Carthage Jail was another place that awed and inspired us. Like Nauvoo, it is filled with such power. We all felt so grateful for the opportunity that we had to visit this place.
Jake standing next to a memorial for the Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum Smith, who were both killed by a mob while being imprisoned at Carthage on June 27, 1844.
Did you know that Joseph and the other prisoners were staying in the jailer's bedroom when they were attacked? The jail was set up with living quarters for the jailer and his family, a jail cell on the main level that was for mild offenses (like debtors), and a horrible cell in the top floor of the building that had no windows or ventilation for the more serious offenders. After several days the jailer realized that the Prophet and others were being held illegally. They were being kept in the lower cell, but the jailer was worried that someone would try to shoot them through the windows. He felt that they were honorable men so he offered them the use of his bedroom so that they would be safe. This is the original door that stood in the room where the martyrdom occurred. The bullet hole in the middle of the door is the one that killed Hyrum Smith. There is a little rectangular piece above the door knob where bullets shot John Taylor (if I remember correctly). This piece was cut out by a local and found nearly one hundred years later in an old barn when the jail was restored.
Lander and Jake standing at the same window that the Prophet fell from (in the jailer's bedroom).
Our family standing outside that same window
No comments:
Post a Comment