Show EXCITING experiences A private letter dated clifton spartanburg county south carolina from elder D T le baron now laboring as aa a missionary in south carolina addressed to relatives in San taquio utah gives the following account of the violent treatment inflicted upon him and Us hiis companion by amod a mob it occurred march 28 elder H S tanner of payson and myself were staying for the night with a brother john gordon about 9 pm we heard a noise outside and brother gordon went out and found a man standing by the house they talked awhile when the stranger proposed going sing into the house to warm brother robber gordon took him he acted very strangely and told of his bis experience in ku klux times how bow he had been obliged to go into texas to keep out of the reach of the officers etc we did not like his bis appearance nor actions while he was in the house someone whistled outside and he left and we began to prepare to go to bed we had got nearly through family prayers when there were kicks against the two doors and almost immediately the front door was burst in brother gordon rushed to the door but was instantly stopped by several pistols being shoved in his face and the igop mor mon preachers were ordered to come out there were about a dozen men wearing slouched hats and with blacken d faces half of them were armed with pistols and the others with sticks and clubs pistols in the hands of desperate fools were arguments we could not disregard so we did just as we were commanded and were hurriedly marched about a quarter of a mile into the forest where there were others waiting to take part in the exercises here we were told to halt and undress we did take off our coats but decided that we would go no further in that matter unless compelled to we were told that they were g going ing to whip us and us to leave the coultry cou that this country belonged to them they had bad just the kind of preachers that suited them and did not want any of our doctrine when they would ask any decent questions we would attempt to reply but our answers would condemn them then with terrible oaths they would shove the pistols in our faces and order us to shut up I 1 never listened to more vulgar low down talk we were finally told that we could have twenty four hours to get out of the country and to skip lively which we were glad to do some borne of them followed close behind for a ways striking us with sticks and anen we got out of reach of sticks they threw stones at us ua then fired their pistols and yelled brother gordon being a citizen of this country felt so aggrieved at the manner in which his home had bad been broken into etc that he went to gaffney and consulted an attorney in regard to the matter and was advised to bring action against the criminals in the meantime we elders had got several miles away so bo brother gordon and brother blackwood black wood who was interested with him sent word to me to meet them and their lawyer at gaffney on a certain day to counsel them what to do elders H S tanner reeve and I 1 went and held two or three hours 9 consultation with them I 1 explained to the attorney our business in this country and bow the elders and saints have suffered violence in times past by lawless men but could never have their wrongs redressed nor receive protection under the constitution and laws of our country because bacasse of the deep prejudice brej udice existing amon among the people of this nati nation orr etc f I 1 also told him he would bring coals upon his own head if he took up our cause and that to start out and fall fail would add to the fury of our enemies besides encouraging them in their lawlessness he informed us that he would show us and the people here that there was one man who dared and would see that the mor mons P 1 rights should be respected in south carolina the eyes of the people were now upon us to see if we would run away in a cowardly manner or stand up for our rights the attorney said X he knew our people had been treated shamefully in the past and it was time that some of our enemies were made to feel the rigor of the law he knew a good solid unprejudiced justice of the peace before whom he would bring the case ani insure success if we would advance 10 to defray his expense in starting the case for us we e finally accepted his PrOPOS proposition MOD with the understanding that he and brother blackwood should visit the justice of the peace on the following day wil wilh h the affidavits etc properly made out the latter part he performed but did not visit the justice of the peace himself he got brothers gordon and blackwood to take the papers this justice of the peace it seems belonged to the baptist church and saw some names of his brethren as defendants in the case cam and quite a furore among the good christians was the consequence whilst hesitating between duty and love for fellow church members the wife of the justice of the peace suddenly died and he returned the papers to brother gordon so ended his part in the drama we elders eldera had to keep shaded while this was going an and could not take part in the matter malter this as we expected emboldened the mob and they made another raid in search of elders at brother black woods but find any it was night and brother gordon hearing them started across the road to brother Black woods and was shot at twice by the mob both of these brethren have since left the state and we have changed our quarters IA miles from where we were the affair seems to have settled down and we are going on with our usual labors I 1 believe what has bas transpired will result in good and be the means of causing a reaction in our favor among a great many |