Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-05-23
WHOLE NO. l35.
JOHN MILLS,
The Norm on prcacker--His fight
with Col. Turk.

man named Mills was their most popu-
lar and admired preacher. Indeed, so
great was his fame that whenever he
held meetings crowd of the saints were
sure to be present.
A strong and violent mob Of lynchers
was about this time organized 10 put
down the Mormons, under the command
of Colonel Turk--one of the most des-
perately dangerous men that Missouri,
or in truth, any other country ever pro-
duced. Some of the Mormons were
tarred and feathered, some were scour-
ged with long knotty hickories, till 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-
while others still, shared doom of more
mercy and were shot down on the prai-
rie like so many wolves. At last Turk
resolved to take some Of the conceit out
of the young preacher, Mills, and he
gave notice 10 his men accordingly.
1t was dreadful cold night in mid
winter, 1888, and although The sky was
c.oudless, and the full moon shone out in
all her splendor, the earth lay in that
pearly radiance, chill and dreary as a
frozen tomb; for a thick sheet of snow
crusted lis surface, and the north wind
howled over it dismal dirge. 1t was
night to drive even thieves and outlaws
into barns and stables for shelter, and to
keep honest people by the blaze Of their
own roaring hearlhs. --.~.......
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
assembled to hold religious meeting.
They were Mormons, you may be sure.
No fanatics of an old faith would have
turned out on such night; they mus. be
fresh Zealots, with some new idea, but
at its birth in their hearts, and flaming
like meteor in their imaginations, or
they could not have courage to face such
an icy blast as that. The congregation
included men and women in about equal
numbers, and many of the former car
rled rifles. which they grasped in one
hand, even when kneeling down IN pray
er; such was the imminence of peril,
either real or imagined, as they deemed
pending over them. .....
The preacher-the enthusiast-had
advanced TO thrilling head of his elo-
quent discourse, and was painting in ter
r:ble fire-language the bitter persecu-
tions which has ever followed the foot
steps of all great reformers since the be-
ginning of time. Never before had he
been half so animated or half SO affect
ing. His blue eye cleaned like star,
his voice pealed like a trumpet, shrii! as
The wind which whistled over the house
top; and his beardless lip seemed literal
ly loaded with music. Groans, tears,
wild shrieks from the audience, proved
the despotic power of his utterance.
Suddenly, three rifles exploded in
quick succession before the door, and
three sentinels, shaking with terror, rush
ed into the room, crying out, "The
mob! the mob! Save yourselves from
Col. Turks mob"
No person can depict the scene of dis
may and confusion that ensuet. The
females screamed aloud, as if all hope
had departed. Several of the men
sprang out of the windows and fled, as
ii pursued by legion of devils, while
most OF those who remained appeared
supplied and totally powerless, either to
escape or make ready for resistance
Indeed there was little space allowed for
preparation. In a few moments mob
amounting to hundreds had surrounded
the building, and the muzzles 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 harden
ed the "Latter Day Saints" into veter.
ans, and the afterwards famous "Mor.
mon Legion" existed then only in the
Imagination of the prophet.
Presently the lynchers, headed by the
all-dreadeG and gigantic Colonel Turk
rushed in, and began to beat the people
furiously with the iron ramrods Of thei,
rifles, with very little distinction of mer
cy as to age or sex. The cries and vain
en'reaties of the poor sufferers sweliet
to wall wilder than the howllng of the
wind without. At length Col. Turk
roared-
"Furn out the women and seize the
men, and let US have the hickory switch.
es and the tar and feathers!"
And the drunken mob shouted, and
fastened 10 execute the brutal mandate
Up to this time young Mills hau con
tinued standing with the Bible of theil
Prophet in his hand, but unearthly pale
and strangely excited, his lip whitening
his teeth clinched, and his bright eve.
swimming in halo of fire. Suddenly
he made bound for an adjacent win,
dow, and notwithstanding more thar
twenty attempted to seize him, he eiIec
ted his escape from the house.
"Chase him--shoot him-take him
alive or dead 20 cried Turk, in trans
port of rage, setting the example By
| com maDpipU tho pursuif hin, calc