Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-12-06
THE COBBITES.
Capture at Searcy, Ark., Of Band of Ht-
man Dcvils-Horrtblc Dct0ils of Their

and who at the same time gave them
selves to the most immoral and revolt
ing acts. Old Cobb claimed to be en-
dowed with all the attributes of Christ,
and boldly asserted that there was no
sin in anything that he and his followers
did. They had located in a sparsely
settled part of tho State, and news Of
their presence and shameless creed
spread very slowly. They tolerated the
presence of outsiders at some of their
meetings, but were non-com,nunicative.
One after another the little children
OF the three families which composed
part Of Cobb's converts died in mys-
ferrous manner, and in every case the
death was attended with the most ex-
travagant Manifestations of JOY. A neigh
Dor who had gone to the place where
the families lived just at the time Of
one of the deaths, was told that the
child had been offered up Us sacrifice.
Going to an clubhouse the man beheld
sight which turned his blood cold.
There lay the stark, inanimate form,
with the external evidence of having
been tortured to death. Full of excite
ment at his discovery, the man made a
hasty retreat from the, abode of the
Cobbites, and there was apparently sense
enough lingering in their minds to see
what the consequences would be. They
fled, and those who came few hours
later found only the dilapidated huts in
which the females had lived. From Mis-
souri, they went to Arkansas, moving
about from one place to another,
and leaving no trail. There were only
seven in the party that left Missouri.
Since their departure nothing has been
heard from them until now the news
comes of a terrible tragedy enacted in
Arkansas, in which the Cobbites. played
no insignificant part. From passengers
who arrived from Arkansas by the Iron
Mountain train to. day, the details of the
lrightful affair are obtained. About
three weeks ago the Cobbites, increased
to dozen members, made their appear
ance in Searcy. Nothing was kno WI of
them there except that they had last
lived in Lonoke county. Searcy is
place of about 1000 people, the county
seat of White county, and is on the Lit
tie Red river. It is northeast of Little
Rock, and Within three miles of the
Cairo and Fulton railroad The Cobb
ties took possession of a deserted build
ing some little distance out of Searcy,
and old Cobb began preaching his doc
trines. From his latest converts he had
obtained some property, which had been
turned into cash, and this furnished
a means of livelihood for the
band. They did no work and
lived all together, Cobb making
all OF the women his mistresses. Cobb
preached almost every day. A good
many people went to hear him, and he
actually made quasi converts in consid-
cradle numbers, especially among
women, who did not join his band out
right, but professed to accept his tenets
and still live at their homes while at
tending his meetings. He would 20 to
mothers and induce them to send their
daughters to him, and by so doing
would sanctify and bless them, at the
same time warning the parents that a
failure to comply with his wish would be
the means of sending them and their
children to the lowest labyrinths of hell.
He proclaimed himself Christ,
boldly asserting that he was placed
on Garth to save the deserving portion
of mankind and to punish
the wicked. Following out this,
he proclaimed that all he did and
ordered his followers to do must be
obeyed as the orders of God. Most of
his converts were made among the hum
bier and farming classes. The people
of Searcy paid little OF no attention to
what was going: on further + than ct
the men visited the place of worship,
which was about thrco miles out, occa-
sionalF te Listen Gobb rawlings.
and then report them in the town. Sun
day night young man named Blake,
and saloon-keeper of Searcy, named
Carl Humphreys, got team of horses
and drove out to the Cobb place. They
did not go in, but stopping the horses
near the church sat listening to Cobb,
VINO had worked himself and his band
into q perfect frenzy. There we're few
present except the regular members.
Finally Cobb came out of the building,
and approaching the buggy, said in a
sepulchral tone: " Young man, do you
want to see God?" Humphreys laughed,
and said" Yes" The old man then said,
"Come into tho temple" pointing to
the door from which some OF the band
were making their exit, while the others
inside were bowling and waving their
arms in perfect fury. Bothof the men
jumped out of the buggy, and while
Blake hesitated a moment to secure the
team, Humphrey started toward the
door. AS he stepped on the threshold
one OF the male fanatics dealt him
crushing blow on the head with an ax,
while three others sprang on him, and
with frightful imprccations four Of the