Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-09-08
" AN IsLAuD HELL
Bev. Madison q. Peters Tells what
He Saw Recently NJ Ridgway
RnYk

Bev. Madison q. Peters Tells what
He Saw Recensiy at Ridgway
PARK.
When the Rev. Madison @. Peters
ran his eye over his audience At the
First Presby terrain church Of Northern
Liberties, on Buttonw0od street, near
Sixth, Philadelphia, on Sunday even
ing, he saw more bald heads than had
ever Sraced the front pews and galleries
before. He also saw many fair maidens
and young men. The whole seating
capacity OF the house was occupied and
| the aisles and Hobbies were choked with
people. They even sat on the bellows OF
the organ and swarmed on the gallery
stairs.
On either side Of Mr.. Peters sat Rev.
Thomas A. Fernley, Secretary Of the
Sabbath Association, and Rev. j. q.
Chapman. Mr.. Peters announced that
he was the instigator Of revolution,
that WAS TO spread throughout society
and stir up public feeling against
r idgway Park. which he has termed
Philadelphia Island He'll" He
said that he was going TO give = sensa-
tional talk, that would be telegraphed
! to the far ends Of the world and spread
broadcast over the city by the press.
He believed in old fashioned hammer
and tongs preaching, and was sorry
that so many of the church people OF
this day had 30 namy-pamby an article
Of religion.
The first thing that sat eye on
after leaving the boat at Ridgway Is
land, said the preacher, was large
sign on which WAS painted Welcome.
oh, that could paint over 1t DAnte's
inscription over the gates Of hell
Whoi enter here leave hope behind "
The signs beware Of pickpookets'
made the minister nervous and promp.
ted him to clap his hands over his
pockets. After promising that he
would depict scenes Of debauchery and
drunkenness at Ridgway the preacher
said Men have come to me and
said that they saw nothing immoral al
RidgwAy Park. 1 don't suppose they
did see anything-a man can't see II he
is blind-drunk. Oh, 1t seemed to me
as i'll could hear through the shouts Of
drunken ribaldry and laughter Of Low
men and lost women the wall of woe
Once l WIS fair rs the beautiful
snow
What specially shocked the speaker
l was tuc lhIRO oCI VI gins hhu IVY
from IA TO IS. ooh, parents" said he
laueous company at 10 years
Why, over there gray haired libertine,
may be found In full force. Here may
be found men who take advantage OF
lgirlhood. Here can be found tends In
human shape who glory In the number
of women they have led to destruction
Some say there Ia no hell. II there i,
none, am ready to head subscription
to build one for the special benefit Of
libt rtines who boast Of their oonQu
But found not only the boys and girl,
lover there. but even the mothers and
fathers. The fathers and mothers need
looking after. The worst features o.
this park are rife in Philadelphia from
10 TO IL, when the island vomits Ii
drunken crowds into the city. TheI
those that are still able to walk carr,
those besotted, and the scenes enacted
beggar description. Boys and girls ar,
led away by those older In iniquity /,
deeper infamy. 1 say to the Mayor o
Philadelphia, he must chain up hi
police to the lAmpposts and then he viii
know where to find them. 1t 10 Of n,
use 70 toll me that the Law does no
reach this island. This disgrace exist
because OF the duplicity or stupidity o
the ON GERS, don't care which. | asl
Mayor Smith why, In Gods name, il
the name Of the homes of the boys ant
girls, he don't enforce the laws. II yol
don't want to carry out your oath
Mayor Smith, il you don't want TO d
your duty, resign and we will elect
person who will DO his duty" Feebl
d. stamping Of feet.
but / want 10 tell you this" til
speaker went on, "there are men her
70 night who pretend TO be respectabl,
yet who rent their property for saloons
places Of improper amusement an
disorderly houses. / am here to tea
the lying masks from their faces. 4
man who rents his house for saloon
!, as bad as the man who keeps it. Why
come men would let out their hous-
for branch hell il only the dew
would furnish ice to cool the rem
money with"