A Study in Scarlet

The Mountain Meadows Massacre is one of the most tragic and controversial events in the annals of the American West. Occurring in a remote part of southern Utah, it saw the gruesome murder of around 120 men, women, and children, all members of the Baker-Fancher emigrant wagon train from Arkansas.

The wagon train, en route to California, arrived at Mountain Meadows in early September. On the morning of September 7, 1857, they found themselves under attack by a group of Native Americans. However, as events unfolded, it became evident that the attack wasn’t merely a spontaneous act of aggression by indigenous peoples. Mormon militia members, some donning Native American disguises, played a crucial role.

After a five-day siege, a contingent of local Mormon militia leaders approached the emigrants offering safe passage out of the territory in return for them laying down their arms. Trusting their attackers’ word, the emigrants agreed. As they started their departure, the treachery reached its climax. Mormon militia, alongside their Paiute allies, turned on the emigrants and killed them. Only the youngest children, deemed too young to bear witness, were spared and later adopted into local families.

Short-term Effects

1. Suspicion and Investigation: Word of the massacre spread quickly, further straining the already tense relationship between the US government and the Mormon community. Initial investigations were thwarted due to the remote location, the Civil War, and various obstructions by local leaders.

2. Increased Military Presence: The already established Utah War (1857-1858), a confrontation between the Mormon settlers and the U.S. Army, saw heightened hostilities and paranoia. Although the war didn’t result in any major battles, the massacre added fuel to an already volatile situation.

Long-term Effects

1. Strained LDS Church Relations: For many years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) denied involvement, attributing the massacre solely to Native Americans. However, evidence and confessions revealed a more intricate plot, heavily involving the Mormon militia. The LDS Church later acknowledged the participation of local Mormon leaders in the massacre but stated it wasn’t a directive from the church’s central leadership.

2. Legal and Judicial Repercussions: It took over two decades for anyone to face legal consequences. John D. Lee, a major in the Mormon militia, was the only individual tried and executed in 1877 for his role in the massacre.

3. Cultural Impact: The massacre cast a long shadow over the region, influencing literature, film, and academic discourse. It became a dark symbol of the consequences of religious fanaticism and unchecked power.

The legacy of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is one of remembrance and reflection. In the 20th and 21st centuries, joint efforts by descendants of the victims and the LDS Church have aimed at reconciling and remembering the tragic event.

1. Monuments and Memorials: Over time, several monuments were erected to honor the victims. The most notable is the Mountain Meadows Massacre Memorial, which underwent a significant renovation in the early 21st century and is now a place for reflection and remembrance.

2. Acknowledgment and Apology: In 2007, on the 150th anniversary of the massacre, a representative of the LDS Church officially apologized for the role that church members played in the event.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre serves as a painful reminder of the perils of prejudice, miscommunication, and unchecked power. It remains an essential chapter in American history, urging caution, understanding, and reconciliation in the face of divisions and differences.

Tangential Reference to the Title:

Despite growing up in Utah, “A Study in Scarlet,”  the first story featuring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective, Sherlock Holmes, was my first exposure to the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

In those days – long before the internets, the only source of information about the event was in the library, and believe me, it was NOT easy to find. At least in Utah.

While the main plot revolves around a murder mystery in London, a significant portion of the novel is set in the American West and provides a backstory that is vital to understanding the motive behind the murders.

In “A Study in Scarlet”, Conan Doyle uses a fictionalized backdrop inspired by the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the wider setting of the American West to recount the story of John Ferrier and a young girl named Lucy. In the novel, they are the sole survivors of a wagon train doomed by misfortune in the Nevada desert. They are discovered and rescued by a group of Mormons and subsequently settle in Salt Lake City. The story takes a dark turn when the rigid Mormon leadership, especially their polygamous practices, come into conflict with Ferrier’s life and Lucy’s choice of marriage. The repercussions of this conflict directly tie back to the murders Sherlock Holmes investigates in London.

Why it’s Relevant:

1. Critique of Mormonism: In “A Study in Scarlet”, the Mormon community is portrayed in a largely negative light, reflecting 19th-century British views on the religion. This portrayal is not historically accurate and is colored by the biases of the time. The use of a setting reminiscent of the Mountain Meadows Massacre further intensifies the critique.

2. Backdrop for Motive: The events in the American West segment of the novel provide the entire motive for the London murders, linking the two seemingly disparate plots. Without understanding the events and tensions in the Mormon community as described (though fictionalized) in the novel, the reader cannot grasp the motivations of the killer.

3. Exoticism: Conan Doyle often used exotic or foreign settings to introduce intrigue and novelty to his stories. The harsh, wild landscape of the American West and the mysterious, strict society of the Mormons would have seemed both exciting and alien to British readers of the time.

In summary, while “A Study in Scarlet” doesn’t directly narrate the events of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the novel borrows heavily from the broader historical and cultural context in which the massacre occurred. The tension between the Mormon community and outsiders, as well as the tragedy and lawlessness of the American West, provided Conan Doyle with a rich tapestry against which to set his first Sherlock Holmes mystery.