Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-10-18

not All al once, but gradually, as the wind Of
q thunder cloud. His features lOst their CON.
lcal tipge Of Pleasantryi bis voice grew hnt
earnest, and then solemn, and soon walled out
In the tones OfdesPest pathOs; his eyes were
'hOrn Of their mild light, and yielded streams
OfteSrs, as the fountain Of the hill yielded ws-
ter. The effect was indeseribabIe, and the re.
bound offeeling beyond all conception. He
deseanted on the horrors Of hell, till every
shuddsring face Was turned downward. as fex-
Peeting to see the solid globe rent asunder,
and the fathOmless. fiery gulf yswh from be-
meath. Brave men mOaned, and fair. fashion
able women, covered with silken drapery and
bedight with gems, shrieked as il a knife we're
working among their heart-strings.
Again he changed the theme; sketehed the
joys VI righteous death--its faith, its hope;
its winged rAptures, and angels attending the
spirit to its happy hOme-with such force,
great and evident belief that all eyes we're
turned toward heaven, as the entire csnErega-
ton startedtO their feet, as il Io hail the Wis.
ion of angels at which the finger Of the preach.
er seemed to be pointed, elevated as il was on
high to the full length of his arm. .t4.
He then made cell for mourners into the
altar, and FIVE hundred, many Of them ill that
night in6dels. rushed forward and prostrated
themselves on their knees. The meeting was
continued for two weeks, and more than
thousand. converts were added to the church
From that time his success was unparalleled,
and the fact is chiefly due to his inimitable wit
and mastery eloquence that Meth odism is no W
the prevailing religion in Illinois. a
He was distinguished by one very uncleric-
al neutrality-suspicious.. His battle, al
though always apparently in the defensive,
were as numerous as the celebrated Bowie,-
The only difference was this, t6at Bowie fought
with deadly weapons, while the itinerant used
but his enormous fist, which was as effective,
however, in the speedy settlement of beIliger-
ent issues as any knife or pistol ever forged
out of steel. Let tie reader Judge from the
following anecdote. ..s..E r--a
At the camp meeting held at Alton, in the
autumn Of 1898, the Worshipers were annoyed
by set OF desperadOes from St. Louis, under
the control Of Mike Fink, a notorious bully,
the triumphant hero of countless fights, in
none of which he had ever met his equal or
even second. The coarse, drunken ruffians
carried it with high hand, outraged the men
and insultec the women, so as to threaten the
dissolution Of all pious exercises; and yet.
such was the terror the name of their leader,
Fink, inspired. that no one could be found
brave enough to face bis prowess. .
At last, one day, when Cartwright ascended
the pulpit to hold forth, the desperadoes on the
outskirts Of the encampment, raised yell SO
deafening as to drown utterly every other
sound. The preachers dark eyes shot light
ming. He deposited his Bible, drew off bis
coat and remarked aloud ... .. t.
'Wait for few minutes, my brethren, while
go and make the devil pray a.sa
He then proceeded, with smile on his lips,
TO the focus Of the tumult, and addressed the
chief bully: ..a..s.. ..al f.g. q.
'Mr: Fink, have come to make you pray
The desperado rubbed back the tangled fes
toons of his blood-red hair. srched his huge
eyebrows with comicul expression, and re.
piled: a.fnf 7a iaHfi
BY gOlIy. I'd like to see you do il, old
snorter.'
Very well.' said Mr.. Cartwright. will these
gentle men. you. courteous friends agree not
to show foul play?' 1. tsaaa9
In course they will. They're rale grit. and
won't do nothin' but the clear thing, SO they
wont, rejOined Fink indignantly. y a,-
'Ars you ready?' asked the preacher.
Ready as race horse with a light rider,
answered Fink, squaling bis ponderous person
for the combat: -s- ..-.f .......5
The bully spoke too soon: for scarcely had
the words left bis lips. when Cartwright made
a prodigious bound toward his antagonist, and
accompanied it with quick, shooting punch of
his Herculean fist, which fell, crashing the
others chin and hurried him to the earth like
lead. Then, even his intoxicated companions,
filed with admiration at the feat, gave cheer.
But Fink waP up in moment, and rushed upon
bis enemy, exclaiming: 5aa .s... ,.ea.
That warn't done fair, so it warn'tP
He aimed a ferocious stroke, which the
preacher parried with his left hand. and grasp
ing bis throat with the right, crushed him down
as if he had been an infant. Fink struggled.
squirmed and Writhed in the dust; but all to
no purpose: Tor the strong, muscular fingers
held his windpipe as in The jaws Of an iron
vice. When be began to turn purple in the
face, and ceased to resist, Mr.. Cartwright
slacksned his hold, and inquired. ea
will you pray now?sissngw Oh
i doesn't know Q Wo'd how, gasped Fink.
Repeat after me- 81. 81 81 tI,f - .'s'0
well, if / must i must answered Fink.--
because you are the devil himself .sEoa. =
| !, The nrsacher then said over the Lords