Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-04-28
Among tho Mormons.


Enquirer writes: On my arrival at
Mehi l was directed, as usual, to the
Bishops house for entertainment.
Rapping at the door, 1 was soon con-
fronted by large, heavily built, broad
sheuldered fellow, who asked me, in
anything but polite language, what 1
wanted. Uniformed him that de tired
entertainment for the night.
"Where are you from?''
"California, SIR
''Where are you going?''
''South, answered. After plying
me with few more questions of SIM
lar nature he invited me in. On en-
tering the house he turned to me and
said:
''Do you see that rifle up there?''
Looking up to the point indicated I
saw one of those long, murderous rifles,
commonly called Mississippi rifles,
resting snugly upon the antlers of
Rocky Mountain buck. told him that
1saw it, and much admired the artistic
manner of hanging it.
swell, mister, that is our law maker
When any one comes among us and
commits any dirt, we do not hesitate
or one moment to use it. Now, listen
to me. lam the Bishop of this settle
ment. l have two wives and several
daughters. Now, if you can promise
me not to speak to, or even look at,
any of my women folks, you are well
come to remain over night. Keep
your eye on that rifle and mind what l
told you. Can you do it?''
1t was mighty hard job, but l first
told him that l was at his command,
and if it was his honest desire, why, of
course I would obey him. At that
time he babe me follow him into an
adjoining room, where his family was
assembled. I was dimly conscious that
there were several females seated
around the fire. He drew up chair
for me, and babe me be seated. Turn
ing to the women, he gave them or
ders to prepare supper, he himself
taking my orders for what l wished.
All this time l dared not turn my
head or look toward any one but the
Bishop. knew that his eyes were up
on me, and that his two wives and
daughters were studying me closely. l
was greatly embarrassed, but withal
managed to dispose of hearty supper
at the conclusion of which we again
returned to the sitting room. 1t was
by this time quite dark, and his son. a
large, athletic fellow, coming in, the
Bishop told him to entertain me, and
at the proper time, show me to bed.
Putting on his overcoat and fur cap,
for it was quite cold he babe me good
night, saying that he was compelled to
attend a ward meeting. Before clos
ing the door, he pointed to the rifle
over head, and said: Remember,
young man what l told You.'
f. 1t was positively unkind of him to
| remind me of it, for the COMPOUNDED
| old gun was constantly on my mind.
| had seen some little of their treach-
erous work, and had heard much more. |
knewwhat they were capable of doing,
and, under the circumstances, dared
not disobey his warning. The door
closed and he was gone. The ladies
were seated on my right, the sou on
my left. To make assurance doubly
| sure, l turned my back to the ladies'
and facing the young man entered into
a conversation with him One of the
| ladies got up and went to the door
several times. Finally she came up be-
hind me, and bluntly asked if l was
Mormon. hardly knew what to do.
had been warned against speaking
to, or even looking at, any of the wo-
men. Was she trying to draw me into
troublep She certainly knew.that |
had been forbidden to address her under
the penalty of death. Yet there she
stood, calmly inviting me to my fate.
The young man 8 eyes were upon ME.
Great beads of perspiration started out
on my forehead.
''Do not fear to speak young man:
he has gone, and will not return be-
fore midnight she said, and at that
she laid her hand on my head.
"lt's all right, stranger said the
| son. "It's all right; speak up and look
around you as much as you please, I'll
vouch for your safety"
The ice was now broken, and, turn
ing to the old lady, said that was
not Mormon.
sThank God for that!' she said. and
thenkthe conversation became general.
was told all about the heartaches and
| suferings of the first or original wife;
how in almost every case they had been
deluded into joining the Mormon faith
under false pretences; what shame and
| modification came over them when it
| was found out that second or third
wife was to be taken into the house
hold. was rather reticent, and did
not express my opinion on the subject
as otherwise would have done. The
two daughters were comely and full of
life. About 10 o'clock they bid me good
| night and retired. A half hour later
was conducted to my room by the
young man.
Ascending pair of stairs and enter
ing the door to my right [ was some
what amazed to find myself in the bed
chamber of the young ladies, who had
by this time retired. Their lamp was
still burning, and, having forgotten all
previous warnings, allowed my eyes
to roam at will around the room, and
naturally they rested on two dimpled
faces beneath snowy caps. AS l was
enjoying the scene was brought to a
realization of my position by the deep
tones of the young man, who said:
'This way, please and taking me
| by the arm pointed to bed in an adj
| joining room, remarking. "You will
sleep there"
The rooms were connected by a
double doorway. The doors had been
dispensed with, and, consequently, we
were virtually in the same room. l
was soon gly slowed away, and as
naught divided us but an imaginary
door, my courage revived. Situated
as I was began to analyze my feel
ings. Here 1 was in the house of
strangers. True, one head of the fam
lily had forbidden me to hold any COM
munication with the other part, while
the other part of the family had vetoed
the first injunction, and l had obeyed
! Thorn both Here was certainly conf