History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 922
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<​April 16​> were never brought to an account for their barbarous proceedings, but were winked at, and encouraged, by those in authority. We thought that it was necessary for us, inasmuch as we loved our lives; and did not wish to die by the hand of murderers and assassins; and inasmuch as we loved our families and friends, to deliver ourselves from our enemies, and from that land of tyranny and oppression, and again take our stand among a people [HC 3:320] in whose bosoms dwell those feelings of republicanism and liberty which gave rise to our nation:— Feelings which the Inhabitants of the State of were strangers to— Accordingly we took the advantage of the situation of our guard and took our departure, and that night we traveled a considerable distance— [HC 3:321]
17 April 1839 • Wednesday
<​17​> Wednesday 17. we prosecuted our journey towards , keeping off from the main road, as much as possible. which impeded our progress.
18 April 1839 • Thursday
<​18 and [Daniel] Shearer left .​> Thursday 18. This morning went into the Committee Room, and told the Committee to wind up their affairs, and be off, or their lives would be taken. <​​> had gone over the on business. Elders and Shearer, were at . Twelve men went to ’s with Loaded Rifles to shoot him. They broke Seventeen Clocks into match wood. They broke tables, smashed in the windows, while (the Judge) looked on and laughed. One Whitaker threw Iron Pots at , one of which hit him on the Shoulder, at which Whitaker jumped and laughed like a mad man. The mob shot down cows while the Girls were milking them, The mob— threatened to send the Committee “to hell, jumping”. and put day light through them”
<​ was over the river​>
The same day, previous to the breaking of the Clocks some of the same company met on the public square in , and asked him if he was a damd Mormon? who replied— “I am a Mormon, “Well God dam you we’ll Blow your Brains out, your God dam Mormon,” and tried to ride over him with their horses, this was in presence of , and others of the Committee.
The brethren gathered up what they could and left in one hour— and the mob staid until they left, then plundered thousands of dollars worth of property which had been left by the brothers and Sisters to help the poor to remove— One mobber rode up and finding no convenient place [HC 3:322] to fasten his horse, shot a cow that was standing near, and while the poor animal was yet struggling in death, he cut a strip of her hide from her nose to the tip of her tail which he tied round a stump, to which he fastened his halter— during the commotion this day a great portion of the records of the Committee, accounts, history &c were destroyed or lost, so that but few definite items can be registered in their place— When the Saints commenced removing from , they shipped as many families and goods as possible at to go down the &c to , Illinois. This mission was in charge of Elders and , who were appointed by the Committee—
I continued on my journey with my Brethren towards .
Elder appropriated his money to remove the poor from .
The brethren and Sisters who had arrived in were beginning to pen their sufferings and losses in . The statement of Sister [Amanda Barnes] Smith written by her own hand, I will here insert—
“To whom this may Come I do hereby certify that my husband in company with several other families was moving from to . We came to , whilst we were [p. 922]
April 16 were never brought to an account for their barbarous proceedings, but were winked at, and encouraged, by those in authority. We thought that it was necessary for us, inasmuch as we loved our lives; and did not wish to die by the hand of murderers and assassins; and inasmuch as we loved our families and friends, to deliver ourselves from our enemies, and from that land of tyranny and oppression, and again take our stand among a people [HC 3:320] in whose bosoms dwell those feelings of republicanism and liberty which gave rise to our nation:— Feelings which the Inhabitants of the State of were strangers to— Accordingly we took the advantage of the situation of our guard and took our departure, and that night we traveled a considerable distance— [HC 3:321]
17 April 1839 • Wednesday
17 Wednesday 17. we prosecuted our journey towards , keeping off from the main road, as much as possible. which impeded our progress.
18 April 1839 • Thursday
18 and Daniel Shearer left . Thursday 18. This morning went into the Committee Room, and told the Committee to wind up their affairs, and be off, or their lives would be taken. had gone over the on business. Elders and Shearer, were at . Twelve men went to ’s with Loaded Rifles to shoot him. They broke Seventeen Clocks into match wood. They broke tables, smashed in the windows, while (the Judge) looked on and laughed. One Whitaker threw Iron Pots at , one of which hit him on the Shoulder, at which Whitaker jumped and laughed like a mad man. The mob shot down cows while the Girls were milking them, The mob— threatened to send the Committee “to hell, jumping”. and put day light through them”
was over the river
The same day, previous to the breaking of the Clocks some of the same company met on the public square in , and asked him if he was a damd Mormon? who replied— “I am a Mormon, “Well God dam you we’ll Blow your Brains out, your God dam Mormon,” and tried to ride over him with their horses, this was in presence of , and others of the Committee.
The brethren gathered up what they could and left in one hour— and the mob staid until they left, then plundered thousands of dollars worth of property which had been left by the brothers and Sisters to help the poor to remove— One mobber rode up and finding no convenient place [HC 3:322] to fasten his horse, shot a cow that was standing near, and while the poor animal was yet struggling in death, he cut a strip of her hide from her nose to the tip of her tail which he tied round a stump, to which he fastened his halter— during the commotion this day a great portion of the records of the Committee, accounts, history &c were destroyed or lost, so that but few definite items can be registered in their place— When the Saints commenced removing from , they shipped as many families and goods as possible at — to go down the &c to , Illinois. This mission was in charge of Elders and , who were appointed by the Committee—
I continued on my journey with my Brethren towards .
Elder appropriated his money to remove the poor from .
The brethren and Sisters who had arrived in were beginning to pen their sufferings and losses in . The statement of Sister [Amanda Barnes] Smith written by her own hand, I will here insert—
“To whom this may Come I do hereby certify that my husband in company with several other families was moving from to . We came to , whilst we were [p. 922]
Page 922