Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-09-25
A Terrible Death-eed Scene.

The colored people of Jefferson
vile, Ind. are nearly wild with re-
ligious excitement, and last Sunday
night over 200 of them joined the
different churches. On Sunday
morning Marion Hunt, colored man
noted for his wickedness, died, and
there are few Of the people of his
color do not believe he Is now burn
ing in sheol. Every little crowd that
gathers on street corner discusses
1t, and strong religious wave has
swept over the colored population of
the little city of Jeffersopville in COM
sequence. Hunt was about 35 years
of age, and during last winter he
taught colored school in Shelby
county, KY. When the summer va
cation came he found himself i'll, and
he went back to his Indiana home
Here he dissipated almost continually,
and for some time past, it had been
known to his relatives that his days
were numbered. During all his life
he had almost revelled in wickedness,
and il is said If ever he had 3 good
thought he never expressed it. Every
one knew of his wickedness, and
when he came to die only little
group of five or six besides the under
taker, Mr.. A. Il. Tucker, stood about
his bedside. For several hours be-
fore his death the dying mans mind
had been clear, and, seeing the end
fast approaching, some one suggested
that he had better try and make his
peace with God. Hunt laughed Wild
ly at the idea, and with n rude oath he
declared that he would yet live to
plant flowers on all their graves
But the laugh seemed to freeze on
his lips. and look of wild, indescrib-
able fear over-spread his features
His eyes became CLASSY with fright,
and his yellow skin grew ashen.-
Raising himself upon one elbow he
held out his hands and begged for
some one to save him. Then he sank
back with grown of despair. In a
trembling voice he told how the
devil was waiting for him; how he
could see the burning pits of the
evil ones domain, and he felt him
self being drawn slowly to them as
if by a strong current. Just across
near his Satanic Majesty lay hid
eous black reptile, with protrudipg
tongue, and at its masters bidding
would coil about him and drag him
to eternal torment The dying mans
voice grew louder rs he proceeded,
and ended in a wild shrek. The
people present were so terror strick-
en- they could not move, and every
word seemed to sink into their
hearts Hunt gave a vivid descrip-
ton Of the country be saz hlDcol1
entering. Everything iooketl 0fily5t
and dazzling the streets were pretty
to look at. but they were red hot,
and bubbling fountains threw up
molten led. On every hand people
in torment rushed frantically to and
fro wringing their hands and scream
ing with pain The terrible recital
was interspersed with awful oaths,
and his hearers shuddered at each
successive outburst of blasphemy.
Gradually his voice grew faint and
as the death rattle sounded in his
throat he muttered curse and stiff
fened out lifeless. This broke the
strange spell over the frightened at
tendants, and in a minute the room
was emptied of all save the under
taker. They told the story many
times each before they went to sleep,
and in few hours nearly every col
ored man in the West End knew of
the terrible scene, and when the fu-
neral took place the next evening
only one hack followed the body to
the grave. II has made a strong i'm
preston all around, and there are
few coIored people in Jeffersonville
who have not already resolved to join
a church in consequence.
.. Sc. Louis Globe Democrat.