The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-22

mass OF historical matter has .een
brought to light by students OF tue
growth of the cult and a great volume
of material, widely scattered has been
rediscovered and added to the data 0
origins.
Among this material is the st0r,, O
the miracle that failed, involving tn
tragedy of a budding prophet, VIII
could not deliver the goods, a misfor
tune which came very near coa.in
Joseph Smith a tight-ftting coat of tai
and feathers as the penalty of his fail
ire. The tale is told in an old history
OF ChenangO County, New York. and
has been overlooked by many OF Tie
historians and critics of Smith and the
church he founded.
1t happened at the little town of At
ion, where Smith was married in 1872
and where he had lived for some time
Here he organized his society and
practically began the strange propagan
da that rs the years passed traiIed in
self nearly across the continent until
1t reached the promised IanG on the
shores Of the great Salt Lake. At At
ton Smith drew about him a body Of
earnest converts, and his vigorous
preaching, his strange personal mag
netism, and his startling avoWalG OF
prophecy and inspiration attracted
large crowds to his services Finally
TO put the capStOne Of achievement to
his monument of pretenSiOnS, TO
prove TO the sncererS and revilnrS, Of
whom there were many, that he had
divine attributes, he walked from shore
to shore upon he waters Of a creek
that flowed near the town.
The feat came as the dramatic eli
max to a powerful sermon by when
his hearers had Deer aroused to the
point of frenzy md the ocular demons
tration of his professed divinity, greet
ed with a Greek chorus of "Amens,"
removed the last vestige OF doubt from
the minds of converts. According to
the relation in the old county history
the news of this marvellous feat spread
like wildfire throughout he adjacent
countryside. It was discussed ut ey-
cry crossroads store and was the one
topic Of conversation at every farm
house and village home, even the .c-
NlICIS "tlS u " III AlAOlliSL4L, |
and the flock of converts increased rap
idly.
Still there were many SkepticS, Tor
the Smith family had a very ~unsavory
reputation in the neghbOrhOod, and
Joseph Smith in particular, according |
to the affidavitS OF some sixty OF the
prominent men Of the vicinity, was
helc. to be a person Of absolutely NJ
moral character, and of vicious drunk i
en- habits. They doubted and waited.
Smiths success was his undOing, ac-
cording to the old history. The CON-
Verts hungered for miracles. Ircy
wanted some more of the ato"-wajk-
ing business as Occular proof for the
fec: Of new &C l,";. an6 Smith
rathc.. e uctantly Ous tied. for none
knew better than he how repetition
cheaE~ns. When tho 'lay came gr5at
Groves lined the 2h&'e CT thc creek, |
every one upon the 1iptoe c. eXpec-
fancy. A. the ap 0O;r ed hour, SE:i:n
appeared and, with a tread or dignity
and assurance, approached the bank
at the spot roped off for him to make
the trial. He removed his shoes and
stockings and waded in. The great
crowd held its breath. NeCAS wera
craned and staring eyes watched ev,
cry movement of the prophet.
A nurmer Of surprise, Il gasp OF Won !
der swept over the crowd as Smith
slowly and dramatically walked to-
ward midstream, the water, we'll known
to be ten or twelve feet deep at tina
- - L0-1x, Lo1F NAV IO+Uvoor |
his feet and knees. With unbelieVing
eyes the skeptics watched the progress
of his majestic glide. Then suddenly,
with a splash that threw the water OF
the muddy creek high in the air, tn
prophet disappeared, to come to the
surface q moment later putting and
spdnrging around like any ordinary NOR
taA under similar cold-bath circum-
stances.
A roar of laughter swept Over the
crowd, and a battery Of sharp. crude
brutal epithets and witticisms were
urned loose upon him as he swan TO
the shore, and was pulled out by his
devoted adherents. Some of the baser
sort wanted to give Smith a coat Of
tar and feathers, but the d~iscredited
miracle worker was whisked away out
of danger and the advice of the cool
er-headed among the crowd prevailed.
Investigation showed that Smith, at
cording to the allegations, had built
a submerged pier out into the river On
piles, the tops Of which came within
a foot OF the surface of the muo-
DIV water. On the piles boards had
been placed, by means of which walk
ing ON the water was reduced to 4 fine
and practical art.
1t happened that while Smith was
practicing this miracle in order to per-
form it without any chance Of mishap,
who had sought the secluded spo
for a swim. surprised him at work.