York........... ..11-All coal mining in the anthracite region, Pa., is stopped owing to a strike order........................................ .12-In a naphtha explosion at Pittsburg, Pa., 20 lives were lost and 200 persons badly injured, of which 65 per cent will die............ President Roosevelt, in a special message to congress, recommended that an appropriation of $500,000 be made for the relief of the 50,000 people who are homeless and hungry in the Island of Martinique, where at least 30,000 lost their lives in the earthquake.

FOREIGN.-April 25-Two hundred Chinese landed from the steamer "Empress of China," in Van couver, B. C., on their way to Johannesburg, Africa, to work in the mines........................ .26 Queen Wilhelmina, of Holland, is seriously ill with typhoid-fever............27-The French elections resulted in defeat for the government-not one ministerialist being elected to the Chamber of Deputies, in Paris....................30-The city of Dacca, near Calcutta, India, population 200,000, was devasted by a tornado, in which 416 persons were killed.

May 2.-Advices from Guatemala, Central America, state that a thousand lives were lost in the earthquake of April 18th................3— The serious illness of Queen Wilhelmina causes great apprehension in Europe...6-F. Bret Hart, born Albany, New York, August 25, 1839, died near Aldershot, England...... .8-The British steamer "Roddam" reports that St. Pierre, Martinique, is completely destroyed by earthquake..................... ..9-Further details from Martinique confirm the report that St. Pierre, and 40,000 of her inhabitants, and all her property and shipping, were destroyed by a rain of fire, and streams of lava, caused by the eruption of Mt. Peiee. It is one of the greatest calamities in the history of the world.................10-Advices from the West Indies state that a number of the smaller islands near Martinique, especially St. Vincent, have suffered greatly, both in loss of life and property, by earthquakes. All the roads leading from St. Pierre are choked with the dead......... .....11-Advices from St. Thomas to London state that St. Pierre was destroyed in the twinkling of an eye, and not 40 inhabitants escaped. The whole northern part of the island is burning and is a rocky wilderness....................... elect Palma arrived in Cuba and was greeted by thousands.

.President

THE FIRST WESTERN MISSION-JOSEPH SMITH, JUNIOR, MOVES TO KIRTLAND.

I mentioned, in a foregoing chapter, that when Joseph and Emma left Manchester, they went to Macedon. Here, he commenced his ministerial labors, and continued, for some time, to preach successively, in this place, Colesville, Waterloo, Palmyra, and Manchester, till, finally, he sent to Pennsylvania for his goods, and settled himself in Waterloo. Soon after which, a revelation was given, commanding Parley P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson, Peter Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery, to take a mission to Missouri, preaching by the way. As soon as this revelation was received, Emma Smith, and several other sisters, began to make arrangements to furnish those who were set apart for this mission, with the necessary clothing, which was no easy task, as the most of it had to be manufactured out of the raw material.

Emma's health at this time was quite delicate, yet she did not favor herself on this account, but whatever her hands found to do, she did with her might, until she went so far beyond her strength, that she brought upon herself a heavy fit of sickness, which lasted

four weeks. And, although her strength was exhausted, still her spirits were the same, which, in fact, was always the case with her, even under the most trying circumstances. I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure-she has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty-she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman. It may be, that many may yet have to encounter the same-I pray God, that this may not be the case; but, should it be, may they have grace given them according to their day, even as has been the case with her.

As soon as those men designated in the revelation, were prepared to leave home, they started on their mission, preaching and baptizing on their way, wherever an opportunity afforded. On their route they passed through Kirtland, where they preached a short time, and raised up a branch of twenty or thirty members. Before leaving this place, they addressed a letter to Joseph, desiring him to send an elder to preside over the branch which they had raised up. Accordingly, Joseph despatched John Whitmer to take the presidency of the church at Kirtland; and when he arrived there, those appointed to go to Missouri, proceeded on their mission, preaching and baptizing as before.

In December of the same year, Joseph appointed a meeting at our house. While he was preaching, Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge came in and seated themselves in the congregation. When Joseph had finished his discourse, he gave all who had any remarks to make, the privilege of speaking. Upon this, Mr. Partridge arose, and stated that he had been to Manchester, with the view of obtaining further information respecting the doctrine which we preached; but, not finding us, he had made some inquiry of our neighbors concerning our characters, which they stated had been unimpeachable, until Joseph deceived us relative to the Book of Mormon. He also said that he had walked over our farm, and observed the good order and industry which it exhibited; and, having seen what we had sacrificed for the sake of our faith, and having heard that our veracity was not questioned upon any other