Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-02-12
THE BOApD OF TRADE LECTURES.
Interesting Points About the Piains---The
Indians and the Mormons.

audience assembled laSU night 10 near
Chas. d. NcGufiey, Esq, deliver his lee
ture on az year among the Plains, the
Mormons and the Mountains" The
lecture was an exceedingly interesting
narrative of journey across the plains of
the far West in 1865, where the speaker
went in search of health. His descriptions
Of the scenery on the way, the life of the
eInigrants the conflicts with the Indians,
the life, religion, home and customs of the
Mormons were most entertainingly and
graphically presented. The lecture was
in every respect a complete success and
the effort has added to the already high
literary reputation of Mr.. McGuffey.
Wegive below such extracts as our space
will permit. OF the trip across the plains
MIR. McGuffey says:
Rude and toilsome is the weary march
of the Westward bound traveller, full of
peril and hardship, but free and vigorous
and well calculated to keep eye, limb and
arm ever on the alert and develops to the
full that quickness of resource and indom-
table endurance under toll and labor,
which is such q characteristic of the
American people. The mode of travel
presents but little variety. Every morn
ing, in the pale light of early dawn, the
summons us half asleep from our blanket
couches on the ground or under wagon
covers, and amid the struggling, wrang-
ling and cursing which accompanies the
yOking of the oXeu, we see the sun rise in
beauty beyond the horizon over the homes
we have left so far behind. AS his beams
grow fiercer the train moves slowly on,
the wagon master riding in front to see
that the way is clear and to look out for
water and grass for the next encampment,
the wagons trailing out in single file
behind.
HOW INDIANS FIGHT.
The style of warfare of the Indian is at
once peculiar cowardly and effective. The
most vigilant eye can rarely detect his
stealthy form except in the moment of at
tack, swooping suddenly out from behind
some neighboring bluff, the painted war
riors mounted on their swift IRdian ponies
rush down on the startled train, riding in
curves and circles, so as TO battle the aim
of the emigrant, and uttering most savage
wells in the endeavor to stampede the stock.
The drivers, taken unawares and encum-
bered with the care of their teams, are able
for few moments to offer no etfectual or
organized resistance, while in the
mean time showers of In
dian arrows and bullets come mingling
with their savage cries. is gun or pis-
tol pointed at one of them, the willy savage
drops behind his horses side, and cling
ing by leg and arm continues to discharge
deadly missels from under his horse
neck In a few moments either the ami
mails of the caravan are stampeded and
running frantically in every direction over
the prairie, or the the attempt Is over, the
travellers are forming corral, or tiocking
together at the point of danger, aud the
red skin, fearing the brunt OF battle, has
wheeled out on the prairie beyond rifle
reach, and secure of pursuit, unless unus-
ual desperation or overwhelming ODDS
should tempt him, as is sometimes the
case, TO dare the chances OF q prolonged en-
gagement.
ABOUT THE MORMoNs.
The Mormon system of religion which i
far more Intricate and plausible than j
generally supposed, is based on the belle
that the true church OF Jesus CHRIST wa
marked by the gifts of the gospel, speak
ing in tongues, prophesying, healing. cast
ing out devils. working miracles. and tina
this church disappeared from the earth, I
be restored again by Joseph smith. IN
words of Christ, "these signs shall folloN
them that believe they consider as al
plying, not alone TO the time of the Savio
hut to all coming generations.
Their church organization is modele
after that of the Scriptures, with which
processes to be in most respects ldentlca
They have their twelve apostles, the
bishops, priests ana elders, even ran
known as seventies to correspond wit
the "other seventy whom Christ sci
forth into the world. Joe Smith they CO.
slider as divinely inspired a prophet
Isaiah, as directly in communication wi
God as Moses on the Mount, and as no
and sainted a Martyr as Stephen.
LAYING on hands and amounting wi
oil for the healing of the sick are still pra
ticed and many speak with evident int
tional truthfulness of wondTous cures
which they have been the subject or
witness while the numerous failures 9
generally attributed to lack of faith.
Its difficult TO realize that one Is on
American Continent and in the nineteen
century to see Quartette of grave eld
holding up between them bottle OF oil
oil, while the cork being FIRST careful
drawn one of their number repeats
PRAYER, the object of which is to cleanse
fluid from all contamination IL may hi
experienced by passing through the hal
of those " who know not God, " To wit !:
but the Mormons, and render II efiicac
for healing the Saints Of the Lord, or h
men gravely telling of heaven sent visi
OF themselves or their brethren in
church.
Asceticism is above all things disco
aged among them. Brigham was him
the owner of the theater, q son-in-law
manager and some of his daughters ann
the actresses. Dancing is not only alloy
but recommended by the authorities Of
church.
HOW THE MoRMONs DANCE.