The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-31
WAY DOWN SOUTH IN DIXIE.
ITEMS OF INTEREST THROUGH
OUT THE SECTION.


Preachers-Aiabams Hunters Expert
ence-The Cyclones Work-skin Chang
ing CoIor-IntelIIgent Negroes-Lifc i'm
Log.
A damage suit, having for its chief OBJ
jects Of interest pretty girl. Colonel Josiah
Patterson, a prominent attorney of Tex
arkana. Ark, railroad company, and
peculiar accident, was filed in the shelby
County Circuit Court the other day.
The story of the case is an unusual one,
and one that will awaken more than pass
ing interest.
Miss Maggie Scwell is pretty little miss
OF about fourteen wears of happiness ana
home life, who left home a few weeks ago
to 90 10 Atlanta 10 complete her education
and put the polishing touches 10 AN already
bright mind and attractive person. She
had her ticket clear through from IeNarka-
ma to the Gate city, and was put aboard the
train by kind and loving parents and
friends. who sent thousand good wishes
and God bless yous" after their darling.
Miss Sewell came to Memphis and trans
ferrcd from the Iron Mountain to the
Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham
train.
so far she was all right, but at Memphis
she SAYS she was guided by the railroad OIL
cials into an excursion train which was
bound from Memphis to Birmingham. Miss
Seweps first-class ticket and her position
enabled her to cvOid the eXcursionists by
riding in the chair-car, and she took pas
sage i'm that ear for the sake OF better con-
yenieuce and more comfort.
At ArmOry. Miss, il was deemed adyisa-
bic to break the heavy train into two pieces.
and the order was accordingly given to d.
vide the train into two sections.
The chair coach in which Miss Sewell
had been riding had been placed up next to
the engine in making up the train at Mem
phis. and she was seated near the 'front.' end
facing the door,
The train was broken without unlocking
the bell cord and when the jerk came tue
bell cord. with It's heavy brass attachment,
was thrown violently through the glass OF
the door. and piece of the broken glass
was sent dying into her eye.
The young school girl, Just beginning her
career in the search Of knowledge, had met
with a terrible misfortune. Her eyesight
was gone, and she was deprived Of the op-
portunity of exploring the book-hidden
long set her heart.
Miss Sewell. accompanied by her attorney
from TeXarkana. and after securing the
services of Colonel Patterson, they entered
suit against the Kansas City, Memphis and
Birmingham Railroad Company for $4,000
Southern Negro Preachers.
Mr.. Booker T. Washington, principal of
the Tuskeeee, Ala, Normal school. and one
Of the most influential and best equipped
educational leaders Ofthe Southern negroes,
contributes 10 the Christian Union some
rather startling and depressing observations
upon the character of most OF the negro
preachers Of the south. The estimated
negro membership Of the Methodist and
Baptist churches in the Southern states ana
the District Of Columbia is 2,22l,0OO. Mr.
Washington intimates that a considerable
proportion Of these Baptist and Methodist
negroes are rs ignorant of true Christianity
as their kinsmen in Africa. and rs sorely in
need of missionary eyangellzatiOn. OF
the negro ministers he says:
After coming into direct contact with
the cOlOred ministers for eight years in the
heart Of the South, have no hesitancy m
asserting that three-iOurths of the Baptist
ministers and twO-thrds Of the Meth0dlsts
are unfit. either mentally or morally, or
both. 10 preach the gospels 10 any one or TO
attempt 10 lead any one. With
few exceptions. the preaching Ofthe colored
ministry is emotional i'm the highest degree,
and the minister considers himself success
ful in proportion rs he is able 10 set the poo-
pie in all parts Of the congregation TO groan-
Ing, utiering wild screams and jumping,
finally going into a trance. One Of the
principal ends sought by most Of these MIN
listers is their salary, and 10 this everything
else il made subscryient. Most OF the church
service seems 10 resolve itself into an effort
10 ret money. Not one in twenty has any
business standing in the communities
where they reside, and those who know
them best mistrust them most i'm matters OF
finance and general morality
The theological schools Of the denomina-
tons already existing in the South do not
meet the pressing need Of the negroes, be-
cause very few young negro students are
able to attend them, and for those who dc
the course is over their heads, and they get
a little smattering of Greek, Latin, and He
brew, which lands them in intellectual be-
widerment. What Mr. Washington think
is needed is an unpretending, unden0mina-
tiOnal, economically conducted school, Will
"A course Of one year or two, where pa.
pills shall be taught the Bible, thu
art Of studying, how to prepare ser
mons. read hymns, ETC., and how t.
reach and help the people, in an unseliish
Christian way, on week days and outside
the pulpit. The practical wisdom OF thi-
idea cOmmends il 10 thoughtful cOnsdera
lion. 1t is practically an application OF the
methods at Hampton, OF which institution
Mr.. Washington is, we believe, graduate
10 the special Held Of theological instruction
such a system rs Mr. Washington suggest
would bear fruit, and would bear IL speedily
The time element is an important consider
alton. for there is no time 10 be lost.
Phantom Deer.
4 party of deer hunters camping on SAINT
mountain one night last week, says spe
ciai from Birmingham, Ala, met with Al
adventure they Will not soon forget. Our
iug the day they had killed two deer, an'
around their campfire that night enjoyed
bountiful repast OF brOiled yenisOn.
About O'clock, as they were preparing
10 20 10 sleep. one Of the hunters saw
pair of bright eyes, flashing in the darkness
about one hunnred and nifty feet away iron
the campfire. He decided the eyes wer
those OF a deer, which had been attracted
the spot by the bright light OF the camp-tr,
and. raising his gun, he took careful am "A
the dark spot between the eyes and hret
Wher the smoke cleared away the hunto
was surprised To see the cleaning eyes sti
there. lie fired again, but still the eyes III
not move. Then several Others took "A she
al the eyes shining in the dark woods lik
two balls OF ire. still the c! cs remained
| the same spot.
Another yOlley was fired without eiiec
and then the hunters saw white dee
move slowly away from the spot and sta
in "A semi-circe around their camp.
came "A little closer, and, passing throue
an open space in the bushes, its entire bod
could be plainly seen. Then brOadsiC
VAS fired al the mysterious animal, whiC
only stood still again, and once more Il
cleaning eyes We're turned toward u
campfire.
Then one OF the hunters noticed that q
dogs were cr0uching under the wagon al
whining as though badly frightened.
this time all the superstition in the CROW
was fully aroused. and several OF the hu
tiers insisted that they had been shooting
"A glrost or "A with. one Of them, who Is n
a believer in the supernatural, said he W
going to see what il WAS. He moved ca
tiously toward the white deer, but as he a
preached, il turned and disappeared in I
dark woods. The dogs were called, b
would not come. Then they were taken
force TO the spot where the white deer n
stood 70 see ii they would follow the ira
They would not, but az soon as released r
yelping and bowling back % the camp, a
! again crouched under the wagon.
There was not much sleeping done