So much has been said about the Indians at the massacre, that your reporter has for several days been in search of the Chief of the Beavers. To-day he found him and held an interview by the aid of an interpreter. This chief’s name is Beaverite. He became Chief by the recommendation of the Mormons and the ratification of the Indian agent, on account of his good character. He is aged about 46, and is afflicted with partial blindness. He said, “I was not at Corn Creek, but am brother to the mother of Kenosh, Chief of the Corn Creek Indians, and I am a warm friend of the Pahvants. I often talked the matter over with them. The story of the poisoned ox is not true, nor of the poisoned springs. The water talked of is not a spring, it is running water. No persons ever poisoned it as the Mormons say. The Indians never told me of it, and I being with them must have heard it. No Corn Creeks, Pahvants, nor Beavers ever went to Mountain Meadows. It is all one lie, whoever says so. All the Indians there were not more than one hundred, for I knew Moquepus, who was there with his Cold Creek Indians. He was my friend: so were all his Indians. I have often talked with them during the last seventeen years. Moquepus and his warriors always said they were making a living round Cedar, when John D. Lee came and told them to come and help kill the emigrants. Moquepus replied that he had not guns nor powder enough. Lee said the Mormons would furnish guns and powder. Moqueros said, “What will the Indians get?” Lee said, “Clothing, all the guns and horses, and some of the cattle to eat.” So they went out. Moquepus was wounded and died a year after of his wounds. All the Indians tell the same story. No Indians in Utah had any animosity against the whites. Then all peace with the Indians. One Indian tried to steal a horse of Duke’s party, and a guard shot him, and for a day or two there was trouble and some shooting. That was the only trouble we ever had. I know all these Indians. I know all Indian traditions. I know what I tell is true. I tell it because they are cowards, and had tried to throw all the blame on the Indians. Lee is like an Indian who shot two miners long ago. He got caught, and when brought here he got scared and shook like a coward. So with Lee. He has got scared and says the Indians did it. Lee led the Indians at the massacre, and Moquepus always said Lee was the Chief over him in that fight. That was the bargain.

KINGDOM in the WEST, VOLUME 12 INNOCENT BLOOD, pages 453-454

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