New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-07-31
From wi.consin-The Mornon-.
Correspondence OF the Rochester Daily Democrat
Fox LAKE, Dodge Co, w. T. July 9Th, 1916

Fox LAKE, Dodge Co, w. T July 9Th, 1916.
We hear great deal SAID nowadays about tho
MorTnons, and the Mormon Prophets, and perhhps
your readers would be Interested with description OF
Sang the person who claims TO be the successor 70 Joe
Smith and who is building III this Territory new
Mormon City. and collecting good many followers
about him
Being Mt Southport last February, fell in with him
there and heard him preach and had interview with
him. from which learned tina, he was formerly law
yer in Chautauquc Cattarsugus county. ~ Y and re
moved Illinois several years ago TO take charge ~ con-
trnctor engineer something OF the kind OF portion oi
the Illinois canal but it, construction was soon ss
pended he sought other employment and Tor iha' puT
pose went to Nauvoo where ne became acquainted with
Joe Smith At tiat time hc most lnveterate unbe
lever and oppocr oil the Mormon faith and beng quite
familiar with the Bible he contendcd with smith Tor
considerable time but last converted 10 the faith
and n short time before Smiths death ordained and
baptized by him To he aprophe oil the Lord and sent 10
Wisconsin TO select suitable place Tor new Mormon
CITY hs branch o. NHuvoo While Strang was cHccut-
ing this mi sson Smith was killed thus leaving SrHng
his SUCCESSOR he had ordained no other p9phds-
While here lie prc,ends have had vision and revo
lntion direct from God, confirming his authority us
prophct md directing him where to establish the new
CITY and pointing out him certain tree, under which
WERE buried three brass plates, on which was written
the history of apeopc who had nhhbitcd TINS country
many ycars ago und believers, but had passed
away TO be revived again in the persons oil the Latter
Day s.ins or MormOns. lie says he was commanded
10 take with him faithful Witnesses and 80 TO the spot
Indicated and dig up the SAID brass plates and as none
were faithful but Mormons he took three or tour oi
little distance from them and all testify that the plates
have been there long time as they examined We
~ carefully and found indications OF the earth hav
been recently renewed ana tlat Shg ala notthrow
them in while they digging and moreover, that he
could not have put them there they were enclosed In
an carthen box about three feet from the surface OF The
ground under large whose roots MI nierwo
ven about il and had been disturbed and thar
taking said cartbcrn box, which covered with
Hat stone out into the open AIR, the whole crumoed
and fell 10 pieces, except the plates which very
black They consist OF three small pieces oil brass,
about Q! inches long by II inches wide and about the
thickness of piece OF TIM fastened together al one cor
ncr by ring passing through them One OF them Is
covered on both sides with writing and the other TWO
on side only and having the other side, one OF
them representation OF Christ and other devices, and
the other landscape representation OF Gardeners prairie
the SPOT where the plates found and the stc OF the
new City Ii is the line between Racine and Wal.
worth counties, about - miles West OF Southport and
Racine, and near the village OF Burlington.
The writing on the plates resembles mixture OF He
brew and shorthand senography and Is uniutecblc
of course beast, though Suang claims 10 bc
able TO translate il The location of the new City is
very suitable one having atocrable water power, be.
leve, on White river small but very pretty stream
and is III the heart of the country II is called Norec
am informed there now something like thousand
Monnons congrcsa;ed there and the number IS increas
ing-many Of them coming from Nauvoo. The greater
fer going to California with The Twelve S,rune saws
they refuse to join him, and persist IN going TO Caor
MIA they will never reach there but that their bones
ehall bleach on the plains.
He teaches little different doctrine from the old Nor.
mon faith in respects and disapproves OF their
practices of theft countereitns. and spiritual wives
&c and says they should not feel themselves exempt
from our laws because they Gods elect but should
strictly obey them.
In person Srans is rather below the ordinary size.
~ plainly dressed red face bold prominent forehead
large ewes and mouth and cheek bones; in fact may
as easily describe him by saying he is dinurvc Ill
favored insignificant looking man but possesses consid
cradle talent great shrcwdness earnest, energetic
manner is very loquacious speaks very fast and loud
when preaching When preaching. he appears like
man irving with all his ght convince Others that ne
had something very important 10 tell them and that !,
was absolutely necessary they should believe IT. he Is
perfectly familiar with the Bible and very PersevernS
In his efforts to convince others OF the truth OF particular
passages.
On the whole l should think him we'll calculated to
make converts and get together large body OF people
and control them, he possesses talent energy snd
shrcwdness very pertnacious in argument ana has
ready Wit They appear DC IN honest lno,ensvc PEG
pie but sieared by many that shall have trouble
with them when they get stronger as they have had in
Illinois. Yours, &C. MONROE.