The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-11-05

JACOBINA. THE PROPHECIES.
The Tragic determination of seer
OfGerman Fanatics in Brazil.

The Tragic determination of n Sect
OfGerman Fanatics in Brazu.
For some years past small portion OF
the vast flood of emigration from North
ern Germany has been directed 10 Brazil,
and i'm the province of Porto Allegro white
settlements of the race have been founded,
which, until recent events disturbed them,
were flOurishing enough. They had adj
vanced so far rs to have their own local
newspaper i'm that resonant languages,
which, according to Arndt, makes any
land where it is spoken part OF Germany;
and the particulars now before us are
transmitted direct from the Deutsche Iet-
ting of Porto Allegro, the paper IN ques-
ton. The settlers are almost universally
of the Prussian State or Evangelical
Church, and were rent by no political or
religious disSensiOn. They were distln-
guished by their attachment TO the old
Fatherland they had left; and the sub
scriptiOn sent from the colony for the BEN
eft of the sick and wounded in the war OF
1S70-7I astOnished those who knew now
young and struggling community II
was collected from. All went well with
them, in fact, until this summer, when
their domestic peace was suddenly us
turbed by the pretensiOns OF a certain Ja-
cobina Maurer to Divine inspiration, anu
her claims to be wOrshiped by all man
kind. Those pretcnsions would have mat
tered little of themselves. but JacObina
was one of a large family In the village OF
FarrabraZ, and her relations first, and then
her neighbors. successiyely adopted her
views, and declared themselves true be-
levers, with an ease which history tells
was not displayed in the instance of Mo
hammed. On what proofs the claims OF
this German edition of Joanna SOuthcote
were founded does not appear. But 1t is
certain that followers gave her the title OF
- ChriStussin," or the Female Christ;
that a regular worship was established for
her; and that her first convert or eOnfed-
erate-it is hard to say which-Hans
George Maurer, was in due form appoint
ed her high priest. This person ap-
pears to have been a man OF
some intellect, and remarkable
ambition; for he not only bought over his
neighbors to the new faith, but conceived
the idea of imposing it ON the whole settle
ment first, and then on the world at large
| bv force of arms. Under his guidance,
| the Maurerites, or Mucker, as they were
nicknamed by their opponents, carefully
armed themselves, and stored up abund-
ance of ammunition. 1t was not until
! these preliminaries were thoroughly com
plete that they declared in the course Of
| last June their solemn purpose, and sum
mOned the nearest of the settlers to jOlr
the new Church forthwith. Attempts al
enforced conversion of course produced
violent opposition, and this was repaiC
by the Maurerites with open plumber ant
| ill-usage as well as by threats of death. As
they numbered, including the women wh'
bore arms, a determined band OF Ovel
fifty adults. there was no hope IN the IN
diVidual resistance OF scattered settiers
and in few davs the uncOnverted inhabi
tants of the district were all seeking sheite
i'm Porto Alegre, while their homestead
were stripped and laid waste by the Orders
of the DrODbetess. Volunteers were nov
enrolled to the number of one or two
coGnpanieS, but it was thought better Il
wait for the arrival of the Government
troops who were asked for, than to attemp
an advance into the bush unai led: for TIN
fanatics were familiar with the ground, AM
were known to be better armed than thel
adversaries, and prepared for a desperat
defense.
In july the expected forces came, pro
vided with tield-guns and rockets, and
general advance was made, but apparent
with extreme caution. BY the 18th, how
ever, the fanatics were driven in on pc
sitiOn they had carefully intrenched roun
a large house. of which they had formed
keep. The light guns, as well as the rock
cts. entirely failed to dislodge them
and il was only alter a very prolonge
Skirmishing that the works were carrie
with a rush. The defenders then fell bac
on their keep, and when this was free
escaped from it with some loss, into TN
bush behind, i'm which they had secretl
prepared another strong position. FO
the time it was not thought well TO follON
them to their new faStnesS. In recOnnOi
tering it on the 2lst and 26th there wer
two more severe skirmiShes; and, thOug
in each of these Maurer's followers ha
the advantage of the German volunteer
being on one occasion abandoned by tn
troops who should have supported then
the number of the sect had been gradual
worn down by repeated casualties; On
prisoner was taken who revealed tle Ia(
that fewer than twenty OF the deSperal
band were left. On the I'd OF August the
last stronghold was surrounded, ana ca
ried bv overwhelming numbers, thOug
with considerable loss to the assailant
The demand made previously that III
Naurerites should Law down their arm
WAS SIcTuly ItIcCJCN, anu my NiNL - -
inc to the yery last, the prophecies herse
, being actually bay6neted through q
body of one of her devoted followers, wh
was trying to screen her, while she el
couraged the rest not to yield. Only Har
George Maurer and one other OF the ban'
Jacob Fuchs, were missing, who are SUI
posed 10 have deserted their companion
, before or during the assault. 1t adds
additional touch of horror to this cata
trophe to know that the young childrt
they had had with them are net accountt
. for, and to hear that it was reported tn
thev were all slain not many days beto
by Jacobina's command, story which
supported by the fact that the body OF OF
: has been discovered buried with its thrO
= cut close to the miserable hut which W
7 the prophecies last shelter. The hav
= caused by the extinct sect during its sho
sway of the outlying settlements Is so
!. rious that it is stated that it will take yea
!. to restore the colony to the prosperity
was enjoying before this extraordinary OF
: burst of fanaticism brought misery on