Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-24
A MORMON ROMANCE,
A Fugitive from Hatred-A Mormoi
Murderer Prosecuted for Having Cor
fesssd His Crime.


A Washington correspondent Of the
New York Tribune sends to that paper
some interesting sketches of Lieutenant
Wheeler's exploring expedition In Utah
and Colorado from one of which we ex-
tract the following story of strange
character and career.
This strange country, with its mac.
cesaible mountains and terrific canons,
rendered still more dangerous by the
presence Of hostile Indiane, aud near
neighborbood Of the fanatieal Mormons,
is the fitting theatre for lawless deeds Of
violence. Another story, an adventure
III INV itiit,u W. es~e'e ~ NJ,
from the fact that heard tGe9x 4 AZ qsasni WI
at the same time. In the expedition OF
1871, when in South Nevada, a small de.
tachnent of the main party, as they ap
preached a rude house standing on a
| desolate site high up on the mountain
they were traversing, observed that a
woman ran hastily from the door and
gave the alarm, TO which a number ol
men responded, hurrying up from huts
10 the neighborhood, with in their
hands, aud the evident intention of div
ing off the intTuders. On learning thai
the strangers were Gentiles, however, The
men went of peaceably, and the women
received them with hospitality. In this
house lived Philip Klingham Young
formerly a Mormon bishop, and one o
the Mormons implicated IN the MountaiI
Meadow massacre which, 70 years ago
sent thrill of horror through tlie country
An emigrant train, you will remember
was attacked by party of Mormons diR
guised as Indians, and men women an
children savagely slaughtered. Smith
after taking part In this horrible on
slaught, suffered such agonies OF remors
that he made full confession and fec
! The Mormons pursued him resolved
take his life for betraylng them, and hay
ever since pursued him with RELENTLESS
malignant hatred.
From place to place the wretched ma
- has wandered, until at last, in the de-
. persti0n of utter weariness, he settle
/ down upon this mountain In Souther
Nevada. Even In this lonely inaccess
BILE spot he does not feel secure. Il
seldom remains at home, but spends b
time lurking about the mountains, ostei
sibly on prospecting trips, while h
e neighbors have undertaken TO defend b
+ house from the attacks, constantly 10
apprehended, of the hostile Norman
This Smith has a wife and children, u
wife very beautiful and possessing unusu
sweetness and dignity. She was pro
that exceptional sorrows, when they
ie not utterly degrade, sometimes. deyei'
N the finest traits. She was very timid
first, but finding that her gue'
we're gentle as well as He
=, tiles, and In need Of refreahme
- and repose, she forgot her fear and
IA, tertained them with the best the hou
~ afforded. Smith returned at night-fa
. An old man, with haggard face, and wi
~ piercing eyes, he came stalking In like
ne visible embodiment Of the Wauderi
Jew or Ancient Mariner, AMI, like
IN Ancient Mariner, Il seemed his doom
lay the burden of bis frightful story ~
the passing stranger. For hoqrs he b
his guests with bis glittering eye, II
of with his shiVering hand, while diselos
the tormants of his guilty conscience,
agonles he had endured before max
'nu his confession and was still enduring.
was a strange scene that lonely dwellt
aar the awful grandeur af the surround
scenery overshadowed by the gloom
night tha soul-tragedy poured forth
ar the haunted murderer 10 impassion
=, heart-broken utterance the group
~ awe.struck young men, careless, hap
coming from their different world
this dismal abode nor would u
been complete without the presence
the wife and ehildren-ht symbols
the divine love which casts some gil
OF light over the most appalling tri
dies this pale faced woman, who
learned to listen without trembling
n, this story, at which strong mex 81
dered, because Of her infnite love
compassion for the guilty man,