New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-20
Destruc tion OF the Temple Of Nauvse, sa -
21th Of May, ISJO, By a stern.

27th Of May, 1890, BY STERN.
The Temple of Nauvoo, erected by the hw-
mons, finished in ls45, partially burnt In Oosobsr.
lsis, having but its four walls left-all its timber
works having been consumed by the Hames-wn
destroyed by hurricane on the 9th uls.
On arriving at Nauvoo, in March, lS49, the lcaran
Community bought this Temple with view to rsdt
it for schools, its studying and meeting halls for
refectory capable Of containing about one thousand
persons, &c.
Many preparations were already made. An
agent had been sent 20 the pine forests OF the
North to buy timbers OF dimensions necessary for
reestabshing the roof and hoos Some other
pieces of wood were ready; steam mill was par
chased TO fit up saw mill the saw mill was near
ly finished a vast shed was raising near tho Tsn-
pie TO shelter the carpenters; the masons were
LAYING in the interior the basis Of the pillars whsns
on the 27th of May, fnghtful hurricane, the most
terrible experienced In the country In many years,
burst suddenly on the hill of Nauvoo, whore light
nings, thunder wind, hail and rain, seemed united
10 assal the building.
The storm burst forth so quickly and with such
violence that the masons, overtaken unawHss Ia
the Temple, had not time enough 10 fee before the
northern wall sixty feet high, bent down over their
heads tire atening crush them and bury them up.
Friends" cried out the foreman, we are al
LOST" And, indeed, their loss appeared to be ssr
tain for the southern and eastern walls which had
ALWAYS been looked upon a. the weakest, now
shaken by the fall Of the former, seemed on the
point Of tumbng on them. But the running rub-
bisb of the northern wall stopped at their feet
Now rushing out Of the ruins In the midst OF cloud
of dust, hail and rain, wrapped up In lshtnlngA
thunder, and furious blast Of wind, expecting ev-
cry moment to hear the two walls give way upon
them. they succeeded in getting out astonished at
seeing those walls still standing, and frightened as
the danger from which they had just emerged.
The same blast that overthrow the wal OF tne
4 L. Hal tad nd
two others. took up and carried OF the root OF me
old school when the walls falling ON tho hoor -
meath, broke down the beams and threatened IN
~ 10 .ix Icarian women who were working
below.
Il -" Community Is situated was % quickly r. ans-
S.Taod into an inpetuous torrent, that the house
.. air1ost instantaneousy filed with water and
/ se,sen Icarian women, then washing there, were
cnmneued TO get through the windows, In order To
.ove themselves They took refuge at the farm,
,.hsnce they were soon after brought back In one
If the wagons Of the Community.
All the neiebboring fields were ravaged. The
| tsnces overturned, and the windows broken. One
ofthe members Of the Direction got on horseback.
and repaired to every place AZ winch men were
orkng out Of doors, and soon brought back tldinEg
hat no personal accidents had happened.
The same evening the masons, reunited and eoa-
| .nl,ed bv the Direction acknowledged and declared
that the southern and eastern walls would soon
fall down and that 70 avoid any serious aoc1denS,
il was better 10 destroy them.
The next morning the General Assembly, having
been conyoked by the Direction, met 90 the Temple
squsre, and unanimously resolved: First that the
demolition was urgent for the safety both OF the
members Of the Colony themselves and OF the In
babtants and foreigners whom curiosity might
bring 70 the spot; second, that by milking the
walls, stone by stone, they might preserve
anne good ones. Bat as this operation would take
80. ~ ronch time. occasion much work, and expose
them 70 many fatigaes and dangers, and oonsidsr-
in9 the lives Of men as much more valuable than
money. they decided 10 use some other means.
Those means having been discussed and agreed
uoon. they set at work Immediately, and the walls
were pulled down
The destruction Of the Temple 10 . misfortune
and great inconvenience 10 the Icuian Communi
~ as they are thus obliged to modify their tofnes
projects and plans; bat, perseyering and coaf
ageous, strong in their union, and with ths AID o
their additional brethren, they viii begin again, o.
the place Of the Temple, provisional and a.ssa'
constructions, that viii serve unt,i they o'"' v"
r BOUk0. sec'y u 10 'oanss e'""''"S
I Ezse11 bss r. 1877