A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
Capt. Bundy with his gospel ship "Glad Tidings" often came to our harbor
and sailing around other parts of the shores and islands in later years
holding religious services among the people.
THE NURSE'S STORY.
Soon after our return to the island after the going away of the Mormons
I became acquainted with a lady that had come to the island just a few
weeks before Strang was shot. She came to visit her brother. She was a
nurse. She told me what a sad time it was to those people when their
king was shot. Some would not believe until they saw him. Soon after
Strang was carried home the doctor sent a messenger to this lady to come
and take charge of the sick room, as no one else could be found capable,
all being in such an excited state of mind. She said, "When I reached
Strang's home I found him resting under an opiate. His wounds had been
dressed. The doctor was sitting beside the bed. I knew him well and he
motioned me to a seat. I went across the hall into another room, hearing
the sounds of crying and sobbing. There I saw the four wives with
several neighbor women all in a sorrowful state of mind. There was one
that sat by herself by an open window looking out over the water. She
was silent and quiet with a far away look in her eyes. I motioned to the
rest to be quiet, as I feared it would disturb the sick man. I went
close and spoke to the quiet woman. She was the one called 'Douglas,'
the favorite wife. Strang often called her Charley. I told her why I had
come, that I had been sent for. She roused herself up, saying, 'Oh yes,
now I remember some one is needed in the sick room.' She seemed to be
almost in a dream. I said to her, 'This may not be so bad. He may get
well.' She shook her head, her lips quivered, then she spoke in low
tones to me, saying, 'No, he says himself he can't get well and he wants
the doctor to take him away from the island.' She stopped a moment and
then went on, 'He wants to go to his wife in Wisconsin. He says he must
go. The doctor told him he had better not go, but his mind is made up to
go. And I think it is best, but the rest don't think so,' meaning the
other three women. She told me where I could find everything I needed.
There were soon large crowds gathering about the house, women were
wringing their hands and sobbing aloud. The quiet woman went out among
them, telling them they must be quiet and not disturb the sick man, but
they did not seem to know what she said. They acted as if they were
dazed. The doctor went out and explained to them that they must be
quiet. Some of them went away, others sat down on the grass, sobbing
quietly, seeming almost heartbroken. I was in the room when Strang
awoke. The doctor was near him. The first words he spoke were, 'Doctor
can I go? Will a boat soon come to take me home to my wife?' His voice
was strong. The doctor answered, 'We will think about this later.' 'No
doctor I must go, I cannot die here on the island. I must go to my wife
and children.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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