The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-27
AMONG THE MORMONS
An Interesting Journey to the
Southern Settlements.
MISERY AND Discomfort.
Horrible Disclosure to a Herald
Correspondent.
A SECRET MIDNIGHT C0NCLAVE.
English People, Deceived and Disguised,
Want to Emigrate.
Disclosure to a Herald
Correspondent.
A SECRET MIDNIGHT CONCLAVE.
"COUNSEL" AND ASSASSINATION.

SALT LAKE CRY, June IL, 1877.
Let us penetrate the desert dotted at long dis
tances with settlements and surrounding green oases
Of Southern Utah. Tho Utah Southern Railroad OK
tends only seventy five miles down rom Salt Lake
CITY to York station. Between the city York three
railroads branch OF from the main line to the principal
mining camps, located respectively in Bingham Can
yon in the oquirrh range of mountains and
In the Cottonwood and American Fork canyons, which
slit the lolter heights OF the Wasatch to the east
These mines, worked exclusively by Gentilcs, are the
only places OF enterprsng activity until the traveller
reaches tho recently located mining camp on Silver
Reef 800 miles below stage route from York to tho
Arizona border is travorscd in the worst vehicles with
discomfort, and, indeed absolute misery to pas
sengers, any other l have passed over
IN tho West Tho scenery visible from
1t by day is combined OF objects OF gran
deur and dcsoation The Wasatch SUBMITS are
dominated by here and there peak almost surprising
the monarchs OF the Alps its altitude the
Such is Mount Nebo, and such that giant which some
wayiarer dubbed "old Badly" years before Fremont
descended 10 tho desert through pass under its
northern shoulder Occasionally tho desert narrows
20 ravine, up VIII ich the roadway ascends tortuousy
10 the summit OF a windy divide Upon the divides
bitter storms descend not in the winter only, but un
expectedly IN spring and even In the torrd summer
months. Nor do storms refrain from invading the
lower plains where the settlements are situated, and
which sometimes spread out below the divides over
spaces II hundred miles In width. From these tre-
mendous levels the eve discerns clear day not
only the white ridges OF the wasatch, but far of
toward the Pacific the golden sides Of the Sierra
Nevada range Herds OF cattle and horses-the largest
herds belonging to the Mormon Cburch-are visible
like specks along the benches and in the valleys of
scanty streams. The grass is thin, and In the hot
,a h,t hrnut
crossword and rabpilbush The stage road is ard !;
The stations sometimes twenty-six miles apart,
with no water for the horses between them. Except
when Mormon Conference is held in the far away
.Templci OF ST. George few teams or horsemcn ap-
pear outside the settlements. Tho only birds that fly
hawks and carrion crows The wayside is whtcncd
with alka dust the bones of hundreds OF cattle
that have persisted in storms and thirst.
MIsLED IMMIGRANTS
An INDISPENSABLE melancholy Expresses a stranger
here which is enhanced whenever he arrives one
OF the solitary settlements along his way At his first
entry into a Mormon village he is struck by its con-
trast with the city he has left behind him. In Salt
Lake there is large leavcn Of Gcnties and such
an air OF enterprise that he may have had tow op-
poriunities 10 inspect below It's surface Nor
mon society Mormon polity Here no dscerns
tho irremediabe difference between true Mormons and
women who, cnticcd from England Scotland, Wales
and Denmark by Mormon missionaries came to
America before the first Mormon pioneer train left the
Missouri River for the farther west They came at
the sacrifice OF family ties, old friendships and worldly
goods. Some OF them had property and money others
penniless But such was the fanaticism instled
into them that those who had means parted with what
they had and consented 10 It's DIVISION among those
who were unprovided for. Most OF them reached New
York with absolute equality OF worldly possessions
md when they arrived at the Missouri River they
we're impoverished as to be at the mercy of the
Church authorities. Then began the journey
across the Plains ana through the canyons
OF the Rocky and The Wasatch Mountains
Thousands undertook that dreadful migration
without animals. Husbands and wivos, brothers and
sisters drew foot their hand carts, which
aimed their bedding, extra clothing, food and few
agricultural and cooking utensils. They marched in
his way fifteen, twenty sometimes twenty-five miles a
lay. Often these marches were made without water,
pnen they encampcd without water, and spent whole
nights awake, tormented by thirst Their sulrerlngs
from extreme heat and cold wcro frequently fatal.
Women pinned away by scores. On two trips several
hundreds of emgrants persisted, and the brutal
Of the guards heard each morning in the camps
calling
show many dead2 Hurry upl Turn them Quit"
The burials used to be completed by eight o'clock
A. NJ, and the next victims trudged with the train
TO tall under tho heat Of tho and die before
again. Yet still tho infatuated creatures ad-
vanccd to meet the mountain snow storms,
which, they had been assured by the Nor
mon priests, would, while descending all around
them, leave clear space in their front through which
They might pass, like new children OF Israel between
the drifts OF frozen seal Though the miracle failed
remained. Entering these deserts at last tho sur.
vivors sustained themselves for weeks upon AMI
q scanty supply OF They have since been
almost completely separated IRON the outside world.
BgrGnAx's YOKE.
Imprisoned here alike by pcnury by the oaths they
had taken 70 the Church and by ianatical devotion
their Prophet Brigham Young, they accepted pari-
archa government which required more sell sacrifice
and unqucstionng obedience Than had been demanded
under any previous theocracy earth. The Nor.
mon system, strengthened and establish ed
In Utah, placed tho people and all their
affairs both spiritual and temporal, under tho
absolute control OF Brigham Young lie
denies It in tho interview which you recently pub
shed in order 10 deceive the people OF the United
States but it was nevertheless at that time true and
II continues to be true in respect to nearly all Nor
mons outside OF Salt Lake City. In Salt Lake City,
too more than ave-cighths OF the Mormons continue
10 acknowledge this allcg lance to Brigham Young.
He Is president seer rcveator translator and prophet,
and he then, Also Governor OF tho Territory and
,gcnt IN charge OF the Indians. Through line Of
apostles high priests, elders, bishops, priests teachers
and dcacons he ruled every household In the first
place be was aud IS believed 10 his nspra-
lions direct from heaven. No matter what wishes he
expressed no matter what orders he gave, they
received by the people as commandments from on
high. There was not. twenty years ago, a household
IN tho Territory the names Of whose mem
bers thor occupations ana their opinions Brigham
Young did not know. IL Is nearly the same
TODAY In every settlement there presiding bishop,
Who has under him others called ward bishops, aud
each precinct Of ward provided with teacher who,
together with his assistant deacons, s privileged to
vst every house and extract from the inmates comics
-. -. ..oro nllcli ihnn those rendered By CnIhn.