made re-marks derogatory to decency, and contrary to hu-manity, upon the persons of those who were there rotting, or had become the food of wild beasts. Although this terrible massacre occurred within six miles of Painter Creek settlement, and thirty from Cedar City, yet it appears that the Mormons are determined to suffer their carcasses to remain uncovered, for their bones to bleach upon the plains.
Brigham made a fiery speech in the "Bowery," at Salt Lake City, on the 13th of September, in which his policy is clearly set forth. We give the material portions:
It is a pretty bold stand for this people to take, to say that they will not be controlled by the cor-rupt administrators of our General Government. We will be controlled by them, if they will be controlled by the Constitution and laws, but they will not. Many of them do not care any more about the Constitution and the laws that they make, than they do about the laws of another na-tion. That class trample the rights of the people under their feet, while there are also many who would like to honor them. All we have ever asked for is our constitutional rights. We wish the laws of our Government honored, and we have ever honored them, but they are trampled under foot by administrators.
There cannot be a more damnable, dastardly order issued than was issued by the Administra-tion to this people while they were in an Indian country in 1846. Before we left Nauvoo, not less than two United States Senators came to receive a pledge from us that we would leave the United States, and then while we were doing our best to leave their borders, the poor, low, degraded curses sent a requisition for five hundred of our men to go and fight their battles! That was President Polk, and he is now weltering in hell with old Zachary Taylor, where the present administrators will soon be if they do not repent.
Liars have reported that this people have com-mitted treason, and upon their lies the President has ordered out troops to aid in officering this Territory, and if those officers are like many who have previously been sent here, and we have rea-son to believe that they are, or they would not come then they know they are not wanted, they are por, miserable blacklegs, broken-down poli-tical hacks, robbers and whoremongers, men that are not fit for civilized society, so they must dragoon them upon us for officers. I feel that I won’t bear such cursed treatment, and that is enough to say, for we are just as free as the mountain air.
I have told you that if this people will live their religion, all will be well; and I have told you that if here is any man or woman that is not wil-ling to destroy anything and everything of their property that would be of use to an enemy if left, I wanted them to go out of the Territory, and I again say so to-day, for when the time comes to burn and lay waste our improvements, if any man undertakes to shield his he will be sheared down, for "judgment will be laid to the line and right-eousness to the plummet." Now the faint-hearted can go in peace, but should that time come, they must not interfere. Before I will suffer what I have in times gone by, there shall not be one building, nor one-foot of lumber, nor a stick, nor a tie, nor a particle of grass and hay, that will burn, left in reach of our enemies. I have sworn, if driven to extremity, to utterly lay waste, in the name of Israel's God.
I am aware that you want to know what will be the result of the present movement against us. “Mormonism" will take an almighty stride into influence and power, while our enemies will sink and become weaker and weaker and be no more, and I know it just as well now as I shall five years hence. The Lord Almighty wants a name and a character, and He will show our enemies that He is God, and that He has set his hand again to gather lsrael, and to try our faith and integ-rity. And He is saying, "Now, you my children, dare you take a step to promote righteousness in direct and open opposition to the popular feelings of all the wicked in your Government ? If you do, I will fight your battles."
Our enemies had better count the cost, for if they continue the job they will want to let it out to sub-contractors before they get half through with it. If they persist in sending troops here, I want the people in the West and in the East to understand that it will not be safe for them to cross the plains.
