The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-05-10


ence, will perhaps never be known
! but the advice which he gave his con
| fiding purse was the cause of the pain
full tragedy which followed.
The young man professed to he SUP
| prised that the new safety baptismal
robe invented as he alleged, by Rev.
DR.. Paul Boyton, of New York, had
not yet been adopted by the cOlored
Baptists of the South. He said that
he had one of these robes in his pos
session, and that the wearer would
not only be safe against any pOssibili-
ty of drowning, but also against the
possibility of getting wet. Moreover,
it could be worn underneath the usual
white cotton robe, without any dam
ger of detection. The OveTjOyed can
didate for baptism enthusiastically ac-
ccpted the young mans advice and his
offer of the robe, and she Immediately
sent word to the minister that she
would certainly he ready for baptism
the very next Sunday,
There was such a general disTuSt of
the sisters courage that the cOlored
people all assembled on the bank of
the Tombigbee on the next day, con-
fident that her courage would fail, and
that she would endeavOr to escape
from the hands of,the minister. The
particular part of the river selected for
the ceremony was comparatively
shallow, but the current was swift,
and little lower down the depth was
at least ten feet. In fact, the minister,
i'll spite of his skill, had once lost a
convert, who was carried away by the
current, and who, on being rescued,
promptly went over to the Metho-
dists. The tiniiS candidate was an
unusually large woman, and was GER
tain to tax the minister's strength Sc
verely; so that there could be little
doubt that the ceTemOny'would he one
of unusual interest.
The sister arrived 1T the appointed
time, looking even larger than usual,
and walking with much difficulty.
The minister took her 10y the hand,
and she fearlesSly descended into the
water. All went we'll until she reach
ed a depth of about four feet, when
she suddenly fell upon her back, and
to the aston;shment of the spectators,
fiOated on the surface Of the water.
The excitement at this unprecedented
event was tremendous, and the air
was filed with enthusiastic shouts.
The minister's face, however, wore a
troubled expression. He toWed tn"
buOyant sister out inU,,
deeper water, and attempted To place
her on her feet. The attempt proved
impracticablc, and he then tried To
immerse her without changing her
position. III spite OF al his efforts he
could not force her under, ana the
spectators who witnessed the struggle
soon became convinced tlat she was
bewitched. They cOUnsCled the min
lister to exercise the evil one by whom
she was evi iently possessed with an
axe, and volunteered To supply him
with heavy weights whereWith to Sc
curely sink her. That devoted man,
however, refused their counsel, and
persisted in his effort 10 immerse the
sister without the aid of weights. FL
nallV he threw his whole weight upon
her, and in Il moment the current
swept the pair beyond their depth.
In spite Of the danger Of his situa-
ton, the minister's cheek did not
blanch. With great presence of
mind he seated himself comfortably |
upan the floating sister, and, waving |
a farewell to his congregation, began |
to sing :. cheerful hymn. The cur
rent steadily carried him on at the |
rate of at least six miles an hour, and |
HI Il AlllIl lilllC Iil9 hCSt'lilta NNilS
ton was left out of sight and hearing.
Without oars or sails he was unable TO |
navigate the sister To the shore, and |
there is every reason to suppose that |
before the next morning he was far |
out OH the Gulf of Mexico.
Captains of vessels navigating the ,
gulf have been requested to- keep a !
sharp look for 4 qCioTod sister in a |
Roytan hfe-saving dress, carrying a |
colored minister on her deck. Let us |
hope that he will soon Ire picked up |
He has now been afloat five days |
without provisions or water, and
must be beginning Ia feel the need of
Gi course amy Captain
who may rescue him VIII not ask for
q reward, but if he tows the sister into
port he can claim salvage to a large |
amount, and libel her i'll the nearest !
admiralty court,