Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1882-06-01
THE TOMBIGBEE INCIDENT.

The town of Clayville, situated
some thirty miles from the month
of the Tomb gbee River, is at pres
ent greatly excited over the depart
urs of the local colored minister,
who recently started down the riv-
er on board large and strongly
built colcred sister, and who has
not since been heard from. The
circumstances attending the minis
ter's departure were peculiar, and
their publication may, perhaps, aid
to the recovery of the intrepid,
though unint ntsntienal, voyager.
The minister i'll question was
faraed through ont the Tombigbee
Valley for his skill as a baptizer,
as WELL as for his ability as a
preacher. There is no doubt that
he Was fearless aud conscientious
man. Instead of maintaining that
politlc silence on the subject OF
chickens which many colored min
listers Insist is absolutely necessary,
in order to avoid chilling the fer
vor of their hearer 8, this particular
minister Eever hesitated to declare
that right OF property in chickens
existed, anG. that it should be re
spected in certain cases, and 20 a
greater or less extent, by all hon
est men, especially during the sea
son when hams are readily acoessi-
BILE This bold doctrine, instead
of injnring his popularity actually
increased the respect IN which he
was held BY his congregation, aid
gave him much prominence among
his ministerial brethren.
Among the colored ladies Of
Clayyille was one whe had long
desired 10 submit to the rite of bap-
tism bat who was deferred by u
nervous cread of drowning and by
a strong repugnance 10 the inevlta-
BILE wettlng which is lnsoparable
from the rite. Scores of times this
estimablc lady had determined to
be baptized at the next available
opportunity, but at the last mo-
ment her courage always tailed her.
In the days prior to emancipation,
she had been the slave of a Clay
vile planter, and she still retained
warm affection for the young
master whom she had nursed in his
infancy. Not long ago this young
man called to see her, and to HIM
she lamented the lack of courage
which shut her ont from baptism.
Whether he was influenced by gen.
nine kindness, or by wicked soir-
it of irreverence, will perhaps new
er be knewn bnt the adyice which
he gave his 'confding nurse was
the cause of the painful tragedy
which followed.
The young man professed to be
surprised that the new safety bap--
tismal robe, invented by Rev. pr
Paul Boyton, of New York, hac
not vet been adopted by the color
ed people OF the South. He sale
that he had one of these robes il
bis possession, and that the wearel
would not only be safe against any
possibility of drowning, but als'
against the possibility Of gettins
wet. Moreover, it could be Worl
underneath the usual white cottol
robe, without any danger Of detec
ton. The overjoyed candidate 10
baptism Enthusiastically accepte
the young mans advice aud his of
fer of the robe, and she immediate
ly sent word to the minister :hs
she would certainly be ready fo
baptism the very next Sunday.
There was such a general dis
trust OF the sisters courage that tn
colored people all assembled on tl'
bank of the Tom3igbee on the ne1
day, confident that her couras
would fail, and that she would en-
desvor to escape from The hands
the minister. The particular pa
If the river selected for the cereme
ny was comparatively shallow, b.
the current was swift, and a lit
lower down he depth was at lea
ten fees. r. fact, the minister,
spite OF his skill had once lost
conyert, and who, on Icing rescn'
4 promptly went over to the Meth
tiiists.r The tinlid candidate was
unusually large woman, and "
certainly TO tax the ministe' I!ll