The Shasta Courier

The Man Who Fired the Nauvoo Temple.

The Peoria (Ill.) Transcript says: Among the events of the famous Mormon war was the burning of the Nauvoo Temple. The structure was burned in the night time, and so successful was the party engaged in its firing that probably he was never even suspected. The recent death of the incendiary, however, has removed the necessity of further secrecy, and a day or two ago we were put in possession of his name and facts connected with the burning of the temple by the only living person cognizant of them. The temple was fired by Joseph B. Agnew, who recently died in Appanoose township, Hancock county, in this State, at the age of some fifty-eight years. It was always supposed that the party who burned the building had entered through the basement, but the facts are, Mr. Agnew surreptitiously obtained a key to one of the doors of the temple some time before the act. No one was engaged with him, and only four knew he was the party. Three of these are now dead. Agnew prepared his fire ball and other combustibles at his residence. Placing them in his saddlebags, he rode on horseback to Nauvoo, and in the night entered the temple with his key, passed up to the cupola, arranged his materials and fired them, and then quietly escaped the way he came. Our informant, who is a responsible and prominent citizen of the western part of the State, says he thinks he can produce the key of the temple which Agnew secured in order to accomplish his work.