Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-12
Written for the Grant County HERALD.
ABOUT THE MORMONS.
By one Who Saw Thorn at Nauvoo.

The execution of Bishop John ID.
Lee in Utah for the Mountain Meadow
Massacre OF twenty years ago has
again revived in the public mind the
past history of the strange sect known
as the Latter Day Saints. The writer
of this Renaissance was in Nauvoo
in July, 1914, few daye after Joe
Smith and his brother Hiram had been
shot by disguised mob at the county
Jail at Warsaw. Nauyoo was at the
head of the lower rapids. In those
days it will be remembered that it
sometimes required day or two or
more for a steamboat to ascend those
rapids. The freight would be trans
ferred on two keelboats, dashed to
each side of the steamer, long rope
and an anchor would be thrown out
say 100 yards above the boat, the
capstan would turn and groan, the
puff of the steam, and the desperate
and fitful revolutions of the paddle
wheels, the occasional humping and
humping on the rocks all showed the
difficulty and peril of the navigation.
1t was like that of the old Argonauts.
The struggling boat would seem to
agonize and perspire. The passengers
sympathized with the noble vessel,
exerting itself like Pennsylvania
draft horse that would prefer to die
rather than not move its load. The
writer had an opportunity while the
brave boat was holding on to anchor
rope and gaining foot by foot,to spend
a day or two in Nauvoo.
When you reached the Mormon
community, you could not have found
people more unlike yonr own in
opinions, social customs and religion,
had you been suddenly dropped down
in Ashantee or Timbuctoo. The pop
ulation of the place was about Is, 900,
only second to Chicago in numbers.
Many of the buildings were of brick
or stone, and equal at that time in
general appearance to any in the
State. They were mostly new. The
environs, however, were filled with
rude cabins, mud and sod huts, and
Inhabited by families taken from the
lowest ranks of old country laborers,
the children half clad, uncombed and
filthy. There were great many
marred and unnatural countenances.
The recent death of the prophet
seemed TO have stunned the entire
population The people generally
passed you with. head declining, but
you would observe them turn up their
eyes with a malicious scowl. If you
have ever noticed a swarm of bees af
ter il his been robbed, and the queen
destroyed, and all industry abandon
ed, the insects on wing uncertain
where to go. what to DO, or whom TO
obey, you will have pretty correct
idea of the condition of the Mormon
population at this time.
Mr.. Mark, q Mormon, very liberal
in his views, and well disposed to-
ward the gentle world, kept fine
hotel in the city, in fare and accom-
mediation equal to any in Illinois. We
learned that the prophet often board
ed at this hotel while living, and a
wife and two of his children were
still there. Smith was described as a
fine locking parsonage, with rudy
complexion and red hair, and such he
appeared to be in full length por-
trait, if remember right, hung up in
one of the halls of the hotel. The
Mormons were military order from
their first organization. Even 10 the
midst of their calamity, they kept up
military drill. Companies of boys
with fife and drum performed military
eyolutious in the streets and public
squares with great TACTICAL skill. War
was part, if not the principal part, OF
their early and and adult education
Their architecture-that is of their
public buildings, followed no modern
model. l remember the long rather
low brick edltce known as the hall
of the twelve apostles. The "all see
ing eye" was strongly and powerfully
portrayed above the portal and ] can
not forget the imposing glance Of that
eve which seemed to follow me where
ever | turned; but the Temple, if that
had been completed, it would have
been one of the seven wonders of the
world 1t was situated on a fine
eminence commanding view far
above and below the city, of the faith.
err of waters, and there were acres oil
squared stone designed for its walls
scattered over the surface of the con-
secrate6 hill. But the workmen, ex-
cept some few faithful believers, bad
deserted their task-their hammers
were there, and chisels-sometimes
an old garment, but it was evident
that the growth of the great building
had met temporary if not final
check. Near the temple wall | saw
the since celebrated Brigham Young.
He then appeared to be person OF
distinction among the Mormons; he
had book under bis arm. and was
earnestly gesticulating to some broth
rem, about what ] did not hear.
One of the architects of the temple
| explained to me its meaning It was
3 huge hieroglyph TO symbolic the
universe. It's lower story represented
the earth, land and water Some Of
the interior symbols were not unlike
those Of Solomon. There was an i'm
mense layer or basin, / don't remem-
Der how many feet in diameter, OF
what depth 1t was a formidable
vessel, to be tiled with water, repre-
senting the sea, aud TO serve as a
baptismal font, for the Mormoas came
largely from the Baptist dcnomina-
ton This sea rested on the backs 0!
eight oxen. yoke OF two heading to-
ward each OF the cardinal points
these beasts in bronz or of some other
material, looked solemn, grave and