The Rise and Fall of NauvooRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Rise and Fall of Nauvoo
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Illinois -- Nauvoo; Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History
This conversation took place a little after five o'clock, and very soon
afterwards the attack was made on the jail. It appears that a crowd
came from the direction of Warsaw that evidently had an understanding
with the Carthage Greys and the members of that company on guard at the
jail, since the latter, without question, had but blank cartridges in
their guns; and the attack was made under the very eyes of the rest of
the company encamped but two or three hundred yards away on the public
square, and they made no effort whatever to prevent the assaults on the
prison.
The guard at the jail played their part well. They fired blank shots
at the advancing mob, or discharged their pieces in the air. They were
"overpowered" (?), and the prison was in the hands of an infuriated mob.
A rush was made for the room where the prisoners were lodged, and a
shower of lead was sent in through the door and the windows from those
on the outside.
As no account that I could possibly write would equal that given by an
eye-witness of the whole transaction, I here quote entire the account
of the tragedy by Elder Willard Richards, as it appeared in the _Times
and Seasons_ soon after the event, under the caption,
TWO MINUTES IN JAIL.
A shower of musket balls was thrown up the stairway against the
door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid
footsteps.
While Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself, who
were in the front chamber, closed the door of our room against the
entry at the head of the stairs, and placed ourselves against it,
there being no lock on the door, and no catch that was unsealable.
The door is a common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at
the stair's head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed
between us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes and we
must change our position.
General Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself sprang back to the
front part of the room. General Hyrum Smith retreated two-thirds
across the chamber directly in front of and facing the door. A
ball was sent through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of his
nose, when he fell backwards, extending at full length without
moving his feet. From the holes in his vest (the day was warm and
no one had their coats on but myself) pantaloons, drawers, and
shirt, it appeared that a ball must have been thrown from without
through the window, which entered the back of his right side, and
passing through, lodged against his watch, which was in the right
vest pocket, completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing
off the hands and mashing the whole body of the watch. At the same
instant the ball from the door entered his nose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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