TO ENGLAND VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Evening Star, Issue 2857, 16 April 1872, Page 2

TO ENGLAND VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) ( Continued.) Salt Lake City, February 10, 1872. The distance from Ogden to Salt Lake City is about forty miles, and the fare is about 24 dollars or ten shillings. The line is wholly the property of the Saints, Brigham Young being owner of one third, and the remaining two-thirds being held by a few leading members of the Church. There is nothing to attract special attention, on the route, as the whole country is cove ed with snow. To the right is Salt Lake, covering an area of 80 miles by 30. The water is so strongly impregnated with salt that it never freezer, and supplies the inhabitants of the City with abundance of salt, both coarse and fine. The train arrived at 10 a.ra., and I went to Salt Lake House, kept by a Gentile. There is better house kept by a Mormon named Townsend; but ■ u this occasion the Japanese Embassy, numbering ten souls, engaged the whole house; so lodgings were scarce and expensive - viz , three dollars a day for very poor food, no attention, and anything but tidy bedrooms. My first duty was to call with a letter of introduction on Brigham Young’s private secretary, Mr McK He was very cordial, and asked me to call on the morrow, when I might possibly see Mr Young, who was very unwell. I called next day, but unfortunately Mr Young was worse, I asked my new friend if there was reason for apprehending danger. “ Well,” said he, “ Mr Toung has had much to trouble him of late. I dare say you arc aware he is now under arrest a'ong with some ten others, charged with the crime of murder.” I told him I was so informed. He is a prisoner in his own hou.-e, only it is reported that permission for an occasional drive is granted him, for the benefit of fresh air and change. It may inter, st your readers to know the reason why Brigham Young is a prisoner. Some six years ago a Gentile named Dr. Robinson was murdered in the street in Sait Lake Ci y. There never was a judicial inquiry into the facts co; ■ nected with this cold blooded deed, until an investigation recently made by the Federal Court. The evidence in that and a number of other cases implicated several Mormons of more or less prominence in. them. They were indicted for murder, arrested, and bail was refused. The Federal Attorney telegraphed to the Attorney-General at Washington for advice as to admitting the prisoners to bail, but received uo advice nor instructions in reply ; the Government considering it best to leave the matter in the hands of the Chief Justice here, Mr Kean, who is alone competent to determine whethtr persons indicted and arraigned on a charge of murder shall be admitted to bail. He has exercised that discretion and refused to accept bail; so the accused are retained in custody. In company with a Mormon gentleman, I visited the gaol, and had a converaation with the captive saints. They have now been four mouths in prison. They prefer paying their own expenses to being placed under the surveillance of Camp Douglas, which is controlled and superintended by a regiment of the United States Army stationed here. This they admit is a privilege, but they complain bitterly of their detention and unjust arrest; I must confess that their apartment or day room is like anything rather than a prison. Fancy a billiard table in a prison ! Now-this I saw, and expressed my astonishment arise novel a circumstance, but was told they provided these little luxuries . for recreation and amusement at their own. expense. Wonderful country ! Wonderful people ! I bade the incarcerated saiuts farewell,; andirisited the Tabernacle. In shape this building is oval, and 13,000 people can sit comfortably in it. It is so constructed that this large number can leave in in three minutes. It is certainly a marvellous structure—plain, substantial—its acoustic arrangements i erfect. Listeners at the extreme end of the building hear equally well with those nearer to a preacher. The organ is one of the ehiof features in the interior. It is is 54 feet high, 40 feet long, and 38 feet wide. It is net yet complete, although in use. Up to the present time it has cost 150,000 dollars, or L 30,000. Without exception it is the grandest instrument I have seen or heard; and, when the Tabernacle is filled with worshippers, its full harmonies add deep solemnity to their proceedings. Contiguous to the Tabernacle is the Temple, now in course of erection. Its foundations and walls are of the very best granite, which _ approaches as nearly as possible to that of Aberdeen. The building Las been eighteen years in progress, and is expected to be finished in about twelve years. Its length is 200 feet, breadth 100 feet, and height of walls 100 feet. It is to have six steeples—three at each end, measuring 275 feet in height. When finished, the Temple is net to be used for preaching, but is to be exclusively devoted to the ordinances of Mormonism, such as baptism, marriages, and mysteries peculiar to that faith. I observed several mason employed in the erection of this building, and asked the attendant what wages those men -received. I was informed that no money was paid to those working on the Temple ; they simply had food supplied them while laboring on this great unrteitaking, as it was contrary to the rules of the Church to pay in coin. The intention is that the Temple when completed shall be a free-will offering to God to be devoted to his service. I looked at the drawings. and saw one of a magnificent baptismil font, supported by twelve colossal oxen to be fashioned out of the best stone. The Temple, when completed, will be one of the grandest in America, if not in the world. The Saints look forward to its completion with great enthusiasm, believing that great results will follow, as no other people with means so slender and so isolated have made such sacrifices for their faith. This is doubt* less true ; but from personal observation, now that railways have brought s- many Gentiles to the territory, especially Oalifor. nian miners, enterprising amt energetic mtn,

I am somewhat inclined to believe that the days Of Mormonism are numbered, so far as the practice of polygamy is publicly acknowledged. Salt Lake City is divided into 21 wards, and covers an area of upwards of three square miles. In each ward the Mormons have minature tabernacles, which serve the double purpose of a danc-ing-hall through the week, and a meeting-house and Sunday-school on Sundays. Dancing during winter is the only amusement the Saints indulge in, balls being held every night in the week. On mentioning to a Mormon friend my wish to witness one of these reunions, we started in company, and on arrival my friend entered by himself, announced my name, and that f was a Gentile. He soon returned, and said that Bishop would be very pleased to see me. I have often seen dancing, hut never witnessed so much enjoyment in it as the young Mormon folks appeared to revel in, especially when it is considered that their only beverage was cold water. Young, middle-aged, hoary sires and wives, all s jemed delighted, while kindness and goodfeeling marked their merriment. L was here introduced to one of Brigham You.ig’s wives. I bad a long chat with her. Mic scorned a verv clever, accomplished person, and dressed exactly as the other female Saints —plainly, neatly, and cleanly. I told her 1 had called to see Mr Young, and she enquired if I had seen h ; m. On answering in the negative she seemed disappointed. I said I believed Mr Young had much to think of just now. She looked at me hard, and replied that he was supported by an unseen Power, and would yet come forth triumphant, despite the artifices of his enemies. This lady is one of sixteen wives, and lives a few miles out of town on one of Brigham’s farms. [To he continued.)