The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-05-13

escape the suspicion Of the despots who sur
rounded me- ! was frequently asked TO
take more wives, and was told that no man
could obtain high station unless he had ct
cas. three but excused myself as well as
could. This neglect On my part, and some
remarks which l made with respect to GER
tain Of Brigham's friends, determined the
Prophet 10 order my private execution, az
am able to prove by honest and competent
witnesses.
After this / acted with the greatest cir
cumspection, watching almost day and night.
Times continued to grow still darker and
still more gloomy. Persons dsappeared--
no one knew where murder was openly ad-
vied in the public mectir gs; houses were
pulled down at night, and persons whose
faith in Mormonism was suspected, were
searched in the hope OF finding evidence
against them. The Bishop Of Springyale
settlement--ffty miles south Of Salt Lake
City--had, IN a public meeting held in opon
day, ordered the assassination Of three per-
sons by name, whose only fault was their dc.
sire to leave the place. learned afterwards
from General Burr, United States Surveyor.
General, that be, himself, saw the corpSes Of
these unfortunate men. Early in the spring
of 1857. Brigham expected that great
many dissatisfied Mormons would leave the
Valley. To prevent or check this emlgra-
ton. be organized body Of 400 men, TO
whom 10 gave the name Of" Wolf Hunters"
The duty Of this band was to assassnate
every person, who should attempt to leave
the Valley without permission Of the Pro
phet They were to begin the discharge Of
this interesting duty On about APfii ~.
Knowing all this, and more than my lin.
tied time and space allow me 10 mention, |
determined TO run the risk Of an Effort to es-
cape at once, although, in that locality We
were still in the midst Of Winter. ] now,
for the first time, communicated my feelings
and fears TO my wife, and to my surprise
found her fully aware Of the dangerous and
lamentabe situation in which we were placed.
We decided TO leave, accordingly, on the st
Of April--two days after our determination
to escape was decided upon. But hotc to
escape with my family, which now consisted
Of eight children, my wife, her mother AMI
her brother the latter young man who
had only recently arrived in the Valley, and
had not yet been initiated into the secret
mysteries Of the faith. 1t was agreed, at
last, that only my wife should go with me,
~ the vongenco OF the Prophet would pursue
me more bitterly and earnestly than the
rest Ny brother-inlaw agreed to take his
flight with the remainder OF the family, start
ing on the 9th Of April, while the attention
Of the population would be absorbed by
General Conference. lie agreed. also, to
take noriberly direction, by way Of Ogden,
so that il pursued at oil, our enemies should
not suspect his route, AZ they would suppose
he had either gone directly east towards the
Rocky Mountain passes, or west, towards
California.
Myself and wife--thc latter dressed in
mems elothes--startcd at 10 o'clock Mt night
on the first Of April, and upon foot. Our
entire stock Of provisions was about twelve
pounds OF crackers, and a very little tea and
sugar. BESIDES these articles we carried
with US only a single light blanket. a dou.
ble.barreltd gun, keen edged sword, and
some ammunition. We started at once for
the mountains, but were obliged to travel
the road for distance OF twenty-tiv miles
before reaching them. Then We scrambled
along over the rocks on the mountain tops,
my purpose being 10 keep n course wherein
no horscman could follow me, even IL be
could suspect oar route, A small pocket
compass which had with mt was my guide
The nights were 50 cold that II was danger
ous or impossible 10 sleep. On the second
day my wile's feet and limbs began 10 swell,
and she soon was almost unable TO walk her
knee joints being stiff and useless. was
accordingly very often obliged to carry her
In my arms. to prevent her lying down in
despair, when she would have frozen to
death, or been torn by the proving wolves
who were on our track We had 10 cross
many creeks difficult TO ford, getting wet, OF
course. and thus greatly adding 20 our dis
comfort and danger of irszing, Indeed 1t
would be impossible TO describe all that We
suffered on this terrible journey. 1t was a
desperate struggle for the chance Of life
against almost certain death.
Mr.. LoaA succeeded finding refuge among
the Snake Indians, he then proceeded Ia
Fer, Laramie. where be was joined by bis
mother l,-law aud children. and after re-
manning a short time there, made his way
safely 10 Kansas.