The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-05-12
LIFE AMONG THE MORmoms.
suHering q tie Hand Cart Train
BRIGHAM YOUNG PREPARING TO
RETREAT TO THE MOUNTAINS.
acvela.ion OF an Escaped victim


Frederick Lcba, a highly educated but
fanatical man, q native of Luzerne, Swift
zerlaud, becoming a convert to Mormon
faith, left an honorable position in his
native country and joined the Saints at
Salt Lake. lie found on his arrival
that he had been grossly deceived. We
give below the substance of a long let
ter which he has recently published con
corning Utah
He had the command Of a large COM
paDy from Liverpool, spent the winter
of 1855 in St. Louis, and started for
Utah in the spring of 1854. En- route
his wife died, illusion after Illusion van
ished, till he came in sight of Salt Lake
City, Fhea the horrible truth of the de-
cePtion practiced upon him burst in all
its dreadful reality upon him. Nj. Lo-
ba was oui teously received by Brigham
Young, and elevated to high position in
the Church of Latter Day Saints. He
submitted. Though fully realizing his
condition, he saw that escape was impos-
sible, unless be feigned allegiance to
the Prophet. Having married again,
and being possessed Of q large family,
he determined to wait patiently for some
means of escape. Years rolled by
The tyranny OF Brigham became more
marked. He ruled with an iron rod
Murders and outrages that beggar de-
scriptions we're of daily occurrence. Mr..
tLoba,s orthodoxy being suspected, and
his assassination determined upon, be
concluded on the lstsof April, 1857, to
leave the Valley at every risk. He did
not communicate this determination to
his wife till half an hour before he start
ed. Ms. Lobasd dressed herself in mems
CLOTHES, and at 10 o'clock in the night,
April LIST, the two started for the States.
They had but fourteen pounds of crack
ers, one blanket weighing about three
pounds, a shot gun and some little valu
ables. they avoided all roads and took
to the tops of the mountains. After a
fortnight,s wandering death seemed at
hand. They were among the SHOWS;
wolves were even about them. Mrs.
Loba's limbs were f~earfuliy swollen =
The husband had no strength to carry
the wife, and both lay down to die
They lived through the night, how ever,
and in the morning heard the loo of an
OK ; soo6 after an Indian was espied,
and the unfortunate sufferers made an
lother effort to save their lives. After
some hours of weary p~loddipg they came
to a camp of Snake Indians, by whom
they were kindly received. BY the kind
assistance and care of Gen. Burr, Mr..
aud Mrs Loba arrived safely at Fort
Laramie 6i5
Before leaving the valley, Mr.. Loba
had made an arrangement with a rela~
tive) to take his family from the valley
to Fort Laramie. They started in a
wagon comfortably stored, and had prog.
ressed some 100 miles when they were
overtaken by a baud of Danites, who
plundered the wagon, took off one yoke
of oxen, and left the family in a perfect
lily destitute condition. Assisted by 9th
er trains. they managed finally to reach
the fort, where all the family were re-
united. The past was forgotten IN the
Joyful present, and Mr.. Loba looked for
ward to a happier future. He purchased
a moderate ft-cut, and secured a claim
on the Black Vermillion. Sickness
came on the uDfortauate family, three
children died, and Mr.. Loba left for Mis-
souri,. Arriving at Weston, his family
were again Frustrated, and finally made
their way 10 this city, where they have
been IN a measure cared for.
Mr.. Loba gives some facts about Utah
Territory that are particularly interest
ing at this time, and from his statements
I make up . short article.
THE VALLEY
EIs perfectly barren and arid. Nothing
gr VS. we'll but potatoes. Gardens are
cultivated with difficulty everything is
,mpregnated with saIeratus. There are
no trees except at q distance of twenty
miles no mineral within buudreds of
miles; and the iron there found is of
such a magnetic nature as to be eompar-
~atively useless for mechanical purposes.
All cultivation is done by irrigation, and
the Mormons just raise enough to sup
port life.
THE POPULATION Hvggo
Number altogether some30, 900 no more.
Out of this number no more than $500
could be relied upon to fight The main.
part of the population are a miserable
and degraded set of beings, who know
nothing, care for nothing, aud live from
hand to mouth. The women rather pre-
pouderate and are chiefly foreigners,
THE DANIrEs. l5
The Danites, or Destroying Angels
number about $780,. They are Brigh-
ANS trnsty friends and choice devils
The numbering and ~pluneering is done
by this band. They are all we'll mount
ed, though but poorly provided with
arms. The Danites have unlimited sway
over life and property They are FREE
q~uentlJ sent on missions to different
parts of the world Upon this baud en-
ttirely Brigham relies for support and
protection. They surround his person
and do his bidding without question. If
a man is suspected of not being a good
Mormon, the Danites kill him Instantly
PUNISHMENT.
No such thing as punishment for
crimes is ever attempted in Utah. The
most horrible deeds are perpetrated, and,
though the perpetrators are we'll known,
they are allowed to go unpunished. Mr..
Loba has not known a case of punish
ment since his residence in the valley.
Killing a odd Gentilen is thought to
fbe p~raise-worthy IN the extreme. aud al
ways elicits the warmest commendatlon
from the Church authorities In Utah,
briefly il may be said, law il . mockery;