The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-21
A Singular Delusion.

correspondent of the Charleston Neacs and
Cburier. writing from Spartanburg @. h., gives
the annexed account of an extraordinary de-
lusion among the colored race, under the lnfiu-
ence of one of their leaders:
For the last two years negro preacher, oy
the name of Bobo, has been the spiritual head
and adviser of one Of the largest negro congre,,
cations in this county. His church is situated
about twenty miles south of this place, IN q
dense negro settlement, and SO great, was ms
fame as minister of the Gospel, that his men,
hsrs we're found on all the neighboring, and
some distant, plantations. Bobo is described
as a. negro of gross ignorance, but blessed with
that profnsion of speech so often found in his
race. He is said to be good workman, but OF
very loose morals in everything but the strict
keeping of the Lords Day, and an almost aus
tere observance of the forms of religion. He
thus possessed all those qualities necessary for
aleader of his people, We will see how he
used his peculiar talent. During the last
month kind of revival has been in progress
in Bobo's church, and few days ago it culmi-
mated in one of the greatest religious demon
strations ever seen III this country. Bobo,
from preaching Christ went to preaching him
self as "the new prophet high in favor
His doctrine was that the Lord had command
ed him to call together the children of Zion,
and lead them to the promised land, distant
but one hundred and sixty miles, and where
they would have wings and could ny. After
much exhortation and many midnight orgies,
he said that the command to march had been
received, that his disciples must sell all they
had. and without scrip or sword follow him.
Hethus persuaded some fifty or sixty to obey
him. The poor deluded creatures sold crops,
stock, and everything they had, at great sac
rifce. One man sold his crop, said to be worth
six hundred dollars, for one hundred and fifty
dollars; another sold COW and calf for one
dollar and fifty cents. Nothing could dissuade
them from their purpose. They said it was the
command of the Lord and they must obey.
Just before they started the prophet said there
was vet one thing more to be done. 1t was
necessary to the success of the journey the Old
est person among the faithful must be sacrificed,
because he being the Oldest can tell the Lord
most about any of us. On examination the
oldest person was found to be woman. She
was taken and confined in en old outhouse until
a stick of peculiar growth could be found,
with which she must be killed She did not
seem to mind her danger, but rather to re-
ioice. She certainly would have been mar
tyr had it not been for the neighboring whites,
who had to use some show of violence to re-
Lease her. This was tlamper on the prophet
and his followers, but did not divert them from
their purpose. Placing their smallest children
and o few provisions in two-h horse wagon they
set out on their march. On the march several
attempts were made to dissuade them from
their folly, but without turning to the right or
left, with eyes upturned they went on without
making apy answers. The last heard of them
they were crossing. the mountains in the direc-
ton of Tennessee. This may seem like tic.
tion, but it is true; the witnesses are here, and
I have written no more than what to-day can
be heard in any crowd or in any family circle
of this county. The exodus is the grand
theme of conversation and the wonder Of the
people.