AN ESCAPE FROM SALT LAKE.

Colonist, Issue 32, 9 February 1858, Page 3

AN ESCAPE FROM SALT LAKE.

{From the Weekly Times, Oct. 17 ) ' The following narrative is from the pen of John Davies, a young Welshman, who emigrated to Salt Lake, with his family, about two years -ago, from Maesteg, South-Wales. . it. ; is taken from a private letter, dated Council Bluffs lowa, June 29:—"I'guess you are anxious t<* know the reason I left Salt Lake. I shall try, in the first place, to inform you what a man must do to be a Mormon. He must give himself, his family, and all his possessions over to Brigham Young, and then he'll have to give the tenth of all his income—the tenth day s work—and he must keep from two to ten wives. If he don't agree to these things, he had better quit; but by doing so he is in danger of losing his life every minute, for they would rather do so than let him be the means of letting the world- know how things are in their midst. Many have been shot down in trying to escape* I have seen dozens shot down in the street; and three days before I left I saw three persons killed, merely because they intended to escape—they were shot down in a place called Springfield, while they were preparing their trunks to leave. This took place about eight o'clock on a Sunday morning, within fifty yards of the city. The first was a young man called William Parish : he received seven balls in his body. The second was his father, and the third was a man called Potter, whose body received as many as fifteen balls. The old man was pierced in the back, and his throat cut in three different places. I saw them lying down, and I could name the persons who killed them. Brigham Young has got men for this purpose. Their number is four hundred. They are called the 'Destroying Angels.' Their captain's name is William Hickman, and the second in command is Porter Rockwell. The walls around the city are fifteen feet high, and they are surrounded by a deep and wide moat. The city is entered by four gates, which are watched in the night-time. The ' Detroying Angels' go out on the plains in the spring, in order to intercept those who may escape from the city. Many left on foot last January. They sleep by day and travel by night. I know of men and women who have travelled this way— the men dressed as women and the women as men. I came across some who were very short of food; the little they had they gave to the women, and the men were sustained by the womens milk; I left Salt Lake city on the 17th of April, in company with two Welshmen and an African. The few Mormons who knew of our intentions said we would never reach the States alive, but I told them that I was determined to try, whatever would,occur. On Saturday (the day after we left) we had travelled" thirty milesfrom^^; the city, when we saw three men following us. They were sent by the authorities of the city to catch us. The name of one was Patrick Linch, an Irishman by birth, and secretary to Brigham Young. This man fired his revolver at me, but the ball went by without hurting me. They then came near us on their horses, and inquired our names, and when we refused to tell them, they swore they would blow" our brains out.' With that one of them raised his revolver as if he was going to use it—he had one on each side of his saddle. I then took out my revolver, and told him him to fire if he liked. I had six revolvers with me and a rifle, containing in all thirfcy-seven balls. Another ball was then fired at me, which whistled by my left cheek. 1 then fired at himy and one ball hit him ■on the leg and another otf the shoulder. (My frienck at this time had''run in the woods, and I was left to fight it out myself.) I then lost my footing, and one of the men run at me with a knife, and cut my belt and took four of my revolvers. I had the other two hidden in my boots. I got hold of one of them, fired, and succeeded in keeping them off for some time, till I had a chance to run to the woods, where I got the assistance of my friends. We continued to travel that day and and the following night, and succeeded in reaching a place called Port Bridger, which is 113 miles from the valley. The number of our pursuers had now increased to twenty, and we had to put to the woods again. We travelled till night, and were so fortunate as to meet a host of friendly Indians, who gave us buffalo meat to eat. The next day we overtook a number of waggons, known as Mrs. Babbit's train, in number twentyeight. I was hired to drive one waggon, "which was drawn by six mules. We had some trouble with a lot of Indians called the ■ c Crow tribe.' They were well armed, and about 1000 strong. About 600 shots came into our tent. We killed about thirty Indians, and they killed fiveof ourmen."

An.unusual "scene" occurred, at Jullien's recent musical exhibition. The performance was entitled " the Indian Fantasia and General Havelock's Triumphant March." At its close, instead of obeying a call for the repetition .of " Rule Britannia" and "God save the Queen," M. Jullien made a coup de theatre, with his usual adroitness. " Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "as we are honoured this eveningby the, presence of Lady Havelock, the wife of the dis^jnguishedigeneral-r that British lion who has so nobly-hurited down the Bengal tiger:—l am sure you will all be as delighted as I am to know that she is among us." Then, pointing to a box on the first tier, he said, "Thereis Lady Havelock!" This arrangement was received with such' tremendous cheering that Lady Havelock, who had been quietly listening to the music, rose from her seat, and coming forward to the front of the box with her two daughters, gracefully saluted the audience. The acclamations that followed were again interrupted by M. Jullien speaking in a loud voice and apparently as excited as if lie had been an Englishman born— " Now, ladies and gentlemen, you,shall join me in three British cheers. I will give^ the word, and you shall all respond ensemble!" He gave the word, and his " Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!" thrice reiterated, was thrice echoed by such an hurrah from the united voices of the assembly as made the walls reverberate again. The Princess Royal's Marriage.-—Although it is yet too early to discuss the ceremonials to be observed at the' marriage of the Princess Royal with Prince Frederick William of Prussia, yet our readers may be assured that the ceremony will take place at the Chapel Royal, and that the arrangements adhered to at the nuptials of her Majesty and the Prince Consort will be the model for the proceedings at the wedding of the Princess Royal. The court will leave Windsor early in January, and will take up its abode at Buckingham Palace. After the marriage, 'the royal pair, will retire to Windsor Castle, M&, remaining there a week,, will return to town to receive the public congratulations of the court on their union. This is at present the arrangement, but it may be greatly modified^ or even altered, should there be any serious change in the health of the King of Prussia.— Court Journal.-