Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-11
SOME MORMON RENlNusCENCEx.


SOME MORMON REUlNlSCENCEN.
The Nauvoe Episode and the Later
Fortunes Of the Famous little Village.
Mr.. william e Curtis. In the course OF his travels
about Illinois lately, came upon the old town OF
Nauvoo once the headquarters OF the Mormons,
and he details to the Chicago Nesps the following
"reminiscences
After leaving their original headquarters at
Kirkland, on the Western Reserve In northern Ohio
the saints went by wagon and boat 10 jackson
County, Miss, near the mouth OF the Big Blue
River, but were not allowed TO dwell In peace after
their arrival The governor OF Missouri issued a
proclamation commanding every Mormon 10 leave
the state, but the Mormons refused 10 60 The
oorder ruffians took upon themselves theexecution
OF the order, war commenced. and after several
months OF guerrilla nghting battle occurred,
IA which many OF the Mormons and Missourians
were Killed and wounied IL was during
THESE times that the Danites were organized,
oIlslnally as a police 10 protect the farms and
homes OF the new sect from marauders but AFTER
Wafu becoming the ayenging angels OF Zion
heaizing that they could not i've In Missouri. Joe
smith and party or the elders sought another
locatlon and purchased all the land for miles
around the little town OF Commerce, on the left
nols, TO which there was another exodus most OF
the saints coming around on fiatOoats by the
river, Out others ''teamng IT In caravans across
the country. There were about thirty families
at Commerce at the time, and some OF the homes
OF the original settlers still standing Ia yar
GUS stages OF decay. The name or the place was
changed 70 NauNoo, Hebrew term, IL Is alleged,
signitying paradise. The sect gained In numbers,
and safely established here the Mormon colony
was Joined BY hordes OF fanatics and deluded
creatures. who, after being twice driven IRON
their homes, chung 10 the belief that at last the
Great Jehovah, who had set his seal upon them as
his chosen people. had led them with Joe smith
as their Moses and Brigham Young as their
Joshua, through the wilderness OF trial and perse-
cuton 10 this the hill OF Zion, the promised land
which Old How with milk ana honey for ten years
or more. converts came from all parts OF America
and from England Scotland, Scandinavia, Ger
many and even from Palestine, while missionaries
secured the earth Tor additions 10 the colony. At
the height OF It's prosperity Nauvoo contained
more than 10000 people, although II has but
Ploughing and planting commenced at once.
ana the people lived In their wagons while they
erected Their permanent houses. All the needed
with the contributions OF rich converts Every
thing was done In the most comprehensive and
enduring manner, directed by the master minds OF
the prophet and his associated leaders. AT FIRST
the Mormons were welcomed. They made pusi.
ness brisk In that section OF the country, and for
miles away the people prospered by reason OF the
demands they created and the money they dis
bursed. But after they began TO be producers In.
stead OF consumers the trouble began.
After the murder OF Joe and Hiram Smith, his
brother, 10 the county jail at Carthage, the Nor
mons had TO leave Nauvoo and emigrated 70 the
present city OF Zion, Ulah. After the Mormons
lett Nauvoo their empty houses were occupied and
ony called the Icarlans who were driven cut OF
louisiana where they had FIRST settled by the yell
low fever, AMI came northward under the leader
ship OF one Cabot. They lived a community,
and Tor years prospered, planting great whey ards
upon the Western slopes and making much wine,
but after the death OF CABOT, who appears TO have
been man Of organizing skill and executive
talent, the community was divided by dissenslons,
and most OF them moved away. The remnant oi
the Cabot family now reside In 81. Louis where
they manufacture cotuon-batting. A good many
Swiss and Austrian emigrants came 10 NauvoC
after the Frenchnen left, who now occupy the
land.
few Mormon families remained after the
exodus, and among them the widow OF Joe smith,
who continued 10 reside In the building erected
for the palace OF the prophet. The palace was,
like everything else In Nauyoo, projected upon q
magnificent scale, but only one corner OF IL was
completed when Joe Smith was killed The
foundations OF the edce, which was TO be 100 feet
square, are suill standing, although much OF the
stone has been taken away.
Nearly all the old buildings are gone The mag
nifcent marble temple, which stood upon the
sighIiest spot on the crest OF the hill, with its
massive columns anu pillars and its tow,r upon
which was inscribed In golden letters, Holiness
TO the Lord, was destroyed by IRE some years ago.
IL was sold by the Mormons TO the French colo.
nists. BeforeIthe property was delivered TO the
purchaser, however, man by the name OF Joe
Agnew, VINO had a small claim against the church
lac had been trying 10 collect ana had been unable
10 get even a lien upon the temple, went into the
cupalo at night and started IRE. There was nc
water or engines, and so the entlre interior was
destroyed and the weakened walls pulled down a.
a measure OF safety by the citizens The blocks OF
polished stone which formed the structure have
been utilized for the erection OF other buildings
and many OF them are still lying about the fiel1s
and along the street. The capitals OF each OF the
thirty-six pillars were monstrous square stones,
and upon the face OF each was carved hideous
representation OF the sun-a grotesQue, broad
checked face with rays darling In every direction
from the head, and carvings Intended TO portray
clouds under the chin. Upon each SIDE OF the base
OF the pillar was carved In low relief a crescent
moon. These blocks are also plentiful In the relds
arched stone vaults near by, which were intended,
probably, for treasure houses, or perhaps, some
or the citizens suggest, for dungeons.
Several OF the residences or the apostles and
elders still remain, constructed OF solid walls OF
brick, with monstrous outside chinneys, large
freplaces within. They are now occupied by the
farmers who came into possession by purchasing
the property at taX-Sales. Some years after the
Mormons left all OF their real estate was sold Tor
taxes and bought In for nominal price by the
citizens who succeeded them at Nauyoo. The
only man who has attempted TO recover his prop
erty is "General- Daniel ii. Wells, the commander
OF the Danites, who was mixed Up In the Mountain
Meadows massacre, for which his lieutenant john
ID. Lee, was hanged.
Wells lived on a farm near Nauvoo when the
Mornons came here, and was a Methodist He
saw an opportunity In the new faith for a man OF
his enterprise and capacity, and almost imme-
diately afler joining the saints saw his ambition
gratified and became the general Of the Danites.
who had stockade and garrison below the town
In what Is known as ''Danite Hollow" Here they
kept their stolen horses cattle, and other plumber
CouSCflptcu lOT tuc BOOu Oi Tie cnuTcn. 1ne
wife OF Wells refused TO join the church, and
when the exodus 10 Utah took place remained
upon the old farm. She Is now living at Burling-
ton, while her husband, without divorce, lives at
Salt Lake City with a half a dozen concubines.
Wells did not make himself known when he came
down here several years ago, but he was soon
recognized by the older Inhabitants Nor did he
succeed Ia recovering his farm, for there was a
popular prejudice in favor or his deserted wife,
and any attempt TO deprive her OF the property
would have resulted disastrousy, ne very soon
discovered. lie satisfied himself, therefore. with
looking around over the scene OF his earlier days
ana departed for salt Lake City.
Nlne-tenths OF the Old town has been destroyed.
Some or the finest resldences-those OF Brigham
Young, John Taylor. john d. Lee, Heber klmball,
Hiram Smith and other leading men, still stand
The original cooperative store or Zion Is now a
cooper-shop and the building formerly occupied
printing ONCE and the publishing house OF the
Nauvoo ELpositor is used as a dwelling. The
tlthlng- house Is the residence OF the Catholic
church, and the parish school is under the same
roof The arsenal with its sixfoot stone walls, Is
a nunnery and school for young ladies. Inc people
Of Nauvoo are now engaged In the cultivation OF
grapes and the manufacture or wine, an occupa-
ton which was introduced by the Frenchmen, and
sell their product In St Louis.
Legal Holidays.
From the New York Graphic.