Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-05-30
John Mills, the Mormon Preacher,
HIS FIGHT WITH COL. TURK.

HdHcu WiIIS was tnclI ulOSt PoPuIdI
and admired preacher. lndeed, so great
was his fame, that whenever he held o
meeting, a crowd Of the saints were sure
10 be present. 'a
A strong and violent mob oflynchers
was abou, this time organized TO put
down the Mormons, under the com.
mand Of Col. 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 tar.
red and feathered, some were scourged
with long knotty hickories, ill they
tainted from excess Of torture and loss
Of blood--others we're (orcibly deprived
Of their property, and reduced in a day
10 the condition Of beggars, while others
shared doom gilmore mercy, and were
shot down on the prairie 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. ,H.a.".
1t was dreadful cold night in mid.
winter. 1888, and although the sky was
cloudless. and the full moon shone out
in all her splenJor, the earth lay IN that
pearly radiance, and dreary os frozen
iomb, for a thick shee, Of snow crusted
It's surface, and the North wind howled
over it a dismal drge. 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 hearths.
And yet, strange TO say, in log cab.
in within three hundred yards of the
Missouri river, then frozen from shore to
shore, al least one hundred people had
assembled to hold religious meeting.
They we're Mormons, you may be sure
No fanatic OF old faith would have turn.
cd out on such a night; they must be
fresh zealots, with some new idea, bu
at its birth, in their hearts, and flaming
like meteor in their Imagination, Oh
they never could have venlured 10 face
such an icy blast as that. The congfe
CATION included men and women ir a
bout equal numbers, and many OF The
former carried rifles, which they grasped
in one hand, even when they kneeled
down to pray; such was the imminence
Of peril, either real or imagined. as they
deemed pending over them.
The preacher--the enthusiastic Mills
had advanced to a thrilling head Of his
eloquent discour sc. and was painting in
terrible, fiery language. the bitter perse
cution which has ever followed the foot
steps Of all great feIormers. since the be-
ginning of time. Never before had he
b cen half so animated or half SO affect
ing. His blue eyes cleaned like stars
his voice pealed like trumpet, shril
as the wind that whistled over the house
top, and his lips seemed literally load
cd with music. Groans, tears and wilt
shrieks from the audience, proved lhs
despotic power Of his u,terance.
Suddenly three rifles exploded in quick
succession before the door. end three
sen,inels, shaking with terror, rusho,
into the room, crying out: o..
The mob! the mob! Save yourselves
from Col. Turks mob!' -t..
No pen can depict the scene Of dis
may and confusion that ensued. The
females screamed aloud, as if all hope
had departed. Several of the men spranl
out of The windows and fled as if pursu
ed by legion Of devils, whilst most o
those who remained, appeared s'upehe'
and lotal y powerless, either 10 escape
or make ready for resistance. Indeed
there was very liu|e space allowed 70!
preparation. In a few moments a mol
amounting to hundreds had surrounded
the building, and the muzles Of fifty
cocke,l guns and pistols we're thrust il
through the doors and windows. Still
none within lifted finger for defence
fear seemed 10 have turned them into
stone. Persecution had not yet harden
ed the Latter Day Saints veterans, ant
the afterwards famous Mormon Legion
existed then only in the Imagination o
the Prophet. H-
Presently the lynchcrs, headed by th'
all dreaded and gigantic Col. Turk
came rushing in, and began to beat th'
people furiously with tho iron ramrod'
Of their rifles, with very little distinction
Of mercy as to age or sex. The cries ant
entrcaties Of the poor sufferers swelle,
to wall wilder than the bowling of .h'
wind without. At length Col. TulA
roared out: fa@o.
Turn out the women and seize the
men, and let US have the hickory switch
es and the tar and feathers!' o"
And the drunken mob shouted, ant
hastened TO execute the brutal mandate
Up TO this time young Mills had con
tinued standing with the Bible Of ,hei
prophet in his hand, but unearthly pail
and strangely excited, his lips writhing
his teeth clenche !, and his bright eye
swimming in a ialo Of fire. SuddenI,
he mads bound for an adjacon. win
dow, and notwithstanding more thar
twenty endeavored 10 seize him, he Of
(ected his escape from the house.
.Chasc him--shoot him! Take him
alive or deadY cried Turk, in transPcr
Of rage, setting an example by com
mencing the pursuit himself.
The flight Of Mills was directed in ,
straight line for the river, and his mar
vellous agility added to the start he hat
first got, soon placed him at some dist
ancc ahead. They fred both rifles AMI
shot guns at him as he ran, but happily