The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
Before starting, the prisoners were conducted into Far West, permitted
to get a change of linen, and take leave of their families, though
in the presence of a brutal guard. This parting, which they had good
reason to believe was their final one, was very distressing. Yet it
was borne with manly fortitude. Parley P. Pratt's wife was sick with a
fever, with an infant at her breast. The roof of the miserable hovel
in which she lay afforded but little protection from the drizzling
rain which at the time was falling. His large comfortable house had
been pulled down by the mob, and he had been forced to find temporary
shelter in this hovel, for his sick wife and her young family.
Stretched out on the foot of the bed, on which his wife lay, was
another woman who had been driven from her home the night before,
who now was in the throes of child-birth. To leave a family sick and
helpless and destitute and exposed to the insults of a lawless band of
murderers, would appall the stoutest heart. In tears Elder Pratt went
to General Wilson and told him the circumstances of his family with
the view of getting time to provide for their comfort, but he was only
answered with a mocking, exultant laugh.
The wife of Hyrum Smith was near her confinement, yet he was compelled
to take his leave of her in the presence of his brutal guard, who
peremptorily ordered her to get her husband a change of clothing within
two minutes or he would be compelled to go without them; and after
securing the clothing he was rudely hustled out of the house to join
the rest of the prisoners.
The separation of Sidney Rigdon from his family was scarcely less
distressing, and Joseph had been as roughly torn away from his family.
The prisoners were placed in a wagon, around which crowded the friends
and relatives, among whom were the aged parents of Joseph and Hyrum,
their hearts wrung with anguish and their eyes blinded with tears, as
they beheld their noble sons in the hands of their merciless enemies.
No one was allowed to speak to them, the silent pressure of the hand
was the only token of affection granted, and the wagon containing the
prisoners moved on, surrounded by its military guard, and followed by
the prayers of heart-sick wives and a grief-stricken people. Leaving
the prisoners to pursue their journey to Independence, let us relate
what happened about Far West and Diahman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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