The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15
Terrible peath-Bed Scene.

Jeffersonviiie Special to Globe Democrat
 The colored people of Jeffersonville are nearly wild with religious excite ment, and last Sunday night over two hundred of them joined the different churches. On Sunday morning Ma rion Hunt, a colored man noted for his wickedness, died, and there are few of the people of his own color who do not believe that he is now burning in sheol. Every little crowd that gathers on a street corner discusses 1t, and a strong religious wave has swept over the colored population of the little city of Jefiersonville in consequence Hunt was about thirty five years of age, and during last winter he taught colored school in Shelby county, Kentucky. Here he dissipated con- tinually, and for some time past 1t had been known to his relatives that his days were numbered. During all his | life he had almost reveled in wicked ness, aud it is said that if ever he had a good thought he never expressed 1t. Every one knew of his wickedness, and when he came to die only little group of five or six. besides the un- dertaker, MT. A. K. Tucker, stood about his bedside. For several hours before 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 wildly at the idea, and, with 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 6 look of wild, indescribable fear overspread his features. His eyes be- came glassy with fright, and his yell low skin grew asheD. Raising him. self upon one elbow, he held out his hands and begged for some one to save him. Then he sank back with groan of despair. In 6 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 himself being drawn slowly to them as if by a strong current. Just across, near his Satanic majesty, lay a hideous black reptile, with protrud- ing tongue, and at his masters bidding would coil about him and drag him to eternal torment. The dying mans voice grew louder as he proceeded, and ended In @ wild shriek.
 The people present were so terror stricken they could not move, and every word seemed to sink into their hearts. Hunt gave . vivid description of the country he saw himself enter ing. Everything looked bright and dazzling; the streets were pretty to look at, but they were red-hot, and bubbling fountains threw 0p molten lead. On every hand people in tor ment rushed to and fro wringing their hands and screaming with pain. The terrible recital was interspersed with awful oaths, and his hearers shuddered at each successive outburst of blas- phemy. Gradually his voice grew faint, and e the death rattle sounded in his throat he muttered . curse and stifIened out lifeless.
 This broke the strange spell over the frightened attendants, and in minute the room was emptied of all save the undertaker. They told the story many times each before they went to sleep, and in few hours neaxly every col ored man in the Wet End knew of the terrible sccne, and when the funeral took place the next evening only one hack followed tho body to the grave. It hAs naade . strong impression all around, and there arc fsw colored peo- 1 pie h Je2ersonville who have not already resolved to join church in conssqUszce.