Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-25
, MORMON MISSIONARIES FATE.
We trusted i'm God, When Proper
PrecautiOn Would Have Puiie"
Him Through all Right.

Among the innumerable stories told oil
Mormon fanaticism and the deluslve
snares of the latter-day doctrine, the fol-
lowing facts were related last evening by
a gentleman stopping at the Walker
House for the special purpose OF showing
fanaticism and deception, which was
partly set aside by bit of valor on one
occasion at least. The DEMOCRAT reporter
being attracted by the elderly gentleman's
intelligent appearance, took a near seat
to hear the frequent story of PROSECUTING
elder:
George Phillips was born in Dunkirk
township. Green county, Pennsylvania,
where he grew up respectable and we'll
liked young man. A few years ago, while
working in planning mill, he listened to
THE OLD, OLD STORY OF UTAH
And its generous blessings, from the
mouth of a Mormon missionary, and the
young man embraced the last dlspenSa-
ton Of the chosen few. He married a
Miss Bussey, of an esteemed family, and
made trip to Utah. Here he became
doubly confirmed in the adopted faith
and returned TO Waynesburg, Pennsyl-
vania. In that vicinity he was about to
commence PROSECUTING for the upbuilding
of Zion, and boldly told his wife that ne
was going to preach for the e. OF ). {. l..
ID. S., and must have two more wives.
This shocked the decent feelings OF his
true wife, and made her the least bit reso-
lutte. and she said: 'If you bring any
more wives here | will leave" He in
sisted on doing what he claimed to be his
ordained duty. but his wife as determln-
edlv maintained her sacred rights to his
sworn and undivided attention. While
this matter was going on Phillips received
his commission to preach from the
church authorities in Salt Lake, and he
prepared to everlastingly spread the
Dolvgamous gospel among the Penny
mites. 1t happened one afternoon, only
three weeks ago, that a man by the name
of Former and his son were cleaning out
a well in Waynsburg, when young Fon-
ner, who had ventured down the well by
means of a rope, became unconscious
from the effect OF the poisonous gas, and
could nor ascend. His father ran up
Main street in the widest excitement and
gave the news that his boy was in the
we'll. A great crowd assembled to the
spot, and the question arose as to who
should 90 down.
Among those present was one man who
offered to 90 down after the young man,
provided $25 was given him. This sort
of talk called forth the heretofore latent
courage of Missionary Phillips, who saw
fine chance to add immortal praise to
his name and furnish fresh sort of mir
acle for the church he had started out to
serve A rope attached to the windlass
was prepared to be adjusted about his
body, SO that in case he felt the stupefy
ing effects of the foul air he could signal
and be brought TO the surface. But no,
HE SCORNED ALL SUCH PRECAUTIONS,
And said his faith in the only true gospel
was sufficient to overcome all difficulties,
in proof of which he would not have any
safeguards, but would rescue the young
man by his own exertions Phillips had
his way. and went down the rome hand
overland, while those above stood in
fear OF his meeting death without posi-
BILE rescue. He adjusted the rope about
young Fonner's body, then signalled all
right to the men above, who turned the
windlass. Slowly the two men neared
the top in safety, until within a few feet,
when Phillips became exhausted, it is
supposed, and letting 90 his grasp on the
rope, fell headlong to the bottom below.
Young Former was unconscious for
some minutes, but regained his senses
through the timely eXertions of several
physicians present.
PHILLIPS WAS BROUGHT UP LTFELESS.
The effect of so singular death upon all
present could not be described. The act
was one of courage, but foolhardy and
! fanatical, yet the city voted George Phil
! lips a most beautiful lot in the cemetery
in respect for his valor. Young Fonner
and his friends give all praise to Phillips
for his daring in the matter, though their
feelings are commingled with sorrow for
the almost wilful loss of life by trusting
in q deceptive belief OF super-human
power from the Mormon Church.
This simply shows that if he had
jumped into the well and came out alive
with young Former Phillips would have
appeared on the church scroll hero and
prophet of God, while as it is all can
see the fallacy of false belief which
leads to dangerous fanaticism.
Mrs. Phillips politely declined the
beautiful lot so kindly dedicated to her
deceased husband, and instead buried
the remains just out of the city on his
fathers farm, as was the general family
request.