The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-08-01
From the Plattsmouth (Nebraska) Jeffersonian.
Breaking up of Mormondom--Mor-
mons Returning in Disgust--Thelr
Opinions of Zion.

Breaking up of Mormondom-- Nor
mons Returning in Disgust--Thelr
Opinions of Zion.
\ train, consisting OF about one hundred
persons with twenty wagons. passed through
this place on FRIDAY last on their return from
tab to the S:a-cs. They formed part OF a
company of two hundred persons and forty
teams bat sop.c distance back the remain
der took TIE rya1 for icavenworth. They
'eft Sc.i, Lake about the 2Gth of April. and
were on ,.se road little more than ~"
months, They bore the appearance Of per
sors wilo ned seen fnuc!, trouble Az: pliva-
,ion-being reduced in body and detected in
mind. A more pitiahle SET o; persons we
never lrl,el& They ~;ic:rcd that they had
at .as, reached land where they could once
more live at case
The account Of their experience in Utah
vas tou :,ing in the extreme. In the mar
ration of what they endured they seemed to
appoaci: the sub ect with reluctance and
feelings Of horror in calling to mind their
.uhcrings, but in the course of their remarks
would Invariably become animated. and
break cut in expressions of Indignation t
the cruelty and oppression which they id
endured They declared the whole sys;em
to be but a grand scheme of roj.ery and
sensuaity. on the part of those ii authority.
1t is rot bv direct compulsion. they stated
that the property of their followers is taken
hut BIZ means of religious enthusiasm. This
ia inspired BY the promise Of great spiritual
rewards ard by setting before them the
samfle Of Scripture characters that as Job
received an increase above all his former
possessions so should they. by their self
sacrificing. reap an increased reward. both
of spiritual and temporal possessions. After
all their property was exhausted. then the
policy of their rulers would change. and their
conduct would be such as 10 say. Get ava:
if YOU can" If any o"c should become dis
satisfied and desire to lcavc.thcy were publicly
denounced. anu tie whole church forbidden
10 purchase any property they might wish
to dispose OF. From that DAY they would be
subjected to the insults Of the entire COM
munitv, if not absolute danger of their lives.
One person Stated that in order TO get away
he had to sell his farm. clandestincly at that.
for sixty dollars. They reported that one
ni;.n vent cut with $1,000. and Was returning
in the train with his team Only. and had not
enough to eat: Another. who had a farm
worth there seven thousand dollars. sold it
fo" thirly-iive dollars. \ man BIZ the name
OF George Brooks. If We rccollcct aright.)
WHO had considerable grain and goods stored
IN his house, on mourning the iisplcasurc Of
the elders, had the sides OF his house literally
stove in. ard his pyopcrt, all carried OF. he
only escaping with his life.
When the train trst approached s'e i'll
quircJ wlierher they were from California or
Utah. An old man who was standing near
replied. I'VE art from Beautiful Zion
What = you: opinion of Zion - we in
CURED.
"lis reply was Il went once in search
Of Iio:' but will never 80 OFT again till
know where it is to be to;,"d. 1t is the
.turs' Z;on that ever Sc. my Ioot into"
We inquired conserving the hand-cart
Inns. and the trva reason Of employing
them. They said shat It vas the greatest
piece of cruelty the, was ever porpctrated
that it was at times horrible to behold the
condition Of the. who arrived in that Wa;
tina, frequently their hands AID fec were
frozen. and their limbs. f1om IT,. effects of
fatigue and exposure. swollen TO more than
twice their natural size that sometimes.
when they were able 10 lon.cr to pull the
carts. the womcA aid children were loade,
with Tic baggage, ard proceeded tins until
icy fell down with sheer exhaustion ard
that after arriving in This condition. the,
would die oti Ike "rotten sheep" as they
il. The. stated that one reason
for forming h ~:i(.-tra;ns Was. that those who
cane ii that "ay, on becoming dissatisfied.
would have no ready means Of returning.
and that tmo<c in authority curse the
c,.isrant trans which pass through on their
way to til Pacific. as they afford means for
dissatisfied persons 70 escape.
In speaking with ono quite intelligent
voting man. nc stated that he had been there
nearly four years. and that the reason he
did not leave sooner was because he hoped
i: would he getting better. He remarked
that Il he sl.oule -lcot a train going through
he W. Id do ali thai he could to persuade
.hcm not TO go: but if they persisted, he
corld only leave them to ND cut the reality
by sad experience. Tn" co.'uaHy report
that four Or FIVE hundred men were solnc to
~ this spring. and are probably on the
VRby this time.