Sunday Services
Sunday morning dawned in all splendor that is only known to a day in early autumn. The day seemed auspicious both to the Saints and Elders. The former were to be taught more of the principles of eternal truth, the latter were to have the privilege of preaching the precious gospel of Christ, and leading several into the waters of baptism. Especially was it a day of gladness to Elders Gibbs and Jones. For two months they had traveled altogether in the midst of strangers where they had to endure the contempt of the bigoted; the insolence and abuse of the ignorant. But today they were in company with their brethren, and were to meet with the Saints who would listen with joy to their teachings and to respect their counsel.
Today they would relate the adventures of the last two months to friends who would listen with rapt attention, and at the close would join them in thanksgiving to Almighty God, who delivered his servants from so many dangers.
Today they would sing the songs of Zion, where the Holy Ghost would distill its influence into their hearts filling them with joy unspeakable.
Early in the morning they bathed and clothed themselves in clean apparel. Some time before the hour appointed for meeting, Elders Gibbs and Thompson left Mr. Thomas Garrett’s, where they had stayed all night, and went down the creek about a mile to the house of Brother James Condor, where the service was to be held. Here these two brethren met with Elder W.S. Berry and a number of the Saints and their friends.
Met by Mob
Elder Jones had remained at Mr. Garrett’s to read a discourse published in The Deseret News. After finishing it, he also started for the Condor residence to attend meetings. He had proceeded on his way but a little more than half a mile, to where the road crosses he creek by a corn field, when a mob of some 12 or 14 men, in complete disguise, and wearing masks, rushed upon him from the corn field and adjacent woods. He was ordered to throw up his hands, which he did; and on lowering them was again ordered to throw them up. They compelled him to climb the fence, searched him, and forced him to go into the woods beyond. Here they questioned him as to the whereabouts of the other elders, especially of Elder Gibbs, to which Elder Jones gave no definite answer.
Left Under Guard
Leaving four of their number to guard Brother Jones, the rest went in the direction of Condor’s house, but shortly returned, asked him more questions, and again left in the same direction they had taken before. This time they left but one of their number to guard Elder Jones and gave him strict orders to shoot the Elder should he attempt to escape.
Soon after the mob left the second time, Elder Jones entered into conversation with his guard, who finally told him that he intended to allow him to escape, and ordered him to start through the woods, which he did, his guard following him. They had gone but a short distance when they heard a gun shot in the direction of the Condor’s house, and after a moment’s pause, several more guns; and shortly afterwards some eight or ten shots in quick succession, at which Jones’ guard exclaimed: “My God, they are shooting among the women and children! Don’t you hear them scream?”
Given Directions
Brother Jones was then ordered to run, which he did, his guard following for some distance, pistol in hand. When they came to a road, Elder Jones and his guard separated, the altter first, however, giving Brother Jones directions how to reach Shady Grove, where he arrived Monday morning.
The Saints and friends who had gathered at Brother Condor’s house asked the elders to sing some hymns while the people were gathering in, a request with which the brethren readily complied. One of the hymns was: “I Have No Home, Where Shall I Go?” Following is one of the stanzas:
My life is sought, where shall I flee?
Lord, take me home to dwell with thee;
Where all my sorrows will be o’er,
And I shall sigh and weep no more?
This was followed with:
When shall we all meet again,
When shall we our rest obtain,
When our pilgrimage be o’er,
Parting sighs be known no more.
When Mount Zion we regain,
There may we all meet again.
We to foreign climes repair,
Truth’s the message which we bear –
Truth’s which angels oft have bourne –
Truth to comfort those who mourn;
Truth eternal will remain;
On its rock we’ll meet again.
When the sons of Israel come,
When they build Jerusalem,
When the house of God is reared,
And Messiah’s way prepared,
When from heaven He comes to reign,
There may we all meet again.
When the earth is cleansed by fire,
When the wicked’s hopes expire,
When in cold oblivion’s shade,
Proud oppressors all are laid,
Long will Zion’s mount remain;
There we may all meet again.
Selects Text
Elder Gibbs said to Elder Thompson, “That hymn suggests a good text to preach from -” and took up his Bible to look it up.
After the singing of this hymn a number of people stepped out of the house, some wandering out to the orchard, others standing in groups conversing in great earnest tones, while neighbors with joyous voices and warm hearts, greeted their friends from a distance who had “come to preach.”
This holy scene of Sabbath tranquility was rudely broken up by the mob of masked men who had captured Elder Jones rushing from the woods to the Condor residence. At the gate, part of them seized Brother James Condor, owner of the premises, and held him fast, while the rest ran on to the house.
Although Brother Condor found himself helpless in the hands of his captors, his first and only thought seemed to be for the safety of the elder.
Shoots Elder
He shouted to his two sons who were out in the orchard to get their guns. They both started for the house – Martin Condor reaching the back door just as the leader of the mob entered the front door, crossed the room and was taking down a shot gun suspended on hooks above the back door. A struggle to get possession of the gun took place between this man and Martin Condor, when the mobber drew a pistol and snapped it at his antagonist, but it failed to go off; it made young Condor start back, however, and then the mobber turned and shot Elder Gibbs with the shotgun, the shot taking effect under the arm.
One Escapes
While this was transpiring, a gun was presented at Elder Thompson, but Elder Berry seized it with both hands and held it fast. This cleared the way for Elder Thompson, who ran out of the back door and escaped through the woods. As he was leaving the house, he saw two guns presented at Elder Berry, who bowed his head and received the shots about at the waist, and fell to the floor, dying without a struggle or a groan. As soon as Elder Gibbs fell, Martin Condor sprang again upon the man who shot him, but as he did so he was shot by other parties, and the one he attacked stepped out of the front door.
While these things were occuring J. R. Hudson, half brother to Martin Condor, had climbed into the left after his gun. He came down just as the man who shot Elder Gibbs stepped out of the house. Two men grappled him, but he threw them off sufficiently to shoot the man who had first entered the house and who proved to be David Hinson. As he fell, someone outside said, “I’ll have revenge,” and shot Hudson who died an hour later. After Hudson was shot, the mobbers came up to the window and fired a volley through it, the shots entering the body of Elder Berry and wounding Sister Condor in the hip. The mob now retired, taking the body of Hinson with them.