Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-09-28


distances are not long, n you Wish TO
foot.
l had long desired TO visit the HIN
Lumorah, near Palmyra and to0k the
New f0ik Central raiiroai 20 feach 70.
u u twenty-five miles south u R'ch.
ester In the midst oi well settled aud
highly cultivated county, with old.
fashioned comfortable farm houses
doiting the landscape. Leaving iho
Stallion you take winding road amidst
trees ana foliage towards the noted
place, Ons iesiuo that disiiu.
guishos these Old places 10 the great
number Of grey beaTia you meet-
greater than 10 found In western
town. Comfortable looking couples IN
their teams arc returning home from
marketing and there are all the Tea
lures Of country life. APPLES are In
elaht evotywhefc. This IA an oxcep-
tionally good year Tor thom. Iiudg-
ing along, to "faging canal" 10 soon
seen; lwo ~ three canal boste are being
rushed through tho water nj two milee
per hour the driver gushing the horse
power with all his might. A tumble
down Old brick builiiDg IA seen or the
left, nnd an old wharf near by. There
" an aged look 10 some of the houausi
both picturesque aud interesting.
Near the canal we espied the En-
change Hotel, once pfolontious
building, now somewhat out Of shape,
tut comiUfthb o within. We fogiElufoI
and found good quarters and q
pleasant host to entertain "a.
tlld him had come q zee the HUI
Cumofah. "WhefU's tha2" said he
| limited that IL was tho place some
umts called "Mormon hill'--that
bad been told there were some old
gentlemen who remembered having
seen some slabs Of rock near the tpot
whef, tho Book of Mormon plstes were
found. lie know nothing o. any such
thing, for he was born since the event
occurred. "but,D said he, "thofe'e an
oll gent near by the name Of John
Ford, who knew everything about the
hill ami Joseph Smith, too"
Mr.. Ford was interviewed; an old
timer OF 81 years. He gave the Prophet
hard nAme-said ne used 10 play
with him; that he was the tough Of the
village, hs he was connected with
some fellows who dug for hidden
lroaturc. Ford never took the trouble
10 look vi the hill--didn't believe any.
thing about u.
"But my friend, - said I, ",hefe ate
half u million people who have
received the message that Joseph
Smith brought who testify " lie
lfuth.D
"well, they are more easily gulled
than | was," wns his rsplyi "noyeT
heard Of any rocks on the Mill, nuj
DIDN'T believe there ever we're any"
lie was soon Joined by another vol
sThn, not quite 20 old, but lust as bitter
Ia his statements. II were useless that
1 should say that Christ he'd Jutt no
many hard things said about him by
the Jews. They had made up their
mind the "huli" thing was q humhug
and never gave II u thought.
AZ II 10 nearly seventy yeats slueo
tho spot was revealed 70 joseph Smith,
September -, 1877, u will be hafd
work 10 mud many living who tomem'
tor seeing particular Flgua Of anything
unusual on the hill. l was told that
Tina Sanders knew good deal; NJ a
visit to Mr.. Sanders wus pTopostd.
The way 10 tho hill IL known ~ tho
CannndAigua road. lt passes RICH I
through the town. A church stand I
on eouh corner OF tho streets ~ ou
turn TO reach the desiied haven.
This same features Of quaint homes
are hofo % on tho approach q Pat
myfh. Our host says that he sold 200
bushels Of applea for S75-teven aud Z
halt cents per hushel-lhe buyer pick.
ing them. Tue purchase was made ioI
the purpose Of drying them by evap0r'
alton.
About two miies from Palmyra the
farm VI Tim Sanders was pointed out
the general appearance gave the
impressions that tho weeds had got q
good mortgage ON the farm. a tplen.
did crop OF golden rod ana Other
wild flswoTs covered tho fields.
Tim Ia a character. He salutud us by
Asking n VIZ were Mofmons, having
been announced As coming from SAli
Lake. When asked about the st1ne
slabs, "o1uldn't fay-ihefo might
have b,on some but the general oppoil.
ton 10 Joe Smith made them ~ that
they could not believe anything about
tue matter"
MIR. Sanders IL an Intelligent man Of
pleasant manner aud quite entertain.
ing. lie gave Martin Harris scoring
Tor raising money 10 help publish tho
Book OF Mormon; knew most VI tbs OLD
people that had passed away; niked " /
knew Mr.. Lyman-a very noe mau
whom he shid stopped with him q few
years ago. Tim had the sharp, curl
manner OF speaking characteristic OF
Brother Brigham Young. Tine
farmhouse was sadly Ia need OF 70.
pAiI-as well as himself; but | shhll
not easily forget his genllemanly mau.
ner anu his pleasant goodbye.
The hill Cum0fah IL about three ana
a half miles from Palmyra. IL IL on
the leit hand side OF the T0ad going
south. II IL higher that tue surrounds
Ing bills and nj present near tho north
end IL devoid OF trees. IL IL On the
farm OF Mr.. Sampson, who're farm
house and buildings are close 20 the
base Of II. Tnorolis bald spot on top
OF II. Tho east side Of the hill 10 cultivated
The west side, where the plates were
found, IL left untouched. There were
four trees standing upon II u lew years
ago but they were cut down. Ono Of
the trunks " now lying on thu hill
ellie.
Mr. Sampson, tho owner, kindly
showed mo the place where the plates
were discovered. IL IL row somewhat
barren but mostly covered with grass.
He seemed much amused At our IN.
forest In the spot, but / had 10 tell
him IN an excuse that what the nEn.
ger was 10 tho birth OF Christ 90 was
that spot ana the plates revealed there
10 the great movement whose deyOleta
enoiIole the earth. l also told b m
that thousands would visit this shrine