The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1857-12-31
sTRoUDsBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA. DECEMBER 81 1857.
Lif4 Among the Mormons.- "a o.

Lif Among the Mormons.---A "a o.
The Editor of the ST. Joseph's Ga
zette has seen a letter to gentleman oI
that city, of man who has been employ
ed by the Mormon ALL Society to 20 TO
Salt Lake, in which be details hts ad.
ventures. The story Is one of extraordi-
nary hardship and suffering. Alter he
arrived at the Getty of the Saints he en-
deavored to get hispay orlabor aud tea ~,
used in conveying the Saint to their des-
,iuatioD. He was refused any remuoe-
ration for bis services. lie then applied
to Brigham, who cited Mr.. Snow. the "a
gent who employed him to appear before
the Council of Seventy" Mr.. Snow
contended that it was oaly question Of
dollars and cents, aud the Council refused
to act IN the matter.
After six days further trial, our friend
found he could do nothiug towards get.
ting his just dues, and be departed for homo
a distance of forty miles. Before he could
get back to bis home, he was informed
that bis wife had been taken sick, died
and was buried He remained in the
city six weeks endeavoring to get some.
thing to sabsist his family during the win
ter, but was unsuccessful. He writes
"By this time the snow was four feet deep
and remained on the ground till the mid
die of April. All my oxen and cows
died, and | was glad to live the rest o.
the winter on the flesh OF animals tba,
had died NATURAL death"
He built himself house in the spring
fenced in about twenty acres. planted II
in wheat aud corn, but the crops failed
and himself and children, be says were
"compelIed to live On boiled green ami
ID this way he rubbed along until bar
vest" His children were now all taken
sick with the measles, and be himself
Frustrated with the typhoid fever. For
two weeks there was little hopes of bis re,
coverp. and be was persuaded to give his
two oldest daughter, to neighbor, who
promised to take care of them. They
would not receive the children, however,
until deeds of gift were given to them.
He was now left alone, with one small
sick child, aud had it not been for the
kindness of poor neighbor, he would
have peri-bed from hunger and neglect;
and, as it was, this child, the last Que OF
his family remaining to him. died. He
was determined to esca pc from the valley,
but was yet unable. on account of health
and means to accomplish h- purpose.-
He returned to his house, ut was too uD
well to cook his own victual-, and an old
Scotch woman caWe and a,ixed up lit
tie shorts and water, and baked it, as he
says, "a, solid as ever you saw bricks.
and had to get Ratchet to cut it to pie
ces
On this and two quarts of buttermi!k,
be lived two weeks He now found that
his wife was not dead. as was told him,
but prisoner closely guarded. He con-
triyed means for her escape, and bid ber
at the hou-e of friend until be could
make arrangements for leaving. By ira
ding off his farm for wagon and two
mules, the means were procured for con
veying hi. family out of the Territory
He first endeavored to escape by travel
ing north. bat was intercepted by band
OF Brighsm's miulons. who styled them.
selves "destroyiDg angels, and bad IL
not been for band OF passing Calitorni
ans, he would have been robbed of every
thing be possessed. After many difieu J.
ties and dangers, he escaped by the south
ern road to California, not until be bad
been de,poiled by the Indians of nearly
all his provisions.
He and his family lived nearly all the
way from Salt Lake City to Barnardino
from which point bis letter is written. on
bread and water alone The night be gol
into the latter named place his horse
were stolen, and be was left alone, in a
strange place with no money, aud wife
and two children to provide 'or. His let
ter was one ask ing for assistance to get
back to Missouri. After writing to sew
eral of his friends in Holt county, where
be formerly resided, for sufficient money
to enable him to get back. aud being re.
fused, be has applied to our friend in thi,
city. to whom we are indebted for the a
bove particulars of his hardships and bad
treatment at the hands of the Mormons.