The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-05
MORMON EMTORANTs.

On the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific,
going west Tuesday night, were two trains
of emigrants for Utah These were mostly
from New York, Philadelphia and the east,
or from Europe, and sorry-looking set
they were The men were the most i'll
formed. ill-shaped specimens of humanity
that the writer ever looked upon. There
was no appearance whatever of intelli
gence in the men, and they belong, with
out doubt to the lowest class of humanity
The women were deformed, homely and
unintelligent also, and the children, the
offspring of these crude people. were ter
ribly misshapen. The heads of many have
grown to unusual size; the limbs are crook
ed. and there were a large number of
dwarfs. The entire number, over 700,
were below the medium height and coarse
looking. They were packed together in
emigrant cars and seemed to have no sense
of decency.
In answer to some questions by THE
ARGUS reporter, one of the men, who gave
his name as John Corbyn. who looked as
if he belonged in other company, said
they were but the advance guard of what
was to come; that the emigration to Utah
would reach many thousands this year. and
that most of them would be from the over
crowded cities of Europe and America. In
answer to Question whether they had
been offered inducements to take up the
new faith, Corbyn said that many were
paid as high as 300 to come, but that the
most of them came without any fee what
ever. He said they were promised good
homes in Utah, and that it was a mistake
to suppose they were going without know
ing what would be their fate.
Over in the corner of the car was rath-
seemed to shun her surroundings and there
THE. ARGUS reporter directed his attention,
she gave her name as Fannie Melrose of
Philadelphia and said that she was per-
feet in the new faith. She claimed to have
been well raised and to have wealthy rela
tives in the east, but said that she was con-
WINGED that Mormonism was the faith for
her. She was not inclined to answer a
question about being bribed to take up the
Latter Day cross, and simply said, Il was
not bribed if others were, they must tell
their own story"
The next one to attract the attention of
THE ARGUS reporter was old man, APP
parently 60 years or more, who was on his
way to the promised land. He said his
name was Conrad and that he came from
New York; that he had formerly been a
minister but had changed his views about
STA NSCdIS ago anu WtUt 10 y Till u tdES u L,
the cross of Brigham Young. He said he
was convinced that Mormonism was the
true doctrine and he had never regretted
his departure from the ministry. After
questioning him some, however, the report
CT gleaued the fact that Conrad had been in :
vited to leave the ministry because of too
much familiarity with his flock. He is one
of the missionaries and was mainly instru-
mental in getting about 200 of the emf
grants to join the Mormon church He
says few if any repent of the new life; that
all are well treated, and that there are az
missionaries in Illinois, Iowa. and Michi
/ gan.
Another train of emigrants viii shortly
arrive for Utah, most of whom are young
women, and nearly ali from New York ane
| the East.
While those interviewed appeared anx
4 ious to create the impression of contentmen
with their lot, the reporter could detect an
effort in the telling that belied the state
ments.
i These human beings are enticed on te
ruin by the honeyed words and fame,
promises of the Mormon missionaries. ant
right here in Illinois dozens of these mel
are breaking up families and decoyinl
i young women to a life of immortality.