Next morning Gen. Lucas demanded the Cal_The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and Travels

their arms, which was done. As soon as the troops who had defended

the city were disarmed, it was surrounded by the enemy and all the

men detained as prisoners. None were permitted to pass out of the

city--although their families were starving for want of sustenance;

the mills and provisions being some distance from the city.

The brutal mob were now turned loose to ravage, steal, plunder

and murder without restraint. Houses were rifled, women ravished,

and goods taken as they pleased. The whole troop, together with

their horses, lived on the grain and provisions. While cattle were

shot down for mere sport, and sometimes men, women and children

fared no better. On the third morning after our imprisonment we

were placed in a wagon, in order for removal. Many of the more

desperate then crowded around, cocked their rifles, and singling us

out presented them to our breasts, and swore they would blow us

through. Some guns were snapped, but missed fire, and the rest were

in a small degree restrained by the officers, and we still lived.

We were now marched to Far West, under the conduct of the whole

army; and while they halted in the public square, we were permitted

to go with a guard for a change of linen and to take final leave of

our families, in order to depart as prisoners to Jackson County, a

distance of sixty miles.

This was the most trying scene of all. I went to my house, being

guarded by two or three soldiers; the cold rain was pouring down

without, and on entering my little cottage, there lay my wife sick

of a fever, with which she had been for some time confined. At her

breast was our son Nathan, an infant of three months, and by her

side a little girl of five years. On the foot of the same bed lay a

woman in travail, who had been driven from her house in the night,

and had taken momentary shelter in my hut of ten feet square--my

larger house having been torn down. I stepped to the bed; my wife

burst into tears; I spoke a few words of comfort, telling her to

try to live for my sake and the children's; and expressing a hope

that we should meet again though years might separate us. She

promised to try to live. I then embraced and kissed the little

babes and departed.

Till now I had refrained from weeping; but, to be forced from so

helpless a family, who were destitute of provisions and fuel, and

deprived almost of shelter in a bleak prairie, with none to assist

them, exposed to a lawless banditti who were utter strangers to

humanity, and this at the approach of winter, was more than nature

could well endure.

I went to Gen. Moses Wilson in tears and stated the

circumstances of my sick, heart-broken and destitute family in

terms which would have moved any heart that had a latent spark of

humanity yet remaining. But I was only answered with an exultant

laugh, and a taunt of reproach by this hardened murderer.

As I returned from my house towards the troops in the square, I

halted with the guard at the door of Hyrum Smith, and heard the

sobs and groans of his wife, at his parting words. She was then

near confinement, and needed more than ever the comfort and

consolation of a husband's presence. As we returned to the wagon we

saw S. Rigdon taking leave of his wife and daughters, who stood at

a little distance, in tears of anguish indescribable. In the wagon

sat Joseph Smith, while his aged father and venerable mother came

up overwhelmed with tears, and took each of the prisoners by the

hand with a silence of grief too great for utterance.

In the meantime, hundreds of the brethren crowded around us,

anxious to take a parting look, or a silent shake of the hand; for

feelings were too intense to allow of speech. In the midst of these

scenes orders were given, and we moved slowly away, under the

conduct of Gen. Wilson and his whole brigade. A march of twelve

miles brought us to Crooked River, where we camped for the night.

Here Gen. Wilson began to treat us more kindly; he became very

sociable; conversing very freely on the subject of his former

murders and robberies committed against us in Jackson. He did not

pretend to deny anything; but spoke upon the whole as freely as if

he had been giving the history of other ages or countries, in which

his audience had no personal concern. Said he:

"We Jackson County boys know how it is; and, therefore, have not

the extremes of hatred and prejudice which characterize the rest of

the troops. We know perfectly that from the beginning the Mormons

have not been the aggressors at all. As it began in '33 in Jackson

County, so it has been ever since. You Mormons were crowded to the

last extreme, and compelled to self-defense; and this has been

construed into treason, murder and plunder. We mob you without law;

the authorities refuse to protect you according to law; you then

are compelled to protect yourselves, and we act upon the prejudices

of the public, who join our forces, and the whole is legalized, for

your destruction and our gain. Is not this a shrewd and cunning

policy on our part, gentlemen?

"When we drove you from Jackson County, we burned two hundred

and three of your houses; plundered your goods; destroyed your

press, type paper, books, office and all--tarred and feathered old

Bishop Partridge, as exemplary an old man as you can find anywhere.

We shot down some of your men, and, if any of you returned the

fire, we imprisoned you, on your trial for murder, etc. Damn'd

shrewdly done, gentlemen; and I came damn'd near kicking the bucket

myself; for, on one occasion, while we were tearing down houses,

driving families, and destroying and plundering goods, some of you

good folks put a ball through my son's body, another through the

arm of my clerk, and a third pierced my shirt collar and marked my

neck. No blame, gentlemen; we deserved it. And let a set of men

serve me as your community have been served, and I'll be damn'd if

I would not fight till I died.

"It was repeatedly insinuated, by the other officers and troops,

that we should hang you prisoners on the first tree we came to on

the way to Independence. But I'll be damn'd if anybody shall hurt

you. We just intend to exhibit you in Independence, let the people

look at you, and see what a damn'd set of fine fellows you are.

And, more particularly, to keep you from that G--damn'd old bigot

of a Gen. Clark and his troops, from down country, who are so

stuffed with lies and prejudice that they would shoot you down in a

moment."

Such was the tenor of the conversation addressed by Gen. Wilson

to his prisoners. Indeed, it was now evident that he was proud of

his prey, and felt highly enthusiastic in having the honor of

returning in triumph to Independence with his prisoners, whom his

superstition had magnified into something more than fellow

citizens--something noble or supernatural, and worthy of public

exhibition.

As we arose and commenced our march on the morning of the 3d of

November, Joseph Smith spoke to me and the other prisoners, in a

low, but cheerful and confidential tone; said he: "_Be of good

cheer, brethren; the word of the Lord came to me last night that

our lives should by given us, and that whatever we may suffer

during this captivity, not one of our lives should be taken_."

Of this prophecy I testify in the name of the Lord, and, though

spoken in secret, its public fulfillment and the miraculous escape

of each one of us is too notorious to need my testimony. In the

after part of the day we came to the Missouri River, which

separated us from Jackson County. Here the brigade was halted and

the prisoners taken to a public house, where we were permitted to

shave, change our linen, and partake of some refreshment. This

done, we were hurried to the ferry and across the river with the

utmost haste in advance of the troops. This movement was soon

explained to us. The truth was, Gen. Clark had now arrived near the

scene of action, and had sent an express to take us from Gen.

Wilson and prevent us from going to Jackson County--both armies

being competitors for the honor of possessing the wonderful, or, in

their estimation, royal prisoners.

Clark and his troops, from a distance, who had not arrived in

the city of Far West till after our departure, were desirous of

seeing the strange men whom it was said had turned the world upside

down and of possessing such a wonderful trophy of victory, or of

putting them to death themselves. On the other hand, Wilson and his

brigade were determined to exhibit us through the streets of

Independence as a visible token of their own achievements.

Therefore, when demanded by Gen. Clark's express, they refused to

surrender us; and hurried us across the ferry with all possible

despatch. Marching about a mile, we encamped for the night in the

wilderness, with about fifty troops for our guard--the remainder

not crossing the ferry till the next morning.

Some of the neighboring citizens visited us next morning--it

being Sunday. One of the ladies came up and very candidly inquired

of the troops which of the prisoners the "Mormons" worshipped? One

of the guards pointing to Mr. Smith with a significant smile, said,

"This is he." The woman, then turning to Mr. Smith, inquired

whether he professed to be the Lord and Saviour?

Do not smile, gentle reader, at the ignorance of these poor

innocent creatures, who, by the exertions of a corrupt press and

pulpit, are kept in ignorance and made to believe in every possible

absurdity in relation to the Church of the Saints. Mr. Smith

replied, that he professed to be nothing but a man, and a minister

of salvation, sent by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. After

expressing some surprise, the lady inquired what was the peculiar

nature of the gospel, as held by himself and his Church? At this

the visitors and soldiers gathered around, and Mr. Smith preached

to them faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance towards God,

reformation of life, immersion in water, in the name of Jesus

Christ, for remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by

the laying on of hands.

All seemed surprised, and the lady, in tears, went her way,

praising God for the truth, and praying aloud that the Lord would

bless and deliver the prisoners.

At ten o'clock the brigade had all crossed the river, and come

up with us. We were then marched forward in our carriages, while

the troops were formed into a front and rear guard, with quite a

martial appearance. As we passed along through the settlements

hundreds of men, women and children flocked to see us. General W.

often halted the whole brigade to introduce us to the populace,

pointing out each of us by name. Many shook us by the hand, and, in

the ladies at least, there appeared some feelings of human

compassion and sympathy.

In this way we proceeded till we arrived at Independence. It was

now past noon, and in the midst of a great rain; but hundreds

crowded to witness the procession, and to gaze at us as we were

paraded in martial triumph through the principal streets, the

bugles sounding a blast of triumphant joy.

CHAPTER XXIII.

------------------------

Treatment of the Prisoners:--Visit the Temple

Lot:--Gain my Freedom:--Temptation:--Voluntary Return to

Bondage:--Leave Independence:--Conduct of the Guards:--Fall

into the Hands of Col. Price and Guards:--Arrive at Richmond:--

Chains:--Interview with Gen. Clark:--Dialogue:--Inconceivable

Absurdities.

This ceremony being finished, a vacant house was prepared for

our reception, into which we were ushered through the crowd of

spectators which thronged every avenue.

The troops were then disbanded. In the meantime we were kept

under a small guard, and were treated with some degree of humanity,

while hundreds flocked to see us day after day. We spent most of

our time in preaching and conversation, explanatory of our

doctrines and practice. Much prejudice was removed, and the

feelings of the populace began to be in our favor, notwithstanding

their former wickedness and hatred. In a day or two we were at

liberty to walk the streets without a guard. We were finally

removed from our house of confinement to a hotel, where we boarded

at the public table, and lodged on the floor, with a block of wood

for a pillow. We no longer had any guard; we went out and came in

when we pleased--a certain keeper being appointed merely to watch

over us, and look to our wants.

With him we walked out of town to the westward, and visited the

desolate lands of the Saints, and the place which, seven years

before, we had dedicated for the building of a Temple. This was a

beautiful rise of ground, about half a mile west of Independence

center. When we saw it last it was a noble forest, but our enemies

had since robbed it of every vestige of timber, and it now lay

desolate, or clothed with grass and weeds.

O, how many feelings did this spot awaken in our bosoms! Here we

had often bowed the knee in prayer, in bygone years. Here we had

assembled with hundreds of happy Saints in the solemn meeting, and

offered our songs, and sacraments, and orisons. But now all was

solemn and lonely desolation. Not a vestige remained to mark the

spot where stood our former dwellings. They had long since been

consumed by fire, or removed and converted to the uses of our

enemies.

While at Independence we were once or twice invited to dine with

General Wilson and some others, which we did.

While thus sojourning as prisoners at large, I arose one morning

when it was very snowy, and passed silently and unmolested out of

the hotel, and as no one seemed to notice me, or call me in

question, I thought I would try an experiment. I passed on eastward

through the town; no one noticed me. I then took into the fields,

still unobserved. After travelling a mile I entered a forest; all

was gloomy silence, none were near, the heavens were darkened and

obscured by falling snow, my track was covered behind me, and I was

free. I knew the way to the states eastward very well, and there

seemed nothing to prevent my pursuing my way thither; thoughts of

freedom beat high in my bosom; wife, children, home, freedom,

peace, and a land of law and order, all arose in my mind; I could

go to other States, send for my family, make me a home and be

happy.

On the other hand, I was a prisoner in a State where all law was

at an end. I was liable to be shot down at any time without judge

or jury. I was liable to be tried for my life by murderous

assassins, who had already broken every oath of office and trampled

on every principle of honor or even humanity. Hands already

dripping with the blood of aged sires, and of helpless women and

children, were reaching out for my destruction. The battle of

Crooked River had already been construed into murder on the part of

the brave patriots who there defended their lives and rescued their

fellow citizens from kidnappers and land pirates, while the pirates

themselves had been converted into loyal militia.

To go forward was freedom, to go backward was to be sent to

General Clark, and be accused of the highest crimes, with murderers

for judge, jury and executioners.

"Go free!" whispered the tempter.

"No!" said I, "never, while Brother Joseph and his fellows are

in the power of the enemy. What a storm of trouble, or even of

death, it might subject them to."

I turned on my heel, retraced my steps, and entered the hotel

ere they had missed me. As I shook the snow off my clothes the

keeper and also Brother Joseph inquired where I had been. I

replied, just out for a little exercise. A walk for pleasure in

such a storm gave rise to some pleasantries on their part, and

there the matter ended.

There was one thing which buoyed up our spirits continually

during our captivity: it was the remembrance of the word of the

Lord to Brother Joseph, saying, that our lives should all be given

us during this captivity, and not one of them should be lost. I

thought of this while in the wilderness vacillating whether to go

or stay, and the thought struck me: "_He that will seek to save

his life shall lose it; but he that will lose his life for my sake

shall find it again, even life eternal_." I could now make sure

of my part in the first resurrection, as I had so intensely desired

when about eleven years old. But, O, the path of life! How was it

beset with trials!

At length, after repeated demands, we were sent to General

Clark, at Richmond, Ray County. Generals Lucas and Wilson had tried

in vain for some days to get a guard to accompany us. None would

volunteer, and when drafted they would not obey orders; for in

truth, they wished us to go at liberty. At last a colonel and two

or three officers started with us, with their swords and pistols,

which were intended more to protect us than to keep us from

escaping. On this journey some of us rode in carriages and some on

horseback. Sometimes we were sixty or eighty rods in front or rear

of our guards, who were drinking hard out of bottles which they

carried in their pockets.

At night, having crossed the Missouri River, we put up at a

private house. Here our guards all got drunk, and went to bed and

to sleep, leaving us their pistols to defend ourselves in case of

any attack from without, as we were in a very hostile neighborhood.

Next morning we rode a few miles, and were met by an express from

General Clark, which consisted of one Colonel Sterling Price and a

guard of soldiers. This company immediately surrounded us with

poised pieces, in regular military order, as if we had been

Bonaparte and staff on the way to St. Helena; thinking, perhaps,

that if we should escape, the whole United States and all Europe

would be immediately overthrown.

In this manner we were escorted to Richmond, the headquarters of

General Clark and his army of three or four thousand men. Here, as

usual, we had to endure the gaze of the curious, as if we had been

a caravan of animals for exhibition. Troops were paraded to receive

us, which, as we approached, opened to the right and left, thus

forming a long avenue, through which we passed into a block house,

and were immediately put in chains, under a strong guard, who stood

over us continually with poised pieces, cocked and primed. Colonel

Price continued in the superintendence of the prisoners and the

guards.

General Clark at length called to see us. He seemed more

haughty, unfeeling, and reserved than even Lucas or Wilson had been

when we first entered their camp. We inquired of the general what

were his intentions concerning us. I stated to him that we had now

been captives for many days, and we knew not wherefore, nor whether

we were considered prisoners of war or prisoners of civil process,

or "_prisoners of hope_." At the same time remarking, that

all was wrapped in mystery; for, as citizens of the United States

and of Missouri, in time of peace, we could in nowise be considered

as prisoners of war; and, without civil process, we were not holden

by civil authority; and as to being "prisoners of hope," there was

not much chance to hope, from our present appearances!

He replied that "_we were taken to be tried_."

"Tried? By what authority?"

"By court martial."

"What! Ministers of the gospel tried by court martial! Men who sustain

no office in military affairs, and who are not subject by law to

military duty; such men to be tried by court martial! And this in time

of peace, and in a republic where the constitution guaranteed to every

citizen the right of trial by jury?"

"Yes. This is in accordance with the treaty of stipulations entered

into at Far West at the time of the surrender, and as agreed to by

Colonel Hinkle, your commanding officer."

"Colonel Hinkle, our commanding officer! What had he to do with our

civil rights? He was only a colonel of a regiment of the Caldwell

County Militia."

"Why! was he not the commanding officer of the fortress of Far West,

the headquarters of the _Mormon forces_?"

"We had no '_fortress_' or '_Mormon forces_,' but were part of the

State militia."

At this the general seemed surprised, and the conversation ended.

We were astonished above measure at proceedings so utterly ignorant and

devoid of all law or justice. Here was a Major-General, selected by the

Governor of Missouri, and sent to banish or exterminate a religious

society. And then, to crown the whole with inconceivable absurdity, aid

religious society is converted by this officer and his associates into

an independent government, or foreign nation. And last, and equally

absurd, the State of Missouri assumed her independence of the federal

government so far as to _treat_ with this imaginary "_ Mormon Empire_,"

or foreign nation. A colonel of militia, subordinate to the general

then in the field, is converted into a foreign minister, an envoy

extraordinary, in behalf of the "Mormon Empire," to enter into treaty

stipulations with his Missouri majesty's forces, under Generals Lucas,

Wilson and Clark!

The city of Far West, the capital of "_Mormonia_," is the "_Ghent_,"

where this treaty of peace is ratified. The standing army of the

conquered nation stack their arms, which are carried in triumph to

Richmond. Preachers of the gospel are converted into "_noble_" or

"_royal prisoners_," chained to the car of the victorious champions

to be led captive as sport for the Philistines, or to be shot or

hung at pleasure, while the residue of the inhabitants of the fallen

empire--men, women and children--are to have their real estate and all

other goods confiscated, and themselves banished the state on pain

of death. A few, however, are selected from among these exiles to be

imprisoned or executed at the mere dictation of a Nero or a Nicholas.

Was this in America, in the nineteenth century? Were these scenes

transacted in a constitutional republic? Yes, verily, and worse--a tale

of horror, of woe, of long years of lawless outrage and tyranny is yet

to be told, of which this is a mere stepping stone or entering wedge.

CHAPTER XXIV.

------------------------

MASSACRE AT HAUN'S MILL.

We here introduce the testimony of Joseph Young, an eye witness

of one of the most awful scenes which ever stained the annals of

history in any age or country.

"The following is a short history of my travels to the State of

Missouri, and of a bloody tragedy enacted at Haun's Mill, on Shoal

Creek, October 30, 1838:

"On the 6th of July last I started with my family from Kirtland,

Ohio, for Missouri--the county of Caldwell, in the upper part of

the State, being the place of my destination. On the 13th of

October I crossed the Mississippi at Louisiana, at which place I

heard vague reports of the disturbances in the upper country, but

nothing that could be relied on.

"I continued my course westward till I crossed Grand River, at a

place called Compton's Ferry, where I heard for the first time that

if I proceeded any further on my journey I would be in danger of

being sped by a body of armed men.

"I was not willing, however, while treading my native soil and

breathing republican air, to abandon my object, which was to locate

myself and family in a fine, healthy country, where we could enjoy

the society of our friends and connections. Consequently, I

prosecuted my journey till I came to Whitney's Mills, situated on

Shoal Creek, in the eastern part of Caldwell County. After crossing

the creek and going about three miles we met a party of the mob,

about forty in number, and with rifles and mounted on horses, who

informed us that we could go no further west, threatening us with

instant death if we proceeded any further.

"I asked them the reason of this prohibition, to which they

replied that we were '_Mormons_,' and that every one who

adhered to that religious faith would have to leave the State

within ten days, or renounce their religion. Accordingly, they

drove us back to the mills above mentioned.

"Here we tarried three days, and on Friday, the 26th, we

recrossed the creek, and, following up its banks, we succeeded in

eluding the mob for the time being, and gained the residence of a

friend in Myers' Settlement. On Sunday, October 28, we arrived at

Haun's Mill, where we found a number of our friends collected, who

were holding a council and deliberating upon the best course for

them to pursue to defend themselves against the mob who were

collecting in the neighborhood under the command of Colonel

Jennings, of Livingston, and threatening them with house burning

and killing.

"The decision of the council was that the neighborhood should

put itself in a state of defense. Accordingly about twenty-eight of

our men armed themselves, and were in constant readiness for an

attack, if any small body of mobbers might come upon them.

"The same evening, for some reason best known to themselves, the

mob sent one of their number to enter into a treaty with our

friends, which was accepted on the condition of mutual forbearance

on both sides, and that each party, as far as their influence

extended, should exert themselves to prevent any further

hostilities.

"At this time, however, there was another mob collecting on

Grand River, at William Mann's, which was threatening us;

consequently, we remained under arms on Monday, the 29th, which

passed away without molestation from any quarter.

"On Tuesday, the 30th, that bloody tragedy was enacted, the

scenes of which I shall never forget.

"More than three fourths of the day had passed in tranquility as

smiling as the preceding one. I think there was no individual of

our company that was apprised of the sudden and awful fate which

hung over our heads like an overwhelming torrent, and which was to

change the prospects, the feelings and sympathies of about thirty

families.

"The banks of Shoal Creek, on either side, teemed with children

sporting and playing, while their mothers were engaged in domestic

employments. Fathers or husbands were either on guard about the

mills or other property, or employed in gathering crops for winter

consumption. The weather was very pleasant, the sun shone clearly

all was tranquil, and no one expressed any apprehension of the

awful crisis that was near us, even at our doors.

"It was about 4 o'clock, p.m., while sitting in my cabin with my

babe in my arms, and my wife standing by my side, the door being

open I cast my eyes on the opposite bank of Shoal Creek, and saw a

large body of armed men on horses directing their course towards

the mills with all possible speed. As they advanced through the

scattering trees that bordered the prairie they seemed to form

themselves into a three square position, forming a vanguard in

front. At this moment, David Evans, seeing the superiority of their

numbers (there being two hundred and forty of them, according to

their own account), gave a signal and cried for peace. This not

being heeded they continued to advance, and their leader, a man

named Comstock, fired a gun, which was followed by a solemn pause

of about ten or twelve seconds; when all at once they discharged

about one hundred rifles, aiming at a blacksmith's shop, into which

our friends fled for safety. They then charged up to the shop, the

crevices of which, between the logs, were sufficiently large to

enable them to aim directly at the bodies of those who had there

fled for refuge from the fire of their murderers. There were

several families rented in the rear of the shop whose lives were

exposed, and, amid showers of bullets, fled to the woods in

different directions.

"After standing and gazing at this bloody scene for a few

minutes, and finding myself in the uttermost danger, the bullets

having reached the house where I was living, I committed my family

to the protection of Heaven; and, leaving the house on the opposite

side, I took a path which led up the hill, following in the trail

of three of my brethren that had fled from the shop.

"While ascending the hill we were discovered by the mob, who

immediately fired at us, and continued so to do till we reached the

summit. In descending the hill I secreted myself in a thicket of

bushes, where I lay till 8 o'clock in the evening. At this time I

heard a voice calling my name in an undertone. I immediately left

the thicket and went to the house of Benjamin Lewis, where I found

my family--who had fled there in safety--and two of my friends,

mortally wounded, one of whom died before morning. Here we passed

the painful night in deep and awful reflections on the scenes of

the preceding evening. After daylight appeared some four or five

men, with myself, who had escaped with our lives from this horrid

massacre, repaired as soon as possible to the mills to learn the

condition of our friends, whose fate we had but too truly

anticipated.

"When we arrived at the house of Mr. Haun, we found Mr.

Merrick's body lying in the rear of the house; Mr. McBride's in

front, literally mangled from head to foot. We were informed by

Miss Rebecca Judd, who was an eye witness, that he was shot with

his own gun after he had given it up, and then cut to pieces with a

corn cutter by a man named Rogers, of Daviess County, who keeps a

ferry on Grand River, and who has since repeatedly boasted of this

act of savage barbarity. Mr. York's body we found in the house.

After viewing these corpses we immediately went to the blacksmith's

shop, where we found nine of our friends, eight of whom were

already dead--the other, Mr. Cox, of Indiana, in the agonies of

death, who soon expired.

"We immediately prepared and carried them to the place of

interment. This last office of kindness due to the remains of

departed friends was not attended with the customary ceremonies nor

decency; for we were in jeopardy, every moment expecting to be

fired on by the mob, who, we supposed, were lying in ambush,

waiting the first opportunity to dispatch the remaining few who

were providentially preserved from the slaughter of the preceding

day. However, we accomplished without molestation this painful

task. The place of burial was a vault in the ground, formerly

intended for a well, into which we threw the bodies of our friends

promiscuously.

"Among the slain I will mention Sardius Smith, son of Warren

Smith, about nine years old, who, through fear, had crawled under

the bellows in the shop, where he remained till the massacre was

over, when he was discovered by one Glaze, of Carroll County, who

presented a rifle near his head and literally blew off the upper

part of it. Mr. Stanley, of Carroll County, told me afterwards that

Glaze boasted of this fiendlike murder and heroic deed all over the

country.

"The number killed and mortally wounded in this wanton slaughter

was eighteen or nineteen, whose names, as far as I can recollect,

were as follows: Thomas McBride, Levi Merrick, Elias Benner, Josiah

Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, Warren Smith, Sardius

Smith, George Richards, Mr. Napier, Mr. Harmer, Mr. Cox, Mr.

Abbott, Mr. York, Wm. Merrick (a boy eight or nine years old), and

three or four others whose names I do not recollect, as they were

strangers to me.

"Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney, Nathan K.

Knight, Mr. Yokum, two brothers by the name of Myers, Tarlton

Lewis, Mr. Haun and several others. Miss Mary Stedwell, while

fleeing, was shot through the hand, and, fainting, fell over a log,

into which they shot upwards of twenty balls.

"To finish their work of destruction, this band of murderers

composed of men from Daviess, Livingston, Ray, Carroll and Chariton

Counties, led by some of the principal men of that section of the

upper country (among whom, I am informed, were Mr. Ashby, from

Chariton, member of the State Legislature; Col. Jennings, of

Livingston County; Thos. O'Bryon, Clerk of Livingston County; Mr.

Whitney, Dr. Randall and many others), proceeded to rob the houses,

wagons and tents of bedding and clothing; drove off horses and

wagons leaving widows and orphans destitute of the necessaries of

life, and even stripped the clothing from the bodies of the slain!

"According to their own account they fired seven rounds in this

awful butchery; making upwards of sixteen hundred shots, at a

little company of men about thirty in number.

"I hereby certify the above to be a true statement of facts,

according to the best of knowledge.

"Joseph Young."

"STATE OF ILLINOIS,

_County of Adams_.

"I hereby certify that Joseph Young this day came before me, and

made oath in due form of law, that the statements contained in the

foregoing sheets are true, according to the best of his knowledge

and belief. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and

affixed the seal of the Circuit court at Quincy, this fourth day of

June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and

thirty-nine.

"C. M. WOODS,

"_Clerk of Circuit Court of Adams, Co., Ill._"

CHAPTER XXV.

------------------------

Speech of Major--General Clark, Delivered at Far

West while its Citizens were held as Prisoners, November, 1838.

"Gentlemen: You, whose names are not on this list, will now have

the privilege of going to your fields to obtain grain for your

families--wood, etc. Those that compose the list will go from

thence to prison, to be tried, and receive the due demerits of

their crimes. But you are now at liberty, all but such as charges

may hereafter be preferred against. It now devolves upon you to

fulfil the treaty that you have entered into--the leading items of

which I now lay before you.

"The first of these items you have already complied with--which

is, that you deliver up your leading men to be tried according to

law. Second, that you deliver up your arms--this has been attended

to. The third is, that you sign over your property to defray the

expenses of the war; this you have also done. Another thing yet

remains for you to comply with; that is: that you leave the State

forthwith; and, whatever your feelings concerning this affair,

whatever your innocence, it is nothing to me. General Lucas, who is

equal in authority with me, has made this treaty with you. I am

determined to see it executed.

"The orders of the Governor to me, were, that you should be

exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the State. And had your

leaders not been given up, and the treaty complied with before

this, you and your families would have been destroyed and your

houses in ashes.

"There is a discretionary power resting in my hands, which I

shall try to exercise for a season. I did not say that you must go

now, but you must not think of stopping here another season, or of

putting in crops; for the moment you do the CITIZENS WILL BE UPON

YOU. I am determined to see the Governor's orders fulfilled, but

shall not come upon you immediately. Do not think that I shall act

as I have done any more; but if I have to come again because the

treaty which you have made is not complied with, you need not

expect any mercy, but extermination; for I am determined that the

Governor's order shall be executed.

"As for your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment,

do not let it enter your mind that they will be delivered, or that

you will see their faces again, for their fare is fixed, their die

is cast, their doom is sealed.

"I am sorry, gentlemen, to see so great a number of apparently

intelligent men found in the situation that you are. And, oh! that

I could invoke the Spirit of the unknown God to rest upon you, and

deliver you from that awful chain of superstition, and liberate you

from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound. I would

advise you to scatter abroad and never again organize with bishops,

presidents, etc., lest you excite the jealousies of the people, and

subject yourselves to the same calamities that have now come upon

you.

"You have always been the aggressors; you have brought upon

yourselves these difficulties by being disaffected, and not being

subject to rule; and my advice is, that you become as other

citizens, lest by a recurrence of these events you bring upon

yourselves inevitable ruin."

CHAPTER XXVI.

------------------------

The Prisoners:--Second Interview with General Clark:--Inquisition:--

Sickness of Elder Rigdon:--Colonel Price and Guards:--Their

Conduct;--Rebuke by Joseph Smith:--Trial:--Similarity between

King Herod and Governor Boggs:--Judge Austin A. King in Open

Court Threatens a Wholesale Extermination of the "Mormons:"--Other

Prisoners Obtained by Stratagem:--Advice of General Doniphan, Attorney

for the Prisoners:--Decision:--Disposal of the Prisoners:--Flight of

the Church to Illinois:--Conduct of the Outlaws:--My Family Visits me

in Prison.

I must not forget to state that when we arrived in Richmond as

prisoners there were some fifty others, mostly heads of families,

who had been marched from Caldwell on foot (distance 30 miles), and

were now penned up in a cold, open, unfinished court house, in

which situation they remained for some weeks, while their families

were suffering severe privations.

The next morning after our dialogue with General Clark he again

entered our prison and informed us that he had concluded to deliver

us over to the civil authorities for an examining trial. He was

then asked why he did not do away with the unlawful decree of

_banishment_, which was first ordered by General Lucas, in

compliance with the Governor's order, and which compelled thousands

of citizens to leave the State. Or upon what principle the military

power aided the civil law against us, while at the same time it

caused our families and friends to be murdered, plundered and

driven, contrary to all law?

He replied that he approved of all the proceedings of General

Lucas, and should not alter them. I make this statement because

some writers have commended Clark for his heroic, merciful, and

prudent conduct towards our society, and have endeavored to make it

appear that Clark was not to be blamed for any of the measures of

Lucas.

The Court of Inquiry now commenced, before Judge Austin A. King.

This continued from the 11th to 28th of November, and our brethren,

some fifty in number, were penned up in the cold, dreary court

house. It was a very severe time of snow and winter weather, and we

suffered much. During this time Elder Rigdon was taken very sick,

from hardship and exposure, and finally lost his reason; but still

he was kept in a miserable, noisy and cold room, and compelled to

sleep on the floor with a chain and padlock round his ankle, and

fastened to six others. Here he endured the constant noise and

confusion of an unruly guard, the officer of which was Colonel

Sterling Price, since Governor of the State.

These guards were composed generally of the most noisy, foul

mouthed, vulgar, disgraceful rabble that ever defiled the earth.

While he lay in this situation his son-in-law, George W. Robinson,

the only male member of his family, was chained by his side. Thus

Mrs. Rigdon and her daughters were left entirely destitute and

unprotected. One of his daughters, Mrs. Robinson, a young and

delicate female, with her little infant, came down to see her

husband, and to comfort and take care of her father in his

sickness. When she first entered the room, amid the clank of chains

and the rattle of weapons, and cast her eyes on her sick and

dejected parent and sorrow worn husband, she was speechless, and

only gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. This faithful

lady, with her little infant, continued by the side of her father

till he recovered from his sickness, and till his fevered and

disordered mind resumed its wonted powers.

In one of those tedious nights we had lain as if in sleep till

the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been

pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the

horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our

guards, Colonel Price at their head, as they recounted to each

other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had

committed among the "_Mormons_" while at Far West and vicinity.

They even boasted of defiling by force wives, daughters and

virgins, and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women

and children.

I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified,

and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could

scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards;

but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay

next to him and knew he was awake. On a sudden he arose to his

feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, as the roaring lion,

uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words:

"_SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of

Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not

live another minute and bear such language. Cease such talk, or you

or I die THIS INSTANT!_"

He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained,

and without a weapon; calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, he

looked upon the quailing guards, whose weapons were lowered or

dropped to the ground; whose knees smote together, and who,

shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his

pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards.

I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial

robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was

suspended on a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a

Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to

conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones and crowns; and of

emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms; but dignity and

majesty have I seen but _once_, as it stood in chains, at

midnight, in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri.

In this mock court of inquiry the Judge could not be prevailed

on to examine the conduct of murderers and robbers who had

desolated our society, nor would he receive testimony except

against us. By the dissenters and apostates who wished to save

their own lives and secure their property at the expense of others,

and by those who had murdered and plundered us from time to time,

he obtained abundance of testimony, much of which was entirely

false. Our Church organization was converted by such testimony into

a temporal kingdom, which was to fill the whole earth and subdue

all other kingdoms.

This court of inquisition inquired diligently into our belief of

the seventh chapter of Daniel concerning the kingdom of God, which

should subdue all other kingdoms and stand forever. And when told

that we believed in that prophecy, the court turned to the clerk

and said: "_Write that down; it is a strong point for treason

_." Our lawyer observed as follows: "Judge, you had better make

the Bible treason." The court made no reply.

These texts and many others were inquired into with all the

eagerness and apparent alarm which characterized a Herod of old in

relation to the babe of Bethlehem, the King of the Jews.

The ancient Herod, fearing a rival in the person of Jesus,

issued his exterminating order for the murder of all the children

of Bethlehem from two years old and under, with a view to hinder

the fulfillment of a prophecy which he _himself_ believed to

be true.

The modern Herod (Boggs), fearing a rival kingdom in "_the

people of the Saints of the Most High_," issued his exterminating

order for the murder of the young children of an entire people,

and of their mothers as well as fathers, while this court of

inquisition inquired as diligently into the one prophecy as his

predecessor did into the other. These parallel actions go to

show a strong belief in the prophecies on the part of the actors in

both cases. Both believed, and feared, and trembled; both hardened

their hearts against that which their better judgment told them was

true. Both were instigated by the devil to cause innocent blood to

be shed. And marvelously striking is the parallel in the final

result of the actions of each.

The one slew many young children, but failed to destroy the

infant King of the Jews.

The other slew many men, women and children, but failed to

destroy the Kingdom of God.

The one found a timely refuge in Egypt.

The other in Illinois.

Jesus Christ fulfilled his destiny, and will reign over the

Jews, and sit on the throne of his father, David, forever.

The Saints are growing to power amid the strongholds of the

mountains of Deseret, and will surely take the Kingdom, and the

greatness of the Kingdom, under the whole Heaven.

Who can withstand the Almighty, or frustrate his purposes? Herod

died of a loathsome disease, and transmitted to posterity his fame

as a tyrant and murderer. And Lilburn W. Boggs is dragging out a

remnant of existence in California, with the mark of Cain upon his

brow, and the fear of Cain within his heart, lest he that findeth

him shall slay him. He is a living stink, and will go down to

posterity with the credit of a wholesale murderer.

The court also inquired diligently into our missionary operations. It

was found, on investigation, that the Church had sent missionaries into

England and other foreign countries. This, together with our belief in

the Bible, was construed into treason against the State of Missouri,

while every act of defense was set down as murder, etc. The Judge,

in open court, while addressing a witness, proclaimed, that if the

members of the Church remained on their lands to put in another crop

they should be destroyed indiscriminately, and their bones be left to

bleach on the plains without a burial. Yes, reader, the cultivation of

lands held patents issued by the United States land office, and signed

by the President of the Republic, was, by Judge Austin A. King, in

open court, pronounced a capital offense, for which a whole community

were prejudged and sentenced to death. While those who should be the

instruments to execute this sentence were called by the dignified name

of citizens, and these _good_ citizens afterwards elected that same

Judge for Governor of the State.

The Judge inquired of the prisoners if they wished to introduce

any witnesses for the defense. A list of names was supplied by the

prisoners, when, who should be selected to go to Far West to obtain

and bring them before the court, but the identical bandit, Bogart,

and his gang, who were defeated by us in the Battle of Crooked

River, after they had become famous for kidnapping, plundering and

murdering!

Of course, every man in Caldwell would flee from such a gang if

they could; but he succeeded in capturing a few of our friends,

whose names were on the list, and bringing them before the court,

when, instead of being sworn, they were immediately ordered to

prison to take their trial. Others were sent for, and, as far as

found, shared the same fate. This manoeuvre occupied several days,

during which the court was still in session, and the fate of the

prisoners suspended.

At length the Judge exclaimed to the prisoners: "If you have any

witnesses bring them forward; the court cannot delay forever--it

has waited several days already." A member of the Church, named

Allen, was just then seen to pass the window. The prisoners

requested that he might be introduced and sworn. He was immediately

called in and sworn. He began to give his testimony, which went to

establish the innocence of the prisoners, and to show the murders,

robberies, etc., committed by their accusers. But he was suddenly

interrupted and cut short by cries of _"Put him out;" "Kick him

out;" "G-d d--n him, shoot him;" "Kill him, d--n him, kill him;"

"He's a d--d Mormon."_

The court then ordered the guard to put him out, which was done

amid the yells, threats, insults and violence of the mob who

thronged in and around the court house. He barely escaped with his

life. Mr. Doniphan, attorney for the defense, and since famed as a

general in the Mexican war, finally advised the prisoners to offer

no defense; "for," said he, "though a legion of angels from the

opening heavens should declare your innocence, the court and

populace have decreed your destruction." Our attorney offered no

defense, and thus the matter of our trials was finally submitted.

By the decision of this mock Court some twenty or thirty of the

accused were dismissed, among whom was Amasa Lyman Gibbs, Darwin

Chase, Norman Shearer and myself and themselves and bail both

forced to leave the State, thus forfeiting the bail bonds, while

Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Caleb

Baldwin and Alexander McRay (all heads of families) were committed

to the jail of Clay County on the charge of treason; and Morris

Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase, Norman Shearer and myself were

committed to the jail of Richmond, Ray County, for the alleged

crime of murder, said to be committed in the act of dispersing the

bandit, Bogart, and his gang.

This done, the civil and military authorities dispersed, and the

troubled waters became a little more tranquil.

As our people were compelled by the memorable "_Treaty of Far

West_" to leave the State by the following spring, they now

commenced moving by hundreds and by thousands to the State of

Illinois, where they were received in the most humane and friendly

manner by the authorities, and by the citizens in general. In the

meantime bands of murderers, thieves and robbers were roaming

unrestrained among the unarmed and defenseless citizens, committing

all manner of plunder, and driving off cattle, sheep and horses,

abusing and insulting women.

My wife and children soon came to me in prison, and spent a

portion of the winter in the cold, dark dungeon, where myself and

fellow prisoners were frequently insulted and abused by our

dastardly guards, who often threatened to shoot us on the spot, and

who made murder, robbery and whoredoms with negro slaves their

daily boast.

CHAPTER XXVII.

------------------------

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON THE SUBJECT.

The State Legislature were soon in session; and from this body,

so high in responsibility, we had hoped for some redress and

protection. Memorials and petitions from those aggrieved, and

others, were addressed to the legislature, praying for an

investigation of the whole matter, and for redress and protection

against the criminal proceedings of the Governor and his troops, in

seizing our property, murdering our citizens, kidnapping our

leaders and others, and driving us from the State.

Yes, in fact, American citizens petitioned a republican

legislature for the privilege of occupying and cultivating their

own lands, purchased of the Government of the United States, and

for the privilege of dwelling in the houses built by their own

hands, on their own real estate. How strange! How incredible, in

the nineteenth century! Who can realize it? And yet it must stand

on record, and go down to posterity as a fact, a stubborn,

undeniable public fact.

The following extract of a petition addressed to the legislature

of Missouri, dated Dec. 10, 1838, Far West, Caldwell County,

Missouri, and signed by a committee appointed by the citizens, will

show for itself the foregoing to be true. It was signed by

EDWARD PARTRIDGE, JOHN M. BURK, HEBER C. KIMBALL, BRIGHAM YOUNG,

JOHN TAYLOR, ISAAC MORLEY, THEODORE TURLEY, GEORGE W. HARRIS, JOHN

MURDOCK.

It read as follows:

"The last order of Governor Boggs, to drive us from the State or

exterminate us, is a thing so novel, unlawful, tyrannical and

oppressive that we have been induced to draw up this memorial and

present this statement of our case to your honorable body, praying

that a law may be passed rescinding the order of the Governor to

drive us from the State; and also, giving us the sanction of the

Legislature to inherit our lands in peace. * * * In laying our case

before your honorable body we say that we are willing, and ever

have been, to conform to the Constitution and laws of the United

States and of this State.

"We ask, in common with others, the protection of the laws. We

ask for the privilege guaranteed to all free citizens of the United

States and of this State to be extended to us, that we may be

permitted to settle and live where we please, and worship God

according to the dictates of our conscience without molestation.

And while we ask for ourselves this privilege, we are willing all

others should enjoy the same."

If the necessity for such a petition seems strange, how much

more strange appears the fact, that such petition was denied by the

Legislature of a State? And to crown the whole, all investigation

was utterly refused; nay more, the Legislature itself became

accessory to these crimes, by appropriating two hundred thousand

dollars to pay the murderers and robbers for committing these

crimes.

This last act of outrage sealed with eternal infamy the

character of the State of Missouri. She fell to rise no more. She

should be looked upon by her sister States as a star fallen from

the American constellation; a ruined and degraded outcast from the

family of States. The whole civilized world will detest and abhor

her as the most infamous of tyrants. Nay, tyranny itself will blush

to hear her deeds mentioned in the annals of history.

The most cruel persecutors of the Christians or Reformers in

pagan or papal Rome will start with astonishment from their long

slumbers, and, with a mixture of envy and admiration, yield to her

the palm. As a State she has acted the part of a pirate, a

wholesale murderer and robber. Every department--civil, military,

executive and legislative--tramples all law under foot, and plunges

into crime and blood.

Many of the State journals have tried to hide the iniquity of

the State by throwing a covering of lies over her atrocious deeds.

But, can they hide the Governor's cruel order for extermination or

banishment? Can they conceal the fact of the disgraceful treaty of

the generals with a portion of their own officers and men at Far

West? Can they conceal the fact that ten or twelve thousand

citizens, of all ages and of both sexes, have been banished from

the State without trial or condemnation? Can they conceal the fact

that the State Legislature appropriated two hundred thousand

dollars to pay the criminals for committing these crimes; and this

while the petitions of the sufferers lay on the table before them,

praying for investigation, redress and protection? Can they conceal

the fact that citizens have been kidnapped and imprisoned for many

months, while their families, friends and witnesses have been

driven from the State?

Can they conceal the blood of the murdered husbands and fathers,

or stifle the cries of widows and orphans?

Nay, the rocks and the mountains may cover them in unknown

depths; the awful abyss of the fathomless deep may swallow them up,

and still their horrid deeds will stand forth in the broad light of

day, for the wondering gaze of angels and of men--they cannot be

hid.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

------------------------

Joseph Smith and his Fellow Prisoners in

Clay County:--Mock Trial in the County of Davies:--Final

Escape:--Their Arrival in Illinois.

This chapter is an extract from the statement of Hyrum Smith,

one of the prisoners, given under oath, before the Municipal Court

of the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, in the summer of 1843.

"The next morning after the close of this mock court (held at

Richmond, Judge Austin A. King presiding), a large wagon drove up

to the door of our prison house, and a blacksmith entered with some

chains and handcuffs. He said his orders from the Judge were to

handcuff and chain us together. He informed us that the Judge made

out a _mittimus_ and sentenced us to jail for treason; he

also said that the Judge had stated his intention to keep us in

jail until all the Mormons were driven from the State; and that the

Judge had further stated that if he let us out before the Mormons

had left the State there would be another d--d fuss kicked up. I

also heard the Judge say myself, while he was sitting in his

pretended court, 'that there was no law for us, or any of the

Mormons in the State of Missouri; that he had sworn to see then

exterminated, and to see the Governor's order executed to the very

letter, and he would do so.'

"However, the blacksmith proceeded to put the irons upon us. We

were then ordered into the wagon and drove off for Clay County. As

we journeyed along the road, we were exhibited to the inhabitants.

This public exhibition lasted until we arrived at the town of

Liberty, Clay County. There we were thrust into prison again, and

locked up; and were held there in confinement for the space of six

months.

"Our place of lodging was the square side of hewed white oak

logs, and our food was anything but good and decent. Poison was

administered to us three or four times. The effect it had upon our

systems was, that it vomited us almost to death, and then we would

lay some two or three days in a torpid, stupid state, not even

caring or wishing for life.

"The poison would inevitably have proved fatal had not the power

of Jehovah interposed in our behalf to save us from their wicked

purpose. We were also subjected to the necessity of _eating

human flesh_ for the space of five days, or go without food,

except a little coffee or a little cornbread. I chose the latter

alternative. None of us partook of the flesh except Lyman Wight. We

also heard the guard which was placed over us, making sport of us,

saying that 'they had fed us upon _Mormon beef_.'

"I have described the appearance of this flesh to several

experienced physicians, and they have decided that is was human

flesh. We learned afterwards through one of the guards that it was

supposed that such acts of cannibalism as feeding us with human

flesh would be considered a popular deed. But those concerned, on

learning that it would not take, tried to keep it secret; but the

fact was noised abroad before they took that precaution.

"While we were incarcerated in prison we petitioned the Supreme

Court of the State of Missouri for _habeas corpus_ twice,

but we were as often refused by Judge Reynolds, who is now Governor

of that state.

"We also petitioned one of the county judges for a writ of _habeas

corpus_. This was granted in about three weeks afterwards; but we

were not permitted to have any trial. We were only taken out of jail,

and kept out for a few hours, and then reprimanded back again. In the

course of three or four days after that time Judge Turnham came into

the jail in the evening, and said he had permitted Mr. Rigdon to get

bail; but said he had to do it in the night, and had also to get away

in the night, and unknown to any of the citizens, or they would kill

him; for they had sworn to kill him if they could find him. And, as to

the rest of us, he dare not let us go for fear of his own life, as well

as ours.

"He said it was hard to be confined under such circumstances,

for he knew we were innocent men, and the people also knew it; and

that it was only persecution and treachery, and the scenes of

Jackson County acted over again, for fear we would become too

numerous in that upper country. He said, 'the plan was concocted

from the Governor down to the lowest judge, and that wicked Baptist

priest, Riley, was riding into town every day to watch the

people--stirring up the minds of the people against us all he

could--exciting them, and stirring up their religious prejudices

against us, for fear they would let us go.'

"Mr. Rigdon, however, got bail and made his escape to Illinois.

The jailor, Samuel Tillory, told us also 'that the whole plan was

concocted from the Governor down to the lowest judge in that upper

country early the previous spring; and that the plan was more fully

matured at the time General Atchison went down to Jefferson County

with Generals Wilson, Lucas and Gillum.' This was sometime in

September, when the mob was collected at De Witt. He also said that

the Governor was now ashamed enough of the whole transaction, and

would be glad to set us at liberty if he dared to do it; 'but,'

said he, 'you need not be concerned, for the Governor has laid a

plan for your release.' He also said that Mr. Birch, the State's

Attorney, was appointed to be Circuit Judge in the district

including Daviess County, and that he (Birch) was instructed to fix

the papers so that we would be clear from any encumbrance in a very

short time.

"Sometime in April we were taken to Daviess County, as they

said, to have a trial; but when we arrived at that place, instead

of finding a court or a jury, we found another Inquisition; and

Birch, who was the District Attorney, the same man who was one of

the '_court martial_' when we were sentenced to death, was

now the Circuit Judge of that pretended court, and the Grand Jury

that were impanelled were at the massacre at Haun's Mill, and

lively actors in that awful, solemn, disgraceful, cold-blooded

murder. All the pretense they made of excuse was 'they had done it

because the Governor ordered it done.'

"The same jury sat as a jury in the day time, and were over us

as a guard by night. They tantalized and boasted over us of their

great achievements at Haun's Mill and at other places; telling us

how many houses they had burned, and how many sheep, cattle and

hogs they had driven off belonging to '_Mormons_,' and how

many rapes they had committed, etc. * * *

"These fiends of the lower region boasted of these acts of

barbarity and tantalized our feelings with them for ten days. We

had heard of these acts of cruelty previous to this time; but we

were slow to believe that such acts had been perpetrated.

"This Grand Jury constantly celebrated their achievements with grog

and glass in hand, like the Indian warriors at the war dances, singing

and telling each of their exploits in murdering the '_ Mormons_,' in

plundering their houses, and carrying off their property. All this

was done in the presence of _Judge_ Birch, who had previously said in

our hearing: '_That there was no law for the Mormons in the State of

Missouri_.'

"After all these ten days of drunkenness we were informed that

we were indicted for 'treason! murder! arson! larceny! theft and

stealing!!' We asked for a change of venue from that county to

Marion County; but they would not grant it. But they gave us a

change of venue from Daviess to Boone County, and a _mittimus

_ was made out by the pretended Judge Birch, without date, name

or place. They fitted us out with a two horse wagon and horses, and

four men, besides the Sheriff, to be our guard--there were five of

us.

"We started from Gallatin, the sun about two hours high, p.m.,

and went as far as Diahman that evening, and stayed till morning.

There we bought two horses of the guard, and paid for one of them

in clothing which we had with us, and for the other we gave our

note.

"We went down that day as far as Judge Morin's--distance of some

four or five miles. There we stayed until morning, when we started

on our journey to Boone County, and travelled about twenty miles.

There was bought a jug of whiskey, of which the guard drank freely.

While there the Sheriff showed us the _mittimus_, before

referred to, without date or signature, and said that Judge Birch

told him never to carry us to Boone County, and to show the

_mittimus_; and, said he, I shall take a good drink of grog and

go to bed, and you may do as you have a mind to. Three others of

the guard drank pretty freely of whiskey sweetened with honey; they

also went to bed and were soon asleep. The other guard went with us

and helped us to saddle our horses. Two of us mounted the horses

and the other three started on foot, and thus we took our change of

venue for the State of Illinois.

"In the course of nine or ten days we arrived safely in Quincy,

Adams County, where we found our families in a state of poverty,

although in good health--they having been driven out of the state

previously by the murderous militia under the exterminating order

of the Executive of Missouri. And now the people of that state, or

a portion of them, would be glad to make the people of this state

believe that my brother Joseph has committed treason, and this they

seek to do for the purpose of keeping up their murderous and

hellish persecution. They seem to be unrelenting in thirsting for

the blood of innocence, for I do know most positively that my

brother Joseph has committed no treason, nor violated one solitary

item of law or rule in the State of Missouri.

"But I do know that the Mormon people, _en masse_, were

driven out of that State, after being robbed of all they had, and

that he barely escaped with his life. And all this in consequence

of the exterminating order of Governor Boggs; the same being

confirmed by the Legislature of that State.

"And I do know, so does this Court and every rational man who is

acquainted with the circumstances, and every man who shall hereafter

become acquainted with the particulars thereof, will know that Governor

Boggs and Generals Clark, Lucas, Wilson and Gillum, also Austin A.

King, have committed treasonable acts against the citizens of Missouri,

and did violate the Constitution of the United States, and also the

Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, and did exile and

expel, at the point of the bayonet, some twelve or fourteen thousand

inhabitants of the State, and did murder some three or four hundred

of men, women and children in cold blood in the most horrid and cruel

manner possible. And the whole of it was caused by religious bigotry

and persecution, and because the _Mormons_ dared to worship Almighty

God according to the dictates of their own conscience and agreeably to

His Divine Will, as revealed in the Scriptures of eternal truth; and

had turned away from following the vain traditions of their fathers and

would not worship according to the dogmas and commandments of those

men who preach for hire and divine for money, and teach for doctrines

the commandments of men, expecting that the Constitution of the United

States would have protected them therein.

"But, notwithstanding the _Mormon_ people, had purchased

upwards of two hundred thousand dollars' worth of land, most of

which was entered and paid for at the Land Office of the United

States, in the State of Missouri, and although the President of the

United States has been made acquainted with these facts and the

particulars of our persecutions and oppressions by petitions to him

and to Congress, yet they have not even attempted to restore the

Saints to their rights, or given any assurance that we may

hereafter expect redress from them.

"And I do also know, most positively and assuredly, that my

brother, Joseph Smith, Junior, has not been in the State of

Missouri since the spring of the year 1839. And further this

deponent saith not.

"HYRUM SMITH."

CHAPTER XXIX.

------------------------

Farewell Scenes:--Departure of the Last Remnant

of the Exiles:--Court:--Release of Two of the Prisoners:--

Reflections in Prison.

On the 17th of March, 1839, my wife took leave of the prison

with her little children, and, with a broken heart returned to Far

West, in order to get passage with some of the brethren for

Illinois. She tarried in Far West a month. All the society had gone

from the State, but a few of the poor and widows, and the committee

who tarried behind to assist them in removing. About the middle of

April a gang of robbers entered Far West armed, and ordered my

wife, and the committee, and the others to be gone by such a time,

or they would murder them. This gang destroyed much furniture and

other property.

Thus my wife was driven away according to the Governor's

previous order, while I was still detained in a filthy dungeon. My

family were conveyed to Quincy, Illinois, distance two hundred and

eighty miles, by David W. Rogers, of New York, who is a descendant

of the celebrated martyr, John Rogers, of Smithfield celebrity,

England.

On the 20th of April, 1839, the last of the Society departed

from Far West. Thus had a whole people, variously estimated at from

ten to fifteen thousand souls, been driven from houses and lands

and reduced to poverty, and had removed to another State during one

short winter and part of a spring. The sacrifice of property was

immense--including houses, lands, cattle, sheep, hogs, agricultural

implements, furniture, household utensils, clothing, money and

grain. One of the most flourishing counties in the State and part

of several others were reduced to desolation, or inhabited only by

marauding gangs of murderers and robbers.

On the 24th of April our cases came before the Grand Jury of the

county of Ray; which Grand Jury, the reader is aware, would be

naturally composed of our persecutors and their accessories; and at

whose head was the same Judge King who had presided in the former

mock trial and inquisition which committed us to prison.

Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer were dismissed, after being

imprisoned near six months. This release happened just as Mr.

Shearer came to visit his son for the last time before he left the

country. He came into the prison and took an affectionate leave of

his son, who wept as if his heart would break; but while he yet

lingered in town his son was called before the Court, and, together

with Mr. Chase, was told that he might go at liberty. The father

and son then embraced each other, almost overcome with joy, and

departed.

At the same time my brother, Orson Pratt, whom I had not seen

for a year, came from Illinois to see me, but was only permitted to

visit me for a few moments, and then was ordered to depart.

Mrs. Phelps, who had waited in prison for some days, in hopes

that the Court would release her husband, now parted with him,

overwhelmed with sorrow and tears, and, with her infant, went away

to remove to Illinois.

Thus our families wander in a strange land, without protection,

being robbed of house and home. O Lord! how long?

Our number in prison were now reduced to four--one having been added

about the middle of April. His name was King Follett; he was dragged

from his distressed family just as they were leaving the State, being

charged with robbery, which meant that he was one of a posse who took

a keg of powder from a gang of ruffians who were out against the

_Mormons_. Thus, of all the _Mormon_ prisoners first kidnapped, only

two remained in the State--Mr. Gibbs having denied the faith to try and

regain his liberty--these were Morris Phelps and myself.

All who were liberated on bail were forced to leave the State,

together with those who bailed them, thus forfeiting many thousands

of dollars to the coffers of the State.

Is it possible! Have I been recording the history of realities

as the scenes transpired in the broad light of the nineteenth

century--in the boasted land of liberty--and in the most renowned

republic now existing on the globe? Alas! it is too true; would to

God it were a dream--a novel, a romance that had no existence save

in the wild regions of fancy. But the prison door yet grating on

its hinges,--the absence of my wife and little ones--the gloom of

the dungeon where I yet repose,--these and ten thousand other

things cause me to think that my almost incredible narrative is no

fiction, but an awful reality--a fact more truly distressing than

my feeble tongue or pen can find words to set forth.

How often in my sleeping visions I see my beloved wife, or my

playful children surrounded with the pleasures of home in my sweet

little cottage, or walk with them in some pleasant grove or flowery

field, as in years past. How often I see myself surrounded with

listening thousands, as in bygone years, and join with them in the

sacred song and prayer, or address them with the sound of the

everlasting gospel. But, alas! I soon awake, and, to my

inexpressible grief and sorrow, find myself still in my lonely

dungeon.

O Liberty!

O sound once delightful to every American ear!

O sacred privilege of American citizenship!

Once sacred; now trampled under foot.

When shall I and my injured family and friends again enjoy thy

sweets? When shall we repose beneath thy bower, or bask in thy

boundless ocean of felicity? When shall we sit again under our vine

and under our fruit trees, and worship our God, with none to molest

or make us afraid?

Awake, O Americans!

Arise, O sons and daughters of freedom!

Restore a persecuted and injured people to their rights, as

citizens of a free republic. Down with tyranny and oppression, and

rescue your liberties from the brink of ruin. Redeem your much

injured country from the awful stain upon its honor; and let the

cries of helpless orphans and the tears of the sorrowing widow

cease to ascend up before the Lord for vengeance upon the heads of

those who have slain, plundered, imprisoned and driven the Saints.

And let the news go forth to the wondering nations that Columbia

still is free.

O tell it not in Britain; nor let the sound be heard in Europe

that Liberty is fallen; that the free institutions of our once

happy country are now destroyed, lest the sons and daughters of

Britannia rejoice and laugh us to scorn; lest the children of

monarchy triumph and have us in derision.

O freedom must thy spirit now withdraw

From earth, returning to its native heaven,

There to dwell, till, armed with sevenfold vengeance,

It comes again to earth with King Messiah,

And all His marshaled hosts, in glory bright,

To tread the winepress of Almighty God,

And none escape? Ye powers of Heaven, forbid;

Let freedom linger still on shores of time,

And in the breasts of thine afflicted saints,

Let it find a peaceful retirement--

A place of rest, till o'er the troubled earth,

Mercy, justice and eternal truth,

While journeying hand in hand to exalt the humble

And debase the proud; shall find some nation,

Poor, oppressed, afflicted and despised;

Cast out and trodden under foot of tyrants

Proud; the hiss, the byword, and the scorn of knaves--

And there let freedom's spirit wide prevail,

And grow and flourish 'mid the humble poor--

Exalted and enriched by virtue,

Knowledge, temperance and love; till o'er the earth

Messiah comes to reign; the proud consumed,

No more oppress the poor,

Let freedom's eagle then (forthcoming, like

The dove from Noah's ark) on lofty pinions soar,

And spread its wide domain from end to end,

O'er all the vast expanse of this wide earth;

While freedom's temple rears its lofty spires

Amid the skies, and on its bosom rests

A cloud by day and flaming fire by night!

But stay my spirit, though thou fain would'st soar

On high, 'mid scenes of glory, peace and joy;

From bondage free, and bid thy jail farewell.

Stop--wait awhile--let patience have her perfect work,

Return again to suffering scenes, through which

The way to glory lies, and speak of things

Around thee--Thou'rt in prison still!

But spring has now returned; the wintry blasts

Have ceased to howl through prison crevices

The soft and gentle breezes of the South

Are whistling gaily past, and incense sweet,

On zephyr's wing, with fragrance fills the air,

Wafted from blooming flowerets of the spring;

While round my lonely dungeon oft is heard

Melodious strains, as if the birds of spring,

In anthems sweet, conspired to pity and

Console the drooping spirits there confined.

All things around me show that days, and weeks,

And months have fled, although to me not mark'd

By Sabbaths, and but faintly marked by dim

And sombre rays of light, alternate 'mid

The gloom of overhanging night, which still

Pervades my drear and solitary cell.

Where now those helpless ones I left to mourn?

Have they perished? No. What then! Has some

Elijah call'd and found them in the last

Extreme, and multiplied their meal and oil?

Yes, verily; the Lord has filled the hearts

Of his poor saints with everlasting love,

Which, in proportion to their poverty,

Increased with each increasing want, till all

Reduced unto the widow's mite, and then,

Like her, their living they put in; and thus

O'erflowed the treasury of the Lord with more

Abundant stores than all the wealth of kings.

And thus supported, fed and clothed, and moved

From scenes of sorrow to a land of peace,

They live! and living still, they do rejoice

In tribulation deep--

Well knowing their redemption draweth nigh.

CHAPTER XXX.

------------------------

LETTER TO JUDGE AUSTIN A. KING.

"RICHMOND PRISON, May 13th, 1839,

"_Hon. Sir_--Having been confined in prison near seven

months, and the time having arrived when a change of venue can be

taken in order for the further prosecution of our trials, and the

time when I can speak my mind freely, without endangering the lives

or liberties of any but myself, I now take the liberty of seriously

objecting to a trial anywhere within the bounds of this State, and

of earnestly praying to your honor and to all the authorities,

civil and military, that my case may come within the law of

BANISHMENT! enacted by Governor Boggs, and so vigorously enforced

upon from ten to fifteen thousand of our society, including my wife

and little ones, together with all my witnesses and friends.

"My reasons are obvious, and founded upon notorious facts which

known to you, sir, and to the people in general of this republic,

and, therefore, need no proof; some of them are as follows:

"First: I have never received any protection by law, either of

my person, property or family, while residing in this State, to

which I first emigrated in 1831.

"Secondly: I was driven by force of arms from Jackson County,

wounded and bleeding, in 1833, while my house was burned, my crops

and provisions robbed from me or destroyed, and my land and

improvements kept from me until now, while my family was driven

out, without shelter, at the approach of winter.

"Thirdly: These crimes still go unpunished, notwithstanding I

made oath before the Hon. Judge Ryland, then acting District Judge,

to foregoing outrages, and afterwards applied in person to his

excellency, Daniel Dunklin, then Governor of the State, for redress

and protection of myself and friends, and the restoration of more

than a thousand of our fellow citizens to our homes.

"Fourthly: My wife and children have now been driven from our

house and improvements in Caldwell County, and banished the state

on pain of death, together with about ten thousand of our Society,

including all my friends and witnesses, and this by the express

orders of his excellency, Lilburn W. Boggs, Governor of the State

of Missouri, and by the vigorous execution of this order by

Generals Lucas and Clark, and followed up by murders, rapes,

plunderings, thefts and robberies of the most inhuman character, by

a lawless mob who had, from time to time, for more than five years

past, trampled upon all law and authority, and upon all the rights

of man.

"Fifthly: All these inhuman outrages and crimes go

unpunished, and are unnoticed by you, sir, and by all the

authorities of the State. Nay, rather, you are one of the very

actors. You, yourself, threatened in open court the extermination

of the '_Mormons_' if they should ever be again guilty of

cultivating their lands.

"Sixthly: The Legislature of the State has approved of and

sanctioned this act of banishment, with all the crimes connected

therewith, by voting an appropriation of two hundred thousand

dollars, for the payment of troops engaged in this unlawful,

unconstitutional and treasonable enterprise.

"In monarchial governments the banishment of criminals after

their legal trial and condemnation has been frequently resorted to,

but the banishment of innocent women and children from house, and

home, and country, to wander in a strange land, unprotected and

unprovided for, while their husbands and fathers are retained in

dungeons, is an action unknown in the annals of history, except in

this single instance, in the nineteenth century, when it has

actually transpired in a republican State, where the Constitution

guarantees to every man the protection of life, liberty and

property, and the right of trial by jury.

"These, sir, are outrages which would put monarchy to the

blush, and from which the most despotic tyrants of the dark ages

would turn away with shame and disgust. In these proceedings, sir,

Missouri has enrolled her name on the list of immortal fame. Her

transactions will be handed down the stream of time to the latest

posterity, who will read with wonder and astonishment the history

of proceedings which without a parallel in the annals of time.

"Why should the authorities of the State strain at a gnat and

swallow a camel?

"Why be so strictly legal as to compel me to pass through all

the forms of a slow and pretended legal prosecution (previous to my

enlargement), out of a pretense of respect to the laws of the

State, which have been openly trampled upon and disregarded towards

us from first to last?

"Why not include me in the general wholesale banishment of our

society, that I may support my family, which are now reduced to

beggary in a land of strangers?

"But, sir, when the authorities of the State shall redress all

these wrongs, shall punish the guilty according to law, and shall

restore my family and friends to all our rights, and shall pay all

the damages which we, as a people, have sustained, then I shall

believe them sincere in their professed zeal for law and justice;

_then_ shall I be convinced that I can have a fair trial in

the State.

"But until _then_ I hereby solemnly protest against being

tried in this State, with the full and conscientious conviction

that I have no just grounds to expect a fair and impartial trial.

"I therefore, most sincerely pray your honor, and all the

authorities in the State, to either banish me without further

persecution, or I freely consent to a trial before the Judiciary of

the United States.

"With sentiments of consideration and due respect, I have the

honor to subscribe myself,

"Your prisoner,

"P. P. PRATT."

CHAPTER XXXI.

------------------------

The Prison:--Fare:--Conduct of the Guards:--A Strange

Couple:--My Wife Visits the Prison:--Fasting and Prayer:--An

Important Question:--Vision:--A Ministering Spirit:--The

Question Answered:--Visit from Judge King:--Change of Venue:--

Handcuffs:--Departure from the Prison:--Journey:--Arrival in

Columbia, Boone County:--Enter Another Prison:--Treatment:--Arrival of

Friends:--News from my Family:--Impressions of the Spirit:--Plan and

Preparations for Escape:--Fourth of July Celebration:--Flag:--Public

Dinner:--Now's the Day:--Our Friends take Leave:--Rendezvous.

The four following chapters are extracted from the _Millennial

Star_, published in Liverpool, England, Numbers 9, 10 and 11,

Vol. VIII. I give them in full, with some little revision,

although they contain a repetition of some of the things

recorded in the foregoing chapters:

At the end of this extraordinary mock trial or inquisition,

which lasted over two weeks, I was unchained from Joseph and Hyrum

Smith, and the others, and being separated from them, was conducted

to a gloomy, dark, cold and filthy dungeon in Richmond, Ray County,

where I was doomed to spend the winter and spring, and await a

further trial; while they shared a similar fate in a place called

Liberty, in Clay County.

When I first entered the dungeon there were some twenty men,

mostly heads of families, who had been torn from their families in

those awful times, and thrust into prison. It was not only crowded

to suffocation, without a chair, stool, bench, bed, furniture or

window light, but just then completely filled with smoke by a fire

which was lighted in a stove without a pipe, or any conductor for

the smoke to pass out, except at the crevices between the timbers,

where the winter storm was passing in. When my guard conducted me

to the door of this miserable cell it grated on its huge hinges and

opened like the pit yawning to receive me; a volume of thick smoke

issued forth and seemed to forbid my entrance; but, urged in my

rear by bayonets and loaded pistols in the hands of savage beings,

I endeavored to enter, but was forced to retreat again outside of

the door to breathe for a moment the free air. At this instant

several pistols were cocked and presented at my head and breast,

with terrible threats and oaths of instant death if I did not go in

again. I told them to fire as soon as they pleased, for I must

breathe a moment or die in the attempt. After standing a few

moments, I again entered the prison, and threw myself down, my face

to the floor, to avoid the smoke. Here I remained for some time,

partly in a state of insensibility; my heart sickened within me,

and a deathlike feeling came over me, from which I did not wholly

recover for several days.

I arose, however, as soon as I was able, and began to speak to

and recognize my fellow prisoners--most of whom were my neighbors

and acquaintances. The door was now locked, bolted and barred, and

several guards placed before it. The fire died away, and the smoke

gradually cleared away from the dungeon; but the floor formed a

hard and cold winter lodging.

In a few days all those in our prison, except five, were

released on bail, and themselves and bail banished from the State,

with the rest of the Society; thus compelling them to forfeit their

bail bonds, which amounted in all to many thousand dollars. The

five who remained were Morris Phelps, Darwin Chase, Norman Shearer,

Luman Gibbs and myself. Two of these were finally dismissed--being

boys scarcely out of their teens. But another was soon added by the

name of King Follett.

This made our final number four. One of this number, viz.: Luman

Gibbs, denied the faith and turned a traitor to the others;

becoming their most inveterate enemy. This was in order to save his

life and gain his liberty. However, he was still kept in prison as

a spy upon us, lest it should be said that it was wholly a

religious persecution; but he was treated very well, and went out

to dine with the Sheriff or others, or to spend a day with his wife

whenever it pleased him to do so. Our food was the most unwholesome

kind, and scant at that; consisting of bones remnants of meat,

coarse corn bread, and sometimes a little coffee. We generally

partook of our meals in a standing position, using our fingers

instead of knives, forks or plates. A tin cup served us for our

coffee. We were guarded very strictly, both by night and day, by

two or three men with loaded pistols.

These consisted of the most unprincipled, profligate villains that

could be found anywhere. They would swear, drink, gamble, and sing the

most obscene and disgusting songs. They would boast of shooting the

_Mormons_; mobbing and plundering them; committing rapes, etc. They

would also insult every female slave or black woman who might happen

to come within hearing, and then boast of their criminal connections

with them. The blasphemy; the noisy grumbling; the blackguard chit

chat; doleful lullaby and vulgar songs of these guards grating daily

upon our ears, seemed like the howls and wailings of the damned, or

like wandering spirits and demons hovering around to torment us. What

greatly added to our affliction, as if to complete our hell, the old

apostate, Gibbs, became very quarrelsome and noisy--not only to us,

but with his wife also, who sometimes came into the prison to spend a

few days with him. He was a hard faced, ill formed man, of about fifty

years of age; full of jealousy, extremely selfish, very weak minded,

and withal, a little love cracked; and, I may say, that he seemed not

to possess one redeeming quality.

His wife was about the same age, and withal, a coarse, tall,

masculine looking woman, and one of whom he had no reason to

complain or be jealous. True, she did not love him for no female

could possibly do that; but then no one else would love her, nor

was she disposed to court their affections. However, he was jealous

of her, and, therefore, abused her; and this kept a constant and

noisy strife and wrangling between them whenever she was present.

Whole nights were spent in this way, during which no one in or

about the prison slept. After a quarrel of some two or three days

and nights between them, he would attempt to regain her love, and a

conversation like the following would ensue. Luman, drawing down

his face and drawling his words with a loud and doleful tone,

commenced as follows:

"Now, Phila, won't you love me? Come; here's my watch, and

here's all the money I've got!" Then turning to us, he would

exclaim: "Boys, I'll tell you all about it; the fact is, she never

did love me; she only married me out of pity--we being members of

the Baptist church together in Vermont." Then again addressing his

wife: "Come now, Phila; won't you love me? O, that I had been born

a rich man! I would give you a dollar a minute to love me."

Phila would then laugh and call him "a silly old fool."

Whereupon he would turn away in a rage, and exclaim: "Go along

away, you -----, you! Nobody wants your love, no how!"

On one occasion they had quarrelled and kept us awake all night,

and just at break of day we heard a noise like a scuffle and a

slamming against the wall; next followed a woman's voice, half in

laugh and in exultation:--"Te-he-he-he, Luman, what's the matter?

What's the matter, Luman?" Then a pause, and afterwards a man's

voice in a grum, sorry, and rather a whining tone was heard at a

distance from the bed, exclaiming: "Now, I swan, Phila, that's tu

bad."

The truth of the matter was this: She had braced her back

against the wall, and with both her feet placed against his body,

had kicked him out of bed, and landed him upon the opposite side of

the room.

Such scenes as these and all the folly of the guards served to

enhance the misery of imprisonment, and to render our sufferings

complete. We tried to keep them quiet, but tried in vain. Neither

threats nor persuasion, coaxing nor reasoning had any influence

over them. This miserable specimen of humanity was a peculiar

favorite of the Sheriff and guards, and other citizens of Richmond.

He was considered by them as the only honest, good, deserving man

in the prison. They often expressed pity for him, and wished he was

at liberty. He, in turn, watched our movements closely, and was

ready to betray us on the least show, on our part, of any meditated

plan of escape.

Under these painful circumstances we spent a long and dreary

winter. Our whole community, who were not in prison, were forced

out of the State, with the loss of homes, property, and many lives.

They fled thousands to Illinois.

My wife visited me several times in prison; but at length the

period expired that the State authorities had stipulated for every

Mormon to be gone, and my wife and children, and a few others who

remained behind, were obliged to fly or be exterminated, as bands

of armed men were roaming amid the deserted settlement, robbing,

plundering, destroying property and threatening all who remained.

My fellow prisoners, who had been separated from me and sent to

prison at Liberty, had also effected their escape, and had fled to

Illinois to join their families. In short, all were gone, except

King Follett, Horns Phelps and myself, and the old apostate, who

was left to torment us.

Alone in a State which was wholly governed by an open banditti

of murderers and robbers, we seemed abandoned to our fate, and

doomed to suffer that full weight of vengeance and fury which

seemed in reserve an entire people; but that people were now beyond

their reach; all the fury of the storm, therefore, seemed now to

beat upon our heads. We were daily threatened with assassination,

without the form of a trial; and repeatedly told that we never

should escape alive from the State. Our guards were doubly

vigilant, while the Sheriff took every possible precaution. Luman,

the apostate, was also in constant watchfulness, and busy in

forming plans for escape; then accusing us and pretending to reveal

wonderful things to our keepers in regard to our plans; which, in

fact, only existed in his lying brain. This increased the severity

of our confinement, and seemed to preclude the possibility of

escape.

To be tried without friends or witnesses, or even with them, by

a set of "Gadianton robbers" and murderers, who could drive out and

murder women and children, was but to be condemned and executed; to

tarry there and drag out a miserable life, while our wives and

children wandered abroad in a land of strangers, without the

protection of husbands and fathers, was worse than to die ten

thousand deaths.

Under these circumstances, and half way between hope and

despair, I spent several days in fasting and prayer, during which

one deep and all absorbing inquiry, one only thought, seemed to

hold possession of my mind. It seemed to me that if there was a God

in Heaven who ever spake to man on earth I would know from him the

truth of this one question. It was not how long shall I suffer; it

was not when or by what means I should be delivered; but it was

simply this: Shall I ever, at any time, however distant it may be,

or whatever I may suffer first; shall I ever be free again in this

life, and enjoy the society of my dear wife and children, and walk

abroad at liberty, dwell in society and preach the gospel, as I

have done in bygone years?

Let me be sure of this and I care not what I suffer. To

circumnavigate the globe, to traverse the deserts of Arabia, to

wander amid the wild scenes of the Rocky Mountains to accomplish so

desirable an object, would seem like a mere trifle if I could only

be sure at last. After some days of prayer and fasting, and seeking

the Lord on the subject, I retired to my bed in my lonely chamber

at an early hour, and while the other prisoners and the guard were

chatting and beguiling the lonesome hours in the upper apartment of

the prison, I lay in silence, seeking and expecting an answer to my

prayer, when suddenly I seemed carried away in the spirit, and no

longer sensible to outward objects with which I was surrounded. A

heaven of peace and calmness pervaded my bosom; a personage from

the world of spirits stood before me with a smile of compassion in

every look, and pity mingled with the tenderest love and sympathy

in every expression of the countenance. A soft hand seemed placed

within my own, and a glowing cheek was laid in tenderness and

warmth upon mine. A well known voice saluted me, which I readily

recognized as that of the wife of my youth, who had for near two

years been sweetly sleeping where the wicked cease from troubling

and the weary are at rest. I was made to realize that she was sent

to commune with me, and answer my question.

Knowing this, I said to her in a most earnest and inquiring

tone: Shall I ever be at liberty again in this life and enjoy the

society of my family and the Saints, and preach the gospel as I

have done? She answered definitely and unhesitatingly: "YES!" I

then recollected that I had agreed to be satisfied with the

knowledge of _that one_ fact, but now I wanted more.

Said I: Can you tell me how, or by what means, or when I shall

escape? She replied: "THAT THING IS NOT MADE KNOWN TO ME YET." I

instantly felt that I had gone beyond my agreement and my faith in

asking this last question, and that I must be contented at present

with the answer to the first.

Her gentle spirit then saluted me and withdrew. I came to

myself. The doleful noise of the guards, and the wrangling and

angry words of the old apostate again grated on my ears, but Heaven

and hope were in my soul.

Next morning I related the whole circumstance of my vision to my

two fellow prisoners, who rejoiced exceedingly. This may seem to

some like an idle dream, or a romance of the imagination; but to me

it was, and always will be, a reality, both as it regards what I

then experienced and the fulfilment afterwards.

In order to show some pretense of respect for some of the forms

of law, Judge Austin A. King now entered our prison and took our

testimony, preparatory to a change of venue. I shall never forget

this interview. There stood our Judge, face to face with those who,

by his cruelty and injustice, had lived a cold half year in a

dungeon. He refused to look us in the eye; hung his head and looked

like a culprit before his betters about to receive his doom. The

looks of guilt and misery portrayed in his countenance during that

brief interview bespoke more of misery than we had suffered during

our confinement. I actually pitied him in my heart. With an

extraordinary effort and a voice scarcely audible, he administered

the oaths and withdrew.

By means of this change we were finally to be removed one

hundred miles down the country, and confined in the prison at

Columbia, Boone County, to await a final trial.

A long, dreary winter and spring had now passed away, and the

time drew near for our removal. We looked forward to the change

with some degree of hope and expectation, for it could not be for

the worse, and might, perhaps, be for the better. At any rate, the

journey would give us a chance to leave our dark and loathsome

dungeon, and look upon the light of day, the beauties of nature,

and to breathe the untainted air.

The morning of the departure at length arrived. Mr. Brown, the

Sheriff, entered our prison with a fierce and savage look, and,

bidding us hold out our hands, coupled us together in pairs, with

irons locked on our wrists, and marched us out; and, amid a throng

of people, placed us in a carriage. Accompanied with four other

guards on horseback, with loaded pistols, we bid farewell to

Richmond.

It was a pleasant morning in early summer, when all the

freshness and beauty of spring seemed blended in rich profusion,

with the productions peculiar to the season as it advanced towards

maturity. The leaves on the trees were full grown, and the forest

presented a freshness of beauty and loveliness which reminded me of

Paradise. The plains were covered with a coat of green, and the

wild flowers of the prairie, blooming in all their variety, sent

forth a perfume which mingled with every zephyr, and wafted sweet

odors on every breeze. To prisoners who had breathed only a tainted

air for half a year the very ground itself seemed to send forth a

sweetness which was plainly perceptible to the senses. We enjoyed

our ride through that delightful country more than any being could

who had never been confined for weary months in a dreary dungeon.

The day at length closed; and we were taken into a house and

stretched upon our backs on the floor, all fastened together with

wrist and ankle irons in such a manner that we could not turn nor

change our position. The doors and windows were then made fast, and

the sentinels on duty guarded us by turns until morning. This was

our night's rest after forty miles travel.

The next day proved extremely rainy, with heavy thunder; but

still we travelled. In the course of the day we came to a stream

which was swollen by the rains to that degree that we had to swim

over it and stem a swift current. This hindered us for some

hours--in crossing over with horses, wagons, baggage, etc.; and as

all of us were engaged in this business, our chains were taken off

for the time.

When we had crossed over, put on our clothes, and replaced the

baggage, saddles, arms, etc., ready for a start, it was night, and

we were very weary and hungry, having had no refreshments during

the day. The rain was also pouring in torrents, and the night

setting in extremely dark. Four miles of wild country, partly

covered with forests and underwoods, still lay between us and the

nearest house. Through the hurry of the moment, or for some other

reason, they neglected to replace our irons, and our limbs were

free. The carriage drove through a thick forest during the extreme

darkness, and was several times on the eve of upsetting. This

caused us to assume a position for saving ourselves by rising upon

our feet, ready to jump out in case of the carriage upsetting.

The Sheriff and guards seeing this, rode close on each side,

and, cocking their pistols, swore they would shoot us dead if we

attempted to leave the carriage, and that if it upset they would

shoot us anyhow, for fear we might attempt to escape.

After two days more of rain, hail and travel, we arrived at

Columbia, where we were immediately thrust into a gloomy dungeon

filled with darkness, filth and cobwebs; the naked floor was our

lodging. We had travelled hard, through rain and fatigue, for

several days, and on the last day had rode till sundown without

refreshment. We were extremely hungry and weary, but received no

refreshment, not even a drink of water, till late in the evening,

when our new keeper, Mr. John Scott, visited us with some

buttermilk and bread; but we were now too much exhausted and too

low spirited to eat. We thanked him for his kindness, and sank down

exhausted on the floor, where we rested as well as we could till

morning. We saw no more of Sheriff Brown or his guards, and will

now take final leave of them, merely observing that they made it a

point to insult every black woman they met on the way, frequently

turning aside with them into the woods and fields. On returning to

the company they would boast and glory in their criminal

intercourse with them.

After spending one night in our new dungeon we were called on by

the Sheriff to come up into a more comfortable apartment, and were

treated with some degree of humanity. We were no longer troubled

with guards, and even Luman and Phila behaved much better. We had

been in our new situation something like a month, when we were

visited by some friends from Illinois, from whom we learned the

fate of our families and friends.

The wife of Mr. Phelps rode one hundred and sixty miles on

horseback, accompanied by her brother, a young man named Clark.

They arrived in Columbia and paid us a visit in prison about the

1st of July. My brother Orson also arrived on horseback about the

same time. With friends we had a good visit for some days--they

being permitted to stay in the prison with us. They also brought a

letter from my wife, by which I learned that she made her escape

from Far West to Quincy, Illinois, with her children and some of

her goods, by the aid of Mr. David Rogers, of New York. During this

journey they were much exposed to hardships and trouble, having to

camp by the way, in company with other women and children who were

in a like condition. On crossing a swollen stream, Mrs. Pratt had

left the carriage to cross on a foot bridge, leaving the children

to ride through it. She had just crossed over and turned to look

back, to see whether the carriage came through in safety, when she

discovered a little girl's bonnet floating down the stream, and, on

examination, as the carriage rose the bank, her daughter, a girl of

six years old, was missing from the carriage. The next moment she

saw her floating down the swift current. She gave the alarm to Mr.

Rogers, the driver, who instantly dropped the reins and sprang

after her into the stream. At this instant the horses, being high

spirited and active, began to run, and would probably have dashed

themselves and the carriage, goods, and the other child to pieces

but for the timely interference of a large prong of a tree, which

caught the carriage with such a strong hold that all was brought to

a stand. In the meantime Mr. Rogers succeeded in rescuing the child

and bringing her safe to shore.

She had, as she stated, pitched head foremost out of the

carriage into the water. One of the wheels ran over her, and

crushed her fast into the mud at the bottom of the stream; but as

it rolled over she caught the spokes with her hands, and by this

means the same weight that crushed her down brought her to the

surface and saved her life. On examination the marks of the wheel

were distinctly seen on both her thighs, which were seriously

injured and nearly broken.

After a wearisome journey and various toils and dangers, they at

length arrived at Quincy, Illinois, where Mrs. Pratt rented a small

house, and by the sale of a few books, with the use of her two

cows, which some of the brethren had brought from Missouri for her,

she was making shift to live from day to day. She still expressed

some faint hopes of seeing her husband again in a land of liberty,

although at present there was little ground to hope, and she was

sometimes nearly in despair.

Such was the news brought us by the arrival of our friends in

the prison at Columbia on the 1st of July, 1839, after eight

months of weary confinement. Previous to their arrival the Lord had

shown me in a vision the night the manner and means of escape. And,

like Pharaoh's dream, the thing had been doubled--that is shown to

me on two occasions in the same manner.

Mrs. Phelps had the same thing shown to her in a vision previous

to her arrival; my brother, Orson Pratt, also came to us with a

firm impression that we were about to be delivered. He even

predicted that we should go to Illinois, when he should return

there. As we sat pondering upon these things, and comparing our

visions and manifestations of the spirit on this subject, my

brother Orson opened the Book of Mormon, when the first sentence

that caught his eye was the words of Ammon to King Lamoni: "Behold,

my brother and my brethren are in prison, in the land of Middoni,

and I go to deliver them!" This was indeed a similar instance to

ours. Ammon, on that occasion had an own brother in prison, and also

brethren in the ministry, and did deliver them. Our case was

exactly similar, not in Middoni, but in Missouri. And, what was

still more strange, in a book of six hundred pages, this was the

only sentence which would have fitted our case.

He now began in earnest to make arrangements for our escape. If

there had been no strong bolts and bars to overcome, still there

was one serious obstacle which a miracle alone could immediately

remove, which was this: I was then very sick and scarcely able to

stand on my feet, or to go up and down from the upper room, where

we were in the day time, to the dungeon where we slept.

It was the second of July, and our friends could only make an

excuse for staying to spend the great national holiday with us (the

4th) before they must leave or excite the suspicions and ill will

of the people; and, as that day had been a lucky one for our

fathers and our nation, we had determined on that time as the

proper one to bid farewell to bondage and gain our liberty. In

short, we had determined to make that notable day a jubilee to us,

or perish in the attempt. We, therefore, prayed earnestly to the

Lord, that if he had determined to favor our plan, he would heal

and strengthen me, and give us all courage to act well our part.

Through the ministration of the ordinance appointed for healing, I

was instantly healed, and from that moment began to feel as strong

and fearless as a lion.

Our plan was this: My brother, Orson Pratt, was to wait on the

Judge and Attorney, and obtain various papers and arrangements for

summoning witnesses from Illinois to attend our trial, which had

just been adjourned for some months to come. He was also to procure

an order from the court to take affidavits in Illinois, in case the

witnesses should object to come to the state from which they had

been banished, in order to attend rite trials.

These active preparations on our part to defend our case,

together with engaging a lawyer or two, and paying a part of their

fees beforehand, served as a sufficient blindfold to cover our real

intentions. This done, and the papers all prepared in the hands of

my brother, he and Mrs. Phelps and her brother were to stay with us

until the 4th, and after celebrating the day with a dinner in the

prison (which we obtained leave to do), he and the young Mr. Clark

were to take leave with their horses, and also with the horse and

saddle on which Mrs. Phelps had ridden, on pretence of taking him

home with them to Illinois, while she stayed with her husband a few

weeks in the prison; in the meantime engaging her board in the

family of the keeper, who occupied part of the building in

connection with the prison.

This measure, on the part of Mrs. Phelps, served the double

purpose of lulling them into serenity, and also of furnishing a

third horse; as there were three of us. These three horses were to

be stationed in a thicket, or forest, about half a mile from the

prison, and there the two friends were to await, in readiness for

us to mount, should we be so fortunate as to reach the thicket

alive.

Sundown, on the evening of the fourth, was the moment agreed

upon, and if we did not then appear they were to give us up for

lost, and make the best of their way to Illinois and inform our

friends that we had gone to Paradise in attempting to come to them.

The reason for appointing this hour was this: Our door would be

opened at sundown to hand in our supper, and we must then make the

attempt as our only chance; for it was customary to lock us up in

the lower dungeon as soon as the shades of evening began to appear.

This plan all matured, and the arrangements completed with the

court and the lawyers, the fourth of July dawned upon us with hope

and expectation. While the town and nation were alive with the

bustle of preparation for the celebration of the American Jubilee,

and while guns were firing and music sounding without, our prison

presented a scene of scarcely less life and cheerfulness; for we

were also preparing to do proper honors to the day. We had

prevailed on the keeper to furnish us with a long pole, on which to

suspend a flag, and also some red stripes of cloth. We then tore a

shirt in pieces, and took the body of it for the groundwork of a

flag, forming with the red stripes of cloth an eagle and the word

"_Liberty_," in large letters. This rude flag of red and

white was suspended on the pole from the prison window, directly in

front of the public square and court house, and composed one of the

greatest attractions of the day. Hundreds of the people from the

country, as well as villagers who were there at the celebration,

would come up and stare at the flag, and reading the motto, would

go swearing or laughing away, exclaiming, "Liberty! Liberty! What

have the Mormons to do with celebrating _liberty_ in a damned old

prison?"

In the meantime active preparations were in progress for our

public dinner; and with the contributions of our friends who were

to partake with us, and a portion served from the public table of

the citizens of the town, we had a plentiful supply. And, as we

considered it was to be a day of release, we partook of our feast

with much cheer, and with thankful as well as social feelings,

which I think have been seldom if ever surpassed. O ye sons of

Columbia, at home and abroad! Think back to the fourth of July,

1839; call to mind your feast in honor of national freedom, and ask

yourselves the question, whether in all your pomp and show of joy

and social glee, you felt anything compared with _our_ feelings,

or the interest excited during that feast.

Eight months and four days we had been deprived of the sweets of

that liberty which a whole nation was then engaged in celebrating;

and we felt that:

Now's the day, and now's the hour,

To trample on a tyrant's power;

To burst at once the prison's gloom,

Or find a martyr'd hero's tomb.

The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and Travels · 第 57 / 61 章

Next morning Gen. Lucas demanded the Caldwell militia to give up