From the Cincinnati Gazette, of 3rd Inst.
DEATH OF JOE AND HIRAM SMITH.
We received the following last evening, by a passenger:
From the St. Louis Evening Gazette Extra.
FRIEND FLAGG.—Enclosed you have a copy of an "Extra" issued at Quincy. We left Nauvoo about day light this morning (Friday 28th) all was quiet. The Mormons heard of the death of the SMITHS, as Gov. Ford, who was encamped a few miles back, had (as supposed) intercepted the messengers from Car-thage.
At Warsaw, all was excitement. The women and children were all removed, and an immediate attack was expected from the Mormons.
We met the "Boreas," just above Quincy, with 300 men armed and equipped for Warsaw, eager for fight.
I send the "Quincy Herald" printed this morning containing the particulars of Smith's death.
In haste; yours, &c. A. J. STONE.
On Board Steamboat St. Croix;
Friday Evening, June 28.1844.
From the Quincy Herald,
Friday Morning, 3 o'clock.
DEATH OF THE PROPHET!!—JOE AND HIRAM SMITH ARE DEAD!!!
The steamboat Boreas just in from Warsaw, bring shocking intelligence from the scene of the Mormon war, The following slip from the office of the Warsaw Signal explains the dreadful tragedy:—
"Joe and Hiram Smith are dead—shot this after noon. An attack from the Mormons is expected every hour. Will not the surrounding counties rush instantly to our rescue?
Warsaw, June 27th, 1844.
It seems that the circumstances attending killing of the Mormon Prophet and his brother Hiram are as follows: On yesterday Gov. Ford left Carthage with about 120 soldiers for the purpose of taking possession of the "Nauvoo Legion" and their arms. They arrived at Nauvoo about noon, and called for the assembling of the Legion.
About 2000 men with arms immediately responded to its calls. These troops were put under command of Col. Singleton of Brown county who accompanied Gov. Ford to Nauvoo.
The Governor finding all quiet left Nauvoo about 5 o'clock, P. M., with a company of 60 men for the purpose of encamping about seven miles from the city.
At about the same time that Governor Ford left Nauvoo, the Prophet and his brother were killed at Carthage, under the following circumstances, as near as we can ascertain them:
Joe and Hiram are both confined in the debtors part of the Carthage jail, awaiting their trial on a charge of treason. The jail was strongly guarded by soldiers and anti Mormons, who had been placed there by the Governor.
A Mormon attempted to rush by the guard for the purpose of forcing his way into the jail. He was opposed by the guard, and fired a pistol at one of the guard, giving him a slight wound.
A general confusion ensued in the crowd around the jail Joe and his Mormon fellow prisoners, it seems, had provided themselves with pistols, and commenced firing upon the guard within He then attempted to escape from the window, when a hundred balls entered his body, and he fell a lifeless corpse.
His brother Hiram shared the same fate. Richards, a leading Mormon, was badly wounded. There our intelligence ends—what took place after this, God only knows. Mormons immediately left for Nauvoo, to carry the news of the death of the Prophet. It is feared that the Mormons at Nauvoo will be so exasperated as to exterminate the Governor and his small force.
The Boreas brought down most of the women and children from Warsaw. It is feared their town is in ashes before this.
Our citizens were aroused this morning by the ringing of bells and a call to arms. Our three independent companies are already in marching order. Major Flood has ordered out the militia of this regiment, and the steamer Boreas is waiting to convey them to the scene of action.
FURTHER FROM NAUVOO.
DEATH OF JOE SMITH CONFIRMED—ORDER RESTORED.—The Cincinnati Atlas, of July 4, contains intelligence from Nauvoo up to 4 o'clock on the evening of the 28th June. We copy the following from that paper:—
The steamer Mendota, at St. Louis, left Nauvoo on Friday at 4 o'clock. Capt. Riley says he stopped at Nauvoo several hours, and talked with a number of the Mormons; and that while there a body of Mormons came in, bearing the dead bodies of Joe and Hiram Smith. Mr Phelps was not killed, but was in Nauvoo when the Mendota left, making a speech to the Mormons, and advising them to peace. Richards was not injured—no Mormons being killed except Joe and Hiram Smith. The Mormons all express a determination to keep the peace, and not to resort to arms except in necessary defense.
It is stated, moreover, that all is quiet at Nauvoo, the prominent Mormons exhorting their followers to offer no insult or molestation to any one, and in no case to offer violence except in strict self defense The deepest grief and affliction pervaded the city. There appeared to be no danger of the burning of Warsaw or Carthage.
