The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-02-25
Strange Visions of Young Girls.

A remarkable outbreak Of religious
hallucination occurred on this island
this year. About January last q report
was out that a 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 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 kind of monotone chant The
girls who saw visions were 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 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
them still. After the tit was over thew
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-they spoke of people doing
things many miles from the place. Up
on inquiry 1t was found in some cases
that what they had seen corresponded
exactly with the events
One most remarkable feature in this
outbreak was that it was not confined to
one spot. Almost simultaneously ia
every settlement on the island (the
island is forty-five miles long and twelve
broad in places) similar outbreaks oc-
CURED. Girls living at 3 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
fortunes reserved for the wicked in hell.
and they were most liberal In disusns-
ing these punishments among their
friends.
Up and down the island about 400 or
800 people were seized, and it was At
first thought II was Q kind epidemic 81
hysteria. In few cases girls Of highly
respectable character were seized, Sn6.
although they did not see visions. vet
for weeks they would have fits daily, and
such was their superhuman strength
that have seen = young girl Of rs
struggle out Of the grasp Of four strong
men. The outbreak lasted from Jaru-
airy to July, and at one time IL was fear
ed it would lead to serious conseduences.
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. Il was q
singular thing that although they organ
lied themselves into sect, and All. who
In the visions were s.here-
tics" yet they showed the utmost court
esy and goodwill toward the church.
but toward their own particular de-
and the various othsr scots
they displayed great luminosity. The
excitement has died ont now, and they
have ceased to exist as a sect.-Sda
SdtcddOr Letter IN London Times.