“Gentlemen, you have had your fun…”

In 1832 many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints began moving into northern Missouri which at this time was the western frontier of America. Mormons (as they were known) were non-slaveholding northerners and difficulties quickly escalated between the newcomers and those already there. The troubles turned into a virtual war with even the Governor issuing an order to exterminate the Mormons.

On October 30, 1838 a mob attacked the Mormon settlement at Haun's Mill. 2,000 men arrived at Far West and surrounded the town of Far West.

Eunice McRea’s husband Alexander was arrested and taken with other church leaders to Liberty jail 50 miles from Far West. Members of the mob were going house to house ransacking the homes looking for things of value claiming they were looking for counterfeit money and dies for making it.

Four men came to Eunice’ home. She had two little children and gave the men access to all parts of the house and they searched every part, cupboards and dresser drawers without success. Then they tore a hole in the floor and two of them got down and began to dig and throw dirt out. When they found nothing they turned to the door. Eunice McRae stood there with a pistol in her hand. She said, "Gentlemen, you have had your fun, now put all that dirt back in the hole you took it from, and put the floor down as it was, and clean the floor. The first man who attempts to leave before it is completed will get killed." They quickly complied. They could see that she meant it..