The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-06-25
From the Fairfield CTex.J Re;

From the Fairfield QeN) Register, May g.
On Sunday, the 18th day OF this month, At the
farm Of Mr.. J. Wright, lying two miles east from
Springfield, in Limestone county, Texas, an old
negro woman named Jane, who, with her hus-
band, lived on the farm, announced to the rest
of the negroes on the farm, some eight or ten
adults in number. that she had just received a
revelation from God that the millennium was to
come on Thursday, the Goth day Of this month,
and that the mighty "Ship of Zien' would come
water or no wster-snd take all those to glory
who would follow implicitly the directions she
Jane would give them, she being, rs she avow-
ed, the chosen instrument of God for their SAL
walton. She first preached q whole day to large
congregation, and after having made many con-
verts, she commanded them to burn one.haf Of
all the household, kitchen furniture, clothing,
ETC., they possessed-no baggage being allowed
which they did in a mighty bonfire She next
commanded them to cut up with hoes One-half
OF all their growing crops, which they did, dig
cling everything up by the roots; much of the
corn nearly waist high, and both corn and
cotton were good generally. She then COM
msnded that they give away half of their chill
dren, their wagons, horses, plows aud other farw-
ing utensils, which they did, to several persons
living near Then came command for both
sexes to entirely disrobe themselves and pray
and dance the Holy Dance which was implicit
ly obsyed Many CT the small children upon
refusing to obey these orders, were severely
beaten, and one man refusing was nearly beaten
to death by the women. They were then made
to partake of what she denominated the Lords
supper" the bread consisting Of water and salads,
and the wine OF water and molasses. She said
human sacrifice was demanded. and accordingly
stripped her own infant of its clothing, wrapped
it in cloth, and prepared to give it MS a burnt
offering, and would assuredly have done so, but
for the interference of some present who were
not 80 insane. They we're then commanded to
kill all their dogs, which they aid to the number
of fifteen, and after two days-these things all
the time going on-they were ordered by their
leader to eat Of the putrid carcasses at which
command they, for the first time, evinced u dis
position to "ge slow"
While they were halting their leader endeav.
Ored to show them how to ''go through dorg,"
but her stomach being of difereAt notion from
her head, eschewed the repast, and speedily de-
livsred itself of such wonderful morsels.
At this stage OF the proceedings, Mr.. Isaac
burst, gentleman living near, and who had
desired to stop the insane proceedings before,
but knew not exactly how to proceed, told her
husband she was crazy, and to get chain and
fasten her where she could NO longer do mis-
chief. She at once fled, and was pursued, caught
snd secured, and at once the rest of her follow.
ers gathered round, and seemed for the first time
W UcCOuc AWdT0 VI tuc lulSculcI Cuey QhU
wrought. They thanked Mr.. burst greatly for
breaking the spell Jane had thrown over them
went to their now almost ruined fields and COM
menced work again in good earnest-the parties
having kept and returned to them their stock,
farming utensils, etc. They are now, however,
without the necessary apparel aud food to enable
them to work successfully The excitement last
ed some ten days, and all that time no work WAS
done by these deluded creatures.
Until the confinement of the old woman every
one of her commands were oheyed. and from
what We have narrated none can doubt that if
she had commanded her followers to commit
murder among the whites, they would have es-
sayed to do it. In the case of the negro man
beaten. she commanded them to beat him to
death unless he joined their band. But for Mr.
burst, he would have been killed outright