Day 155, June 2

Yesterday I wrote about a survivor of the Haun's Mill Massacre.  My family has ancestors who were also at Haun's Mill on that infamous day, where mob members butchered men, women, and children.  The following account is taken from the autobiography of James McBride.


(October 31, '1833)

" The 31st day dawned, and again the rays of the morning sun kissed the landscape. As yet the extent of the massacre was not known.

... Brother Amos having been detailed on the previous day to get wood for families was on his way to the mill when he was told there had been serious trouble there. His home was about three miles from the mill and as he was not detailed on guard, was not at the mill at the time of the slaughter.

He went on and passing the mill a short distance, came to Haun's house. The first object that met his eye in human form,the mangled body of my murdered father (Thomas McBride), lying in the dooryard.  He had been shot with his own gun, after having given it into the mob's possession.  Was cut down and badly disfigured with a corn cutter (a scythe like tool) and left lying in the creek.  Some of the women had dragged him from the creek into the dooryard and left him there.  One of his ears with almust cut from his head--deep gashes were cut in his shoulders; and some of his fingers cut till they would almost drop from his hand

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... The firing ceased--the screams of mothers, daughters and the wounded told the dreadful tale!

The bloody- picture in the book of time; may it ever stamp with stigma the brow of that government that offered not a protecting hand to those who were ruthlessly cut dowI1--wounded; or were made widows, and orphans, at the Haun's Mill Massacre.  (Missouri Governor Boggs went on to compound this infamy by issuing an expulsion order of all Mormons from the state.)

The sun slowly sank beneath the western horizon-and darkness spread its broad mantle over the universe."

The McBride family, minus their patriarch, made the exodus from Missouri to Nauvoo, Illinois, and, later to the Salt Lake Valley.  Their faith never faltered, as they obeyed the directions of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and, later, those of Brigham Young.

So, for today, I am grateful for faithful and courageous ancestors.