Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-10-11
" zIoN's TRAVELLERS"
A Murderer's Religious Organization Of
Blaoks-Worse than the Voudoos.


tcross Anchor fs. c. Letter to Atlanta Hers ID.
"Zinn's Travelers' are composed Of
some forty negroes, owned in slavery
times principally hv Mr.. W. j. Whit
mire and Mr.. VIM. Sheldon. The leaders
are Hal Whitmire, Martin Bobo, Lou
Bobo, (daughter of Martin Boho) who Is
also the prophecies, and Patsy Whitmire.
Some time during the winter OF 1871
and 1872, they brought themselves prom
inentlv before the public by claiming an
old woman named Dirkey," two days
and nights in an old house while they
made a cross on which to cruelty her,
saying the Lord had spoken through the
pronhet (Lou Sheldon) and said Darkey
got on the slick rock, and not having
faith strong enough, slipped off, and she
must he crucified, her hands being bound
to the cross by lock chains, her feet just
being three feet from the ground.
They first went to Mr.. II. T. Fnrguson,
and told him the Lord had commanded
him and two other white men TO bind
her. Mr.. G. made them leave his house,
and they went and bound her themselves.
On the evening of the second day, Mr.
Furguson, having heard Of the old negro
being tied up, took his gun aud went to
the house and told them to turn her
loose. and the first one that came into
the house to prevent him he would shoot.
Old Martin then got down and having
prayed awhile, said, "De Lord say turn
her loose, turn her loose.' The old
woman was almost dead, having stood
near two daya and nights without food or
water. One of her SONS threatened to
prosecute the whole party, when old
Martin went to him and told him that
Gabriel had the trumphet in his hand
ready to h'ow It and bring the world to
an end if he proceeded" by which the
fool negro was scared off.
Not long after this Hal Whitmire
prayed and prayed, and they put the
prophecies to prophesying, and she told
them the Lord commanded that four of
"Zion's Children" " should carry him in
" snow-white sheet F." where she should
direct. This they did, she leading the
way, made them carry him nearly three
miles, finally laying him down at the
meeting grounds, and such shouting and
yelling as they had would put Captain
Jack and his warriors TO the blush. Hal
was then married in the spirit to Lon,
the prophecies, by Jesus Christ, and took
the first seat in heaven, even by God
himself. These disgraceful proceedings
were carried on till the first of July last,
at which time the prophecies was taken
quite sick with cramp collie, and said the
Lord spake and said, eilas Norman
poisoned her." Now, Silas is a quiet,
honest negro, who had sense enough to
keep ont of such company. The prophet
ess also said that Silas must die by the
hands of the Zion Travellers. Now this
kinder scared Silas, who, taking the ad-
vice of MIR. r. NJ. Davis, his employer,
took out a peace warrant and had them
bonnd over tn keep the peace. This rather
enraged the Zion Travellers, and they put
the prophecies to prophesying. " She
said 81 hab had a long talk wild de
Lord, and he say he is sick and tired OBJ
de way de Zion Children hab been treated,
and dat he will pint out way to de
promised land, flown with milk and
honey, and bread upon the trees" She
also said they would also fluid wings and
fy as the angels do; that the land was
| Just one hundred and sixty miles in a
northwesterly course, aud that they must
leave on a certain Thursday. They all
met Wednesday night, to leave in body
on the following morning. During the
night the prophecies roused them, telling
them that the Lord had appeared and said
they must be Off before daylight. They
all arose and left, leaving many valuable
little things in their hurry. They sold
cows with calves for one dollar aud Q
half apiece, hogs at one dollar, worth
seven or eight, and other things in pro-
portion,
The last news from them they were
crossing the Blue Ridge. Their answe
to every question as to their business &c.
was, I'VE are Zion's children, gwin'
home"
Rumors reach here that they are all IL
Jail in North Caro- ina, for kiIing one .
their number and eating her.
1t turns out the sickness of the proph
etess was caused by a large bait OF hard
boiled eggs, stolen from neighborinl
hen house.