The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-01-15
THRILLING ADVENTURE WITH THE
MORMONS.


MORMONS.
&C. Lansdon, formerly connected with
the United States Surveyors office in Utah.
was engaged in his official duties at the time
of the United States Court was broken up
and witnessed the stampede Of Uncle sam >
officers. Brigham Young having declared
that no United States official should again set
foot 10 the Valley, LangdOn was prompted 10
visit Salt Lake City, and see wha' PfeP"'"-
,;oos the Mormons were making. lie saw
them casting cannon shot, aud manufacturing
n,.no and canister in great abundance, and
som. 6fty men making Colts dragoon-size
noivs,s He was detected, however, and
..,otted" for destruction. He says:
Accordingly, on the 25th day of July, when
crossing the street, | was assailed by purty
Of ruffians, was knocked down and most
shamefully beaten with clubs and stones. ]
was literally cut and bruised and mangled all
over my head, face, breast, hands and arms.
| was taken home unconscious, and had II not
been for some emigrants there who interpos-
ed, l should have been brutality murdered in
the streets, and without the least possible
chance to defend myself.
An was quiet until the night Of the 9th
of July; was disturbed by loud rapping at
the back door of the Office, Il lived next door,
and also heard voices at The front door.
beurd Mr.. Wilson raise the window above
and ask what was wanted; he was ordered to
cone down and deliver himself up under ar
rest, by the authority of Governor Brigham
Young. lie asked what charge they had
AGAINST him. "Come down, and we'll d--n
soon show you," was the reply.
The next heard was the door being broken
open. and the voice of Mr.. w. in expostula-
ton with them, the entreaties OF his wife,
begging for them To spare her husband, min
pled with their oaths and obscene expressions,
rendered the scene perfectly heart-sickening.
I lay almost powerless, with the pain Of my
wounds and conflicting thoughts and emo
tons, until suddenly was thoroughly arous
ed by hearing them beneath my window, a:
the back door. told my wife not to make
noise, or even cry; she did not cry, but her
last words were, "For Gods sake, George,
hy! Go--go-if you can-I-l-cannot see
you murdered! Oh, 60! and will do the
best | can to detain them"
iIad time 20 put on a pair Of pantaloons
and,one stocking, when, without any ceremo-
ny, the door was burst open, and posse OF
midnight assassins entered below. ! motion.
ed to my wife to extingush the light, which
she did. They Immediately made II rush for
the stairs expecting, no doubt, that | was
preparing for fight, but could not have kill
ed mouse then.) stopped and kissed my
infant boy-perhaps for the last time on earth
then barely had time to leap from the win
dow, and in doing so cut my foot very bad
ly. II seemed the fates were against me; but
suddenly, the thought struck my mind that if
/ could possibly make my escape, | might
probably be the means of saving WILSON,
thinking they dare not execute their bloody
purpose on one alone, as the other would be
too formidable witness against them; for |
thought Of my wife and child; yes, might
vet live to rescue him from the blighting in
fuence of their teachings-from lite OF
poverty, Ignorance and wretchedness. Thus,
with renewed energy, pursued my way
through the corn fields and Tickets, bare
footed and bare-hesded, and nearly nude; but,
at last, found friend who relieved me all
that lay in his power, by giving me pair OF
moccasins and an old hat Thanks, my friend;
may you never want relief.
] was holly pursued several DAYS. The
next morning after started for California
and had the satisfaction of seeing seven OF my
pursuers, mounted and armed TO the teeth,
pass me within twenty yards, while ! was
secfeted behind a sage bush; could not re-
frain from smile even then in my critical
position, to see their knives and pistols hung
TO their belts, while had not even PEN
knife.
| have not yet heard from Salt Lake, and
do not know the fate Of Wilson. ! entertain
but little fears for the safety of my wife and
child; the Mormons seldom modest or harm a
woman, except to coerce her into measures
that are sometimes very disagreeable. rely
on the well-known fortitude and frmness OF
my wife, and do not think shall be disap-
pointed.