Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-05-01
THE 'STRANGITES.'
AN OLD SAILOR TELLS A YARN
ABOUT THEIR EXPLOITS.

Settlement on Beaver Group-Cleaned
Out with Fire and Sword.
The Strang phase Of Mormonism had its
birth and came into prominence about the
time of the Nauvoo settlement in this
state Strang was dissolute man; an un-
scrupulous and ambitious one as we'll He
was identified with tho Young, kimball,
Smith and other factions which were power
full when the church was in its infancy, and
was jealous Of the strength which these men
possessed through their supposed association
with divine powers. This led him also to re-
ceive a revelation" from above and set him
self up as lender under spiritual guidance.
His revelation was consistent with Smiths in
that it allowed man more than one wife,
and not few Of the faithful enrolled them
selves under the banner of the "Strangtes.
When Nauvoo was destroyed Strang gather
cd his people around him, refused to follow
his former companions westward, and started
for the north.
The Beaver group OF islands, consisting Of
Big and Little Beaver, North and South Fox,
Gull, Garden, Hat Hog and Squaw, located
at the mouth of the straits, were at this
time, in 1916, peopled by shiftless lot of In
dams and half breeds, who gained a precari-
| Jus ANil3 Ny uuutlIiSs itouiuS ouu WASShAAE.
These quasi settlers woke up one morning to
find their kingdom invaded and the best part
of Big Beaver pre-empted by Mormons. The
forces of Strang, about 200 strong, had come
in the night and "squatted." Most of them
settled on the northern side of the island, on
the shore of the bay, at the place now known
Us st. James, and there they remained for
ten ears They built houses from the cedar
| with which the islands abound, and traded
for or stole from the original settlers what
game and fish they needed. Fishermen and
farmers began to come in, their numbers
steadily grew, and the settlement was in a
fair way to rival the ono then springing up in
Utah.
PETTY DEsPOT.
Here Strang was supreme-the great am.
He ruled his subjects with rod of iron, and
always to further his own ends. He was a
dissolute and INSCRIPTIONS man, who at bot
tom had no respect for morality or religion,
and who increased his harem as fast as fancy
dictated, although somewhat successful in
managing to cloak his real character under
religion and professed divine sanction for his
acts. But notwithstanding all his care dis
content took root after few years and a
faction rose against him.
"They were thieves and rascals Of the worst
kind" says Capt Williams, ''as know from
my own experience. If we went into port
there they would swarm over the vessel and
we had to watch them like cats. One sum-
mer in the sos my iron cable broke and
dropped out of sight in st. James bay. As
| had no tine to fish it up then marked the
place and proceeded on my way. About
three months afterward l returned and made
an effort to recover the cable, but it was
gone. One of those Mormons came on board
and asked what would give for the cable.
can see through q milestone, and knew at
t oncc they had pulled up the chain and an
Choir and had them concealed somewhere.
clustered and swore and threatened, and
!. they laughed Finally produced and SC
did they"
THE FATE OF THE WILLIS.
Among navigators, by 1885, the Beavers be
/. gan to get a decidedly bad name. Three yes
sells during 1S49, 1850 and 1851, that hat
: cleared with the intention of stopping at tht
group, were never heard of again. The repu
tation of the Mormons as unmitigated thieves
had become established. Then came the cas'
}. of tho Willis. AS before stated the Wilt
went into the bay for shelter, and, according
to one of the settlers the captain gave it GU
that he would sail the next morning Whel
the sun came up the bay was empty, but a
neither vessel nor crew ever turned up agail
e it is supposed that she was boarded in tn
night, her crew murdered, and the boa
Is plundered and scuttled The superstition wa
,i rendered plausible from the fact that man
articles and stores belonging to the Will
81 were afterwards found in the possession Q
T. the Mormon settlement This and simila
depredations rendered mariners exceedingl
i wary of touching at the islands, and a capital
s, never took his boat in there unless absolutel
compelled to do SO by stress of weather.
- In 1853, when affairs had arrived at such
IN state as to be no longer endured, the leglt
mate settlers combined with vessel owners
- petition to the government to investigat
and remedy the constantly growing evil. N
answer was given until the spring of lS3
when the revenue cutter Michigan put in q
appearance at ST. James, carrying with he
H.. instructions to look into the matter and tt
"e officials did it with vengeance. They wei
eS received by Strang and his followers wit
open arms, and, to use current expression
nothing was too good for them" Office
IN and crew were given the run of everything
ar When they were not eating, dancing or fir
. ing with tine Mormon damsels they we
lie filing up with the liquor with which Tho
20, were most literally supplied by their host
The Michigan force passed two weeks plea
80 antly with tine residents OIL Dig beaver, al
cd then departed That their report found not
ing to complain of is shown from the ia
Ire that the government did nothing more in t
matter.
WITH FIRE AND SWORD
ell But the strong dynasty was drawing to
he close Becoming convinced that no reli
was to be expected from the higher ofiic
I'LL power, the settlers took the conduct of affa
into their own hands They secretly orgo
lied and armed themselves, and the night
u.s. July IL, 1856, made a descent upon the
a Beaver town. The Mormons were tota
:: unprepared for such an attack. They awe
10 in the middle of the night to find their
he cedar houses burning like finder over tn
=. heads, and the settlers driving everything
"a fore them through the smoke and flying c
iers. A slight attempt at resistance "
- made, but it was fruitless. Half the men
:" the Strangite party were killed and the to-
'od was burned down. Strang himself bare
o.; escaped with his life. In company with c
u" of his wives he managed to reach anoti
mt island, and in day or two was taken oil
:, a vessel and carried to the Wisconsin sho