The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-07-05

William Richards, in the Garth
age Jail.
On Friday morning last, just before
sunrise, our citizens were aroused from
their slumbers, by the ringing of the bells
Of the city. The cause Of the commo-
ton, was the astounding news that had
Just come down from Hancock, viz, of
the attempt on the part Of the Mormons
to rescue Joe Smith from the Jail in Car
thage and of the killing of Joe Smith,
Hiram Smith, and Joe's secretary, Will
liam Richards, and Of the great peril Of
Governor Ford, and the handful Of troops
now in Nauvoo An immense crowd had
collected at the court house, with DIR. Raj
ston in the chair. VIM. II. Roosevelt,
Esq, being present, was called upon TO
give statement of recent occurrences in
Hancock The gentleman seemed 10 be
IahorIng under great excitement, but gave
a tolerably connected account OF the events
Of the last few days in Carthage and vici-
nifty.
1t appears tina, Joe Smith, Hiram
Smith, and number Of the other Nor
mon leaders, were in jail at Carthage,
confined on certain offences against the
the laws Of the State. The "Carthage
Greys," volunteer company, were pla-
ced as a guard around the Jail. About 6
o clock, last evening, an attempt was
made by the Mormons on the outside to
rescue the Mormon prisoners from the
custody of the guard. A youth, about o
years of age, "a Mormon began the fray,
by shooting the sentinel at the door,
woundng him severely in the shoulder
simultaneously with this attempt, the
Mormons on the inside of the JAIL inclu-
ding the Smiths, presented pistols through
the windows and doors of the Jail, and fl
red upon the guard without, wounding, it
is supposed, MORALLY, four Of the old cit
liens of Hancock. 1t is unnecessary to
say that this blood-thirsty attempt, on the
part of the Mormons, was the signal for
certain and sure vengeance. The lives
of the two Smiths, and Richards, were
quickly taken, and we believe no Others !!
Carthage was filed with Mormons-pre-
vious to the ailray, the Mormons appear
ed to be collecting around the Jail, it is
now supposed, for the purpose of atiemp-
ting the rescue of their leader.
G. Il. M. Davis, Esq, of Alton, came
down this morning from Nauvoo. The
news of the killing of Smith had not
reached Nauvoo when he left Governor
Ford was in Nauvoo yesterday, and was
to camp six miles out last night. Col.
Singleton was in command al Nauvoo,
with 100 troops. Great fears are enter
tanned for their safety, If the Mormons
rose upon him after hearing of the death
of the Prophet.
IL is also feared that both Carthage and
Warsaw have been burned by the Nor
mons, as threats of that kind have been
made. The women and children in the
latter place have been taken to places of
salely--a portion of them came down on
the Boreas this morning.
The German Guards" and "Riile
Company are now assembling, as well
as a portion of the militia, for the purpose
of marching to the scene of action. The
Boreas had been chartered to take them
up. Our city has the appearance OF a
camp.
The above was issued from this office in an OK
ira on Monday evening. The accounts received
since then, it is due to state, confirm little OF the
above intelligence except the fact of the death OF
the Smiths and Richards in the Carthage jail
The statement appears to be entirely one-s'ded.
Another account states that Smith was killed by
a company of a dozen or so of man, with faces
painted black, who went up from Warsaw. But
this we have not seen confirmed. The most Gre
dible.account we have seen is that given in the
st. Louis Gazette of Friday, which says that Oh
the evening Of the g6lh, not long after Smith had
given himself up, a party of about two hundred
men surrounded the Carthage Jail and demanded
admittancc. The guard Consisting Of but seven
men armed) refused. The guard were then over
powered, and, when the mob were about to enter
the prison, Smith appeared in the window above
and it was probably supposed intended to leap
out. While in this position, shot was fired at
him; he then leaped, and before he reached the
ground he was pierced by three or four balls
more. Hiram Smith and Richards were shot
in prison--Bu, this account may be as far from
The truth as either of the others. 1t is likely we
may shortly have something in an authentic shape
from Gov. Ford. l,appears, however, settled that
there were no Mormons at Carthage when Smith
was killed, and there was no attempt made at
rescue. And, consequently, whatever may have
been the minor circumstances attending the death
or Smith, /, was little less than mos, foul murder,
for which every ono of the offenders, no matter