The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-28
arranges himself to perform the feat of writing
a composition In the English language the first
word that rushes into his mind is 'sprox."
SIDNEY RIGDON.
The Man Who Wanted to Succeed 10 Smith
His Failure Personator of Angels.

The Man who Wanted to Succeed 10 Smith
His Failure as q Personator of Angels.
Salt Lake Tribune.
During the time when the early Mormon
saints were prospecting Ohio for proselytes
several elders and preachers among the number
Sidney Rigdon, unfuried their banner at the lit
tie town of Belleville. Richland county. There
they were for time very successful in ''pro
tracted effort having struck rich lead of gno
rance and eredulity 10 the neighborhocds sur
rounding the village.
The town of BelleviHe stands on the banks of
the Clear fork of the Mohican river, and in
this stream were baptized all the converts
made during the Mormon raid. Finding many
of the people gullibe and gaping for miracles,
the leader of the Mormon band boldly an
nounced that on certain Sunday when several
converts were to be baptized, an tangel of the
Lord would make his appearance This
wonder" was loudly proclaimed-was told in
Gath and published in Askelou. While some
the promised angel the majority either did not
swallow him or took him with large pinch of
salt A few young men living in the town
secretly resolved to lie in wait for the angeI OF
the Lord and investigate him in case of his APP
pearing as announced
On our side of the Mohican river was level
bottom land, and on the other bluff bank about
thirty feet in height, crowned with a thicket of
brier, hazel, and thorn bushes. AT those times
when there was to be a washing of the ''un
one thinking of crossing over to the brushy bluff
The brow of this bluff, therefore, would be a
place in which the "angel' could appear without
fear of suffering the communicating touch of the
vulgar herd. To this conclusion came the young
''doubting Thomases" of the town, and they laid
their plans in accordance Herewith.
The day arrived. and with it an unusually
large concourse of people, doubtless the result
Of the angel dodge The candidates for baptism
were ranged in row upon the shore, and the
IS &hn
hymn there suddenly went up from the prose-
lytes shouts of, "The angel! The angel"
"Behold, the angel of the Lord appears' cried
the officiating priests GLORY to God, the angel
of the Lord"
There he was, sure enough.
The CANCEL Of the Lord was arrayed in white.
and as he promenaded the verge of the bluff, he
opened and folded pair of snowy wings in a
leisurely and comfortable way, as we have seen
done by butterfly seated on clover blossom
GLORY to God! He has come! He has come!
Glory! glory! the angel of the Lord!' shouted the
believers.
Thus encouraged the angel pranced forward
to the end of the blua and, spreading his wings
to their greatest extent, seemed to be about to
bless the multitude. Suddenly, however, his
air. Though some cried: ''He comes! He f1iess
the fight was short one. Down tumbled the
angel of the Lord" into hole of blue water at
the foot of the bluff.
Inc people StOOu aSCOunueu. HOW an anger
fresh from heaven could have so miscaiculated
his poweI Of flight they could not comprehend
The Mormon priests and elders, however, were
all activity They waded and swan out across
the stream. and dragged ashore the founde. .ng
'angel of the Lord, in whom a few, at least
were not at all astonished to discover, when he
was stripped of his celestial raiment, the re-
doubtable Sidney Rigdon.
This mischance cooked the Mormon goose at
Belleville. Rigdon's goose would have also been
done to death" had it not been for the timely
assistance of his friends. Swathed as he was
in white muslin to the tips of his fingers
he was utterly helpless in the water, and
was at his last grasp, when hauled ashore. I'm
seen by those below. the bad boys of Belleville
had crept from their place of concealment in the
brush and bounced the pretended angel over the
bluff Poor Rigdon! he suffered much in the
Mormon cause.-The was once tarred and feathered
at Kirtland-yet his claims to consideration
were worse than ignored by the peculiar peo
Pile" After the killing Of Joe Smith, at Nauvoo.
ILL.,, Rigdon aspired to become the head Of the
Church. but Brigham Young was chosen and
Rigdon was not only 'cut off" but was solemnly
delivered to the devil to be ''buffeted in the
flesh for thousand years