AGAIN THE STORM.
Having made all necessary preparations for obtaining by civil process
redress for the wrongs inflicted upon them by the mob, Sunday, the
twentieth day of October, 1833, the saints declared publicly that as
a people they intended to defend their lands and homes. The next day
the leaders of the mob began to prepare to inflict further violence
upon them. Strict orders were circulated among the saints not to be the
aggressors, but to warn the mob not to come upon them. Court was to
convene on Monday, the 28th of October, and it was expected that some
of the leaders of the mob would be required to file bonds to keep the
peace.
While these preparations were progressing among the saints, the mob
were not idle. They resorted to their old method of circulating
false rumors about the "Mormons." The blasphemy of their doctrines;
their intentions to take possession of Jackson County by force; the
incompatibility between the old settlers and the "Mormons," were all
urged, and the conclusion reached that a war of extermination must be
waged against the saints in the name of self-preservation.
Saturday, the 26th, about fifty of the mob met in counsel, and
"voted to a hand to move the 'Mormons;'" and as an earnest of their
intentions, attacked a number of families who had but lately arrived
from Ohio and Indiana, but without inflicting much injury. Monday,
the 28th, the circuit court convened, but very few people were in
attendance. There was no mob there, but threats of the most violent
character were made.
The night of October 31st, however, may be regarded as the time when
hostilities recommenced in earnest. That night the mob to the number
of forty or fifty proceeded against a branch of The Church located
on the stream called Big Blue, known as the Whitmer settlement. They
shamefully whipped nearly to death several of the brethren, among whom
was Hiram Page. With brutal threats they frightened helpless women and
children and drove them into the wilderness in the middle of the night,
and then unroofed and demolished ten or twelve houses.
This outrage was followed up the next night, November 1st, by an attack
upon the saints living in Independence and vicinity. Their houses were
brickbatted, doors broken down, and long poles thrust through their
windows. A party of the brethren had gathered for protection about half
a mile west of Independence, and to them word was sent that the mob
were tearing down the store of Gilbert, Whitney & Co., and destroying
their goods. Whereupon these brethren went in a body to the store. At
their approach the main body of the mob fled. One of their number,
bolder than his fellows, remained, however, and continued sending
brickbats and stones through the shattered doors and windows, while the
goods were scattered around him in the street. This man the brethren
took prisoner, and brought him immediately before Samuel Weston,
justice of the peace, entered a complaint, and asked that a warrant
be issued that he, Richard McCarty, might be secured. But the justice
refused to make out the warrant, or do anything in the matter, and
McCarty was turned loose.
The same night an attack was projected upon another branch of The
Church, known as the Colesville branch, located in Kaw Township, about
twelve miles west of Independence. The mob sent two of their number,
Robert Johnson and one Harris, as spies, armed with two guns and three
pistols. They were discovered by some of the brethren, among whom was
Parley P. Pratt. Without provocation Johnson struck Pratt over the head
with the breech of his gun, which staggered him for a moment, and made
the blood flow in streams down his face. These two men were taken and
detained as prisoners through the night. The spies not returning rather
disconcerted the mob, and it is generally supposed prevented an attack
that night upon the Colesville branch. The morning following, Johnson
and Harris were given their arms, and permitted to return to their
companions, without receiving injury from the hands of those whom they
had so maliciously assaulted, and into whose power they had fallen.
On the night of November 2nd, a party of the mob went against the
branch located on Big Blue, unroofed one house and destroyed some
furniture. They also broke into the house of David Bennett, whom they
found sick in bed. Being unable to resist them, they beat him most
unmercifully, and swore they would blow out his brains. One of their
number shot at him with a pistol, but the ball instead of entering his
head, as evidently intended, cut a deep gash across the top of it,
which, however, did not prove fatal.
While the mob were in the act of beating Bennett, a number of the
brethren who had gathered in a body for mutual protection came upon
the scene, and a firing of guns commenced. Both parties claim that
the other began the attack, but which party began the firing does not
matter here. If the brethren opened the fire, they were altogether
justified in doing so under the circumstances. Women and children were
running here and there screaming with terror, not knowing where to go
for safety. Their piteous cries, mingled with the brutal oaths of the
mob, and the firing of guns, made the night hideous. In the melee a
young man acting with the mob was shot through the thigh, but by which
party it is not known.
This day also the saints in Independence gathered in a body as much as
possible, about half a mile west of the town, for the purpose of better
defending themselves against their enemies.
The day following the events just detailed. Joshua Lewis, Hiram Page,
and two others were despatched to Lexington, to see John F. Ryland,
judge of the circuit court, and obtain a peace warrant. The saints had
previously applied to Squire Silvens for such a warrant, but he refused
to grant it. They read to him the governor's letter, which directed
them to proceed in that manner, but he replied that he cared nothing
for what the governor said. Either his fears of the mob were greater
than his respect for the governor, or the law, or he was in hearty
sympathy with the rioters. Judge Ryland issued a peace warrant on the
6th; but whether it ever reached the hands of the county sheriff or
not I cannot learn. If placed in his hands, then he refused to serve
it. But the most reasonable conclusion is, that in consequence of the
exciting times and unsettled state of affairs in Jackson County, it
never reached his hands.