Evening journal., 1896-10-05
MORMONS IN KENTUCKY
Mountaineers Stirred Up by
Latter Day Saints.
ANGRY PEOPLE READY WITH GUNS

Threats Of niopdsaed II The Mormon
Propngandisis esow overrunning East
ern kentucky DO Not Speedily Leave.
Thousands In Hatneid-sTcCoy Country.
JACKSON, KY, Oct. 5.--There are near
~ as many Mormons in the eastern part
Of Kentucky as there are oitimns ana they
Ere stirring. up trouble. Within The past
five weeks over 5000 Mormuns have in
vaded this part OF the state. preaching here
and there and occasionally making con-
verts.
They are now swarning over these
mountains made historic because tho
Hatfeds and McCoys did their fighting
here This is an intense Methodist com
munity and last week there was an old
fashioned clamp meeting held on Big San
dy. The Rev Thomas t. Hicks conducted
the services and was assisted by a nephew
Of the late chief Of the MoCoys Many
Joined the church, and many moro per-
haps would have been saved had it not
been for the proselyting Of the Mormons
who set up camp three miles away. Word
was SEM the Mormons that II they did not
go away they would regret it.
On last Tuesday night there was q fight
between the saints and some enthusiastic
young men OF the mountains with the re-
suit that the MQrmons were routed, some
Of them being badly bruised
Runners were then sent to tho various
strongholds of the Mormons in the coun-
ties of Grayson, Canter, Boyd, Elliott,
Rowan and Lawrence. IL is estimated
that more than 1900 Of them will be in
this neighborhood before tonight.
The mountaineers have been notified by
a committee, authorized by tho Metho-
dists and Baptists jointly, that II any one
sells or gives away 10 the Mormons any
kind Of food, their homes will be burned
and their stock will be killed.
Known as the Mules.
This organization is called The Mules, .
and is formed on the same lines as the old
Ku Klux Khan OF reconstruction days,
which originally had its birth in the Ken
tuoky mountains. Then there Is Meals
Saddle Bag College of Mountain Evan
gelists. They number hundreds and
wero organized originally TO expel all peo'
pfe from the mountains with the oxcep-
tion of Professionals
This society Is made up of sturdy noun
taineers who sometimes make moon
shine" fight United States marshals and
pray whenever the spirit moves them. NJ
railroad reaches within miles of this sec
ton. 1t is wild and sparsely settled.
The people deny the right of the govern
ment to tax them for tho few gallons o.
whisky they make and distribute among
themselves.
Every male person from 10 years uI
owns a rifle and knows how to shoot.
In this town, which IS the county sea-
Of Breathitt county, there have been mori
than 100 persons killed on the public
square within / s years. II was here wher,
the Hat1elds ana MoCoys had their mos
desperate battle six years ago, in whiol
there wero ~ men instantly killed within
the space Of an hour.
Why the MormOns should have selecte
| this part Of the state for work is no
known. It-is the first time in the histor
Of this mountain district that they hay
| attempted to make converts. Many fam
| lies have Joined the churches Of the saint
and are preparing to omigrate
Fifty Mormon elders and assistants go
OH the railroad at Ashland a month O
more ago They separate into pairs ant
have since boon inoneased in number.
They are taking advantage OF tho silya
exoitomont which abounds in this district
attending each political meeting and work
ing for converts for their religious faith.
A public meeting is called TO meet a
Grayson the county seat OF Carson ooun
W, 80 miles away, tonight to take step
Co run the saints and their followers on
Of the state.