Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-12-22
Cranky Rube the Negro Messiah.

A dieustch frou; Kansas Cstv, Mo, says
yhat gs8 NJ frat = source Of amusement
"a Chief Of Police Speera has become nat
Ier o. serious consideration. Early last
week uumber of colosed Unen called apon
me chief to ask permi5sion to bold ghost
dances. Fayiog that they had e ne" Messiah
who W u'd lee6 ;heT, TO ,.sorsisso eni.
The cbisf granted their request ard consid-
cred the 1hoie matter huse j9ke. The
crazs has, howsyer, aesrDtd ne proportions
of sonething more tbal s. oss and is nv
raoi9ly spreading aanuG tne mcre ;gnorsnt
c!a ses Vi colored people througaou; the
Some N or fifteen days ago tall gaunt
nar. os ack a. c,ai, msds hts appearance
in what Is known as "Hel!'s Halt Acre" In
the packing house district, an6 annouocod
himself as the Messiah sent TO save thu Cot
o7ed race. This man wss R>uoen Carter
and Re came there from Pomeoy, kap',
where he had !oug beeo known aa CreokY
Raoe." He wont aG NJ !hs nessoes aud
gradually drew ecuver to his idaAs, and al
Lost accumulated quite 3 following sn3ug
the gross Ia lhe sest bottoms.
Carter has been taking chou the destu1-
.ion OF the whole white race and says The
c.lsmity 10 occur CeZt spring, aad WsrlS
she hacss to foi!og him il they would es-
caps the general destruction. Ee tells taen
thet sil wno rsmeiu With ihe WINES Ti'l
suffer thslr fsts but thosa who 90 wish hlm
10 ,he pFomissd lsnd will bs piacsd a Sos-
sr and the wealth OF tbs world VIII be
she!rs. His story is g sort OF revised edition
of the Indian crazs, and he hao evidently
beec reading OF What is eolng oa among the
red rsca.
He cains thai tie promised land ie Ia
OAlshotna and says be viii esd al ihe be-
.ievs.s here 10 Tue spring, aud t5eg Will
then SEQ thet he possesses InirGcu'6us power.
Sc n,cni-es that cities wili riss IN night
for Tbs occupancy OF the people VINO folioI
hiIe, snd sheee cities will be made bg !bo
angels Of Goo. SEQ viii be seut to ssEva
him. He enters irtn rniouto description
Of the cities and it tai les exactly with the
dsacriotion Of :bo city described in the Rsv-
cia ions Of the Bj5le. He says lhe city Will
be called the Nav Jeruisism cad sill De
built OF gold and precious stones.
The permission granted hy the Chief OF
Police for holding ghoss dances has besn
fully taken advantage of and tbs ooored
people in the districts N menticned have been
holding uightly reVois which they call re-
iigious dances, but whica are now begin
aiug to assume the appearance OF idolotrous
orgies. as tie dancing continues the
Negroes appear to go back 10 theiF
ancient seyagary, and their move
menta now resemble tho iocantation OF tire
voudoo dancers of the fouth. Men and women
join in the craze, and they arc becoming wilder
and wider every night until now tie hief of
Police il seriously thinking OF rcvJking his per
mission and s.opping the dancing.
Carter has disappeared, sod the followers say
that he is in retirement until New Yesr's Day,
when will spp,sr in sll his glory and show his
wonderful power by signs aud miracles. Tho
dancing, which heretofore mas been public to any
ne who deired to witness it, is low done in
socrot aud admission is refused to all who do not
believe in the povcr Of tho M-ssiah. There is no
doubt that the man has gained great control over
the ignorant people OF his race, and unless some
measures taken to stop the crszo there will be
trouble with tie converts.