Show joseph smiths vaisioa cor was published recently in the st louis globo democrat april 11 the remarkable vision at the execution of the mormon prophet joseph smith which somo people still in the land of the living claim to have witnessed at that grim spectacle ia abang the singular spook lore of hancock county and is even recalled with terror forty four years after it is a matter of common history that joseph smith had gotten into serious trouble at nancoo with the civil authorities I 1 for having ordered a newspaper e called the nauvoo expositor demolished and the type and presses thrown into the river por this act smith his brother hyrum dr taylor recent president of the moamoa church at salt lake and a mr eich ards all mormon dignitaries were arrested and brought to carthage on june ag 1844 they were accompanied by an armed posse under orders from governor ford more for protection to tho prisoners chaa through any fear that they would escape while crossing the then trackless prairies to carthage smith suddenly drew rein and turning in his saddle addressed his fellow prisoners in substance as follows brothers I 1 have had a vision and I 1 am sorely troubled governor ford has promised us due protection in the carthage jail and a fair trial but alas we are doomed an angel has told me that my days and hyrams are I 1 numbered we shall be murdered before sun set tomorrow to morrow it is written he then turned toward nauvoo and gazed with earnest longing in that di for several minutes then he exclaimed zion my love my iv y people farewell the prisoners arrived at carthage that day aad were placed in the debtors room of the old which now stands in good condition on the next afternoon june 1844 about 4 a mob of armed men wearing hideous disguises emerged from a strip of timber near the jail and gadega furious assault upon the guards who fled in confusion it was the work of but a few minutes to send a shower of bullets into the straggling bodies of the prisoners smith defended himself nobly but finding himself overpowered ran to the east window and attempted to jump out his appearance was the signal for a bolley of bullets from determined men in the yard below with areavy groan the prophet fell to the earth and expired in the meantime the mob had fled and most of the inhabitants of the town also A few who remained and went to the jail declare that as smiths body lay torn and bleeding on the ground a most beautiful vision appeared which cast a dazzling light upon them blinding their sight for a moment then as they declare the vision took a clearer form it being that of an angel arrayed in spotless white in one hand she carried a naming sword while in the other she swung a basket of incense tho odors of which air with strangely sweet perfume the angel approached pro ached the prostrate form of the prophet then the light became more dazzling when amidst a cloud of great glory and beauty the vision disappeared the bodies of the murdered mor mons were cared for by a citizen and taken the next day to nauvoo here they were received with great eor row and lamentations by the stricken people boch bodies were secretly buried and their resting place is unknown save to one or two at the trial of those supposed to have been connected with this murder at least one witness for the prosecution swore that a areat light descended from heaven when the attack was made the testimony had little j weight however with the jury who acquitted the defendants after a short consultation there are a few persons living today who claim to have been eyewitnesses to this great tragedy some members of the old carthage grays who were there guarding the jail yet live ns do one or two who resided near the jail at the time so great was the terror of the people fearing vengeance at the hands of the mor mons that few remained to witness the beautiful vision which as some of the faithful believe came to bear away the spirit of their prophet to its new zion where trouble cometh not |