Show I I NEVER VEn S FOrr hOW DUTS DUT'S DUTY'S PATH PATH SAYS PRATT Arthur Arhur Pratt warden o of the te state prison Trison wag waa 00 chief cief deputy un under ar Clonel Colonel Nelson when tho the latter later was as United States State marshal marshalIn In tho tim territory He ITo was wa deeply touched touche when advised of ot the death of or his former chief Tho They had b been en Intimate friends friend for nearly nearby forty years years He lie le paid this tribute trib trib- ute ut to the courage and manliness 55 of ot Colonel Colo Cob n nel 1 Nelson clfon recounting historic events of ot pioneer days Colonel Nelson camo came hero In the spring of or 1876 to RI mo the office Ice orce of or United States tates marshal marsha having been appointed to the tho position by President Grant Mr Pratt said Mid For approximately three years rca r succeeding d ng I was was' as' as hia chief chlof r deputy and was wan with him almost caU dally daily duin during that period Colonel Nelson was a a ft wonderfully strong man In many ways and a 0 unique character char It I W was not easy to win on-In his friendship as he was not as eely approached approached ap ap- ap a as man many men mn but once formed forme his bin friendship was as everlasting e Another thins thing about him W was B that that ho he did not know fear tear when hen dut duty wa was WI Involved I was with Colonel Nelson during duing all al the tho strenuous days of ot the trial conviction and execution of John D D. Leo Lee for tor the tho part that he played In the Mountain Meadows massacre But Dut In all al those troublous days I nover saw w Colonel Neison Nelson Nel Nei- son one Iota lota from what WO t h ho considered considered con con- his duty I was waa present when John D. D Lee Le was ns executed by shooting at Mountain Meadows It I was tas a long hard trip from B Beaver aYer where Lee was wa In Jail to tho spot chosen for the execution but Colonel Nel Nelson on perfected his hlA plans and can led them Ulem through h In his usual methodical methodical method method- ical manner despite the tho fact tact that the country countr was filled fied with rumors rumor of oC an 1 at attempted attempted at- at tempted rescue of ot Lee It Wa tn T as ninety Le miles mile from Ben Denver Beaver vcr to the scene c ne of ot the tho execution We Ye left lef Beaver In the nr afternoon roon and reached reache Pinto creek thi tl evening of the next day Here Hero we were verc b by United States troops who accompanied us the tho remainder of tho the dis- dis talC Reaching Mountain Meadows In Inthe inthe the tle evening we camped there thore until the campe following morning mornin The Tho execution took tok place at t 10 Preceding th the execution lion tion tol Colonel Nelson hion Leo Lee Io and a 0 deputy were ho holding a consultation at a point some distance from Crom the actual scene of or orth th thin tho subsequent mb quent shooting Finally word wu wits was sent to Colonel Nel Nelson on that everything every every- ever thing was In readiness for the final chap- chap leer teer ocr In the tragedy Colonel Nelson turned to Lee L and Bald aid BaldIn In a J. J kindly tone Well Vei Mr Lee every levery- thing thinK lo in rend read ready Lee faltered and staggered stag stag- gored as he arose to his feet an and caught hold of Colonel Nelsons Nelson's arm for support This wo was wan the fl first t and only time that tbt I had ever eer seen Lee Le falter Arriving at the place arranged for the execution Lee Le was blindfolded and seated u upon on his coffin corn The words Get ready ready- take tre aim fire aim aim fire Vere were given by Colonel Nelson but despite despie the gen character of at the occasion he gave them te In the same same measured me mea stead steady stead tone tono that he be might havo have used upon a purely trivial occasion |