The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-29
STOOD HIS GROUND
James Sinners Newspaper Ex-
perience in Salt Lake.
Veteran Kansas Journalist Had
Exciting Times.
WITH MORMON MOB.
Threatened to Kill People and
Wreck Newspaper.
Thought They Gould Whip Uncle
Sam.

James Sinner, one of the old time
newspaper, men of the state. who re-
Gently sold the Westmoreland Signal
and retired from business, has had
some mighty interesting experiences IN
his time. Mr.. Sinner is taking a long
rest here in Topeka, and trying to re-
cover his health.
Sitting out in front Of the Copeland
q few days ago, Mr.. Sinner told OF his
experiences with the Mormons.
TT was about 20 years ago that
was out in Salt Lake, working as city
editor of the Salt Lake Tribune" said
Mr.. Sinner. 1.-THE Tribune was the
only Gentle paper in the city, and the
Mormons used to make it hot for u.s.
1t was not safe for our reporters to go
Nout on assignments to the Mormon
quarter at night except in armed
squads of three. Every man on the
force carried a revolver and a knife.
In the Gentle portions of the city, the
reporters covered their work in the
usual manner. but when II came 70
doing the police assignments IN tnS
Mormon quarter, there was real
danger.
4'The Morrnons would not rent their
houses to Gentiles; the Mormon sa-
looms would not even sell a GentIe
drink unless the Gentle had several
able bodied men to back up his re-
quest. 1t was the boast OF the MOT
mons that they would drive the Cen
tiles out of the country.
Probably the most exciting thing
that ever happened was the time that
the Mormons were going to mop the
Tribune office; not for any specldl
reason except that it was a Gentlle pa
per. The trouble started with the
murder of the town marshal by ne
gro. The negro was Gentle. He
came to town, got very drunk and was
walking up the middle of the street
armed with winchester ana otneP
artillery. The marshal, who was
Mormon. and a very good and able
officer told the negro to come over
and give himself up.
IF you don't come over peaceably,
said the marshal, L will have to send
for g squad of officers and take you,
and there may be some shooting.
If there's going to be any shoot
ing retorted the negro, well start IL
right now He brought down his
Winchester on the marshal and shot
him dead. Instantly Mormon mob
seized the negro, and hung him to
rafter in a barn. Then they took
turns dragging him about town behind
galloping horses, and shooting his life
less body full of holes. This exhibition
greatly aroused the Mormons and that
night they were thronging the streets,
thirsting for Gentle blood. They
were especially ElllCI against NAAC
/ Tribune.
"There were 400 United States SOL
dierS stationed at the fort and they
had some big guns which commanded
the town. They were of course anxious
to do what they could to protect us.
While it was still daylight they had put
their artillery in position so that it
bore on every important Mormon
building in the city of Salt Lake. Their
plan was to simply wipe out the Nor
r. xyinInnnn Shnr11d he
offered to the Gentiles.
up in the Tribune Office, we had
about 25 rifles and plenty of ammuni-
ton. Every reporter and printer was
stationed at q window with a gun. Out
in front of the office was the most
wild and ungovernable mob I ever saw
in my life. 1t extended a solid block
in each direction from the Tribune Of
flee. In our back room we had some
big boilers to run our machinery.
had pipe put in connecting with this
boiler, and at the end of the pipe a
rubber hose with nozzle attached,
leading to the front doors of the office.
which were barrlcaded. / stood there
with some of the other members of
the force, ready to turn that steam
and hot water into the crowd if they
should try to force the doors. One of
the officers of the fort addressed the
mob, and told them just what prepara-
lions had been made to receive them
and just what the big guns at the fort
would do to their buildings if they
should try to start anything. This
didn't seem to scare them much It
was not until one of the head men of
the church came down and stood in
front of our Office, and made a speech
to the mob that they commenced to
. disperse. The old prophet was old
and feeble, and had a long white
beard, but just as soon as he raised
his hand, the mob kept still and listen
ed as well as it could to what he said.
As soon as he finished talking, the mob
commenced to scatter.
1T was the intention of the Nor
mons in those days to lick the whole
United States because the United
States had undertaken to prohibit
polygamy. They really believed they
could do it, too. They said they would
fortify all the mountain passes, and
kill off invaders as fast as they might
be sent. They said the Lord was on
their side and would help protect
them"
For a good many years Mr.. Sinner
was connected with the Leavenworth