The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-17

of the various phases of tho Rec
Smoot case has had the effect Of stim
ulating Investigations OF number Q
the obscure features OF MormoniSn
A mass of historical matter has beet
brought to light by students of tn
growth of the cult and q great volum,
ofmaterial wholly scattered, has beel
rediscovered and added to the data o
origins. MI
Among this material is the story o
the miracle that failed, involving tht
tragedy of budding prophet who coult
not deliver the goods. a misfortun,
which came very near costing Joseph
Smith a ttghttitting coat Of tar and
feathers as the penalty of his failure.
The tale is told in an old history OF
Chenango County. New York ana has
been overlooked by many Of the his
torians and critics Of Smith and the
church he founded.
II happened at the little town of Az
ton, where Smith was married in 1927
and where he had lived for some time
Here he organized his society and pyac-
tically began the strange propaganda
that as the wears passed trailei itself
nearly across the continent until ii
relched the promised land 81 the
shores of the great Salt Lake, a. Al
ton Smith drew about him a body Of
earnest converts, and HIS vigorous
preaching, his strange personal mag
netism, and his startling avowals of
prophecy and inspiration attracted
\ large crowds to his services Finally,
TO put the capstone of achievement 10
his movement OF pretensious. any to
prove to the sneerers and revilers, of
whom there were many, that he had
divine attributes, he walked from
shore to shore upon the waters of
creek that flowed near the town.
The feat came as the dramatic eli
max to a powerful sermon by wnich
his hearers had been aroused TO the
point OF frenzy and the ocular demon
stration of his professed divinity,
greeted with a Greek chorus of a
mems" removed the last vesuge of
doubt from the minds of converts. Ac-
coriing to the relation in the old coun-
try history. the news of the marvellous
feat spread like wildtire throughout
the adjacent country side. 1t was
discussed at every crossroads store
and was the one topic of conversation
at every farm house and village home,
even .ha rcvi,ers were suJdued for the
moment and the flock Of converts in
creased rapidly.
Still there were many skeptics. for
the Smith family had a very unsavory I
reputation in the neighborhood, and .
Joseph Smith in particular, according
to the affidavits of some sixty Of the
prominent men Of the vicinity, was
held to De a person of absolutely no
moral character. and Of vicious drum
ken habits. They doubted and waited.
Smiths success was his undoing,
according to the old history. The
converts hungered for miracles. They
wanted some more of the water walk
ing business as ocular proof for the
flock of new adherents, and Smith
rather reluctantly consented, for none
knew better than he how repetition
pens When the day came great
crowds lined the shore Of the creek,
everyone upon the tiptoe of expec-
fancy. At the appointed hour, Smith
appeared, and, with a tread Of dig
nifty and assurance, approached the
bank at the spot roped off for him to
make the trial. He removed mis- shoes
and stockings and waded in. The
great crowd held it's breath. Necks
We're craned and staring eyes watched
every movement Of the prophet.
A murmur of surprise, gasp Of
wonder swept over the crowd as Smith
slowly and dramatically walked to-
cheapens. When the day came great
ward midstream, the water, well
known to be ten or twelve feet deep
at that point coming only half way
between his feet and knees. With un
believing eyes the skeptics watched
tn progrss of his majestic glide. Then
suddenly with a splash that threw
the water of the muddy creek high in
the air, the prophet disappeared, to
come to the surface a moment later
putting and splurging around like any
ordinary mortal under similar cold
bath circumstances.
A roar of laughter swept over the
crowd and a battery Of sharp, crude
brutal epithets and wtticisms were
turned loose upon him as he swan to