The retraction [of a pro-abolitionist article] does nothing to alleviate the animosity of the other [Missouri] settlers. On this day several hundred assemble and declare that the Mormons must leave at once. They proceed to W. W. Phelps's printing press and destroy it and tear down his house. The Book of Commandments, which was on the press at the time, is destroyed, and a few people gather up extra pages from which come the extremely rare 160-page copies of the book presently extant. The mob then covers Bishop Edward Partridge and Charles Allen with acid and tar and feathers. Bishop Partridge is so meek that the crowd is humbled and finally stops its attack. The Rev. Pixley, one of the leaders of the mob, gives the Saints 15 minutes to leave town.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
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