Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-09-25

difference between these Statements and
that made by the Tribune, that "some
OF their own brethren attacked the
Jail At Carthage with blacked faces"
The following account of the tragedy
by the late John Hay, published in the
Atlantic Monthly for December 1862
Is based upon well established data as
TO who the assassins were:
"Order rcigncd In warsaw-for the
men we're ali gone The whole male
adult population, with trning excep-
tons. were IN Williams regiment
Among the captains we're William n.
Grover afterwards distinguished
lawyer of St Louis. and United states
attorney for Missouri-an eminently
respectable and conservative man;
| Thomas G. sharp editor or the
Signal. who also on this day sowed the
last OF his Wild oats and was alter
wards principal Of the public school,
and greatly esteemed as county Judge
Jacob c. Davis, then state senator
afterwards member OF Congress from
that district
They arrived near noon at some de-
serted shantles. about seven miles from
/ Warsaw. that had been built ana
/ abandoned I'm that furry and collapse
/ OF internal improvements that passed
over the state In 1898. There they were
met by Mr. Davis Matthews. we'll
known citizen Of Warsaw. who had
ridden rapidly from Carthage with an
order from the Governor. disbanding
the regiment The Governor fearing
he could not control the inhainmable
material he had gathered together had
| determined to scatter II again.
Colonel Williams read the Governors
order some Of the anti Mormon
warriors. blessed with robust western
| appetites. looked at the sun, and con-
cluded that they could get home by
dinner time, and under the influence
/ Of this inspiring idea started on az
/ quickstep. Captain Grover soon found
/ himself without a company. Captain
Aldrich issued n speech calling for
/ volunteers for Carthage. He did not
/ make q fair start says the chronicle,
and sharp came up and took II on
/ his hands Sharp, being a spirited and
| Impressive talker soon had respect
/ able squad about him. Captain Davis,
on the contrary, was only perplexed
| II was heavy weather for him He was
| a professional politician. and dearly
/ loved both Mormon and anti-Mor-
| mon votes. He was so backward IN
coming forward that his company lett
! him In disgust and followed the merry
| Grover whose company had gone
home to dinner. The speeches
| OF Grover and Sharp were rather
| vague: the purpose Of murder does not
| seem to have been limited. They pro-
| tested against being made the tools
and puppets OF Tommy Ford. They
were going TO Carthage 70 see the boys
and talk things over. Some Of the
cooler heads, such as Or. Hay, surgeon
| Of the regiment denounced the pro-
| ceedings and went at once back TO
Warsaw.
/ IA
| Carthage Grays. II Is impossible at
this day 20 declare exactly the purport
| of his message II Is usually reported
| and believed that he brought an as
surance from the officers of his COM
| pany that they would be found on
guard at the Jail where the Smiths
were confined: that they would make
no real resistance, merely enough to
save appearances.
This message was not communicated
20 the men. They followed their lead
ers on on the road to Carthage, with
rather vague intentions. They were
annoyed at the prospect Of their picnic
coming so readily to a close, at losing
the fun OF sacking Nauvoo. at having
to go home without material for "a
single romance Nearly one hundred
and fifty started with their captains,
but they gradually dwindled in number
| to seventy Ave. These trudged along
under the fierce summer sun Of the
prairies towards the town where the
cause OF all the trouble and confusion
Of the last few years awaited them.
The farther they walked the more
the idea IMPRESSED itself upon them
| that now was the time To finish the
matter totally The unavowed design
OF the leaders communicated itself
| Numerically 70 the men. until the en-
tire company became fused into one
mass Of bloodthirsty energy. BY an
excess OF precaution they did not go
directly into the town. but made a
long detour. SO as 10 come In by the
road leading from Nauvoo.
"The jai where the Smiths were con-
| fined is situated at the extreme north p
western edge OF the dismal village at
the end Of a long, ill-kept street whose
middle Is a dusty road. and whose sides
are gay with gtramonlum and dog
| fennel As tho avengers came In sight
OF the meau-lOoking building that held
their prey, the sleeping tiger that turks
In every human heart sprang up IN
theirs. and they quickened their rslce
70 "a run. There was no need OF orders
no possibility Of checking them now.
! The guards were hustled away nom
the door good-naturedly resisting until
they were carefully dtsarmed.'
Tho events preceding the tragedy
were Of a nature to excite amazemont
at this time. Anti "Mo1nons" tried
20 print a libelous sheet in NauvOo,
and this was stopped by the city au-
thorities, as "a nuisance. The wisdom,
and even legality. OF that proceeding
may be questioned, perhaps, but even
N the most narrow view is taken OF
that attempt 20 defend community
against character assassins, IL must be
admitted that recourse could have been
had in law There was no NEED
Of mob rule. But the mob rose,
I'm response 20 the cali OF a sheet. tho
, ! Warsaw Signal edited In the spirit n
the salt lake Tribune. That sheet
said
, I'VE have only 10 state that his Is
| sufficient War and determination ia
} ! inovltable Citizens arise, one and
+ | ANN Can you stand by and suffer
| such Internal dcvilsl 70 rob men OF
, | their property and rights, without
/ aVeugiug theme We have no time ~
. | comment. every man win make hls
, own. let II be made with powder and
! balriW
The tragedy followed There is no
doubt that apostates took an active
| part iu the persecution. AZ they have
: done ever since, but there Is no truth
in the Tribune allegation that Church
{ members blackonod their faces and
..l