Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-11-08
A "MILLERITE'' MIRACLE.

A "MILLERITE'' MIRACLE.
In little village in the state of Hoo.
sieriana. in the year 1914, there was 'al
Sorts Of excitement concerning the doc.
trines and prophecies of that arch deceiver
Miller. For months the Midnight Cry.
followed by the Morning Howl. and the
MONDAY Yell, had circulated through the
village and surrounding counties. to an
extent not even equalled by Dr.. Duncan's
celebrate coon speech. Men disposed of
their property for little or nothing. The
women were pale and CHASTITY from watch
ing and praying, and in fact the whole
population. or at least those who believed
in the coming ascension, looked as if ;hey
were about half over second attack Of
the chilIs and fever. There were. how
ever, some "choice Spirits" (not choice
in theirs, however, who, notwithstanding
the popularity of tho delusion, would not
enlist under the banner Of the ascension
lists, and among these was wild. harum-
scarum blade from "down east" by the
name of Cabe NEWMAN. Now Cabe was
as hard "casc," as you would meet on
fourth of July, in Texas. always alive for
fun and sport Of any and every descrip-
ton, and strong disbeliever in Miller
ism.
z. me night Of the Sd nf Ar-'l 'pae tao
time agreed upon ont west here for The
grand exhibition of aground and lofty
tumoing." and about 10 o'clock, of the
said night, numbers Of the Millerites as
sembled on the outskirts of the town, on a
little eminence. upon which the proprietor
had allowed few trees 10 stand. In the
crowd, and the only representative Of his
race present, was free negro by the name
of Sam, about as ugly, black, woolly, and
rough a descendan. of Ham, as ever baked
his shins over kitchen fire.
Sans head was small, body and arms
very long, and his legs bore remarkable
resemblance to pair of names; in fact,
put Sam on a horse, his legs clasped round
its neck, his head towards the tail, and his
arms clasped round the animals hams,
and at ten PAGES you would swear he was
an old set Of patent gearing. The leader
of the Milleri,es, owing to "an ancient
grudge he bore him." hated Sam "like
smoke" and had done all in his power 10
prevent his admittance among the Select"
but all to no purpose Sam would creep
in at every meeting, and to>night here he
was again, dressed in white robe of
cheap cotton. secured 10 his body by
belt, and shouting and praying as loud as
the best.
Now on the morning Of the Sd, Cabe
had, with deal Of perseverance, and more
trouble, managed to throw half inch
hemp cord over the branch of an oak,
which stretched its long arm directly over
the spot where the Milleriles would as
semble; one end he had secured to the
body of the tree, and the other TO stump
some distance off. About 10 o'clock,
when the excitement was getting about
80 lbs. TO the inch" Cabe. wrapped in
an old sheet, walked into the crowd, and
proceeded to fasten, in as secure manner
as possible, the end of the rope to the
back part of the belt which confined Sans
robe''-succeeded, and "sloped,' 10 join
some of his companions who had the
other end. The few stars in the sky.
threw dim Ugh! over the scene, and in
few moments the voice Of Sam was heard,
exclaiming, IGOR Almighty ! Use goin'
I'D! Who-o-oh!'' and sure enough. Sam
was seen mounting into the "ethereal
blues" his ascent was. however, checked
when he had cleared "terra 6rma" few
feet. "Glory - cried one, "HalleluJah y
another, and shrieks and yells made night
hideous; some tainted. others prayed, and
not few dropped their robes and "s!'d."
Now whether it was owing TO the light
ness of his head, or the length and weight
of his heels, or both, Sans position was
no. pleasant one; the belt 10 which Cabe's
cord was attached. was bound exactly
round his centre of gravity. and Sam
swung. like pair Of scales. head up and
heels down. heels up and head down, a.
the same time sweeping over the crowd
like pendulum. which motion was ac-
CELEBRATED by his strenuous clapping of
hands, and vigorous kicking. At length