The killing of Bennett was a threat shock to all our people, as no one
believed the Mormons would carry things so far. The Bennetts had gone
early on the lake, returning before noon. While attending to their work
in their workhouse two Mormon men stepped in, demanding the tax money.
Bennett answered, "I want to see the king before I pay it." The men went
away. The Bennetts stepped out to go to their dwelling, when seven
bullets were fired at once into the body of Thomas Bennett. He dropped
dead instantly. The brother ran toward his house with his hand up to his
head. Bullets came thick and fast around him. He was shot through the
hand, shattering all his fingers on one hand. There were many shots
entered the windows. Mrs. Bennett to save her life had to go into the
cellar.
The body of Bennett was put into his own boat with all the fish there
was in the fish house, which amounted to considerable money, and taking
the wounded brother with them to the harbor. There the doctor dressed
his wound. Strang always declared he never gave orders to have Bennett
killed or to be brought "dead or alive." Until the killing of Bennett we
could not believe the Mormons meant to do us bodily harm. Now all was
changed. There was no more open friendship between Mormons and Gentiles
as before. They avoided us, passing us without speaking with their heads
bent and eyes looking to the ground. They seemed a sad and silent
people.
Not long after Bennett's death I saw the king coming to our house. The
very name of Strang struck a terror to my heart. I felt so afraid of
them all now. He was almost to the door, dressed in his black suit and
high hat, I always recognized him from the rest. I said to mother, "Oh,
where shall I go, I am so afraid of Strang?" Mother's bedstead was a
high, old-fashioned one with white curtains about it. I ran and had just
time to seat myself under it, and tried hard to pull the curtains around
me, but my feet were left sticking out from under the curtain.