"The account of a bloody
butchery of thirty-two Mormons,
on Splawn's Creek, is fully confirmed. Two children were killed, . .
.
Will the actors in the tragedy be suffered, by the Courts of that District,
to go unpunished?"
THE NEW=YORKER. A Weekly Journal of Literature, Politics, Statistics and General Intelligence; Containing Original and Selected Tales, Essays, Reviews, Poems, Anecdotes, &c. &c. With Notices of and Extracts from New Books of Interest; Full Accounts of All Elections, Foreign and Domestic News, Important Political Developments, General Editorial Comments, &c. With . . . Pieces of Music, Arranged for the Piano, Flute, &c. Horace Greeley, Park Benjamin, Editors. New-York: Published Very Saturday by H. Greeley & Co. No. 1 Ann-St., 1838-9.
A full year of this popular newspaper, in two half-year volumes VI and VII: September 22, 1838 - September 14, 1839 [VI:1 - VII:26]. Paged [1]-416; [1]-414, [2 (general title and "Index" pp. to Vol. VII, March to September, 1839)]. Page 416 of Vol VI. contains the "Contents" of that volume. No general title page to Vol. VI is present, and the editors note on p. 413: "We shall not be able to procure an Engraved Title-Page for our Quarto Volume which closes with this number, as we had hoped to do. We are determined to furnish a superb one for our new Volume [VII] (semi-annual) which closes in September next." The general title to that latter volume (mentioned above in the pagination) is not engraved, but simply type-set. It is possible that the missing final page of the last issue of 1838 (noted below) may have been that volume's [VI] ordinary type-set title page, given that it appears to have been cut off neatly either before binding, or with care from the volume after binding. Pages 167-170 of Vol. VI are bound out of order, but are all present.
Quarto, 30½ X 23½ cm. (binding, 31½ cm. = 12¼ inches tall. Contemporary half-sheep over marbled boards, bearing an early penciled ownership inscription, "Aug[ustu]s. Thomas," for whom this volume may have been bound. Mr. Thomas appears to have missed three issues which he could not send to his binder. The volume lacks: the final leaf of the issue for December 29, 1838, neatly trimmed away; the issues for January 19, February 2 and July 13, 1839 (never bound in); and the final leaf of the issue for August 31, 1839 (evidently torn from this volume).
Most issues are in very good condition, but several near the beginning of 1839 (not having Mormon articles) are deteriorated. The covers are shaken and worn, and should eventually be restored; the sewing remains strong.
See my note below about the price. Postpaid: $ 900
UNUSUAL, and offering more than 800 pages of reading material of the day. Most such volumes never reach me intact, so it is nice to be able to offer this entire year published during the height of the Mormon War in Missouri (note the few missing issues/pages itemized above). By obtaining this essentially-complete volume, we are able to see even those Mormon articles which might normally elude the LDS market (in instances where a more valuable article on some other, non-Mormon subject would typically direct a given issue of this paper to a collector or institution specializing in another field). The index pages are typical of the period, and are not very helpful in locating the Mormon articles. I have therefore examined all the pages, and located ELEVEN ARTICLES ON THE MORMONS. The type of this newspaper is very small, so that a column inch of text may contain from eighty to a hundred words . . .
— September 22, 1838 [VI:1], p. 12: "The Mormons." 3¾ column inches on the critical Adam Black incident. An important article; see below.
— October 6, 1838 [VI:3], p. 44: "The Mormons." 2¼ column inches announcing that "the Mormons have established a town in Missouri which they call the 'Far West,' . . . The people in the neighboring counties were very much alarmed, and are daily expecting an attack." The governor has called out 3,000 militiamen to protect the citizens of Missouri, and "the supremacy of the law will be maintained."
— October 13, 1838 [VI:4], p. 59: "The Mormons." 3½ column inches defending the Mormons. This important article presents the Saints' position, and reprints an affidavit signed in type by Joseph Smith, Jr., and Sidney Rigdon, insisting that the Mormons have not collaborated with the Indians "to commit depredations upon the people of this State," contrary to the claims of "a Mr. Nathan Marsh." "'We have never had any communication with the Indians on any subject;" certify Smith and Rigdon, quoted here,
and we, and all the Mormon Church, as we believe, entertain the same feelings and fears towards the Indians that are entertained by other citizens of this State. We are friendly to the Constitution and the laws of this State and of the United States, and wish to see them enforced.
JOSEPH SMITH, Jr.
SIDNEY RIGDON."
— October 27, 1838 [VI:6], p. 91: "Mormon Difficulties." 2 column inches, taken from the St. Louis Republican. A gentleman has arrived in St. Louis "in the steamboat Kansas, on Saturday," and describes seeing "about two hundred of the Mormons armed and prepared for conflict." Some eighty wagons of new Mormons have just arrived at a village, and the anti-Mormons have ordered the Saints "to leave the country, and that if they did not go by Saturday they would be driven off." Real news, as it happened!
— November 3, 1838 [VI:7], p. 107: "Mormon Difficulties." 3¼ column inches, reprinting a letter of October 12 sent to the St. Louis Republican. The anonymous writer has "witnessed the departure of every Mormon in Carroll county for 'Far West,' in Caldwell county." It appears that the difficulties are being resolved (writes the correspondent, prematurely!), and it is a good thing: "Had the Mormons refused to sell on the day the last proposition was made to them, it would have been a serious matter to both parties, for there was but little difference in their forces, and the citizens had come to a determination to make, if possible, a successful attack on the day the compromise was effected."
— November 17, 1838 [VI:9], p. 143: "The Mormons." 2½ column inches of dramatic news of depredations committed by the Mormons themselves. The reports are copied from the St. Louis Republican of Monday, October 29, followed by an update from the St. Louis Bulletin of October 31. The Mormons have burned the Court House of Daviess County, as well as the clerk's office, the Post Office, and two stores. Partial confirmation comes by travelers arriving at St. Louis on the 31st . . .
"By the steamer Astoria, we have a confirmation of the report of the burning of Daviess Court House, Post Office, and a store, by the Mormons.—It is stated that the Governor has ordered out 4,000 militia; and we understand that volunteer companies are rapidly being organized to march to the scene of action. The Mormons are said to receive daily accessions to their numbers, by emigrants from Canada."
This article has light staining, but is important as an essentially accurate depiction of how the Missourians viewed the Mormons at this time. The store which they burned (owned by Jacob Stollings, in Gallatin) had ironically helped the Saints by extending them credit and allowing Mormon emigrants to obtain necessities.
— November 24, 1838 [VI:10], p. 159: "The Mormon War Ended. . . . LATER STILL AND CONTRACTORY. The Mormons." 5 column inches, presenting urgent and conflicting news from various Missouri papers, including the arrest of Joseph Smith, Parley P. Pratt and others; Governor Boggs' infamous Mormon extermination order; and the first intimation of the Haun's Mill Massacre. Important; see below.
— December 1, 1838 [VI:11], p. 172: "Further from the Mormons." 4 column inches. This is the report of the Haun's Mill Massacre in some detail, with an indignant editorial sympathetic to the Mormons. Very important; see below.
— December 15, 1838 [VI:13], p. 203: "The Mormon War . . ." 1¼ column inches, taken from the Poughkeepsie Telegraph. The Mormon War appears to be over. "Joe Smith and his followers have surrendered, and Joe is to be tried, but for what crime does not clearly appear." The Haun's Mill reports are confirmed to be true. "It was a bloody outrage."
— March 16, 1839 [VI:26], p. 415: "The Mormons." 1½ column inches, taken from the Jefferson Enquirer, quote "an extract from a letter dated Liberty, Feb. 9, 1839:" The report describes an apparent attempt to break Joseph Smith and his fellow prisoners out of the Liberty Jail . . .
"There has been much excitement here within a few days past. Several young men from Far West arrived here late one night and asked permission to see the prisoners, which was granted. They seized the jailor and endeavored to let the Mormon prisoners escape; but an alarm was given and they were all taken into custody, and are to be tried tomorrow."
The young men alluded to in the preceding extract, we presume are Mormons, as the inhabitants in and about Far West are all of that denomination, with a very few exceptions. The letter is from a source that may be relied upon.
— August 17, 1839 [VII:22], p. 350 (of Vol. VII): "Mormonism." ¾ column inch, learning from the Trenton Gazette that the Mormon delusion has new exhibited itself in New Jersey, "in the neighborhood of New Egypt and other places in Monmouth co. A number of the disciples appeared there some six months ago, and have succeeded in making converts of several persons of some standing and influence; and, strange as the story seems, their numbers are increasing."
A NOTE on the price of this volume: Over the past decade or two, I have obtained a few loose examples of the same issues which are described above, and have sold them to major LDS institutions and private collectors - some for as much as $175 for a single example. Any newspaper report from the 1830s is interesting and rare, and these are particularly instructive. The combined value of the eleven Mormon articles present here (based upon my years of experience selling thousands of early Mormon-related newspapers) is easily $1,200 or more.
In addition, this thick volume naturally contains much additional information of Mormon-background or general interest. I note, for example, mentions of Professor Charles ANTHON (to whom Martin Harris had taken the "Anthon Transcript" for verification a decade earlier - in the very city where this newspaper was printed). See, for example, the review of "Anthon's Greek Prosody" in the issue for November 24, 1838, p. 157 . . .
—To no scholar of modern days can the same meed of praise be attributed, with a due regard to justice, as to Professor Anthon, who, in the brief space of some three or four months, has given to Americans the two most complete and perfect school-books that have been yet composed in any modern country. . . ."
Other references to Anthon appear in the issue for March 9, 1839 (p. 399, listed as a contributor to the Knickerbocker Magazine), and April 13, 1839 (p. 63, recommending a spelling book).
As a literary paper, this volume offers several contributions by Oliver Wendell Holmes, and a lengthy extract of "BEAUTIFUL PASSAGES. {Selected for the New-Yorker from a little work entitled "Nature," by RALPH WALDS [sic] EMERSON.}," pp. 183-4 (24 column inches). William Cullen Bryant's "Thanatopsis" is reviewed in a copied article in the issue for June 22, 1839, and quotes the most famous stanza (p. 213, "So live, that when thy summons comes . . ." etc.). And from the Knickerbocker for May comes a nice surprise by Washington Irving, a long and poignant essay on "SLEEPY HOLLOW. By Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." (pp. 133-4); here is a small portion from this excellent contribution . . .
The worthy Diedrich pursued his researches in the valley with characteristic devotion, entering familiarly into the various cottages, and gossiping with the simple folk, in the style of their own simplicity. I confess my heart yearned with admiration, to see so great a man, in his eager quest after knowledge, humbly demeaning himself to curry favor with the humblest; sitting patiently on a three-legged stool, patting the children, and taking a purring grimalkin on his lap, while he conciliated the good will of the old Dutch housewife, and drew from her long ghost stories, spun out to the humming accompaniment of her wheel.
His greatest treasure of historic lore, however, was discovered in an old goblin-looking mill, situated among rocks and water-falls, with clanking wheels, and rushing streams, and all kinds of uncouth noises. A horse-shoe, nailed to the door to keep off witches and evil spirits, showed that this mill was subject to awful visitations. As we approached it, an old negro thrust his head, all dabbled with flour, out of a hole above the water-wheel, and grinned, and rolled his eyes, and looked like the very hobgoblin of the place. The illustrious Diedrich fixed upon him, at once, as the very one to give him that invaluable kind of information, never to be acquired from books. He beckoned him from his nest, sat with him by the hour on a broken mill-stone, by the side of the waterfall, heedless of the noise of the water, and the clatter of the mill; and I verily believe it was to his conference with this African sage, and the previous revelations of the good dame of the spinning wheel, that we are indebted for the surprising though true history of Ichabod Crane and the headless horseman, which has since astounded and edified the world. [May 18, 1839, p. 134]
BUT BACK TO OUR MORMONS, and the reason for this listing here. In the summary of articles, above, I directed your attention three times to "below." We are now below, and here are illustrations of some of the best Mormon reports which the present New=Yorker dangles before the fortunate, future owner of this old volume of 1838-9 ! . . .
THE ADAM BLACK INCIDENT:
This
simple report belies the importance of an event which would escalate into the
driving of the Mormons from Missouri with their prophet left languishing in
the Liberty Jail. Here is high drama, as significant as the exaggerated text
may suggest. In early August, 1838, Mormons in Daviess County, Missouri, had
been barred from voting by a drunken mob of thugs. No one was killed, but rumors
magnified the tension of the situation, and the Mormons began to take matters
into their own hands.
On August 8, Joseph Smith sent several Danite leaders to visit Judge Adam Black, a reputed anti-Mormon who lived nearby. When Black refused to sign a statement that he had no connections with vigilantes, Smith showed up half an hour later with a hundred armed men. After much discussion, Black, apparently under duress, wrote out a brief certificate that he would not molest the Mormons so long as they would not molest him. Other leading non-Mormon citizens received similar treatment. It sounded even worse as reported in the Missourian newspaper of August 12, from which the present newspaper coverage is taken (New=Yorker issue for September 22, 1838, p. 12; enlarged here for easier reading.)
ARREST OF JOSEPH SMITH; BOGGS' MORMON EXTERMINATION ORDER ; FIRST INTIMATION OF THE HAUN'S MILL MASSACRE:
Three crucial events come together in this dramatic article! For background and details, see Steven C. LeSueur, The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri (Columbia, Missouri: Univ. of Missouri Press, 1987), Chapter 10, "Surrender." New=Yorker issue for November 24, 1838, p. 159 . . .
THE HAUN'S MILL MASSACRE:
Just
as the Mountain Meadows Massacre in Utah is held up by critics as the nadir
of Mormon historical behavior, so do Mormons point to the Haun's Mill Massacre
in Missouri as the most extreme offense which the Missouri Saints endured. The
slaughter took place on October 30, but preliminary reports are now confirmed
in the New=Yorker issue for December 1, 1838,
p. 172. The editor can scarcely credit the full implications of this event.
"Two children were killed," he presumes, ". . . by accident."
The children were not killed by accident. Sardius Smith, age ten, was deliberately shot point blank - with the reflection, "Nits will make lice . . ." Old Thomas McBride was hacked to death with a scythe after being shot in the chest with his own gun. (Stephen C. LeSueur, The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri [Columbia, Mo., 1987], pp. 166-7). As the nation eventually came to accept the full horror of what had occurred, public sentiment outside of Missouri shifted to favor the Mormons.
A spectacular array, set in full cultural context of the times. The issue for December 29, 1838, provides a brief "UNITED STATES CALENDAR—1839" on page 233 of Volume VI. It shows Martin Van Buren as President of the United States and Lilburn W. Boggs, elected Governor of Missouri in 1836. His salary is $1,500 per annum. Gov. Tom Carlin, who will soon welcome the Mormons to Illinois, only makes $1,000 per year.