Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-10
EXCITING EXPERIENCES.
hobbing in Sonth Carolina Of 'eNor.
mon" Elders.

| IA .-ontu tdiOiind VI -uOI
mon- Elders.
a private letter dated Clifton
Spartanburg County, South Carroll
M, from Elder d. T. lie Baron
now laboring as a missionary il
South Carolina, addressed TO rel
atives in Santaquin, Utah, give
the following account Of the violenf
treatment inflicted upon him anc
his companion by a mob:
at occurred March 2s. Elder III
;. Tanner Of Payson and myself
were staying for the night with a
Brother John Gordon. About 8 pm.
we heard noise outside and Brother
Gordon went out and found a man
standing by the house. They talked
awhile, when the stranger proposed
going Into the house to warm.
Brother Gordon took him. He acted
very strangely AMI told Of his expe-
rience in Ku Klux times, how he
had been obliged to go into Texas to
keep out Of the reach of the officers,
etc. We did not like his appearance
nor actions. While he was in the
house someone whistled outside and
he left and We began TO prepare TO 20
10 bed. We had got nearly through
family prayers, when there were
kicks against the two doors and al
most Immediately the front door
was burst in. Brother Gordon rushed
to the door, but was instantly
stopped by several pistols being
showed in his face and the ''Mor-
mon' preachers were ordered to
come out There were about n
dozen men wearing slouched hats
and with blackened faces. Half Of
them were armed with pistols and
the others with sticks and clubs.
"Pistols in the hands Of desperate
fools were arguments We could not
disregard, so we did just as We were
commanded and were hurriedly
marched about a quarter Of a mile
into the forest where there were
others waiting TO take part in the
exercises. HeAe we were told to
halt and undress: We did take of
our coats but decided that we would
go no further in that matter unless
compelled to. We were told that
they were going TO whip US and
compel US TO leave the country: that
this country belonged to them: they
had just the kind Of preachers that
suited them and did not want any
Of our doctrine. When they would
ask any decent questions we would
attempt TO reply, but our answers
would condemn them. Then with
terrible oaths they would shove the
piSols in our faces and order US to
shut up" Inever listened to more
vulgar, low down talk. We were
finally told that We could have
twenty-four hours to get out Of the
country, and to skip lively, which
We were glad 10 do. Some Of them
followed close behind for n ways,
striking us with sticks and when we
got out Of reach Of sticks they threw
stones at US, then fred their pistols
and yelled.
"Brother Gordon, being a citizen
Of this country, felt so aggrieved at
the manner in which his home had
been broken into, etc, that he went
10 Gaffney and consulted an attor-
ney in regard TO the matter, and was
advised 10 bring action against the
criminals. In the meantime we
Elders had got severalimiles away.
30 Brother Gordon and Brother
BlackwoO (who was interested
with him sent word to me to meet
them and their lawyer at GafTney
on a certain day to counsel them
what TO do. Elders ii. ;. Tanner.
Reeve and / went and held two or
three hours consultation with them.
| explained to the attorney our bust
ness in this country, and now the
Elders and Saints have suffered
violence in times past by lawless
men but could never have their
wrongs redressed nor receive pro-
lection under the constitution and
laws Of our country, because Of the
deep prejudice existing among the
people Of this nation, etc. | also
told him he would bring Goals upon
his own head II he took up our
cause and that 10 start out and fail
would add to the fury Of our enc
mics, besides encouraging them in
their lawlessness. He informed us
that he would show us and the peo-
pie here that there was one man who
dared and trOuld see that the "Mor-
mons " rights should be respected
in South Carolina
1.-THE eyes Of the people were now
upon us TO see IL we would run
away in a cOwardly manner OF
stand up for our rights. The attOr-
ney said he knew our people had
been treated shamefully in the
past and II was time that
some OF our enemies were made
to feel the rigor of the law. He
knew a good, solid, unparalleled
justice Of the peace before whom he
would bring the case, AMI insure
success If we would advance go to
defray his expense in starting the
case for US. We finally accepted his
proposition with the understanding
that he and Brother BlackwoOd
should visit the justice Of the peace
on the following day with the Aft
davits, etc, properly made out. The
latter part he performed, bat did not
visit the justice Of the peace him
self. He got Brothers Gordon and
Blackwood TO take the papers.
"This justice Of the peace it seems
belonged to the Baptist Church ana
saw some names of his brethren as
defendants in the case and quite a
furore among the good Christians
was the consequence. Whilst hesi-
tating between duty and love for
fellow church members the wife of
the justice Of the peace suddenly
died and he returned the papers TO
Brother Gordon. So ended his part
in the drama.
eve elders had to keep shaded
while this was going on and could
not take part in the matter. This,
as we expected, emboldened the
mob and they made another raid in
search of Elders at Brother Black
woods, but didn't find any. 1t
was night, and Brother Gordon,
hearing them, started across the
road to Brother Blackwood's, and
was shot at twice by the mob. Both
Of these brethren have since left the |
State, and we have changed our
quarters Is miles from where We
were.
"The affair seems to have settled |
down and We are going on with our |
usual labOrs. / believe what has |
transpired will result in good and be !
the means Of causing a reaction in |
our favor among n great many.