The Osceola times., 1886-10-09
1HE FALSE PROPHET.

ATLANTA. Ga, Sept. S0.-IIalf million
people in Georgia, South Carolina, Flor
ida aud Alabama sat up all night watch
ing for the appearance of Virgins earth
Quake. Another half million rose at Day
light TO scan the skies and see II tle
predicted cyclones were coming. Ifoo-
ably at no time since The war has excite
ment been so general throughout the
South Atlantic and Gulf States WITHIN
the last week. II is fortunate lor the
nervous people that Yesterday morning
dawncd clear and beautiful, without
cloud in the sky. At five O'CLOCK the
streets of this city, usually deserted
until seven, were alive with people, Dut
the clear atmosphere calned the Tears oi
even the negroes, most oil Whom went ~
work again on seeing no signs OF ]uuS-
meut day. By IL a. m. the nervous peo'
pie who had arranged to spend the day
in the fields found the sun rather hot,
and one by one they kept returning nome,
and hv noon every one had apparently
forgotten Virgins and his prophecy
In the suburban districts, now
ever, such was not the case.
All through Georgia and South
Carolina, and from those portions oi
Florida from which dispatches have Oeeh
received, the darkies spent the entire
night in prayer and administering the
rites of baptism. The fact that there
had been severe earthquake shock at
Charleston, and three or more shocks al
Summeryille, added to the negroes ter.
ror rs soon as the rumor was noised
abroad TO add to their terror about
dark the heavens clouded over, and by
nine O'Clock ram was falling, accom-
panied by astf wind. This sent the
superstlious into an ecstasy Of terror,
and even among the white people in the
country a number Of serious cases oi Ill
ness from fear are reported. 1t was
thought that the scenes in Augusta anC
elsewhere, where people committed SUI
eide after the recent earthquake through
sheer fright, would be repeated, bul
fortunately by midnight the storm
passed away and the stars began peep
Ing out This restored confidence. 1t IS
remarkable coincidence that three
weeks prior 20 Virgins prediction
number of colored prophets or hoodoo
men and women went about among the
nearocs OF tins State, predicting the to-
tai destruction of the earth on the 29th
of September. This had stirred up the SUI
persiiuous element, and 1t only
needed Wigains' prophecies to
start scene oil ulsorucr
and excitement amongst the lower
classes, such ~ has not heen since eman-
cipaiion day. The day having passed off
quietly the prayer meetings have been
discontinued, and II, people who have
been fasting and preparing for transla-
iion into the future state are taking
much needed rest preparatory to gather
ing the cotton crop, which is now rlpcn.
ing. The WIggins' scare stands without
precedent in the South.
OTTAWA, Ont, Sept. 30.-Poor Wig.
gins has crawled into some secluded spot
TO ge. away from the jeers from the mob
who had congrcgated about the telegraph
Office last night to learn that the earth
quake had fzzed out. lie left his oillc
In the Finance Department early In the
afternoon and Immediately drove out of
town. All through the morning he was
beseged by newspaper correspondents
aud curious public, all anxious to learn
what he had to say; IN fact, the Domn.
ion police with difficulty only could keep
the crowd back. Shortly before lie left
I
MoNCToN " b sept 20
DIR T. STONE WIGGISs Pred ct ons ful.
filed. some severe shocks were felt here
last nisht
Signed sILA, BERRY
This rather checred the professor up,
and during few moments conversation
he SAID;
"My storm is well nigh over the broad
Atlantic. 1t will strike the meridian ut
| Halifax at p. M. and look out for high
| tides there as well as at Quebec | see
| that storm signals were raised in En-
gland on the 2Gth, the Meteorological Blu.
ieau issuing the following circular:
Hoist the south cone, a deep depression
L. apparent of onr Northwest coast.
OF course we have rot had any tidings
Of any storm, for the Meteorological
| Bureau refuses 10 give any advices re.
| -,rding my storms. and you may also
| have observed that our Dominion Mcic-
| geological Office for the last three days
| has dropl ed the probabilities for our gulf
! ports and the Lower st. Lawrence.
al distinctly assert that the storm will
/ be mainly confined to the Atlantic. The
vast hurricane, for such 1t will be, will
/ sweep down old Ocean, tear past Sandy
! Hook and continue on its mad career.
can not venture a prediction regarding
the destruction, but | have fears for
mariners this very night. Ny storm is
| booked for Halifax at four, and can not
get there before In London, England,
| the storm signals were up on the 2Gth,
/ owing TO severe depression in the North.
/ west. have no doubt that the storm
| will be severely felt in the Gulf of Mexico
/ and the Rocky Mountains. Up TO the
/ present | have heard nothing more nor
/ should yet, rs the imc has not vet ar.
/ rived. | understand that there was an
| earthquake at Charleston last night,
I though this mornings Citizen does NOT
/ mention IT,"
/ In answer to inquiries, the doctor did
not think the storms reported from Texas
/ had anything to do with his predicted
storms, unless, indeed, 1t is working up
| from the Gulf Of Mexico.
Many ask who this man Virgins Is,
who has attracted the attention of the
world. He is crank on the subject Of
/ melcorology; Is second-class clerk en-
| ploycd in the Finance Department here
adding up figures. II the Government
/ regarded him as q practical meteor.
ologist it would never keep him en-.
/ ployed doing boys work in the Finance
/ Department but would transfer him to
| the Government Meteorological Office.
/ Toronto. His name is by.word here,
and 1t Is amusing to those who
know the individual TO see how he has
played upon the credulity of an unsus.
pecting public.