Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-09-15
A New Set OfReligiOHs Fanatics III Rus
S1a-Tartar Revenge.

Correspondence of the New York Evening Post I
Russian sects appear to be little less
than vast religious disease. No sooner
has the fanaticism of Skopzen been mn
eafthed and the leaders of the body pun
lshed, than other sects spring up, almost
axcelling the former in the extent to which
human nature can be debased. cores
pondent of the Vienna Feue Freie Presse
now sends an account of new religious
fanatical body, whose dogmas and prac-
tees, though Of less dangerous character
than those of the Skopzen, are still sad
picture of the religious life of the interior
OF Russia. The members of this new sect
are called ''Springers," and their worship
shows itself in violent paroxysms, which
leads to tomystical dancing;and vehement self
castlgatlonS. Therefore the name s'Spring-
ers, or jumpers,
The chief prophet of the sect is q rich
old peasant of the government of Tambof.
The fame Of this saint has spread as far as
the government of Saratov; and pilgrims in
great numbers wend their way thence to
the village of UwarcwO, the home of the
prophet. Among late batch of new con-
verts were very many young women who
made the journey. AS these were return
ing home again, there being 12 wagon loads
OF them, they all fell into state of ecsta-
cy, between which condition and insanity
IS no appreciable difference, when they
stripped themselves of their garments, and
began q real witch-sabbath of flagellating
orgies. One male member of the party de-
clared himself to be Jesus Christ, and a
female impersonated st. Barbara. The re-
ligious passion led to severe injuries being
committed by the members upon each
other.
The fanaticism went so far indeed, that
finally one woman was exected as d human
sacrifice, though it was quite voluntary on
her part, she being Just as fanatically ex-
cited as the rest. She was bound fast to a
spoke of wheel, when the wagon was
driven on, the wheel passing over her un-
til the body was transformed into q perfect
Jelly. The most active of the party were
the two who personified Christ and Saint
Barbara. When the returning band reach
ed the village of Pestchanka ia the district
Of Balaschou, government Saratov, the civil
authorities stopped its further progress,
and an investigation into their actions was
ordered Whatever new may now be re-
yealed about their actions can hardly be
surprising, after what has been revealed in
the many similar acts which have of late
been discovered
Mr.. Dixon in his intended journoyings
in Russia, might do some service to the
world by applying his powers to the de-
scription of the Russian sects, and their
peculiar fanatical beliefs and practices
The Russian journals also contain ac-
counts of fearful revenge taken by a col
ony of Tartars, which forms an excellent
supplement to the above narrative. This
colony are Musselmans, living near Balta,
Western Russia. One of them had daugh-
t + of extraordinary beauty, whom a rich
Russian nobleman Of the neighborhood
CHANGED to see, and Immediately fell in love
with. She returned his affection, and con-
cluded to secretly leave her friends, follow
her lover, be bap: zed into the Greek
Orthodox church, and become his wife
The flight began successfully, but the two
had hardly got ten miles away from the vii
lage, and entered a little wood, before they
were surprised by hearing frightful yens
behind them. It was the Tartars, who
were in pursuit of them. The Russian,
who was armed with good carbine, took
up his position behind tree, and chaI-
| lenged his prosecutors to come on. Two
of them advanced, but being wounded the
whole party drew back for deliberation.
They then began to collect d"y wood to-
gether, with which they set the forest in
flames. The two lovers met a sad end.
On the following morning they were found
IN each others embrace, having been Sut-
focated by the smoke. The perpetrators of
this horrible revenge boast openly of it,
and say, in palliat on, that had the maiden
become a Christian, the whole village would
have been dishonored.