The prisoners after an earnest appeal, were permitted to visit their homes, under a strong guard, to obtain a change of clothing. They were, however, given strict command not to speak, or enter into conversation with the members of their families. When the Prophet visited his home the children clung to his garments. He requested the privilege of a private interview with his family, which was denied him. Hyrum Smith, whose wife less than two weeks later was confined,[3] drew attention to the condition in his home; but received in answer only gibes and insults. Parley P. Pratt underwent a similar scene, and in the anguish of his soul appealed to General Moses Wilson, who answered him with an exultant laugh, and a taunting reproach.
After these painful scenes, the prisoners were started for Independence, under a strong guard commanded by Generals Lucas and Wilson. On the way orders came from General Clark to have the prisoners sent to him, but this General Lucas was not willing to do. Clark, without question, wanted the honor of putting the prisoners to death. Through his vanity, Lucas wanted to exhibit them before their enemies in Jackson County, and pose as a great hero in triumph. Between the rivalry of the two, not forgetting the hand of the Lord which was over them, their lives were spared.[4]
Prisoners in Richmond
On the 3rd of November, 1838, the prisoners arrived in Jackson County and the next day were taken by order of General Lucas, to Independence. General Clark, however, would not permit them to stay, desiring to gain possession of them himself. Therefore, he sent Col. Sterling Price with instructions to have them removed immediately to Richmond, Ray County. They arrived in Richmond on the 9th, and were imprisoned in a vacant house. On their way they met General Clark, and asked him why they had been carried from their homes and what the charges were against them. Clark said he was not then able to determine, but would be prepared to tell in a short time. When they were confined Clark sent Price with two chains and padlocks and had the prisoners fastened together. The windows were then nailed down; the prisoners were searched and the only weapons they had (their pocket knives) were taken away. While this was going on armed guards stood with cocked guns pointed at them. Here the brethren were kept many days awaiting trial.
Rebuking the Guards
While incarcerated in this prison, the brethren were guarded by some of the vilest wretches that could be found, who spent their time in the presence of their prisoners relating their horrible deeds of wickedness. This thing continued for some time, when the Prophet, unable to stand it any longer, arose and rebuked them. The occurrence is graphically related by Elder Parley P. Pratt in the following words:
“During this time Elder Rigdon was taken very sick, from hardship and exposure, and finally lost his reason; but still he was kept in a miserable, noisy and cold room, and compelled to sleep on the floor with a chain and padlock round his ankle, and fastened to six others. Here he endured the constant noise and confusion of an unruly guard, the officer of which was Colonel Sterling Price, since governor of the State.
“These guards were composed generally of the most noisy, foul-mouthed, vulgar, disgraceful rabble that ever defiled the earth. . . . Mrs. Robinson, a young and delicate female, with her infant, came down to see her husband [George W. Robinson], and to comfort and take care of her father [Sidney Rigdon] in his sickness. When she first entered the room, amid the clank of chains and the rattle of weapons, and cast her eyes on her sick and dejected parent and sorrow-worn husband, she was speechless, and only gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. This faithful lady, with her little infant, continued by the side of her father till he recovered from his sickness, and till his fevered and disordered mind resumed its wonted powers.
“In one of those tedious nights we had lain as if in sleep till the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our guards, Colonel Price at their head, as they recounted to each other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had committed among the ‘Mormons’ while at Far West and vicinity. They even boasted of defiling by force wives, daughters, and virgins, and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women and children.
“I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified, and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards; but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay next to him and knew he was awake. On a sudden he arose to his feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, or as the roaring lion, uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words:
“SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still. I will not live another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!
Majesty in Chains
“He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained, and without a weapon; calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, he looked upon the quailing guards; whose weapons were lowered or dropped to the ground, whose knees smote together, and who, shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards.
“I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was suspended on a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones and crowns; and of emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms; but dignity and majesty have I seen but once, as it stood in chains, at midnight, in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri.”[5]