AMERICA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 23, 20 March 1858, Page 3

AMERICA.

A large body of Arkansas emigrants, numbering 1 1 8 souls, had been cruelly murdered by the Cheyennes Indians. It appears that the emigrants were proceeding overland to California ; that while at Salt Lake, some of their body had too freely expressed their abhorence of the state in which the Mormons were living, and had thereby aroused their anger ; but as the Mormons, to shield themselves from the avenging arm of the United States, never resent these presumed injurious aspersions with their own arms, had, as has often been the case previously, incited the Indians to attack and destroy them, no doubt, rousing their easily-excited feelings by depicturing to them the value of the booty carried by the emigrants, in addition to the large herd of cattle in their possession ; for it is a wellknown fact that no party, so numerous as the one in question, has ever crossed the plains with les3 than from 500 to 600 head of cattle and horses. The scene of the massacre was about 200 miles from Salt Lake, and no doubt whatever existed that the Mormons had incited the Indians to this fearful massacre. The attack is believed to have been made on the 14th of September. It may be difficult to prove the complicity of the Mormon leaders in the affair, but from the influence they have over the Indian tribes, the general conviction in California is, that the massacre was instigated by them. There is evidence that the deed has been applauded in the Mormon pulpits. It is described as a just retribution for the violence of the Gentiles in Missouri, and "a fulfilment of the prophecies." Thus has been added another page to the already sanguinary history of this loathsome sect, living in the very centre of America, but at so great a distance from the habitations of other men, and in a plain accessible only by passing through a long and strongly-fortified mountain defile, that we fear it will be lo»g before they are dislodged as at Nauvoo.