White Flag: America's First 9/11

The 'Crime of the Century': Historical Novel Exposes Atrocities
Surrounding 1857 Utah Massacre
Monday July 23, 10:11 am ET

RENO, Nev., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Author Wayne Atilio Capurro's new
book, "White Flag: America's First 9/11" (now available through
AuthorHouse), presents a riveting, well-researched account of the
horrific events surrounding Utah's Mountain Meadows massacre and
uncovers the truth behind the 150-year-old cover-up.

Capurro tells the story of the massacre that occurred in the Utah
Territory on Sept. 11, 1857, which he calls "one of the most heinous
crimes in American history and perhaps the greatest cover-up of all
time." Chilling details are revealed through the eyes of witnesses of
that fateful day and the two-and-a-half months surrounding the "crime
of the century."

Injured and exhausted, Able Baker stumbles into a deserted Mormon Fort
camp in Las Vegas Springs and collapses in the presence of two
brothers. The brothers, Henry and Cao Young, are factual people, but
little is known about them historically, so they provide Capurro an
excellent vehicle to describe the places, times and events throughout
the book. The story unfolds in a series of flashbacks leading up to
Able's escape from the massacre.

Mormon Bishop Philip Klingensmith struggles with the balancing act of
military responsibility and religious duties. Through his eyes, the
climactic massacre is retold. John D. Lee provides another perspective
of the event as the one man who shouldered the responsibility for the
success or failure of his church and its crimes. The bloody events of
this day ironically begin with a white flag, the universal symbol of
surrender and non-aggression, but it is employed for purposes of
betrayal. Other historical figures are revealed in this drama
including Brigham Young, a devoutly religious and ravenous tyrannical
leader who pulled the strings to create this catastrophe and then,
says Capurro "swept it under the rug."

"I hope to convey ... a message about the danger inherent in
theocracies, religious fundamentalism and in tyrannical rule," says
Capurro. "Believers need to be able to reconcile the truth about their
history even when it involves their religion. Descendants of victims
and survivors are entitled to acknowledgement and an apology, even if
the transgressors are no longer around."

A lifelong resident of Nevada, Capurro is the great-great-grandson of
Philip Klingensmith, a participant in the Mountain Meadows massacre
and character in the book. At 13 years old, Capurro heard the story of
the massacre told with angst and difficulty by his grandmother. This
book is the result of continued research into the details surrounding
the events. Where the record is unsettled, he inserted the most
accurate material possible. In addition to writing, Capurro is a
family man and real estate broker. "White Flag" is his first book.
More information can be found at http://www.whiteflagbook.com.

AuthorHouse is the premier publishing house for emerging authors and
new voices in literature. For more information, please visit
http://www.authorhouse.com.