Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-31

From an advertisement in another column
Il will be learned that the old county jail, In
this town, is 10 be sold at public auction on
the first day Of September, ensuing, by the
agent Of the county appointed for that pur-
pose.
Thus, will, doubtless, pass out Of the
ownership and control Of the county Of Han
cock a building around which clusters Incl
dents Of historic interest, the fame Of which
has gone into every civilized land under the
sun. Il IS not necessary in this connection
to speak Of the rise and growth Of Mormon
ism in Hancock county. We must be con-
tent with a brief allusion to the causes and
the GROWING incident which rendered the
old Carthage Jail an object Of worldwide
interest. The Mormon population IN han
cock county had increased IN folr or five
years from about $500 to 10000 souls, most
f whom we're inhabitants Of NauvOO and
vicinity. With this preponderance Of popu-
lation, it VIII be seen that the Mormons con-
rolled the balance Of power in the political
ana official management Of county affairs
and from the exercise Of this power II is
claimed that most, il not all, the trouble
originated which finally eliminated IN the
forcible hegira of that body from the county
in 1876. In May, or the forepart Of June,
1874 CHAuNCEY J.. HIGBEE NOW Judge
HIGpEEl undertook 10 establish a weekly
newspaper in Nauyoo, through which to
criticise and oppose the schemes OF the Nor
mon leaders. One or two issues OF the pa
per were permitted; when, some article APP
nearing which gave great ofiense to SMITH,
a council of Mormon dignitaries was called,
who voted Mr. HIGBEE's newspaper NUS
ance. and ordered the pI IS and material to
be DESTROYED. which was done.
Aside from this unlawful act, JOSEPH
SMITH came in conflict with the civil au-
thoritics Of the State and county on questions
involving good order and the execution OF
the laws for which one or more warrants
had been issued for his arrest. The arrest
was resisted for a season, until II became
evident that the State authorities, backed by
a competent military force, would take the
matter into their own hands. Under this
threatening aspect Of affairs, SMITH decided
TO Weld 70 the arrest, and accordingly, on
the 26th Of June, 1874, himself his brother
HIRAM SMITH, Doctor TAYLOR, Mormon
elder. and a Mr.. RICHARDS, a clerk or secre-
tary Of JOSEPH SMITH, were brought 70
Carthage, and placed in the debtors room
in the county Jail, with the paramount view
Of afording the prisoners the protection OF
the building against mob violence. At that
time, Carthage boasted Of a military organi-
cation, known as the Carthage Grays," IN
der command of Captain NOW COLONEL
ROBERT II. SMITH. A squad OF eight men,
under command Of Lieutenant FRANK WoR-
RELI, was placed as a guard over the jail to
watch as well as protect the prisoners. The
afternoon and night Of the 2Gth passed of
quietly. without incident worthy of record.
On the 9th. there arose feeling among
the citizens Of the town that the day would
bring forth some unusual event, the charac-
ter of which they were not prepared to de-
termine. Persons from distance were oc-
casionally arriving in town on horseback,
and shortly afterWard hurrying away.
Rumors Of an approaching mob were on
every tongue, but apparently without tangi-
bic foundation. Captain SMITH, and others
of his company, alternated through the day
in watching the approaches TO the town
from the courthouse cupola. A number Of
citizens. fearing trouble, had quietly taken
their families and some few personal effects
ont of the town. About four o'clock on the
afternoon of the 9th, the alarm was given
of the approach Of an armed body of men
from the direction of a point OF timber
northwest Of Carthage. When first seen,
these men numbering apparently 100 or
more. were running in single file behind a
string OF rail fence. Vixen they had APP
preached within a hundred yards of the Jail,
they made a furious charge across the open
space, oyerpowering the guard and sur
rounding the building. The men were all
disguised with blaczened faces and garments
of Outre description. They were, also, well
supplied with arms Of various kinds. The
hall and stairway leading 10 the debtors
room was soon crowded by the assailants
Meanwhile, SMITH and his companions
hearing the noise, and suspecting its inten-
ton, hal taken measures to secure the door
leading into their room, which seemed a
difficult task for the want Of proper iasten-
inrs. HIRAM SMITH, DR.. TAYLOR and Mr.
RfcHARDs placed themselves against the
door. while JOSEPH SMITH placed himself
in a position 10 command range Of the hall
in case the door should be forced.
AT this state of proceedings, some one Of
the assailants in the hall ireda shot through
the door panel, the ball entering the left
breast Of HIRAM SMITH, killing MIN almost
instantly. With the killing of HIRAM the
door came open, when JOSEPH SMITH com
menced firing his revolver IAN old fashioned
.'pepper-box" affair into the crowd in the
hall, wounding, il is said, a number of the
assailants severely. The firing then COM
menced from those in the hall. Severalmore
shots were freda the PROSTATE bodyof HIRAM
and at DR. TAYLOR, who, badly wounded, had
crawled under bed While in this position
the Doctor was fired at several times, receiv-
ing additional wounds. That he was not
killed. but finally recovered, is a miracle.
Mr.. RICHARDS, who stood quietly in a recess,
was completely hidden from sight by the
opening of the door, and escaped without
injury. JOSEPH SMITH, already wounded,
and seeing that he was overpowered, ran to
the east window with the view Of making his
escape there. When in the act of springing
from the window, he seemed 20 hesitate and
10 struggle as if he intended TO get back into
the room; but this intention, If such 1t was,
was frustrated by the shower Of bullets from
below which greeted his appearance in me
window. Saurh poised for a moment upon
the window SILL and then fell heavily to the
earth between the well-curb and the build
ing. when, givingone deep groan, he expired.
Word was Immediately passed among the
assailants. Z" The Smiths are dead when
they Immediately left town by the route
they came. Mr.. WALTER SrGALL, then
deputv Sheriff and Jailer, Immediately
summoned a Jury Of inquest on the bodies,
and a verdict was rendered in accordance
with the circumstances. Mr.. ARTOIs HAM
r1,roN. then proprietor Of the Carthage Ho-
tel. had the bodies taken 10 his house, where
thevreceived the customary attentions shown
the dead. Rough walnut boxes were then
hastily constructed, and the bodies placed in
them preparatory TO their being sent 70
Nauvoo Or. WALKER was taken 30 the no
tel snd his wounds carefully dressed by a
resident surgeon. Within an hour after the
killing. Mr.. ARToIs HAMILTON sent a mes
sonper 10 Nauvoo with the following an
noppccment: JOSEPH and HIRAM SMITH
are killed by q mob DR.. TAYLOR badly
wounded. viii take the bodies 70 Nauvoo
tomorrow morning. Don't send anybody
10 Carthage on any account for the present
Bv midnight Nauvoo was plunged into the
deepest. saddest gloom. Few, if any retir-
"a 20 rest: while, all night long, threngs OF
men. women and children surged through
the streets. During the forenoon OF the
next dsv. Mr.. HAMILTON arrived with the
bodies having met a detachment of Mormon
,,valrv. numbering 1000 men, sent as an
eseort From thence onward 20 the Man
SION House. the streets and sidewalks were
crowded with throngs of inhabitants. On
.rriying al the Mansion House, the bodies
,vere delivered 20 their friends.
Al he request of BRgoHAN NoUNG and
others Mr.. HAauIroN addressed the people
hrieAv explaining the Circumstances and
II. 1-fflfnfr the SMITHS