The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-07
THE FALSE PROPHET.

the South by Virgins Earthquake which
Failed to Materialize-The False Prophet
at Home-He Withdraws from the Pub
lie Gaze and RidicuIe-Hia Latest Asser-
tons.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 3O.-Half million
people in Georgia. South Carolina, Flor
ida and 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 if the
predicted cyclones were coming. Prob
ably at no time since the war has excite
ment been so general throughout the
South Atlantic and Gulf States within
the last week. 1t is fortunate for the
nervous people that Yesterday morning
dawned clear and beautiful, without a
cloud in the sky. At five O'Clock the
streets of this city, usually deserted
until seven, were alive with people, but
the clear atmosphere Gained the fears of
even the negroes, most of whom went to
work again on seeing no signs of judg-
ment day. By IL 4. 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 home,
and by noon every one had apparently
forgotten Virgins and his prophecy.
IN the suburban districts, how
ever, such was not the case.
All through Georgia and South
Carolina, and from those portions of
Florida from which dispatches have been
received, the darkies spent the entire
night in PRAYER and administering the
rites of baptism. The fact that there
ho6 oh
Charleston, and three or more shocks at
Summerville, added TO the negroes ter
ror as soon as the rumor was noised
abroad. To add to their terror about
dark the heavens clouded over, and by
nine O'Clock rain was falling, accom-.
panied by stiff wind. This sent the
superstitious into an ecstasy of terror,
and even among the white people in the
country a number of serious cases of ILL
ness from fear are reported. 1t was
thought that the scenes in Augusta and
elsewhere, where people committed sui
eide after the recent earthquake through
sheer fright, would be repeated, but
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 q
number of colored prophets or hoodoo
men and women went about among the
negroes of this State, predicting the to-
tai destruction of the earth on the 29th
of September. This had stirred up the SUI
pcrstitious element, and it only
needed Virgins prophecies to
start scene of disorder
and excitement amongst the lower
classes, such as has not been since eman-
cipation day. The day having passed of
quietly the prayermeetings have been
and the people who have
been fasting and preparing for transla-
ton into the future state are taking
much needed rest preparatory to gather
ing the cotton crop, which is now ripen-
ing. The Virgins scare stands without
precedent in the South.
OTTAWA, Ont, Sept 30.-Poor Wig
gins has crawled into some secluded spot
10 get away from the jeers from the mob
who had congregated about the telegraph
office last night to learn that the earth
quake had fizzled out. He left his office
in the Finance Department early in the
afternoon and Immediately drove out of
Town. All through the morning he was
besieged by newspaper correspondents
and a curious public, all anxious to learn
what he had to say; in fact, the Domin-
ion police with difficulty only could keep
the crowd back. Shortly before he left
he received the following telegram.
MONCTON, " b, Sept %.
DIR. f. STONE WIGGISs Pred ictions full
filed. Some severe shocks were felt here
asst night.
lSiynedI SILAS BERRY.
This rather chcered the professor up,
md during few moments conversation
le SAID:
"My storm is we'll nigh over the broad
Atlantic. 1t will strike the meridian at
Halifax at 4 p. m, and look out for high
.ides there as well as ut Quebec. l see
that storm signals were raised in En-
gland on the Goth, the Meteorological Blu
reau issuing the following circular;
Hoist the south cone, a deep depression
Is apparent off our Northwest coast.
OF course we have not had any tidings
of any storm, for the Meteorological
Bureau refuses to give any advices re.
garding my storms, and you may slsr
have observed that our Dominion Mere-
office for the last three days
has dropped the probabilities for our gulf
ports and the Lower St. Lawrence.
81 distinctly assert that the storm will
be mainly confined to the Atlantic. The
vast hurricane, for such it will be, will
sweep down old Ocean, tear past Sandy
Hook and Continue on it's mad career. !
can not venture prediction regarding
the destruction, but l have fears for
mariners this very night. Ny storm is
booked for Halifax at four, and can not
yet there before. In London, England,
the storm signals were up on the 26th,
owing to severe depression in the North
west. l have no doubt that the storm
will be severely felt in the Gulf of Mexico
and the Rocky Mountains. Up 10 the
present have heard nothing more nor
should l yet, as the time has not yet ar
rived. l understand that there was an
at Charleston last night, |
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 |
unless, indeed, it is working up |
rom 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 /
is second-class clerk en-
,loyed in the Finance Department here
adding up figures. If the Government |
'egGrded him as a practical meteor
,lcgist it would never keep him en-
,Ioyed doing boys work in the Finance |
Department, but would transfer him to
he Government Meteorological Office,
Toronto. His name is by-word here,
md it is amusing to those who !
now the individual to see how he has
played upon the credulity of an unsus.
'ecting public.
A Serious and Fatal Wreck.
MUwaJrEFF Wis Sent 60 "A uaSt |