The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-06-12
GbansbiIlt Daily gonrnal.
Mrs. Mclean.

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ed by the Mormon Priest Farley Pratt,
and whose husband reeked his venge-
ance upon the destroyer Of his family's
peace, near Van Buren, in Arkansas. has
appealed to the world to be heard, as she
says '.for the sake of the living and the
dead" She denies that she was seduced
from her religious faith or virtue by
Pratt. She was an avowed Mormon and
sincere believer in the faith Of the
Latter Day Saints two year before she
ever seen Pratt. That she sought earn
estly during all that time, for the con-
sent Of her husband that she might be
baptised into the Mormon Church. and
that she finally obtained it from him in
writing, before she had met Pratt. After
she was baptised by Pratt. she had her
children baptised in the same faith before
the separation from her husband. They
were therefore, confirmed members "the
church of the Latter Day Saints. She
says. Ifany condemn this act let them
also condemn every woman. who refuses
to go to perdition with her children, just
because her husband makes this choice!i
After relating how she was deprived
of her children-how she followed them
and endeavored to get them away, but
| without success, she says she finally
determined to so to Salt Lake city by
herself.
then consulted my father about leav-
ing; told him wished to 90 to Salt Lake,
and he said if would not attempt to take
the children he would assist me all he
could. .a..
In few days, was on board steam
er Mayfower for st. Louis and from
thence went on board small steamer
(the Alma) on the Missouri rlver to
Atchison, Kansas Territory, where /
found the Mormon Emigration.
engaged to cook for a mess OF ten
persons to delray my expenses, and thus
journayed across the plains to the Salt
Lake city.
remained just one year, leaving on
the anniversary Of the day filth Sep
te mber. 1855 I arrived.
While there | taught a school, in
which 1 taught Ten Of P. 2. Pratt's child
rem. and boarded in his family seven
months. The remaining four months
taught Gov. Youngs family school and
boarded in his house.
On the 11th Of last September, left
in company Of missionaries consisting
Of about twenty elders and twelve fe
males. tra' elled in carriage with two
elders and one lady, making four of us.
/ furnished my own provisions, and cook
ed for the other three, for the privilege
Of riding.
At st. Louis borrowed 500 Oof church
funds, and proceeded to New Orleans. 1t
was my intention when / left Salt Lake
to go to my children, and get them il l
could.
That have done what I could, and
all | could, l call heaven and earth to
witness.
She than relates the circumstances
under which she obtained the children,
and how, she was travelling with them
when her husband overlook the train.
These facts have already been published.
In behalf Of the dead have to testify,
that whatever relation existed between
US, was of my own seeking. When he
kept house with his wife Elizabeth, in
San Francisco, often sought his society,
and il any censure, let them censure me
for the strongest impulses of my nature.
which have ever prompted me to seek
light and truth, despite the difficulties
that might intervene between Inc and the
object ofmy search.
This man was fountain of light and
intelligence, at Which thousands might
drink, and yet the stream clear, free
and pure.
am willing to acknowledge that |
have often sought in the door at the dawn
Of day when his wife was sick, to take
some meat, bread and fruit upon which
they might subsist until the following
morning.
Do any blame him for being poor? Let
them lay the blame upon Him who re-
quired his disciples to 60 with the ever
lasting Gospel to the nations, without
purse or scrip or even two coats.
Neither do i deny that l much desired
from time to time, to have him enter
tanned at our house, even as gladly en-
tertained my husbands brethren. We
had unoccupied rooms and beds, and a
profusion of the good things of life, while
he was poor and a stranger, and as un-
popular as a certain Nazarine who once
pilgrimized through the land of Judea,
and could not find place to Law his
head. Upon the same principle that l
was deprived tins privilege, Mary and
Martha would have been punished for
bathing the feet of their Lord and running
to meet him when he returned from
mission.
Ialso confess that when got to Salt
Lake alone, and knew Of no one that
had ever seen but MIR. Pratt and his wife
Elizabeth, 1 sought before their house
and asked if they could let me stay
few days, to rest and look around and
see what could do for a living. They
said stay just as long as you please, and
it turned out as before stated. also
confess that it was source Of pleasure
to me when heard that he would be
in the company in which l had engaged
to come.
/ do not deny that washed his feet,
combed his hair, and often walked that
he might ride Neither do deny visit
ing with him a number Of families in st.
Louis, who thought it greater honor to
Il ~, b;vv, than thav xvo,,ld 70 ontor-