611 Olivet, and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion, to destroy the wicked with the brightness of his coming-will also contain whatever of truth or information that can benefit the saints of God temporally as well as spiritually, in these last days, whether in prose or poetry, without interfering with politics, broils, or the gainsayings of the world. While some may say this paper is opposed to all combinations under whatever plausible character, others will know, that it is for an eternal union whose maker and supporter is God; thus all may be as they are, inasmuch as they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness reap the same-but wisdom is justified of her children.
From this press also, may be expected as soon as wisdom directs, many sacred records, which have slept for ages.
+ Terms.-The Star will be issued monthly on a royal. sheet quarto, at one dollar a year, till it shall be deemed proper to publish it oftener. (A supplement will be published weekly, if required, containing the advertisements of Jackson county, &c.) Letters to the editor must be paid-and subscriptions in specie or United States' bills.
W. W. PHELPS.
February, 1832.
February, 22, 1832.
According to previous calculations, we now began to make preparations to visit the brethren who had removed to the land of Missouri. Before going to Hiram to live with father Johnson, my wife had taken two children, (twins) of John Murdock, to bring up. She received them when only nine days old; they were now nearly eleven months. I would remark that nothing important had occurred since I came to reside at father Johnson's house in Hiram; I had held meetings on the sabbaths and evenings and baptized a number. Father Johnson's son, Olmsted Johnson, came home on a visit, during which I told him if he did not obey the gospel, the spirit he was of would lead him to destruction; and then he went away, he would never return or see his father again. He went to the southern states and Mexico;-on his return took sick and died in Virginia. In addition to the apostate Booth, Simonds Rider Eli Johnson, Edward Johnson and John Johnson, jr. had apostatized.
On the 25th of March, the twins before mentioned, which had been sick of the measles for some time, caused us to be broke of our rest in taking care of them, especially my wife. In the evening I told her she had better retire to rest with one of the children, and I would watch with the sickest child. In the night she told me I had better lay down on the trundle bed, and I did so, and was soon after awoke by her screaming murder! when I found myself going out of the door, in the hands of about a dozen men; some of whose hands were in my hair, and some hold of my shirt, drawers and limbs. The foot of the trundle bed was towards the door, leaving only room enough for the door to swing. My wife heard a gentle taping on the windows which she then took no particular notice of, (but which was unquestionably designed for ascertaining whether we were all asleep,) and soon after the mob burst open the door and surrounded the bed in an instant, and, as I said, the first I knew I was going out of the door in the hands of an infuriated mob, I made a desperate struggle, as I was forced out, to extricate myself, but only cleared one leg, with which I made a pass at one man, and he fell on the door steps. I was immediately confined again; and they swore by God, they would kill me if I did not be still, which quieted me. As they passed around the house with me, the fellow that I kicked came to me and thrust his hand into my face, all covered with blood, (for I hit him on the nose,) and with an exulting horse laugh, muttered: "ge, gee, God damn ye, I'll fix ye."
They then seized me by the throat, and held on till I lost my breath. After I came to, as they passed along with me, about thirty rods from the house, I saw elder Rigdon stretched out on the ground, whither they had dragged him by the heels. I supposed he was dead.
I began to plead with them, saying: you will have mercy and spare my life, I hope. To which they replied: "God damn ye, call on yer God for help, we'll show ye no mercy;" and the people began to show themselves in every direction: one coming from the orchard had a plank, and I expected they would kill me, and carry me off on the plank. They then turned to the right, and went on about thirty rods further; obout [about] sixty rods from the house, and thirty from where I saw elder Rigdon; into the meadow, where they stopped, and one said "Simonds, Simonds" (meaning I suppose Simonds Rider,) "pull up his drawers, pull up his drawers, he will take cold." Another replied: a'nt ye going to kill 'im? a'nt ye going to kill 'im? when a group of mobbers collected a little way off and said: "Simonds, Simonds, come here:" and Simonds charged those who had hold of me to keep me from touching the ground. (as they had done all the time) lest I should get a spring upon them They went and held a council, and as I could occasionally overhear a word, I suppose it was to know
(page 611) |