The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-29


No person can depict the scene of dis
may and confusion that ensued. The fe-
males screamed aloud, as if all hope had
departed Several Of the men sprang out
of the windows and fled, as if pursued by
legion of devils, while most of those
who remained appeared stupified and TO-
tally powerless, either to escape or make
ready for resistance. Indeed there was
little space allowed for preparation. In
few minutus mob amounting to hundreds
had surrounded the building, and the muz-
zles of fifty cooked guns and pistols were
thrust in through the doors and windows.
Still none within lifted finger for defence;
fear seemed to have turned them into stone.
Persecution had not yet hardened the
"Latter Day Saints" into veterans, and
the afterwards famous Mormon Legion"
existed then only in the imagination Of the
prophet. 10 ,''''iAt.
Presently the lynchers, headed by the
all-dreaded and gigantic Colonel Turk,
rushed in, and began to beat the people
furously with the iron ramrods Of their
rifles, with very little distinction Of mercy
as to the age or sex. The cries and vain
entreates Of the poor sufferers swelled to
wall wilder than the bowling of the wind
without. At length Colonel Turk roar.
ed ."
"Turn out the women and seize the
men, and let us have the hickory switches
and the tar and feathers''
And the drunken mob shouted, and has
tened to execute the brutal mandate.
Up to this time young Mills had con-
tinued standing with The Bible of their
prophet in his hand, but unearthly pale
and strangely excited. his lip writhing, his
teeth clenchcd, and his bright eyes swim
ming in halo Of fire. Suddenly he made
a bound for an adjacent window, and not
withstanding more than twenty endeavor-
ed to seize him, he effected his escape
from the house.
.'Cnasc him--shoot him-take him,
alive or dead!" cried Turk, in transport
of rage, setting the example by commenc-
ing the pursuit himself.
The flight Of Mills was directed in
straight line for the river, and his marvel
lous agility, added to the start he had first
got, soon placed him at some distance
ahead. They fired both rifles and shot
guns at him as he ran, and happily with
4uut effect. When~he- came to the river
side he stopped down, and hastily fasten-
ed on pair Of skates. which he had car
red in his pocket for the last few days to
be ready for any extraordinary emergency;
and then taking the ice, skinned over the
frozen stream with the swltncss of the
wind.
elias nobody pair of skatcs!" shouted
Col. Turk, striking his forehead with a
gesture Of wrath and veXation.
81 have" answered one of the mob;
shut I shall certainly not try them on the
ice such night as this"
abe quick, give them to pe!' exclaimed
Turk in tone of fiery Impotence.
The skates were produced; the eager
Colonel tried them on; and then. swearing
dreadful oath that he would bring back
tho preachers scalp or leave his own, he
began the perilous chase. Oh! there isno
daring like the courage inspired by the
passion for revenge!
In the meanwhile, Mills had approach
ed the farther shore, when he discovered
the startling apparition of armed men on
the bank. lie knew at q glance what it
meant. The mob. to prevent any of the
Norru)as from cscar g, had stationed
guard beyond the river. lie instantly
turned his course down the stream, when
- whole platoon let off tn ,ir rifles, but tho
distance was too considerable. A hail
of bullets ratified around him on the ice
without injury.
IL will foil the fends yet" he said to
himself, and put forth all his speed. Mills
flew away, when he became conscious that
some one was pursuing him. lie slack
ened his velocity, and gradually wheeled
about to obtain view of his enemy. But
the latter was still too remote for an ac-
curate survey, and the Mormon uttered
aloud mad prayer--"God grant me that
it be Col. Turk, and | am willingto to die!"
On rushed the pursuer--on, still on. like
an avalanche. The noise Of his iron
skates coh | be heard above the roar of
the northern blas, and his dark form loom
ed IN the gllttering moonbeams, large in
statue as a giant. As he drew nearer,
the young preacher smiled venomously.
He recognized the arch-persecutor, Col.
Turk, and he laughed outright, laugh
that rung over the frozen river like the wild
scoff Of some demon, when he saw the
other unshoath his cleaning knife. Mills
then Immediately pulled his own from its
scabbard, and started off, so as to avoid
the coming shock, which might 9th
erwise prove fatal. by the mere force Of
the collision, to both. '.' sa1Reai re q
And then began series Of rapid and
cunning evolutions TO secure the advan.
tage in this new method of combat the
most terrible ever conceived. They mark
cd the smooth surface of the ice with cir
Giles, angles, squares, parallelograms, and
almost every possible figure Of plain ge-
ometry; but each seemed perfect skater,
n q n. Va. n Us ". p