Savannah morning news., 1886-04-28
A HUMAN PORCUPNE.
How Louisiana Infid~l Defies God and
Lightning.


Nyw ORLEANS. April 2j.-ThOugh the
Catholic Church throughout the world is
opposed 10 the spirit OF the boycott, aud
though several OF its high dignitarles
nave officially denounced it as opposed TO
the Christian religion, Rev. Father Jac-
quet. of New Iberia, recognizes the eff
ciencv of the weapon, and has ordered
religious boycott OF merchant OF t1at
town.
There lives in that thriving little town
a disciple ofIngersoll named Lewis, who
is aggressive in his assaults on religion.
/ Mr.. Lewis attended services at Protes-
tant church. By singular coincidence
the minister had prepared for that Sab
I bath an exhaustive sermon on inidelity.
| In the midst OF his discourse he made
/ some remak that caused Mr.. Lewis TO
smile sarcastically and contemporary
Unfortunately the reverend gentlem IN
happened to look in the direction Of tie
indde at this moment and saw the carl
ing lip. His Indignation got the better of
his discretion, and ne began to preach di-
rectly at the intdel, and wound up by
calling Oh the Almighty TO show mis- peo-
pie sign, to send down bolt Of lightning
TO blast the inhdel, and convince all
dOubIers Of the power Of His arm and the
certainty that His wrath would seek out
all scoffcrs.
The next day New Iberia was the cen
tre OF a terrible electric storm. The air
was full Of dartlng tongues OF flame and
the crashes OF thunder followed so close
upon the flashes that the women and chill
dren were terror struck and the men be-
gan TO quake. While the entire popula-
tiOn was in this nervous condition, those
who lived on the main street Of the town
witnessed a spectacle that almost con-
gealed the blood in their veins. Walking
directly up the middle Of the street was
the intdel. with lightning rods prOtruding
from every part of his body. So thickly
were they scattered over him that he
looked like a moyable cheveuX-de-frise.
One rod extended 10 feet bOye his head
and ran half way down bis spinal column;
two others OF half this length were at
tached TO each shoulder, while smaller
sections 8 tuck out in every direction.
The human porcupine strOlled slowly
up the street with the lightning playing
all around him. he traversed the entire
length OF the town, finally reaching the
residence of the preacher who had de-
nOunced him on the day previous. Enter
ing the house without the usual pull at
the bell, be proceeded directly TO the gen.
tleman's study. The preacher was natu-
rally nervous man, and the frequent
crashes were uncomfOrtably near him.
He tried to concentrate his attention on
an open Bible he held in his hand, but
each flash caused him to start apprehen-
siVely. AS be was thus engaged ne felt a
hand on his shoulder, and turning quickly
was face to face with the infidel, Instant
ly the significance of Mr.. Lewis rig flash
ed upon the preacher, and with yell of
terror be spranR through the open door
and fed from the house.
This incident provoked a great deal of
merriment from the few skeptlcs in New
Iberia and caused great deal of indigna-
tion among the religious. The friends of
Lewis seemed satisfied with their leaders,
achievement, and the campaign died out,
until couple of Sundays ago. when Rev.
Father Jacquet, pastor of the Catholic
church, preached a sermon on the infalli-
bility of the Pope. The following Tuesday
Mr.. Julius Koch, a druggist, who holds
the same opinions as Mr. Lewis, placed
large Diackbo in front of his store bear
ing the following inscriptions:
"An honest God is the nOblest work OF
man."
The doctrine of the infalllbility OF the
Pope is an insult to the dignity Of human
nature"
'The devil is myth-hell an impossi-
bility."
''The world has furnished 16 crucified
sayiours and q revealed religions, and
every one says the other is false"
AIOuuu JulS iHSCIlpblOu WERE dlleBoII-
cal pictures giving the authors ideas of
the different ceremonials of heaven and
hell. An exact copy was made of this
blackboard, which was tackled on the door
of the Catholic church by order of Father
Jacquet, and underneath was placed "a
large placard with the following lnjunc-
tion:
"Christians of all denominations, boy
colt that insulter."
Mr.. Koch retaliated next day by adding
the following to his blackboard:
"The higher we stand in the scale of
/ being the nobler will be our conception of
! God. We do not believe God commanded
Jeremiah to slay women and children.
/ See Jeremiah, XIV. chapter"
/ Both the local papers have denounced
/ the placard, and advised the infidels to
| yield to public opinion, but Mr.. Koch
| shows no disposition to do so, and it is
/ presumed the boycott ordered by the
/ priest Will go on. The community is over
| whelmingly Catholic, and the druggists
| business has already begun to fall off.