178 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
the state, that no harm shall come to you while un- dergoing this imprisonment." The governor took his departure on the morning of the 27th of June. Scarcely was he well out of the way when measures were taken for the consummation of a most damning deed. The prison was guarded by eight men detailed from the Carthage Greys, their company being in camp on the public square a quarter of a mile dis- tant, while another company under Williams, also the sworn enemies of the Mormons, was encamped eight miles away, there awaiting the development of events.
It was a little after five o'clock in the evening. Jo- seph and Hyrum Smith were confined in an upper room. With the prisoners were John Taylor and Wil- lard Richards, other friends having withdrawn a few moments before. At this juncture a band of a hun- dred and fifty armed men with painted faces appeared before the jail, and presently surrounded it. The guard shouted vociferously and fired their guns over the heads of the assailants, who paid not the slightest attention to them.^^ I give what followed from Burton's City of the Saints, being the statement of President John Taylor, who was present and wounded on the occasion.
"I was sitting at one of the front windows of the jail, when I saw a number of men, with painted faces, coming around the corner of the jail, and aiming toward the stairs. The other brethren had seen the same, for, as I went to the door, I found Brother Hyrum Smith and Dr Richards already leaning against it. They both pressed against the door with their shoulders to prevent its being opened, as the lock and latch were comparatively useless. While in this position, the mob, who had come up stairs, and tried to open the door, probably thought it was
'* Littlefield says the Carthage Greys were marched in a body, ' within about eight rods of the jail, where they halted, in plain view of the whole transac- tion, until the deed was executed. ' NarrcUive, 9.
