Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-10-04

Progress or the war against the Norm ous.
DxpLoRABLE SrArE OF AFFAIRS = Mob Luw
Triumphant THE accounts which come to
us from the seat ot destruction in Illinois show
deplorable condition of things, IN utter disre.
gard for law, aud spirit Of persecution dis.
graceful to the age. The Anti. Mormcns, with
a relentlessness becoming 6ends, nre bent upon
carrying out their proposed design OF burning
the Mormons out ofthe county, and as natural
consequence, lives have been sacrificed in the
attempt. In this war Of exterminaiion they
include not only the Mormons, but all who are
suspected of favoring the Mormon cause, or OF
harboring Mormons about them. Numbers o'
people, especialay woman and children, are
leaving the country as fast as they can get
away, their b. ggage and household goods strew
ed along the bank of the river. Thus far the
Nor mons have fled ia every instance, making
little or no resistance hut they cannot flee
much further, and they must either stand and
fight. shortly, or leave the county. One or two
conflicts have already occurred, and lives been
sacrificed. A correspondent Of the st. Louis
Republican writes as follows:
Warsaw, Saturday morning. Sept. II.
The reports vary very much as to the mum.
ber Of houses burned. A; Quincy the number
was stated at from 50 TO 60, but think this a
large estimate.
At Quincy it was reported that among the
buildings burned was mill, and that in conflict
between the parties one or two Mormons were
killed, and three or tour wounded.
Mr.. Head, the clerk of Hancock county, has
fed from Carthage, the coanty seat, with the
records and papers, to Quincy I was ,e'd tha,
the clerk Of Brown county had a,ss gone To
Quincy, bat of this am not certain. A nes.
scnger was despatched to Gov. Ford, at Spring.
field. on Sunday last
Warsaw is under considerable excitement;
and at present is vigilantly guarded by armed
men.
II is said that on Sunday or Monday three
men entered Carthage and cnqured for Mr..
Backenstos, who is a Mormon, and very obnox-
ions to the Anti. Mormons. Yesterday Mr.
Franklin A Worrel, a merchant of Carthage,
and Lieutenant in the Castage Grays, was out,
with about IL or Ia other persons. when they
came up with Backenstos and number of Nor.
mons, at place called prentice's Shamy. The
Mormons beckoned to Worrcl and his pa rty tc
keep away, but they disregardcd ii. On thcrr,ap.
proach, two guns were fired. A ball from one
entered WIS BREAST killing him almost Instant.
may suppose, tins has added fuel TO the flames
and this morning find majority of thee
here preparing to go out, and nothing is talked
Of but general battle, and the driving of the
Mormons from the county
1t is reported here, and, credited, that ths
same process of burning out the Mormons ha
been commenced in the upper part of this coun
ty. Ii is said that they have commenced burn
ing the Mormon houses in the la llarpe settle
ment and Cump Creek settlement.
This week, believe, must bring matters t.
an issue. 1t is very doubtfui whether the Gov
rrnor or civil authorities can act ia time to pre-
vent the worst results
A proclamation from Sheriff Backenstos re
lates the circumstances of Worrelrs death II
was in the act Of leseling his gun at the Sher
when one of the Sherf's men shot him. Thi
Worrell was in command Of the guard at Car
thage on the day OF the murder Of Joe and lily
ram Smith. We clip the suEoined from tn
proclamation.
AID hereby call upon, and likewise con
manJ every able.boded man throughout th
county to arm themselves in the beet possibl
manner, as, TO resist any and all further violenc
on the pa., of the mob; and to permit no finthe
destruction Of rroperty-and to arrest all thos
engaged in this wicked proceeding, and de
,ruclon of property, and threatening of live
Ard 'ur'he. command that the posse CONT,
tus repair To the nearest points invaded by III
rioters, and to defend at the poh,t Of the ba,
onet, and at ali hazards, the lives and preperi
Of the peaceable citizens, and again reinsta
the supremacy of the lave.
]. h. BAcKENsros,
Sheriff Hancock County. III.
p. S-Sept. l0,h, A. ID. iSI5, half past
O'clock, p Mt is but proper 10 state, that Il
Mormon community have acted with more tina
ordinary prbearance-remaining perfectly gu
et and offering no resistance when their DIVE
ingr, other buildings, stacks ofgrain. &c, we
set on fire in their presence; and they ha'
foreborne unti! forebcarance is no Longer vi
tue.
The notorious Col. Levi Williams. who is
the head of the mob has ordered ont the mi
tia of his brigade comprisinC Hancock N