The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-12-22
1.-THE SALEM wITGHGRAFT."

One of the most noted, not to say no
torious towns of the original thirteen
states was Salem, Massachusetts, six
teen miles from Boston, towards Cape
Ann. Its first name was "Naumkeag,"
the Indian name of the settlement. A
colony OF sturdy Puritans located here
in 1927, and from that colony has, ema-
mated some of the most startling trans
actions in the history of our country.
Many of our greatest Jurists, historians,
poets and the ablest novelist we have
produced, Nathaniel Hawthorn, were
born in Salem. Here occurred early re-
sistance to British arms, which was fol-
lowed by the most determined opposi-
ton to British tyranny until victory
crowned with success the self-sacrIficing
tolls of these sturdy pioneers of advan-
cling civilization.
For many years Salem was the prin-
cipal commercial town of our whole
coast. Boston and New York were in
significant maritime ports in compari-
son, and up to comparatively recent
date Salem had the monopoly of the
East India and African trade. If she
did, in her commerce, take
missionaries as passengers to Africa, to
convert the natives, and fill the hold
with rum and gun powder to enable
these natives the more readily to destroy
each other, this may be palliated in
part on the score of great enterprise,
which would not allow a competitor to
gain by their refusal to show their lib
erality in being willing to transport
missionaries as freely as they would fire.
water, saltpeter and old flint locks. But
Salem's notoriety arises probably more
| than any other cause from the unenvi-
able fact that there was the seat of
that horrible delusion known as "Salem
Witchcraft," in which a score of limo
cent persons were prosecuted to death
on the charge of being in league with
| the devil. At the end of so-called trials,
aided and abetted by the most learned
men of the town, these poor creatures
| were tortured or gibbeted on what is
| known to this day as Witch Hill 1t
seems to us of the 18th century we'll
nigh impossible that Rev. Cotton Math-
er and men like him could ever have
| given their countenance to such an in
| famous delusion.
This abomination started in the month
of February, 1892, at the house OF Rev.
| Samuel Paris. The daughter and a
niece of Mr.. Paris aged 8 and IL years,
began to act in a strange aud unaccount
able manner, uttering loud and pitious
cries, creeping into holes, hiding under
benches, and putting themselves in odd
| postures. Physicians were called, who
pronounced them bewitched, and SOL
/ emn religious services were held at
which the girls accused Tituba, South
/ American slave, of having bewItched
them. Mr. Paris beat Tituba until he
| compelled her to confess herself guilty.
These children next accused six other
| women of excellent character, all of
whom were thrown into prison. The
demon of superstition was thus let loose
upon the people. Says the historian
Thecher, $50 violent was the popular
prejudice against every appearance Of
Witchcraft that il was deemed merito-
rious to denounce ali who gave the
least reason for suspicion. Every
child and every gossip was prepared
to recognize q witch, and no one
could be certain Of personal safety. Sad
indeed was the delusion and shocking
the extent to which the bewildered i'm
aginations and excited passions of the
people hurried them on 20 deeds for
which they are now visited with I'M
measured reproach. Various fortunes
were resorted 70, to extort from the &C
cused confessions that they were in
league with Satanic influences One
was to throw them into . pond If they
swan they were pronounced witches
and treated as such; If they could not
swim they were in danger Of being
drowned. "Dr. Bentley says that from
March to August, 1892, was the most
distressing time Salem ever knew; bust
ness was paralysed; the town was de-
serted; terror was in every countensnce,
and distress in every heart. Fear haunt
ed every street AT last the courts and
judges learned the folly OF their course,
and the churches and the ministry
erased all the igncminy they had