The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-05-15
From the Western Balance.
MODERN PILGRIMS.

In the Summer of 1918, Company Of
people, calling themselves Pilgrims, ap.
pearrd descending the Mississippi in fat
boat. By Their own account they started
from Lower Canada, in company con.
sisting Of fight or ten. In Vermont they
recruited twenty or thirty in the state Of
New York, several morr-and when they
reached Cincinnati, their plumbers amour.
ted to about sixty,
Their leader, a Canadian, BY the name
of Billiard, (cdlled also by his followers the
prophet Eiilah,l was of a dminulivr stat
ure, with cluh foot Before he began his
mi sion, he had a severe spell of sickness,
when he tasted 80 days,(as he said, and lis
vered very suddenly, by the special inter-
position of the Divine Spirit, and being
filed with enthusiasm, he declared that he
was commanded 10 plant the church Of
the Redeemrr in the wilderness, and a.
mong the heather. From these notions,
thus imbIbed, aud which he nsiilled into
his followers, they believed themselves
capable of fasting 40 days; accordingly,
when they ctmmltted themselves to the
current, the prophet pnjoined 40 days
fast. The people becoming sick and ia
great distress from hunger, this severe
commander found it nteesaary 20 remit, IN
some degrrr lhr riEoF of his injunction,
aud he permitted tue taking Of hour broth
through quill, because he received MS
food in this way after his long sickness
and fast, when he could not open his jaws;
and which had the 'itIfying effect, takta
by him for supernatural power or inspirae
tlon. But as the cruel allowed was very
meagre, being simply -four and cold water,
debility, misery aud death attended the exc
pertinent. Yet with faith aud hope they
persisted.
In this wretched situation, they arrived
at Pilgrims Island which derives its name
from this fact, at which place they were
fallen in with by barge belonging to Nash
vile, whose crew, drtestng The conduct
o; The prophet and his seconds. who watch-
ed aad governed the timorous multitude,
gave two or three of the leaders a sound
drubbing with the plant cotton WOOD
switch.
They next landed at the Little Prairie.
The prophets staff, which by the direction
OF its .jaH had hitherto pointed out the way
now stood still and he declared that here
he was commanded 10 settle and hal'd
church.-But Mr.. Walker, who owned the
soil, and resided in this solitary spot, Tor
babe the undertaking. This was accouoi-
ed persecution, yet they continued seven
days, during which, several died amotS
whom We're children which wrlr placed
on the beach by their parents, at the COM
mand OF Elijah, when exposed TO U'c
scorchlng sun, they wallowed holes IN the
sand, while they struggled away in the as'
onies of death.-W While here iaboring under
sickness and persecution, 1t seems they be-
gan to suspect that they were forsahen W
the Divine Spirit, and that no more MIRA
Giles could be wrought for them. Hence
they commenced the cry of "Oh my 6oe'
why hast thou forsaken me !" When oy
assisting each other, the yuciferathg cry
was not intermitted for three days ana
nights.
They stopped further down at desef.
place, where or more died, whose bones
still lie on the shore uncovered. And d"
who remained, when they arrived at II e'e'
na, were Oh iects Of horror and cVmpas''o"'
The hospitahle inhabitants furnished thep
IA plentiful supply of milk and more noH1.
ishing cruel, for taking which ever, one
was provided with piece of reed cane,
Their boat next struck upon sana n''
near The mouth OF The Arkansas, 40
prophet, his brother and other leaders ne'
ing dead, the remnant Dispersed into v