| 150 survived. During this time they lived on the best that the neighborhood could afford, plundering and stealing all the palatable food which had by the industry and prudence of murdered husbands, been laid in store for themselves and families.
They burned all the books that they could find, they shot the hogs and cattle, it seemed for pleasure of shooting game, as they did not consume near all they killed.
One day Capt. Comstock with a number of men went to Jacob Fauts, who was at the time laying confined with wounds received in the massacre. They came to question Mr. Fauts, to ascertain where certain of his neighbors were who had escaped the murdering party. Mr Fauts told them he did not know. I then got up, left the room, but was followed by some of the company, who commanded me not to leave until the Captain could see me. The Captain was accordingly called upon and came out to see me; he very gravely and sternly charged me to be gone or on the act of starting on Tuesday evening, this being on Sunday evening. He said I must obey at my peril, or renounce Mormonism. I asked him what I must deny; he said deny that Jo. Smith is a Prophet. As for moving I told him I thought it quite a short notice to get ready to leave the county, and the weather being so cold, and robbed of all our clothing, &c.-I also told him that my wife was quite sick and not able to move so soon, and furthermore the roads are guarded or said to be, so that no Mormon could pass either way without being mobbed. I asked him if I must be driven off by one company, and and another lay in wait to murder me as I go. I told him I thought the condition of the treaty was that we could stay until spring: he replied that was the first conclusion, but he had just received new orders from the General, and that was, that all Mormons should be driven out of the state forthwith. I then asked him if the way was not guarded so that I would be in no danger in passing the roads. He said he would give me a pass or ticket which would carry me safely through the state, provided I continued to travel in an eastward course and minded my own business. We soon parted, and on the next day I went to the mill and received my pass which reads as follows. Having the original in my possession I give it verbatim.
November 13th, 1838.
This is to certify that David Lewis, a Mormon, is permitted to leave and pass through the State of Missouri in an eastward direction unmolested during good behaviour [behavior].
NEHEMIAH COMSTOCK Capt. Militia
The next day Hiram Comstock, the Captain's brother, with two or three others, brought a prisoner to me to see, if I knew him; I told them I had seen him, but did not know his name. After questioning me for sometime, they told me to go with them into their camp, and said I might consider myself a prisoner. They kept me until the next day, and set me at liberty charging me to be gone from the state forthwith. I was compelled to comply with these orders at the sacrifice of all I had, and leave the state of Missouri agreeably to the order of the Executive of that state, as thing unprecedented in the history of the world. I was taught to hold sacred the rights of man in my childhood. I was raised in Kentucky, born in 1814, and lived in that state until April, 1837. Such doctrine as taught and prastised [practiced] in Missouri, by the officers of that state was never taught, neither practiced in my native state. DAVID LEWIS.
COMMUNICATIONS.
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel what has God wrought! Numbers 23 chap. 23 verse.
The above was the language of the prophet when the son of Zippor had sent for to curse the children of Israel, who had encamped near the borders of Moab, and who were about to enter into, and take possession of the land of Canaan. Fear took hold of the king Moab who had undoubtedly heard of the great deliverance which the Almighty
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