Important from Nauvoo.
FROM NAUVOO.
Our accounts from Nauvoo are up to the 24th. There has yet been no blood shed, though there is still danger there may be. It appears no attempt was made by the the citizens of Hancock county, to arrest the persons who destroyed the “Exposi-tor” press on the 19th, the day they had appointed for that purpose; but they de- termined to await the arrival of Governor Gord. The Governor reached Warsaw on the 20th. He immediately declared pub-licly his fixed determination to bring to the aid of the civil authorities all the force he possessed for the arrest of those con-cerned in the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor, and for the faithful and fearless administration of the law. To this end, he sent orders to the brigadier general of the fourth brigade, to rendezvous, forth-with, at Warsaw, provided with eight days provisions. The brigade consists of four regiments, and is about two thousand strong. There were, also, under arms at Carthage and its vicinity, one thousand citizens, ready to aid in the execution of the laws. Gov. Ford had sent two expres-ses to Nauvoo, commanding Smith to send two of the most discreet members of the common council to the governor, with an explanation (if any they had to make) of their conduct in destroying the private property of citizens of this state. These messengers had not returned to Warsaw at the latest accounts.
The Gov. also sent orders to Col. Buck-master, at Alton, for all the arms of the State in his possession fit for service; and they were sent up or the Die Vernon.—The number of these is comparatively trifling; consisting of say 100 yagers, twenty muskets, and three six pounders.
On the 20th the Mormons were about 3,500 strong, all fully armed and equip-ped, with a full supply of provisions and amunition. They were also in possession of six pieces of artillery, carrying six-pound balls. The city of Nauvoo was under martial law; and the forces of Smith were daily increased by arrivals of Mormons from other sections of the coun-try. The above particulars we get by a slip from the office of the Alton Telegraph. We find the following additional informa-tion in the St. Louis New Era, of the 24th:
The Ohio and Hibernia passed Nauvoo yesterday morning, and it was then cur-rently reported that Joe Smith and the members of the Nauvoo City Council had eloped during the night previous. It was stated that they had crossed into Iowa at Montrose. The leaders had thus deserted and left their deluded followers as victims to the fury of the indignant citizens of the surrounding country. Joe and declared his determination not to go to Carthage or Missouri, for he could not get justice at either place, but he would surrender him-self at any other place. He, however, concluded that discretion was the better part of valor, and escaped. The people of Warsaw were underarms; they searched the Osprey to see if she carried any arms for the use of the Mormons. Nothing un-usual appeared to be going on at Nauvoo yesterday morning.—Ottawa Free Trader.
From the Chicago Daily Journal—Extra.
July 4th, 10 o'clock A.M.
We have just received the following slip from the office of the Ottowa Free Trader, Extra:
From the Quiney Whig, Extra, June 28, 1844.
DREADFUL NEWS!
Attempt at Rescue!—Killing of Joe Smith —Hiram Smith and William Richards, in the Carthage Jail.
On Friday morning last, just before sun-rise, our citizens were aroused from their slumbers, by the ringing of the bells of the city. The cause of the commotion, was the astonishing news that had just come down from Hancock, viz., of the at-tempt on the part of the Mormons to res-cue JOE SMITH from the Jail in Car-thage, and of the KILLING of Joe Smith, Hiram Smith and Joe's Secretary Hiram Richards, and of the great peril of Gov. Ford, and the handful of troops now in Nauvoo! An immense crowd collected at the court house, with Dr. Ralston in the Chair. Wm H. Roosevelt, Esq. being present, was called upon to give a state-ment of recent occurrences in Hancock. The gentleman seemed to be laboring un-der great excitement, but gave a tolerably connected account of the events of the last few days in Carthage and vicinity.
It appears that Joe Smith, Hiram Smith and a number of the other Mormon lead-ers, were in jail at Carthage, confined on certain offences against the laws of the State. The "Carthage Greys," a volun-teer company, was placed as a guard around the jail. About 6 o'clock, last evening, an attempt was made by the Mor-mons on the outside to rescue the Mor-mon prisoners from the custody of the guards. A youth, about 19 years of age, a Mormon, began the fray, by shooting the sentinel at the door, wounding him se-verely in the shoulder. Simultaneously with this attempt, the Mormons on the in-side of the jail, including the Smiths, pre-sented pistols through the windows and doors of the jail, and fired upon the guard without wounding, it is supposed, mortally, four of the old citizens of Hancock! It is unnecessary to say that this blood thirsty attempt, on the part of the Mor-mons, was the signal for certain and sure vengeance. The lives of the two Smiths, and Richards, were quickly taken, and we believe no others! Carthage was filled with Mormons—previous to the affray, the Mormons appeared to be collecting around the jail, it is now supposed, for the pur-pose of attempting the rescue of their lead-er.
G. T. M. Davis, Esq, of Alton, cams down this morning from Nauvoo. The news of the killing of Smith had not reached Nauvoo when he left. Governor Ford was in Nauvoo yesterday, and was to camp six miles out last night. Colonel Singleton was in command at Nauvoo, with 120 troops. Great fears are enter-tained for their safety if the Mormons rose upon him after hearing of the death of the Prophet.
It is also learned that both Carthage and Warsaw have become burned by the Mor-mons, as threats of that kind have been made. The women and children in the latter place have been taken to places of safety—a portion of them came down in the Boreas this morning.
The "German Guards" and "Rifle Company" are now assembling, as well as a portion of the militia, for the purpose of marching to the scene of action. The Boreas has been chartered to take them up. Our city has the appearance of a military camp.
The rumour this morning, varies the facts stated above in this, that the two Smiths and their Secretary Richards, sur-rendered themselves to Gov. Ford, upon his promise of protection, that he commit-ted them to jail in Carthage, and placed eight men as guards to protect them.—Hearing that the Mormons at Nauvoo were upon the point of marching to the rescue of Smith, the Governor left for the latter place with a small escort, to allay the excitment in that quarter.
Soon after Gov. Ford left, a party of men disguised and numbering about one hundred and fifty, made their appearance from the adjoining timber, and rushed upon the jail, overpowering the guards. Joe Smith was shot, it is stated, in an effort to escape the mob, by throwing himself from an upper window, and Hiram Smith and Richards, killed in the apartments occupi-ed by them in the jail.
We are inclined to place more confi-dence in this rumor, so far as its details are concerned, than in the representation of facts as given above.
