The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-05
WHITTIER MoRMoNs JOURNEY
Tbe,r Mecca Is In One of the Histori

Their Mecca Is in One of the Histori
S,,ts IN the Sunfower state.
From the ST. Louis Republic. II
During the past two months hun
) dreds of Mormons residing near lnde-
pefidence, Mo-; Nauvoo, Ill, and In Lee
county. Iowa, have been making their
annual pilgrimages to the old Mormon
crossing of the Big Blue river In Mar
SHAH county. Near this historic spot
ar6,fhe Alcove springs, where so many
{ offthe4r people were massacred py the
indians in 1876 as they were making
tbsdrg way, across the Great American
deeert to Salt Lake. They have been
Visiting the old crossing in small panos
sirice the first of September, crossing
! the Big Blue where their Iorele.'i -
ala and resting a few days near the
z Strings. where religious services were
q re Sularly held in commemoration OF
1.-THE early pioneers who braved the
hangers and opened the way to the
new Mormon settlement at Great SAT-
Lake. The old Mormon or lndepen-
dence" crossing of the Big Blue Is one
Of the most historic spots in Kansas:
II has been visited by thousands or
Norrnons since the days of 1886 ana the
s. people who now live In the Vlcihlty
,. look forward to the pilgrimage OF these
I, people every year as one or the mel
dents of special note in Marshall coun-
~ IN Is the most beautiful and ro-
mantle spot in all Kansas. Tine BIG
RIue river is a stream as clear a.
crystal. and the Above springs are To-
: Gated in a sequestered nook, whicf
:. seems to have been made py hatur'
for. such gatherings as these
When the first immigrant trains car
: ,v,r,np, the Mormon people and their De
E Iongings to the Great Salt lake crosse'
: sbe7Rig Blue at this now historic spo
Y shere was scarcely a vestige of civil
e cation in that region OF country: re
: ages its prairies had been covered Wit
: a waving sea of wild grasses. va
$ herds of buffalo had for numperies
u wears wandered almost unmoleste
n across them. Nothing disturbed II
soi,tude save an occasional panu
?. nomadic Indians in search OF prey
= thunder and the hardy frontiersmal
h trrho Is always found far In advance
civilization. AS early as Ie.o We
d Stenhen III. Long crossed that part
r. Kansas now known as Marshall coui
ID ~ In command of an expedition Ito
a f3,,tsbure TO the Rocky mountain
"a canaraI Fremont on his expedition
TO- the Rocky mountains In 1924, pas
,ef ed through that section or une sta
" and mentions in his traVeIs 49, -
.. MIGRANT wagons en- route 10 Oreso
he =. vas In lS47 that John Smith, u
- xsorr,on APOSTLE, with his band OF fe
I'd io,rera from Illinois, opened his W.
X 4 through this country. crossing the 2
ae pI,,e river at the old Mormon. l
IFS dependence" or California crossin
mis- was six miles below the prese
town of Maryville. the county sea
Sarshau county For two years I
q 4 ri,ed Iatter-Day Saints passed ov
rksl' me trail that led to this crossing OF !
Ia, Zig Blue river. At one time a Norm
.ut bis marty was surrounded by
int ssans at this famous spot and all W.
I'LL Killed. Among the party were seve
I'd elders of the Mormon Iai.h WIZ i,,, w.
M - Going to the western nome 10 ioon
as .s, the spiritual welfare OF the pa
IN, Us who had gone before. Ever sii
an ,se Mormons of Missouri. Illinois q
Jo- IVA have made pilgrimages TO
ed Cove springs. where appropriate Sc
g's ices are held.