Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-08-16

tlon, in Liberty, he achieved his
greatest success.
DUPONT told his followers that
he would ascend to Heaven on the
10th of July. He would not in-
form them, however, as to tho hour
or place of ascent, They knew one
thing-he was not to be found any
where on the dal mentioned. On
the morning of the llth DUPONT re-
turned and brought with him a
man whom he introduced to the
frightened negroes as the prophet
Elijah. DUPONT reported an ex'
ceedingly pleasant trip to Heaven
and warned the people that they
must sell all their property, aud
use the money for the support OF
himself and friend. Dupont and
Elijah then went to work to con-
vert the county. They announced
that the whole world would be
converted by the 10th Of August,
on which date they would give a
thanksgiving Offering. when all
who purchased wings would fly up
to Heaven. He had 800 pairs of
wings, which he sold at 80 a PAIR,
to be delivered on ascension day,
but cash had to be paid in advance.
By this time the whites had be-
come thoroughly alarmed, and took
steps for the arrest Of Dupont,
who was sent to the insane asylum
81 Milledgeville. This only led the
way, however, for the most hOrri-
BILE phase OF the excitement. Ed.
ward James, a colored man, neph-
ew of McIvor, the black member
of the State Legislature, who as
magistrate of the district was
holding court when he heard the
news OF DuPOnt's arrest, at once
adjourned court, and declared him
self to be the vettable Christ. He
declared that blood offerings were
necessary, whereupon Laura Rob-
erts, female relative, kllic! her
two children as q sacrifice. ADoth-
er novelty in. to tluced by James
was the power N,r M cast Srt"<Nput dew
lis. Whenever'ut he wou.f, ee ar. VI
son whom he sus,uspecte9f fo of pein
possessed he wOS,S' aid order ns TO
lowers to pound Il the deyls outof
him. Two men q re no~ diso'Ied
and will probably d~,e rom tie ef'
fects o: this pounding.
On Saturday last the sheriff of
Liberty county, assisted by large
posse of well.armed men, arrested
{ James and thirty OF his followers.
The arrest caused much excite
ment among the negroes, and their
, services last Sunday were of such
, a strange and weird character as
: to surpass anything yet attempted
They selected another leader named
Shadrach WalthOur, who announc
, ed himself to be King Solomon. He
, i'm mediately began to surround
himself with wives and cOncubines
and to fit himself to fill the role o
, the wise man of Israel. This ne"
n leader opened the services by hav
. ing his followers chant some dole
!. ful selections, after which he be
I gan to catechise them. While this
\. was going on the crowd was rapid
, " increasing, and By o'clock al
immense number had assembled
!. Everything went on smoothly til
: a band of unDellevers emerged
, from the dense woodland near by
, and attempted to take away som'
OF their relatives who were paying
homage to King Solomon. At this
iuncture there was almost panic
The worshippers became tcenzleI
because of the Interruption, and
would have sacrificed the band 10
their king, had not some white men
lnteriered. An attempt was made
-, to break up the hendish aud dis.
graceful proceedings, but 1t was Of
no avail. The klug and his follow
ers declared their intention to re-
main in camp aud to continue the
glorious work they hal cOmmenc'
ed. On Monday, however, they
were ambushed by a large posse OF
!, whites aud crowded into jail here
a., Laura Roberts, however, escaped
and assumed the role of the Quee
: of Sheba, aud soon had at her sid
= an army of devoted blacks. Sh'
4 soon passed from queen to a posi-
ton in the godhead, aud ~ such
. was at once worshipped.
d During these proceedings tn
}. oolored preachers have been a
their wits ends. Their words wer'
totally dlsregarded, and tn eli
"a churches left empty. a few day
- ago they held a meeting TO discuss
:, matter, at which the following res
=, olutions were adopted.
- awe, the ministers and Officer'
OF the cOlored churches OF blbert,
n county, representing the interes
a and honor of our people, appeal t
q the civil authorities of this count.
IA to order the fanatic followers c
a Dupont Bell, the impostor, to dis
\. band aud remain disbanded, an
a congregate no more IN any plac
70 in the boupds of the county, on tn
a following grounds: That the,
n have become a crazy mob; tina
NJ some of them have become insane
J., and that there Is danger OF man