Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-09-07
Stltttt0 StOrp.
THE MIDNIGHT TRIBUNAL.
LieutemanCs Adventures in salt Lake
city.

'N0 more trips down town after dark -
shouted Lieutenant George Payson. en-
teIiug my camp and venting his spite on
the camp stools
Il vas years $50, before the great
faciic Railroad was more than a dream.
Platte Bridge Denver, Laramie, Omaha
aud other towns and ci,ics were hardly
noticed BY the map makers. and the
Indian, wo.t, and buffalo held possession
ct the country irom Omaha to Salt Lake
Il was, too, during the palmy days of
'the Institution" when Mormons ruled
with bloody hands. and when Genules
were doggtd and shot rs they lett the
city, or "saa,chcd" while in it. spirited
away, and never heard Of afterwards.
Camp Counor was Camp Connor then.
and situated Just where the present mill
tgry post is. II sometimes coniaiac two
huuGr,d soldiers. and sometimes not
mole than totY OF fifty. Delachments
were sen, from there To- do duty at other
posts, to escort mail carriers or govern
mcut trains. but there was always 3 body
oi men and numoer OF officers at the
post The administration had an idea
20 il Seemed) that the presence of sol.
dicys SO near the city was a great protec-
tiou % the sinners who habited the
town or passed il, but we never had occa-
sion 20 believe that Brigham Young and
bis numerous saints cared IL whether
we wen; away or remaired. lIo had
''ayeuging angels" in numbers sufficient
to have captured Us 81, any hour; and but
for tear OF corilic, with The government.
q soldier would not have been sale from
these scoundrels anywhere within fifty
miles OF SAT- Lake.
There. read that" continued PaySou,
handing out general order AS look
ed up.
"Haying reason to believe that Ser
geant Brit,ou was killed in the city by
some OF The Mormon population, and
knowing that Brigham Young's SO called
'ayengiug angels make it business to
dog the steps OF soldiers and officers;
aud believing that our peril will be les
ssned by remaining within our camp after
night, now,
"Therefore-From and alter this date
no soldier or officer will be permitted to
yisi, the city after sundown except upon
the written permission OF the colonel
commanding"
So read The order; and while | saw that
il cut short our little plans for pleasure and
recreation, also saw the motive which
had induced t,and realized IS well as the
c,lougl. tha. taeye was reason tor Us TO
fear evi! from the numbering bands which
had been christened "ayenging angels
b, one whose hands were never free from
blood.
| did not. therefore, express my IN
donation toward the colonel. my inten'
ton TO Immediately throw mp my com
mission ard return East TO 90 Into the
grocery business; nor did say that we
should kick up q rumpus that the military
tyrapt would be forced to rescind the
order. And alter few minutes conver'
sa,ion with Payson, l brought him around
70 see matters rs l saw them, and be
agreed that the colonel was right
: month or Two previous The non
commissioned officer spoken ol in the
general order had paid visit to the CITY,
and never returned. He was always Tree
~ express his sentiments even to The
Normons. OF whom be was purchasing IN
the city. and we believed that they had
,,,rdersd him. An attempt had
been made to work out the case, butanS
detective might As well have tried TO
work out against al the thieves oil Lon.
DON. The fellows were impudent, ooiu
and overbeariug. and even declared that
they were glad if the sergeant had hnally
received what would be dealt out TO all
other meddling ''sinners."
So the order was timely and sensible
and the officers did not rebel.
There were four OF us lieutenants-
two middle aged married men, sober as
deseops. and Payson aud myself. we two
being less than twenty. five years DID, ana
rather inclined to excitement anu senSa-
ton. Having bat little to do, paid oil
regularly, 20 one but ourselves to care
Cor q city near at hand. 1t was no wonder
that we were a little wild. We had been
IN the habi, of attending at the tabernacle