Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-12-20
John Mills, the Mormon Preach.
er--Eis Fight with Col. Turk.


name OF Mills was their most popular and
and admired preacher. Indeed so great
was his fame that whenever he held meet
ings crowd of the saints were sure to be
present.
A strcng and violent mob of lynchers
was about this time organized to put down
the Mormons, under the command of Col
Turk-one of the NEST desperately danger
Gus men that Missouri, or in truth, any 9TH
err country ever produced. Some of the
Mormons were tarred and feahered, some
were scourged with long, knotty hickories,
TIL they tainted from the excess of torture,
and the loss of blood-others were forcibly
deprived of their property, and reduced in
day to the condition of beggars-whiIe
others still shared doom of more mercy,
and were shot down on the prairies like SO
many wolves. AT last Turk resolved to take
some OF the conceit out ofthe young preach
er, Mills, and he gave notice to his men ac-
4 cordngly
1t was dreadful cold night in mid-win-
ter, 1888, and although the sky was cloud
less. and the full moon shonc out in all her
splendor, the earth lay in that peary radi-
ance, chill and dreary as frozen tomb;
tor a thick sheet of snow crusted its sur
face, and the north wind howIed over it
dismal drge. 1t was night to drive even
thieves and outlaws into barns and stables
Tor shelter, and to keep honest people by
the blaze of their own roaring hearths.
And vet, strange to say, in large log
cabin within 300 yards of the Missouri Riv-'
er, then frozen from shore to shore, at least
one hundred people had assembled to hold
religious meeting. They were Mormons,
yon may be sure. No fanatics of an old
faith would have turned out on such night
they must be fresh zealots, with some new
idea, but at its birth in their hearts, and
flaming like meteor in their imagnations,
or they never could have ventured to face
such an icy blast as that. The conprera-
ton 'nel"ded men, and women in about g
quail numbers, and many OF the former o"r-
ried rifles, which they grasped with one
hand, even when kneelng down in prayer;
such was the imminence ofperil, either real
or imagined, as they deemed, pending over
them.
The preacher-the enthusiastic Mills
had advanced 10 thrilling head Of his elo~
quent discourse, and was painting in terri
bic ire-language the bitter persecution which
has ever followed the footsteps of all great
refurmers, since the beginning of them
Never before had he been half so animated,
or half so affecting. His blue eye glistened
like star-his voice peaed like trumpet,
shrill as the wind which whistled over the
house top; and his beardless lip seemed lit
tcrly loaded with music. Groans, tears,
ard wild shricks lrtm the audience proved
the despolic power of his utterance.
Suddenly, three rifles exploded in quick
succession before the door, and three senti'
ncls, shaking with terror, rushed into the
room, crying, out, "The mob! the mob
Save yourselves from Colonel Turk''
mob !"
No pen can depict the scene Of disma!
and confusion that ensued. The female
screamed aloud, as if all hope had departed
Several Of the men sprang out of the win
dows and fled, as if pursued by legion
appeared Supplied and totally powerless
either to escape or make ready for resist
| arce. Indeed there was little space allow
: ed for preparation. In few moments
mob amounting to hundreds had surrounde
| the building, and the muzzIes Of fifty cock
= ed guns and pistols were thrust in throug
1 the doors and windows. Still none With
lifted finger for defence--fear seemed
). ha, C turned them into stone. Persecutio
c had not yet hardened the Latter Da
t, Saints into veterans, and the aiterwarC
If lannon's Mormon Legion" existed then oil
If " in the Imagination cfthe prophet.
Of Presently the lynchers, headed by the al
dreaded and gigantic Col. Turk rushed i
g.? and began to beat the people furlously wi
it the iron ramrods of their rifles, with We
little distinction of mercy as TO age or Sc
We The cries and vain entreaties of the pc
IS sufferers swelled to a wall wilder than 4
bowling of the wind without. At leng
] COL Turk roared-
"Turn out the women and seize I
K! men, and let us have the hickory swift
We and the tar and feathers p
ell And the drunken mob shouted, and hi
tened to execute the brutal mandate
Up TO this time young Mills had contir
ir, ed slundng with the Bible of their propl
ed in his hand, but unearthIy pale and stranl
NJ ly excited, his lip writhing, his teeth clenC
by ed, and his bright eyes swimming in hi
of fire. Suddenly he made bound for
adjacent window, and notwithstanding nj
nit than twenty endeavored to seize him, he
ess fected his escape from the house.
aid "Chase him-shoot him-take him, al
he or dead !" cried Turk, in a transport
ok, rage setting the example by commenc
tho the pursuit himself
The flight of Mills was directed in
on straight line for the river, and his mar,
ing lous agility, added to.. the start he had
rite got, soon placed him at some distance
am head They fired both rifles and shot-g
his ut him as he ran, and happily without
ng. feet. When he came to the riverside
stopped down, and hastily fastened G
on a pair of skates, which he had carried
his pocket for the last few days to be re
nan for any extraordinary emergency; and t
taking the ice, skinned over the fro
ow- stream with the swiftness of the wind.
Has nobody pair of skates Z" shot
> Col Turk, striking his forehead with a
ady ture of wrath and vexation.
81 have" answered one of the N
ong " bnt | shall certainly not try them on
ice such a night as this"
, la " BE quick-giye them to me !" excl
ed Turk in n tome If FIERY imnatienca