The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-05-06


will serve to expose the infatuation which takes
possession of the followers of Mormonism, and
the villainy of its 'apostles." On Sprng-hill,
Tallow-hll, in this city, lives Mr.. Joseph Hod-
getts coal-dealer, who, by dint of industry
and perseverance,, has accumulated consider
able property. His wife, an active and
managing woman, supplied his lack of scholar
ship, and conducted his business at home,
while he was engaged in voyages upon the
canal, with both thrift and shrewdness.-
They were blessed with several children, all
of whom were well favored both in body and
mind-a progeny of whom their parents might
fairly be proud; and thoy felt themselves well
enough off to allow of their adopting and
bringing up the child of relative, in addi-
ton to their own.
This picture of prosperity and domestic hap
piness was unmarried, till in an evil hour an
emissary Of Mormonism darkened their door
The eldest son became enamored of the pic
ture drawn of present indulgence at the Salt
Lake, and future bliss, which the "apostlcs"
of this detestable superstition know so we'll
how to paint, and started off to America
By and by he came back, having attained to
high office in the Mormon community, char
ged with the errand of inveiglng others
"cligible parties" who had plenty of money
Ito the Mormon settlements. He succeeded
in inculcating his mothers and sisters with the
Mormon faith; they believed with all their
hearts the widest of Joe Smiths stories, and
every thought was turned to the Far Wset.
Last week the signal was given by the leaders
for general exodous, as the "Saints" from
every part were ordered to embark in vessels
chartered at Liverpool for Boston. The scene
at New street Station, Birmingham, were
some three hundred persons from the Midland
Counties set off for the Northern port on this
FOOLS errand, is said to have been extraordi-
nary enough. Amongst that crowd were
Mrs. Hodgetts and her family. Mr.. Hodgetts
had started on one Of his usual voyages into
the coal country on the previous Sunday
He left his home just as years of quiet and
habit and domestic pleasure had endeared it
to him, but when h returned on Saturday
morning, he found it stripped and desc ted;
there was no welcome, and no voice to answer
him as he stepped across the threshold. His
wife had not only left him, but had induced
all the children TO accompany her, had taken
away much ready cash which she had digent-
ly collected from the customers, had drawn
f3l4 by check out of the bank on the pre-
vious day, and had carried off everything
portable-cven the bed linen-from the
house.
The poor mans agony and distreo.ie,n eir
,rina vssrr sc'trceIy D6 imagined: he implorcd
the aid of the police in recovering his wife and
and Superintendent Chip started
with him on Saturday night to Liverpool on
this almost hopeless errand. They got to
that town about 3 o'clock next morning, and
of course Immediately procured friendly aid at
the police office there, but at such an hour on
a Sunday morning it was very difficult to learn
anything of the fugtives. After some hours
inquiry, they ascertained that 400 Mormons
had just set sail in the Enoch Trail, fine
American ship, and it was reasonably sup
onlysurpose-that Mr.. Hodgctfs
family were OF the number. II was to have
sailed at 4 o'clock that morning, but had for
tunately been detained till about o'clock
H-was now.hetweep-9and 10, and withsome
difficulty Mr. Chip struck bargain with the
Captain of a steam-tug, named the Great Con-
quest "a new tugboat, and one of the fastest
on theriver), to 60 in pursuit.
The fires were fortunately alight, and
steam was soon got up, but the little party
Of the pursuers were not much encouraged by
the Captain to hope that they would have
any chance of overhauling the Enoch Trail,
for she had been taken out to sea by strong
tug, and had all her sails set to ai.favoring q
breeze. They saw nothing of her till they
had crossed the bar at the mouth Of the Mer-
sey, but the Captain of the Great Conqu st
then made her out with his glass, and screw
ed down his safety-valvcs For-two or three
hours the chasescontinued; buts II was clear
that they gained fast on the big ship, and
when within hailing distance, the Captain of
the Enoch Trail slackened sail, supposing that
her pusuers were the Custom House officers,
and who had scented something wrong. As
soon as the two vessels were lashed alongside
Chipp and Mr.. Hodgetts,
with the Liverpool officer who had accc.;,unon-
led them, jumped aboard, ana when they an
nounced thcci,rr GRAND the excitement amongst
the Mormon emigrants was intense.
The captain took them into his cabin and
asked to see the warrants under which they
were acting. They had none, but that a
husband should be robbed of his household
gods and goods at once was felt by the cap
tain, who ayowed himself no Mormon, to be
an uncomfortable rascality, and he was evident
ly willing enough to render Hodgetts what
assistance he could. The women and children
were however, kept carefully out of sight be-
tween decks, and poor Hodgetts, who was
more than half distracted, rendered the posi-
-. L 4 i L.
l,c by decla ing that he did not wish to pun
ish the iunaways.. For an hour and half
did the officers and the captain and the Nor
mon leaders wrangle, the vessel all this time
going further and further out to sea, and it
was only by the .fnesse and firmness Of Mr.
Chipp who declared that rather than fail in
his mission he would accompany the vessel to
Boston and denounce the whole party to the
British authorities there, when the Mormon
slave-drivcrs consented to produce the woman
and her have an interview with her hus-
band. The upshot Of the matter was that
Il 4 Hr,f cf al