Journal article
The Mountain Meadows Massacre and "poisoned springs": Scientific testing of the more recent, anthrax theory
International Journal of Legal Medicine, Vol.127(1), pp.77-83
2013
Abstract
It has been recorded that one of the possible causes that eventually escalated into the 1857 manslaughter at Mountain Meadows in Southern Utah was the poisoning of an open spring by the Fancher-Baker party as they crossed the Utah territory on their way from Arkansas to California. Historical accounts report that a number of cattle died, followed by human casualties from those that came in contact with the dead animals. Even after the Arkansas party departed, animals continued to perish and people were still afflicted by some unknown plague. Proctor Hancock Robison, a local 14-year-old boy, died shortly after skinning one of the "poisoned" cows. A careful review of the historical records, along with the more recent scientific literature, seems to exclude the likelihood of actual poisoning in favor of a more recent theory that would point to the bacterium Bacillus anthracis as the possible cause of human and animal deaths. In order to test this hypothesis, Proctor's remains were exhumed, identified through mitochondrial DNA analysis, and tested for the presence of anthrax spores. Although preliminary testing of remains and soil was negative, description of the clinical conditions that affected Proctor and other individuals does not completely rule out the hypothesis of death by anthrax. © 2012 The Author(s).
Details
- Title
- The Mountain Meadows Massacre and "poisoned springs": Scientific testing of the more recent, anthrax theory
- Authors
- U A Perego (Author) - Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, United StatesA Achilli (Author) - Universita di Perugia, ItalyJ E Ekins (Author) - Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, United StatesL Milani (Author) - Universita di Firenze, ItalyM Lari (Author) - Universita di Firenze, ItalyE Pilli (Author) - Universita di Firenze, ItalyA Brown (Author) - Sorenson Forensics, United StatesErin P Price (Author) - Northern Arizona University, United StatesS R Wolken (Author) - Northern Arizona University, United StatesM Matthews (Author) - Northern Arizona University, United StatesC A Allen (Author) - Northern Arizona University, United StatesT R Pearson (Author) - Northern Arizona University, United StatesN Angerhofer (Author) - Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, United StatesD Caramelli (Author) - Universita di Firenze, ItalyT Kupferschmid (Author) - Sorenson Forensics, United StatesP S Keim (Author) - Translational Genomics Research Institute, United StatesS R Woodward (Author) - Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, United States
- Publication details
- International Journal of Legal Medicine, Vol.127(1), pp.77-83
- Publisher
- Springer
- Date published
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00414-012-0681-y
- ISSN
- 0937-9827
- Copyright note
- Copyright © The Author(s) 2012. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451092102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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