Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-02-15
TI,. FIGHT via, Col. Turk.

most popular and admired preacher lndeeu so great
crowd of the saints were sure to be present
strong and violent mob OF 1ynchers was ABOUT
this time organized to put down the M0rmons under
the command of Col. Turk--one OF the most desper-
ately dangerous men that Missouri, or IN truth any
other country. ever nrodueed Some of the Mormons
were tarred and feathered some were scourged with
long knotty hickores till they tainted from the
cess of torture and the loss of blood others were for
chilly deprived Of their property, and reduced IN
day to the condition of beggars; while 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 concet out OF the young
preacher, Mills and he gave notice to his men &C
cordingly.
1t was dreadful cold night in mid winter, 1888,
and although the sky was coudless and the full moon
shone out in all her spendor the earth lay in all
that pearly radiance, chill and dreary as frozen
tomb for thick sheet Of snow crusted It's surface,
and the north wind howled over it dismal dirge.-
It was night to drive thieves and outlaws into
barns and stables for shelter and to keep honest peo
pie by the blaze of their own roaring hearths.
And yet strange to say, in large log cabin, within
three hundred yards of the Missouri river then frozen
from shore to Shore at least one hundred people had
assemb led to hold religious meeting. They were
Mormons, you may be sure. No fanatics OF an old
faith would have turned out such night they must
be fresh zeaots with new idea, but at its BIRTH
in their hearts and flaming like meteor in their
imagnations, or they never could have yentured to
face such an lev blast as that. The congregation
included men and women, in about equal numbers,
and MANY of the former carried rifles, which they
grasped with one hand even when kneeling down in
prayer-such was the imminence of peril either real
or imagined they deemed pending them.
The preacher, the enthusiast Miller, had advanced
to thrilling head Of his eloquent discourse, and was
painting in terrible language the bitter persecution
which has followed the footsteps of all great re-
forms, since the beginning of time. Never before
had he been half so animated Or half so affecting
His blue eye glanced like star-hs voice pealed
like a trumpet shrill the wind which whistled
over the house top and his beardless lip seemed lit
orally loaded with music Tears, groans and wild
shreks, from the audience proved the despotc pow
er Of his eloquence.
Suddenly three rifles exploded in quick succession
before the door, and three sentinels shaking with
terror, rushed into the room, crying out The mob!
the mob Save yourselves from Col. Turks mob y
No person can depict the scene of dismay and con-
fusion that ensued. The females screamed aloud,
all hope had departed Several of the men sprang
out of the windows as if pursued by legion of dew
lis, while most of those who remained appeared stu
pehed and totally powerless, either to escape make
ready forresstance Indeed there was little space al
lowed for preparation. In few moments mob num-
berng hundreds, had surrounded the building, and
the muzzles Of fifty cooked guns and pistols were
thrust through the doors and windows. Still none
within lifted finger in deence-fear seemed to have
turned them into stone. Persecution had not yet
hardened the Latter Day Saints into veterans and
the since famous Mormon Legion" existed then
Iy IN the imagination OF the Prophet.
Presently the Lynchers, headed by the all dreaded
and gigantic Col Turk rushed in, and began to beat
the people with the iron ramrods of their guns with
very little distinction of mercy, to age SEX
The cries of the poor sufferers sweed to wall will
der than the hOwlings of the wind without. At
length Col Turk reared
g Turn out the women and seize the men, and let
us have the hickory switches and the tar and feath
rs!n
And the drunken mob shouted, and FASTENED to
execute the brutal mandate.
Up to this time young Mills had continued stand
with the Bible of their prophet in his hand but
earthly pale and strangely excited his teeth clench
ed and his bright eyes swimming in halo OF fire.
Suddenly he made bound for an adjacent window,
and notwithstanding more than twenty endeavored
to seize him, he effected his escape from the house
"Chase him-shoot him--take him, alive or dead!'
cried Turk in transport of rage, setting the
pie by commencing the pursuit himself.
The flight of Mills directed in a straight line
for the river and his marvellous agility, added to
the start he had first got, placed him some dis
lance ahead They fred both rifles and shot guns
at him as he ran, but happily, without effect. When
he came to the river SIDE he stopped down and hast
lily fastened pair ofskates which he had carried
his pocket for the last few days. to be ready for
ny emergency and them taking the ice, skinned
over the frozen stream with the swiftness Of the
wind.
elias nobody pair of skates ~ shouted Turk,
striking his forehead with gesture of wrath and
vexation.
Il have" said one but shall certainly not try
them on the ice such night this !"
s'Be quick-give them to me !" exclaimed Turk in
a tone of fiery Impotence.
The skates were produced the eager Colonel tied
them on and swearing dreadful oath that he would
bring back the preachers scalp or leave his own he
began the perilous chase. Oh there is no daring
like the courage inspired by passion for revenge!
In the meanwhile, Mills had approached the far
ther Shore when he discovered the startling appari-
ton Of armed men on the bank. He knew at glance
what it meant. The mob to prevent any of the Nor
mons from escaping, had stationed a guard beyond
the river. He instantly turned his down the
the distance was too inconsiderabe. A hail of bull
lets ratified around him the ice without Jury.
g will foil the feinds yet" he said to himself and
put forth all his speed. Mills flew away, when he
became conscious that some one was pursuing him.
He Stacked his velocity and gradually wheeled about
to obtain view of his enemy. But the latter was
still toe remote for accurate survey and the Nor
mon uttered aloud mad prayer God grant me
that it be Col Turk, and am willing to de'
On rushed the pursuer-on, still on like ava
lanch. The noise Of the iron skates could be heard
above the of the northern blast, and his dark
form doomed in the glittering moonbeams, large in
stature as a giant. AS he drew nearer, the young
preacher smiled venomously. He recognized the
arch prosecutor, Col Turk and he laughed outright,
laugh that rung the frozen river like the wild
scott OF some demon, when he the other unsheath
his cleaning knife. Mills then Immediately pulled
his from his scabbard and started off, to avoid
the coming shock, which might otherwise prove ia
tai by the mere force of the collision, to both
And then began series of rapid and cunning ev-
olutions to secure the advantage in this new mode
of combat, the most terrific conceived. They
marked the smooth surface of the ice with circles
elipses, angles squares, paraelograms, and almost
every possible figure of plain geometry; but each