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Show TV Listings, June 13, 1985 Page 8 brown from constant tobacco chewing. He certainly wasnt the plantation gentleman Caroline had expected. Caroline quickly noticed the source of Boggs limp, a wooden stump in place of a boot on his right foot. She couldnt help but wonder what kind of violent deed had caused this, and if the injury had anything to do with the mans hatred for Mormons. She figured she would find out soon enough. This was not the kind of plantation Caroline had envisioned - a white mansion with tall pillars, sweeping lawns, and orchards cared for by d servants. Instead, she -- well-dresse- saw a single logcabin, a small one at that, a log barn, some corrals, pig pens, and a row of crude huts which she supposed to be slave quarters. There were no lawns, shrubs or white fences just dirt, weeds and makeshift rail fences. Caroline felt Henry Sears had deceived her. The place n was at best a homestead, not a plantation by anybodys defini- - run-dow- tion. No one was in sight, not even the slaves, who apparently were still in g the fields working. There was a gray gelding tied to a post in front of the cabin. Will you be staying the night, or would you like me to escort you back tired-lookin- to town at the end of your visit? asked the A few minutes earlier, Caroline would have hesitated at that question, but after seeing the place, she knew she didnt want to spend the night. She asked Peter if he would wait for her while she visited Boggs, then accompany her back to town. She was glad when he dismounted and made himself comfortable under a tree on the hill overlooking the Boggs place. She was glad he wouldnt be around to overhear her conversation with Boggs. She rode ahead in eager anticipation of meeting the man she suspected might be the most famous Mormon hater of all, next to his cousin Lilburn, the half-bree- d. former governor of Missouri. It wasnt until Caroline had dis- mounted and was tying her horse to a fence post when the door to the cabin opened. She looked up to greet the man she had traveled so far to see. Dick Boggs limped into the evening sunlight to greet his attractive visitor. He was a squat, heavy-se- t man. the top of his partly bald head was white and sweaty like a big chunk of pig fat. He squinted through small black eyes at Caroline. His eyes were too close together, and the red of his puffy lips was barely visible through the thick brown beard. His clothing red homespun consisted of underwear, gray trousers with wide full-lengt- h brown suspenders, and cowhide boots. His clothing was soiled and greasy. His broken teeth were milky Boggs looked at Caroline in disbelief as if she were the first white woman he had ever seen. She certainly was the first one to visit his farm. He just stared at her, up and down, taking in every detail, not thinking to say anything. Caroline was the first to speak. Mr. Boggs? He seemed even more surprised. He wasnt used to this Mister business. The names he went by were Boggs, Masser, and sometimes Dick. But Mister, that was something new. Im Caroline Logan, she continu- ed. Henry Sears said you could me. Im writing a book. help Finally Boggs came to life, his mouth breaking into a broad grin, exposing more of the crooked, tobacco-staine- d teeth. Cousin lilburn told me you might be coming, were Boggs first words. But I never thought you would really come, not here. Come in. Caroline stepped towards the cabin d door, taking a last look at Peter seated beneath the tree on the hilL It made her feel better, safer, to know he was there. Meet Frank Worrell, said Boggs to Caroline, as she stepped into the darkness of the cabin. The air was heavy with the stench of unwashed bodies, and dirty clothing. It was dark compared to the outside sunlight, and it took Carolines eyes a minute to adjust. Frank led the charge on Carthage Jail the night Joe and Hyrum Smith were shot trying to escape, continued Boggs, in an apparent attempt to impress Caroline with the calibre of his friends. Frank was a thin weasel of a man who remained seated at the plank table while Boggs stumbled through the introductions and offered Caroline a dirty chair across the table from Frank. When all were seated, Boggs spoke to Frank. Caroline is going to spy on the Mormons, write a book about all the corrupt stuff going on in Nauvoo. Cousin Lilburn sent her to me. Im going to help her." How?" asked Worrell. This placell be her base, where she brings her stories. Ill send em off to Philadelphia through Cousin Lilburn. Too many Mormons in the post offices to risk sending hot stories by regular mail. Mormons'll make catfish bait of you, said Worrell, suddenly turning to Caroline, "if they catch you. For sure." Wea-selhea- scaffold, helping the stone mason Patrick ORiley maneuver huge slabs of limestone into place. My .50 caliber Hawken rifle was a few feet away, leaning against the scaffold. Catfish bait? asked Caroline, not sure what he was talking about. They put you in a skiff and take you to the middle of the river, he continued, then slit open your belly, slip a couple of rocks inside so you wont float, then over the side with you into the cold black water, never to be seen or heard from again. Cant be too careful, said Boggs. Well, I just wanted to stop by and meet you on my way to Nauvoo, said Caroline, feeling like she wanted to leave as soon as possible. I guess Id better get going. Want to get back to Keokuk before dark. Did you ride out alone? asked My primary responsibility was that of temple guard, having established myself as one of the best marksmen in Nauvoo, in company with Bill a Hickman, Porter Rockwell and Stout. I was usually assigned to help the workers on the highest scaffold, a place where I had the best view of the surrounding countryside. With the increasing amount of carpentry work going on in and about the temple, there was concern that the mobs would try to set the temple afire. I enjoyed working with Pat liked his friendly, freckled smile, his constant cheerfulness. He was about my age, unmarried, from Ireland. When not setting stone at the temple, most s of his time was spent courting young women. The object of his affections, and words, on this particular day was schoolteacher Sarah Lange. She had come out from BosHo-se- - Boggs. No. Peter Weaselhead, the storekeeper, came with me. Hes waiting on the hill. The two men looked at each other as if there were things they would like to discuss, but couldnt in Carolines presence. She stood up and was almost to the door when Boggs and Worrell simultaneously scrambled out of their chairs to follow. In an effort to prolong the conversation, Boggs asked if she was planning to be in Nauvoo for the capstone ceremony. I plan to catch the next boat to Nauvoo, responded Caroline. Hope you get there in time for the Nau-voo- ton about a year earlier. She was prim and proper as schoolteachers ought to be, but as Pat would say, she was a looker too. Friendly and smart. Pat was one of many interested in Sarah. said Boggs, winking knowingly at Frank. fireworks, Fireworks? asked Caroline. Boggs looked around, as if making sure no one was listening. If you want a hot story. . . began Boggs, seeming pleased with some underlying humor in what he was saying. If you want a hot story, stay close to the temple for a few days. You just might get a chance to report the biggest fire in the history of Illinois. Caroline remembered the discussion she had heard aboard the Osprey. The concern that if the temple were finished the Mormons would never leave, the underlying fear of supernatural powers that would accompany the completion of the temple. It hadnt occurred to her that people like Boggs and Worrell might try to stop the temple from being completed, but now it seemed obvious that they would. Certainly the Mormons wouldnt sit back and let their temple be burned. Whether Boggs and Worrell and others like them -succeeded or failed, she would have a good story. And how many other stories would she uncover as the conflict between the Mormons and the mobs escalated? Maybe coming to Nauvoo had been the right thing after all. She would have to find a better way to get her stories out, however. She felt the less involvement she had with Boggs, the better off she would be. She figured Henry Sears had made a mistake in lining her up with - Boggs. Offering a pleasant goodbye to Boggs and Worrell, she climbed aboard the buckskin gelding and gald loped toward the hill where the Peter Weaselhead was waiting. half-bree- Chapter 6 The first time I saw Caroline Logan was on the afternoon of May 23, 1845, the day before the capstone ceremony for the partially completed Nauvoo Temple. I was on the highest . Occasionally Pat looked away from his work at the tables below where women were preparing the mid-da- y meal. Sarahs on the food committee this week. Let me know when you see er, commented Pat. In recent months the food committee consisted of about 25 women. The Church provided the food from the tithing warehouse beef, turkeys, potatoes, carrots, apples, etc. The women prepared and served it to the nearly 200 workers, most of whom toiled in the quarry, chipping and sawing the huge - limestone blocks and slabs which were carried to the temple in bigwheeled ox carts. A year earlier there werent nearly as many men working on the Temple. There was much unrest among the Saints then. People were concerned about the polygamy rumors and Josephs efforts to reintroduce consecration. Most people didnt want to give up their property. Some of the most influential members were in open rebellion, even William and Wilson Law and Oliver Cowdery. With all the confusion and dissension, it was tough keeping temple construction on schedule. That all changed when Brigham Young, as president of the Quorum of 12 Apostles, took over. The people were ready to forget their bickering and get to work. The deaths of Joseph and Hyrum were like mortar, cementing the people together in an unbreakable bond. Ill never forget the public viewing of the bodies in the Mansion House. The line must have been at least a mile long, ten thousand people waiting in the hot summer sun to get one last look at their beloved prophet All day and into the night, the mourners filed quietly past the open caskets. The heat inside the building was unbearable. Emma had fired up the wood stove in the kitchen to boil herbs. She was trying to fill the air with a camphor smell to cover up the stench of rotting flesh. The bodies were decomposing quickly in the June heat. |