Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-23

Mormons from the Island
Before this the MorIncns and fishermen,
who bad banded together, had met in more
than one pitched battle. One of the fiercest
followed the departure of an expedition from
King Strang's stronghold for the mainland
An alarm was at once given by the fisher
mems patrol and chase was given When the
Mormons landed the parties met and the
fishermen fired a volley that made the Nor
mons scurry back to their boats with few
wounded. As soon as the Mormons were
clear of land they laid their course for the
Beaver, twenty miles away. Close after fol
loweG the fisher boats The wind almost
died away, and running fire was kept up
all the time Although the range was long,
a number of Mormons were wounded This
left them short handed, and their complete
destruction seemed to be inevitable, when
the bark Morgan, Capt Stone, hove in sight
The Mormons headed for her and reached
the bark in time to allow their occupants to
Chamber on board before the infuriated fish
ermen could come up. Once on deck they
were safe and the pursuers gave up the chase
The Mormons were taken by Capt. Stone
near to the Beavers and cast adrift in their
boats
luc WI ~ piOb Ou iuC pkA5c Va huc -hoA ihoii
history of occupation was the murder Of the
entire crew Of the brig Robert Willis, which
disappeared in 1853 Tne last person to see
the brig was Capt JOHN B. Merrill, of this
city, who at the time was on Skillagalee
sailor for Aux Galets, Island, engaged in a
wrecking expedition to the schooner
Sovereign of the Seas 1t was Thanksgiving
afternoon, and a heay snow storm was in
daI hxy hxa fafi1 afp ,har.,
inside the lighthouse, the only building on
the island, Mr.. Merrill stepped outside. The
island is barely an acre in extent and as he
closed the door almost on top of him he saw
the cutwater Of q bril-, which he recognized
as the Willis The storm had parted for an
instant, leaving patch of clear sky. The
crew of the Willis see1aed to sight the island
at the same instant. and the brig at once
went about on another tack and was
lost 10 sight In the storm That was the
last e7er seen of her or her crew. The brig
was loaded with -four, pork and provisions
Immediately after her disappearance Beaver
Islanders were found to be well supplied with
these articles. Tho report spread that the
Willis had gone ashore on the Beaver and
such of her crew as were not drowned were
put out of the way by the Mormons A short
time ago, in a little hollow in the sandy
beach at the north end Of the island, seven
bleached and moldy skeletons were discov-
cred Among the island residents it was an
accepted belief that the seven skeletons were
all that remained of the crew Of the brig
Willis They were reverently removed and
carefully Inferred in the little village ceme-
terry.
This supposed crime, with constantly in
creasing depredations, so famed the indigna-
ton against Strang and his followers that
finally an organized effort was made to drive
them OF the island The United States au-
thoritiec took a hand, and the steamer Mich
| igan was ordered to the island About this
time, too, Strang's tyranny aroused rebellion
on the island. As his power increased the
Mormon leader did not hesitate to select for
his wives the fairest of the new arrivals, and
the sealing process was at times very loosely
performed. Through and by this he fell
| The fishermen arranged to move on the
island when the Michigan should arrive.
Coincident with this Strang became involved
in a row with young Mormon whose wife
be nad appropriated without ceremony.
| Bent on revenge, the wronged husband joined
hands with the fishermen Suddenly, one
morning after the arrival OF the Michigan.
a force of fifty fishermen. armed with mns-