Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-03-12

gars all description. Winter caught them in
the mountains destitute Of clothing aad pro-
visions. and had not the relief which was sent
from here reached them. every one Of them
would have perished. Ash is, out Of the
500 which started. One-fourth have died, and
more than loo Of the remainder have lost
their hands or feet from the efFecls Of the cold
"hea they reached here there we're net so
In the train who could help them.elves; the
rest were stewed in the bottom of their vac
ons which had been sent for them, ragged and
hlthy beyond conception; helpless and des 4.
pairing. they could or would not get out Of the
wagons to attend to the calls of nature. and
il the weather had not been intensely cold il
would have bred pestilence. | never imag.
iDed such scene. Heaven preserve me from
Witnessing such another. Aud yet the Desc
rel news has the effrontery to tell the world
that they came through we'll.
1t is said that there are yet hundreds of
these poor dCluded wreiches in the mountains.
few days ago, an express reached here from
an OK train which is encamped on Green river,
Their cattle had given out. and they were
bare Of provisions, being obliged to feed on
their dead cattle. Some forty wagons, with
provisions have gone 10 their relief, to endeav.
or, ifpossible to, to get them into Fort Brid-
ges.
A reformation, as they call il, has been 60
ing on among this people for a few weeks
past. The fact is. the Mormon leaders began
to see that the people were getting so outrage
ously bad, and that disatfeetiou was spreading
so rapidly among them, that it was endsnger
ing their own safety, and the prosperity OF the
church. They accordingly devised this plan
Of reformation, and called on the people to con.
fess their sins. be baptized, and renew their
covenants and endowments, threatening to cut
Of all that refused TO comply with this de-.
mand. not only from the "Church and King.
dom, but from the earth" In the progress Of
this reformation. men we're appointed to visit
every house. and obtain, under oath. written
answers to a set Of questions. a copy of which
have obtained and herewith incIose. But
the amount Of wickedness brought TO light by
these answers appalled, even the Morm0ns, and
they thsrefOre changed this system, and have
adol ted more private and less authentic way
of confession. l have been informed, upon
The myst reliable authority. that they have the
names of A. 600 men and women in this city
and adjacent settlements who have confessed
to the crime Of adultery. 4 II that is necessary
to obtain absoluiion from these sins is to re-
pent and be baptized.
There have been already more than fifty ap.
plcations made to Brigham for divorces by
women who arrived in the first emigraut trains.
1t seems that on their arrival here, when
they we're yet Ignorant Of the ways Of Zion, a
great many of the Mormon gentlemen came to
them, and picked out those of the women who
suited them and Immediately made them their
"spirituals." but these poor girls soon found
out what il was to live with the saints as slaves
and now endeavOr to obtain divorces; this will
simply be jumping out Of the frying pan into
the fire." for they WILDE compelled to take or
be taken by some other man. and then condi.
tiOn will not be bettered.
The questions introduced by Brigham Young
TO his new system Of articular confession. are :
Have you committed murder, BY shedding
innocent blood, or cousenting thereto?
Have you betrayed your brother or sister in
any ylhiOg?
Have you committed adultery. by having
any connection with a woman that was not
your wife, or man that was not your husband?
Have you cut hay where you had no right
10. or turned animals into another person q
field without his consent?
Have you lied about OF wilfully misrepre.
sentsd any persOnG
Have you borne false witness against your
neighbOr?
Have you taken the name Of the Deity in
vain?
Have you coveted anything not your own;
Have you been intoxicated with strong
drinkk7
Have you found lost property, and return
ed it to the owner. or used oil diligence! to d.
500
4 Have you fulfilled your promises in payins
veur debts, or run into debt without the ia
tentiOn Of paying the same?
Do you pay your tithing promptly.
Doyou teach your family the gospel Of sal
vatiOn?
Do you speak against your suPeriOrs !
: church or against any principle taught in th
: book OF Mormon, Book Of Doctrines and COZ
' enants, or against the revelations giseu thr
s Ioseph Smith, the Prophet end the Presidenc