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Show Page 124 had been commissioned by the Twelve to lead a group of eastern Saints by sea to California - Orson wrote in the Messenger for November 8: "Elder S. Brannan...wil sail about the middle of January. Those who wish to accompany are requested to give him their names as early as possible. If 150 or 200 passengers can be obtained, he can venture to charter a vessel for them...The voyage can be performed in four or five months. Brethren awake! Be determined to get out from this evil nation next spring. We do not want one Saint to be left in the United States after that time." 44 With this vituperous renunciation, Orson nevertheless had his hand in the founding of an important American city, for Brannan's company did indeed double Cape Horn the following year to make their landfall at the Golden Gate, among the first settlers of the present city of San Francisco. Ironically, between the departure and arrival of Brannan's vessel, the "Brooklyn," California became a territory of the United States. Legend has it that Brannan, seeing the stars and stripes flying over the little settlement of Yerba Buena, exclaimed, "There's that damned flag again!" In late 1845 anger was running high among the Mormons over their treatment at the hands of the government and of their neighbors. Night-time raids had resumed against Mormon farms in Hancock County, and incendiaries had destroyed over two hundred dwellings in the region around Nauvoo; a detachment of state militia had attempted to forestall the violence with little success. When Orson Pratt heard of the resolution of the nine counties surrounding Nauvoo to force the Mormons out of Illinois by armed force if they did not evacuate voluntarily, he reacted with uncharacteristic fury: "The time is at hand for me to take a long and last farewell to these Eastern countries, being included with my family, among the tens of thousands of American citizens who have the choice of DEATH or BANISHMENT beyond the Rocky Mountains. I have preferred the latter. It is with the greatest of joy that I forsake this Republic:...for we have |
