The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-16
MORMON DAY
"REMINISCENCES
Graphic Description Of the Panic Of
the Anti Mormons After the
Staying Of Joseph
Smith.
roLDBY AN EYE WITNESS
Zach Side Alarmed and Running
From the other-Rusy Times
Between Warsaw and
Alexandria.

"reminiscences of the old Mormon
days in this locality will always have
an interest to the people. The Nor
mons played a prominent part in
making thrilling history in the early
days OF this locality. Quite large
body of organized people in this city
have been making an interesting
study of Mormonism and entertaining
and instructive lectures have been
given on the subject.
Every now and then some old timer
who witnessed the stirring scenes of
those days in connection with Joseph
Smith and his followers, writes q
reminiscent story of interest. The
latest noticed was in the current num-
Der of the Carthage, ILL.,, Republican
graphically told and proves an inter
esting addition to the history of those
stirring times. 1t was written for the
Republican by w. o. Couchman, r. F.
d. No. /. Carthage, H., and is given
below, and proves an interesting adj
dition to the history of those stirring
times:
Il note in the issue OF The Car
thags Republican of the 5th Inst,
Witnessed Attack on the Old Car
thage JAIL wish to relate a remin-
iscence of that period of time. Ye
gods, that I could but paint in true
ceiors the realization of the intense
panicky public mind incident to the
killing of the Smiths at Carthage Jail
by a mob June 18th, 1874.
AT the time of the tragedy my
father, the late Judge Melgar Couch
man, was in charge of the horse-pow-
or ferry boat plying across the Mis-
sissippi river between Warsaw and
Alexandria, Mo. On the evening Of
horseback came from the vicinity Of
the tragedy, warning people along the
ronte of the fact and admonished
them to flee to places OF safety fol
their lives as the Mormons in theft
reyengeful fury would slaughter all
anti-Mormons that they might meet
as a revenge for the killing of theii
prophet and his brother, Hiram.
1T is needless to say that in the
panicky state or affairs incident e
those times. the people hearing tbs
warning cry, passed 1t quickly from
mouth to mouth and took little length
of time to consider what to do. TIL
more sober and cool headed person
determined to stand their ground an
protect their homes and persons,
need be at the peril of their lives
But the more timid or less determine
took the warning seriously and los
as little time as possible in takin
advantage of the ferry privilege an
thus putting as much barrier betwee
them and an imagined general mass:
ere Of the innocents.
There was logged determinatio
Or fear depicted on every countenanc
The young man that assisted my fat
er in the navigation of the ferry /
driving the horses that pulled c
the sweeps, became panicky early al
deserted his post My father insta
ed me, a six year old boy, to fill ii
drivers place. The ferry ran bat
and forth across the stream until 4
into the next day without interim
sion, carrying over people to pla
of safety.
q remember old Mark Phelps W
at Alexandria, vigorously beating t
snare drum, calling the safe, hero
f?l brave to stand in defense OF t
innocents abroad on the safe side
the broad expanse CT the Mississir
river out Of harms way. Those we
truly exciting times such as indel
leave their imprint on the hum
child's mind.
ut was soon learned through SEQ,