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
I withdrew from the window thinking it no use to leap out on a
hundred bayonets, then round Gen. Smith's body. Not satisfied
with this, I again reached my head out of the window, and watched
some seconds to see if there were any signs of life, regardless
of my own, determined to see the end of him I loved. Being fully
satisfied that he was dead, with a hundred men near his body and
more coming round the corner of the jail, and expecting a return
to our room, I rushed toward the prison door at the head of the
stairs, and through the entry from whence the firing had proceeded,
to learn if the doors into the prison were open. When near the
entry Mr. Taylor cried out "_Take me_!" I pressed my way until I
found all doors unbarred, returning instantly, caught Mr. Taylor
under my arm, and rushed up the stairs into the dungeon, or inner
prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a bed in
such a manner as not likely to be perceived, expecting an immediate
return of the mob. I said to Mr. Taylor, "This is a hard case to
lay you on the floor, but if your wounds are not fatal, I want you
to live to tell the story." I expected to be shot the next moment,
and stood before the doors awaiting the onset.
There was, however, no further onset made on the jail.
Three minutes after the attack was commenced, Hyrum Smith lay stretched
out on the floor of the prison dead, Elder Taylor lay not far from him
savagely wounded, the Prophet was lying by the side of the well curb,
[7] just under the window from which he had attempted to leap, the
plighted faith of a State was broken, its honor trailed in the dust,
and a stain of innocent blood affixed to its escutcheon which shall
remain a disgrace forever.
When it was known that the Prophet was killed, consternation seemed
to seize the mob and they fled, for the most part, in the direction
of Warsaw, in the utmost confusion. Such wild confusion reigned in
Carthage that it was nearly midnight before Elder Richards could obtain
any help or refreshments for Elder Taylor. At last the wounded man
was taken to the Hamilton House and his wounds dressed. The bodies of
Joseph and Hyrum were also taken to the same place and laid out.
Meantime Governor Ford had gone to Nauvoo, where he arrived some time
in the afternoon. Several thousands assembled to hear his speech, that
he went there to deliver; and he insulted them, by assuming that all
that their worst enemies had said of them was true, and threatened them
with most dire calamities. He himself in his history of Illinois, says
the people manifested some impatience and anger when he referred to the
misconduct alleged against them by their enemies; and well they might,
for baser falsehoods were never put in circulation to slander a people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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