The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-06-23

short shrlft Occasionally the deputies shot
their victims without ceremony when found
Two fishermen named Sullivan were known
to have been disposed OF In this manner.
When the Mormon fishermen visited their
nets they made it a point to rob any others
that might be set in the vicinity. The fish
were always stolen and generally the nets.
In time st James Island came to DO refuge
for all sorts Of rascals, who could there dis
pose Of their plumber.
A Kentuckian making midsummer trip
up the lakes was one day leaning over the
guards of the propeller as she lay moored to
the dock. A team came up with load OF
wood. Both horses were recognized by the
kentuckian as having been stolen from him
year before Those two horses belong 70
me- he said to an officer standing beside
him. For Gods sake, don't say 50 on
shore" was the quick reply. The horseman
had no intention Of placing his head in
lions mouth, and wisely kept silent
The first attempt TO arret the Mormon
prophet failed Strang received notification,
and when the government cruiser arrived at
st. James he was floating III small boat out
in the fog There he remained some days
sleeping at nights in remote parts OF the
island, until the cruiser departed. The sec
ond attempt was more successful Strang
was arrested and taken to Detroit, but was
acquitted These incidents only served to adj
vertise tho colony, and drew TO him many
sentimentalists, especially women, among the
latter being a lady Of good family, high
breeding and great intellectual attanments.
10 Oh, k.I
abducted by Strang's followers but she went
on the wi.reS sand apd test fled " Strang's
behalf. Her testimony, beauty and elegance
secured the release Of her adored prophet.
At this time he was on the shady side Of
49, Of medium height, thin and wiry and
very dark, end his spare face was framed
with heavy beard which he wore long, Civ
ing him a patriarchal appearance. His up
per lip was always kept clean shaven, which
gave his sensual mouth undue prominence.
Very few fishermen got out OF Strang's
whole in body, to say nothing OF be-
longings after war was declared, and Nor
mon boat was their greatest terror Among
the one who escaped alive from the Mormon
king Is James N, an old fisherman, still
living on the Beaver. He says:
at was early in the spring Of 1855, rs near
as Gun recollect, when my partner and /
started from Nackinac for Gull Island with
800 worth OF supplies. 1t was storming
when we started and we were glad enough
10 make the shank local jargon for Wango-
,hance light that night We started early
tho next morning, but lost our course in the
fog. After boating about all day we made
Beaver Island Hardly had we landed be
fore we we're surrounded by Mormons who
made US walk up the beach. In u short time
King Strang came down, issued few orders,
and twelve men separated from the rest
Six Of them began to examine their guns in
a manner that sent the cold chills gallop-
ing up and down my back. They
had been appointed to kill us. The others
were to bury us. Then Strang placed a
double barreIed shot gun to my breast, asked
me more questions in regard to our lnten
tons, issued new orders which proved to be
10 clenr away the boat, remove all the sails
and oars and cast US adrift. We did not
wait for the expiration of the ten minutes
which we were allowed to get away in
Luckily for us one of the crowd, more
humane than the rest, had secretly thrown
in some oars; but the boat was aground on a
rock and we couldn't bulge it, then went
back to the group and asked some Of them to
help Us Off. One whispered in my ear to get
away AS soon as possible. There was no
use, besides a storm had come up and i
didn't believe any boat could live in the sea-
went to Strans and begged to DO allowed to
stay He told me coldly that unless we