Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-06-28
Strange Visions of Young Girls.

A remarkable outbreak of religious
hallucinatlon occurred on this island
this year. About January last report
was out that young girl had seen
visions and was under some influence
not belonging to this world. Her ex-
element soon communicated itself to
others, and in the course of a few weeks
some twenty young girls were affected.
They then organized religious meetings
and much excitement was caused.
| went at once to see what took place
at these meetings. About fifty people
sat round in a room singing, clapping
hands and stamping the feet, keeping
time to a kind of monotone chant. The
girls who saw visions We're standing in
the center, sometimes walking up and
down. They had vacant kind of stare.
Gradually the singing quickened, until
at last it became fast and furious. Then
the girls would dance, shout, and bark
like dogs.
After twenty minutes of this they
would fall down with a shrek. Their
struggles, cries, and foamings at the
mouth were dreadful to see, and in many
cases it took four or five men to hold
would lie exhausted for about one hour;
then, when they came to, they gave very
detailed accounts of the visions they had
seen. A great deal of these visions was,
of course nonsense, but one thing was
remarkable spoke of people doing
things many miles from the place. Up
on inquiry it was found in some cases
that what they had seen correspondent
exactly with the events.
One most remarkable feature in this
outbreak was that it was not confined to
one spot. Almost simultaneously in
every settlement on the island (the
island is forty-fve miles long and twelve
broad in places similar outbreaks oc-
CURED. Girls living at a distance of
five or ten miles from the scene of the
shouting meetings." as they were call
ed, would be seized. Being seized with
kind of frenzy, they would run, as if
by inspiration, to the spot where
the rest were assembled, no matter how
far.
Most of those attacked with the fits
were people who belonged to the baptist
society. Consequently their visions were
not of the Madonna, but of the distinc-
tive predestination doctrines of their
sect. Very glowing accounts were
| given of the various punishments and
| tortures reserved for the wicked in hell
and they were most liberal in dispens.
ing these punishments among their
| friends
Up and down the island about 400 OF
| 500 people were seized, and it was at
first thought it was kind epidemic of
hysteria. In few cases girls of highly
respectable character were seized, and,
although they did not see visions, yet
for weeks they would have fits daily, and
such was their superhuman strength
that | have seen a young girl of 1f
struggle out of the grasp of four strong
men. The outbreak lasted from Janu.
airy to July, and at one time it was fear
ed it would lead to serious consequences
for all the people who gave credence to
the visitors neglected work and aban-
doned themselves to holding meetings
day and night for singing, shouting
barking, and listening to accounts of the
visions seen.
In the daytime, and especially on
Sundays, they had professions with ban,
ners. This led to some bad feeling, and
in few cases the law had to be appeal.
ed to in the interests of peace. 1t was g
singular thing that although they organ
lied themselves into a sect, and all who
disbelieved in the visions were here
tics" yet they showed the utmost court
esy and goodwill toward the church
but toward their own particular de
nomination and the various other sect
they displayed great luminosity. The
excitement has died out now, and they
have ceased to exist as sect.-Sa7
SQlUadOr Letter IN London Times.