The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-01
AN INDIAN CONVERT,
4 Forestville Preachers Experience in
the Creek Nation.
From the Rome (Ga) Tribune.

the creek nation.
From the Rome (Ga.) Tribune.
One of the most interesting takers in
Rome is in the person of Rev. c. c. Spence.
pastor of the Forestville Methodist church.
He was missionary to the Greek nation,
Indian Territory, for three years and went
there from Covington, Ga. He can
relate some very interesting incidents that
happened during his stay there. Il was al
ways his custom to get leave of absence Of
six weeks every summer to visit his old home
at Covington. The second summer he visited
Coyington a very remarkable coincidence
happened, which, to hear him tell 1t, will
almost make ones hair stand on end. One
day he had been attending court at CovinR-
ton, and, just as he reached the water
fountain on the public square on his way
to dinner, the idea suddenly struck him
that he was needed in the Creek nation, and
that at once. He walked straight to the
house and told his wife to get ready, that
providence had called him back aud for
what, he knew not. So that night he left,
and strange to say. he missed connection at
every terminal point.
He reached Eufaula, which is the capital
Of the Greek nation, on Saturday night,
and on the following day he occupied his
pulpit as usual. He felt very much wor-
AACA bCO0LoO NC COul4 LbI unA dNOA lAlO NY
terry OF the calling. He had not b en- in
the church but few moments v hen he
saw the officers leading in a Creek Indian
handcutfed and hobbled. He was seated
just in front Of the altar and seemed very
much interested in the sermon. Mr. Spence
thought very little of it, as he was accus-
toned to having such looking fellows in his
audience every few days.
When church was out Mr.. Spence walked
IL. Nlaa
foot of large tree in front of the church.
He asked the sheriff what he had done, and
was told that he had been tried for murder
and sentenced to be shot on the following
Wednesday. Mr.. Spence then told the
sheriff that he believed he would go up and
shake hands with him, but was told he was
very desperate fellow and that he would
insult him just as sure as he approached him.
he felt that 1T was his duty to tender his
Sympathies, and to his surprise the
Indian extended him both hands Mr.
Spence then asked him if he would come
out to hear him preach that night, and he
replied that he would be pleased to do so,
and he attended services twice a day up to
the day Of the execution. On Tuesday fol-
lowing he asked Mr.. Spence if he would
preach to him through an interpreter
that he might better understand it; that
he was very much interested in his
spiritual welfare. The interpreter who was
very scholarly Indian, kindly consented
and the sermon was preached. 1t was q
custom of the Creek Indians to have no
prison, and the prisoners are simply
watched over by six or eight guards. The
night before the execution, the prisoner
awoke and discovered every solitary guard
stretched out dead asleep. He rose up,
stood on his feet few moments and then
lay down again. He knew that he had no
chance for a pardon from the chief,
and that his execution would
come, but he knew that he
was converted and had rather suffer
the penalty than escape and remain fugi-
tive. 1t would have been no trouble for
him to have escaped, for the guards were
completely worn out after so many long
nights of watching. This Indian was ac-
cused OF killing one of his tribe in a drunken
row, but he couldn't say whether he COM
rnitted the deed or not, as he was too much
under the influence of liquor to know any
thing. He knew that if he really commit
ted the deed it was perfectly right that he
should be shot for it.
The day of the execution came. He was
very particular how the tragedy should
transpire. He wanted everything arranged
IN the proper style. Up to the very last
moment ne was as cool and composed as the
coolest man in the crowd, and he was meet
ing death with SO much composure and
willingness that the six men detailed to
shoot him begged and pleaded with all their
powers to be relieved of the sad duty.
1t was the custom TO cut out a white
paper star and place directly over his heart
then blindfolded them. A white handker-
chief was bandaged over his face and the
preparations had ended. Mr.. Spence then
walked up to him and told him that he
just had two minutes more to live and
asked him if he had anything to say. He
begged OF the chief to remove the blind
fold. This being refused, he caught
hold of the handkerchief and re-
moved it himself, then folded his hands
over his breast and with a smile told
them to shoot. And at this command a
volley of balls from the six revolvers went
direct to his heart and he fell over lifeIess
to the ground In few days after this it
was discovered that he was perfectly limo
cent of the crime and that another Indian
had committed the deed for which he had
to suffer. The impressive part of this story
is how come MIR. Spence to be impressed of
the fact that he was needed at his mission
He still had four weeks to remain
at Covington. This Indian had always
been considered very reckless and danger
Gus, and Mr.. Spence firmly believes that a
divine providence gave him the summons
to return that he might save this diving
sinner from a burning hell. Mr.. Spence
experienced some right thrilling adventures
among the indians during his stay of three
years in the west, and if the facts were
gathered up they would form quite an in
teresting volume.
Over the Painless Ocean,
Athwart vast continents traVersed by mighty