Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-01-16
MURDERED BY
The Strange Career and Tragic
Death Of Joseph Morris.

Deatn Oh Joseph MOTIFS.
The career OF Joseph Morris and his
death formed n of the grandest and
most romantic episodes in the history
of Utah, writes a correspondent from
! Salt Lake City to the San Francisco
Post. He claimed to be o prophet,
seer and r~eyelator, and declared
against the %corruptions and short
comings of the Mormon hierarchy.
He was presented from city to city and
from place to place, and at last retired
tn the beautiful canyon of the Weber
river. a new st. John in the wilderness.
There many hundreds of people gath
cred around him, coming from all
parts Of the territory, leaving their
farms and all they could not bring
with them. They came with their
teams, provisions and stock, and there
for nearly TWO years they remained
listening to the revelations of this
desert seer, who possessed II wonder
full power to hold tho people together
under the most trying circumstances.
They formed some companies of in
fantry, well armed and equipped, and
the seer Joseph was mystically hailed
as lord of the whole earth-as the rep-
resentative of Jesus. This was In
May. 1862.
But the time soon drew near when
it became evident that they who take
the sword must perish by the sword,
for the next month Robert Burton and
the Mormon militia made their APP
pearance on the hills around Weber.
They numbered about 500 men, well
armed and supplied with cannon. The
Mormon leaders approached and were
told that they could come into tho fort
with perfect safety. They did so, and
presented the warrant for the arrest of
the Morrisites. but they would not
yield, and fire was sent fer and the
warrant burned in the presence of the
MOrmOns. After a short Tina the at
tack began. Religious services were
being held and the people were seated
in their accustomed placos-men,
women and children. A cann0n.bali
was the first salutation. 1t killed two
women, one q nursing mother with q
babe in her arms. Then the yells of
the attacking party were heard all
around. For some time after tho firing
commenced not u man in tho camp uf
Weber took up arms. Finally the
word was given: "Protect your fami-
lies rs best you can, but avoid shedding
blood if possible" wasthe order. Only
ninety men in the camp carried arms.
Burton poured shot and shell into the
fort for three successive ~days-from
Friday morning till Sunday evening,
the 18th OF June. He even sent to
Salt Lake for rockets to fire the camp,
but n heavy rain fell all day Saturday
so that they could not take effect.
Mormon ferocity had no pity for
women or children. The men dug pits
in which the families could take shell
ter from the deadly storm of missiles.
Sunday arose with a clear, brilliant
sky, after the pouring rain Of Satur-
day. Late in tho afternoon a bugle
sounded in the fort and a flag Of truce
was waved. The men whose names
were mentioned in the writ OF arrest
went to the prophet in a body, telling
him hat they thought their brethren
had done all they could, and hat they
we're willing to surrender and give
their lives tor the sake of the people. If
necessary. But the white flag was dis
regarded and Burton and bis men con-
tinued to advance toward the, tori
firing all the time. One of the men
mentioned in the writ of arrest came
forward and said: ''For Gods sake
and for the sake of humanity, stop
your firing" To this Burton and his
men paid no attention, but rode into
the fort and ordered the Morrisites to
stack arms, which was done without
Hesitation. After this, Burton called
for Joseph Morris and the other four
men mentioned in the writ of arrest.
On their presenting themselves he said:
IL want no more of your Internal
apostasy. don't know how you have
escaped as well as YOU have. / have
fired over 500 rounds of cartridges into
you and 100 cannon balls besides shells
Then he said to Joseph Morris: "Are
you willing to give up?" and on receiv-
ing no reply, tried to ride tho people
down with his powerful horse, but
Joseph. stepping quickly forward, took
hold OF the bride with both hands and
sent the horse back again upon his
launches.
Then he turned to the people and
said: II have taught you righteous
principles from heaven" and then rails
ing his head he exclaimed: "All those
who are willing TO follow mo 10 the
death come this way!' The general
cry was: Here [ ami with the eacep-
ton of a few persons who formed n
circle and said they could stand it no
longer. Joseph then stepped forward.
Burton, boiling with rage and followed
by some others, rode up to him and
commanded HIM to give up in the
name Of the United States. The pro-
phet calmly replied, folding his arms
and looking up to Burton: Never! no
never!' These We're his last words,
for Burton fired five shots 81 him, and
81 tho fifth he reeled and fell.
One Of his followers caught him
In his arras and laid him
gently on the ground. After
tho first shock Of the death Of the
prophet, a Young woman. holding in
her arms the babe.of "A mother who had
been killed. came forward and, fear
lessly confronting Burton and his men.
said: lyon bloodthirsty hell-hound!
Why did You kill that good manP"
Burton took deliberate aim at her and
shot bnr Aaad apI tha ,a ~ ,.,, -