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Show ... HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM La Von Earl "God is pleased with his faithful people here, and he has sent the posse against us merely to reveal His power in the complete destruction of our enemies. The triumph of our people shall now come at the expense of our enemies, for not one of His faithful people shall be destroyed. Mark my word not a single hair of their heads shall be harmed in this hour of triumph. Thus, verily, saith the Lord." Just at this point the speaker was interrupted by the booming of a cannon. Screams from the third seat in the bowery assembly caused every eye to become riveted upon the bodies of two slain women and a pitifully injured young girl. The air was rent with the fearful screams of this girl whose lower jaw had been torn away and hung by a mere strip of skin. Slowly the accusing eyes of the congregation pivoted to face the reclining Morris. Never was revelation more immediately falsified. Scarcely had he given the promise of absolute safety than sudden destruction occurred. All of the revelations, all of the years of preparation lay crumpled at his feet a mass of contradictions. Just five years prior to this time, Joseph Morris, a native of Wales, booked passage to the New World. During this short interval he reaped the experiences of an extraordinary life. He was without worldly poses-sions of any value, yet he possessed a peculiar doctrine plus an extremely magnetic personality. Almost immediately he began to dress up his ideas, and strange as it may be, his queer doctrine appealed to vast numbers of people. In fact, the sect grew so rapidly that it soon became necessary to secure permanent lodgings. The place chosen was Kington Fort. It was situated on the low flood plains of the Weber River, and was neatly hemmed in by the accompanying river terraces. All buildings of the settlement were grouped around the four sides of a square enclosure. Silhouetted against the enclosure, an old Spanish wall provided the only means of protection. The land around Kington Fort offered practically no means of livelihood other than farming. Even agriculture was limited because of the small acreage of arable land. But since Morris taught that all things should be held in common and that the supply of provisions on hand was sufficient to last until the Lord should provide relief, there was very little demand for farming land. Anyone who cultivated the soil was regarded as weak in the faith and so became the object of severe criticism. Naturally, a supply that was constantly diminished and never replenished was certain eventually to be exhausted. Therefore, the people were forced to re-sourt to a few underhanded acts in order to secure their needs. At first some non-Morrisite neighbor would discover a chicken missing, then perhaps a pig or a cow. Soon antagonism became so great towards the Morrisites that their leader instructed them to simply occupy and enjoy the fullness of their neighbor's capital then convert them afterwards. Rumors concerning the Morrisites and their mode of living became current over the entire county. Perhaps because of outside pressure resulting from extravagant rumors, the Morrisites felt need to arm themselves. Too, it is likely that a militaristic spirit grew among them with a desire to prevent the escape of the disaffected within. The most fruitful source of trouble to the young community were the apostates. The entire situation became acute upon the conversion of William Jones and his family to the new faith. Promptly his wheat and sixteen head of cattle were turned into the general store-house to feed the faithful. But it seems that Jones' faith soon weakened, or at least it was tempered by a practical spirit that soon led him to ask for a return of his property. In answer to this request he was instantly seized by a group of men, heavily bound with log chains, and thrust into a log house which was temporarily used as a prison. Here Jones, along with two other male disbelievers, was subjected to extreme hardships. No one was allowed to speak to them except the guards, who threatened them with instant death if they attempted to escape. A very meager amount of food was served them, barely enough to keep them alive. As religious enthusiasm increased, the saints became more aggressive until a group of women dragged the disbelievers from their prison chamber and lashed and tormented them with willows while the men stood in the background and encouraged them. After several days of this harsh treatment the prisoners formulated a plan of escape. By cutting through one of the logs in the prison house, they provided a means of escape in the night. Extreme pre- twelve caution was taken in carrying out these plans. The night they chose was ideal, but Jensen and Gurtsen stumbled into a sentry, believing it to be their companion, Jones, and were recaptured. Jones, however, succeeded in escaping from the Fort by stealing a light wagon and team from a nearby post. He then proceeded to cross the river and dash up a convenient ravine in the hope of eluding his pursuers, but to no avail. The posse completely surrounded him, and he was forced to leave the ravine, hiding his wagon box and running gear in a near-by bush. Then, while the posse's attention was distracted by his fleeing horses, Jones cautoiusly crept from bush to bush until he was out of immediate danger. Finally after a wild night of hazards, Jones was able to find momentary refuge in a friend's attic. On the following day, he made a complete break from the valley by concealing himself amidst a wagon load of wood blocks going to the canyon. Once outside of the range of Morrisite influence he started his long walking trek across the sand ridge to the county courthouse in Farmington. Here he served his complaint before Chief Justice Kinney, who, being in complete sympathy, promptly issued a writ of habeus corpus for the release of Jones' family and the other captives. As officials of the Court drew near the Morrisite settlement, they were met by a party of armed men who refused to let them pass. Marshall Stoddard promptly read the writ to them and commanded an immediate enforcement. The reply was a bland refusal to conform to the terms, or even to release the prisoners upon any condition. When Stoddard endeavored to serve the paper it was thrown to the ground and a shovel full of live coals from a near-by outpost was scattered upon it. Legally, this was a flagrant resistance to a United States Court of high jurisdiction. The Chief Justice was highly enraged at the defiant attitude of the Morrisites and their leaders. In order to enforce the court process he secured a part of the militia to act as a posse comitatus. Within the week a government military force was stationed upon a nearby bluff overlooking Kington Fort. After several futile attempts to reach an understanding with Morris, the detachment of artillery was commanded to fire. The carefully aimed projectile struck hard ground and ricochetted, striking the mud wall, the bowery, and fatally interrupting the revelation guaranteeing full protection. The people arose in utter confusion. Panic-stricken women and children rushed about seeking a place of safety. In the meantime all male members of the organization secured their ammunition and opened a scattering of fire on their besiegers. General Burton, now fully realizing the intentions of Morris and his followers, gave orders for the drawing up of his troops. Thus, active combat began. Three days of fighting produced small success and General Burton was somewhat at a loss as to how to proceed safely in capturing the Fort. The walls had been pierced with holes through which the defenders kept up an effective fire. Finally, General Burton resorted to use of a movable barricade. It was an apparatus constructed on wagon wheels, supported by a shield of planks and willows. It required about twelve men to man the vehicle and as many more to maintain a constant barrage of fire as it moved forward. The quick result of this stratagem was the appearance of the white flag signaling surrender. Presently a division of the militia marched into the Fort on the terms that all Morrisites stack their guns in the center enclosure. Guards were immediately instructed to watch the ammunition, while the General and Morris discussed the terms of surrender. In the course of the discussion, Morris was granted a request to speak a final word to his followers. He stepped to the front and, turning slightly, raised his hands and exclaimed in a loud voice, "All who are willing to follow me through life or death, come on!" Although a score of men had followed the General into the Fort only a few had placed themselves in strategical positions to guard the stack of guns in case of resistance. Over a hundred men charged the dazed soldiers. General Burton fired his revolver twice at the charging Morris, who fell amidst a score of weeping men and women. The death of the mad prophet so devitalized his followers that they surrendered without more resistance and the sect Was dissolved. thirteen |