History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

102 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
tered in the streets. On November 2d thirty saints
retired with their families and effects to a point half a
mile from town. Next day four of the brethren went to
Lexington for a peace warrant, but the circuit judge
refused to issue one through fear of the mob. "You
had better fight it out and kill the outlaws if they
come upon you," said the judge. 42 The saints then
armed, and on the 4th there was a fight, in which two
gentiles and one Mormon were killed, and several on
both sides wounded. One of the store-breakers was
brought before the court, and during the trial the
populace became so furious that Gilbert, Morley, and
Corrill were thrust into jail for protection. The morning
of the 5th broke with signs of yet more bloody
determination on both sides. The militia were called
out to preserve the peace, but this only made matters
worse. The lieutenant-governor, Boggs, pretending
friendship, got possession of the Mormons' arms, and
seized a number to be tried for murder. 43 Further
and yet more violent attacks were made; hope was
abandoned; the now deft nceless saints were forced to
fly in every direction, some out into the open prairie,
some up and some down the river. " The struggle
was over," writes Pratt, "our liberties were gone!"
On the 7th both banks were lined with men, women,
and children, with wagons, provisions, and personal
effects. Cold weather came on with wind and rain,
to which most of the fugitives were exposed, few of
them having tents. Some took refuge in Clay county,
some in Lafayette county, and elsewhere. 44
Throughout all these trying scenes, Governor
"Pratt's Autobiography, 105; Machay's The Mormons, 77-8; Pratt's
Persecution, 31-6.
43 In a memorial to the legislature of Missouri, dated Far West, Dec. 10,
1S38, and signed by nine prominent Mormons, is this statement: 'A battle
took place in which some two or three of the mob and one of our people were
killed. This raised, as it were, the whole county in arms, and nothing could
satisfy them but an immediate surrender of the arms of our people, and they
forthwith had to leave the county. Fifty-one guns were given up, which
have never been returned or paid for to this day.'
44 'About 1,500 people were expelled from Jackson co. in Xov. 1S33, and
about 300 of their houses burned.' Geo. A. Smith, in Dcseret News, June 30,