Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-14
THE DAY OF DOOM.
To-Day Set Apart for a Grand
Catastrophe.
THREE GREAT CITIES THE VICTIMS.

Gruesome Predictions of Band of Cali
fornia Cranks, Who Have Flown to the
Mountains-Chicago, milwaukee,. and
San Francisco To BE Engulphed by a
Tidal Wave-Prepared for the Worst.
San FRANCISCO, April 14-There is sect
of fanatics in this city calling themselves
"Doom-Sealers," and for some weeks they
have been predicting that the destruction of
this city, Chicago and Milwaukee by tidal
waves Is at hand. After figuring the matter
up to their own satisfaction they came to
the conclusion that the date If the cat
astrophe was April "A -to-lay-isnd began
making preparations To stand from under
Their leaders are one Erickson and the cele
brated Mrs Woodworth, and although
many of their followers have left Oakland
and Alameda, there are many left behind
who wait the dread day with fear and
trembling. There are people vino dislike to
incur the ridicule of fleeing to the mountains
or who were restrained by property inter
ests, who half believe in the threatened
doom. and they will draw deep breath of
relief when to-day passes without an earth
quake or tidal wave.
Looking for Crop of Insanity.
land, among the hills, yesterday was spent
in prayer, and there were manifestations of
what is called ''the power subjects going
into a rigid cata!eptic stae and describing
their visions when they emerged. All wore
deeply excite looks, ami physicians who
have wa ched their Performance during
the last few days declare that the result of
the singular movement will be a large crop
OF insanity cases. the reaction from this
intense nervous strain will unseat many
minds.
Hunting High Ground.
At st Helena the doom-seaers became
alarmed because they had not reached high
enough ground, and the majority moved
Saturday to Crystal Springs and Howell
mountains which are several hundred feet
above the valley. 4 hunted look is on their
faces and they buy only what is wanted
from day to day Their special prophet,
johnson, said yesterday to an unbeliever:
"You people think us canting fools. The
time is short, and the lesson you will learn
will be as a thunderbolt from heaven"
Might BE Mistaken in the Date.
He was asked: "Do you believe with Mrs
Woodwork in the tidal wave businessl'
Il belive Mrs. Woodwork is serving God,
and believe she has had divine inspiration.
u
with the power of the Holy Ghost"
you and your people will return to Oak
land if this event is faiiurer
"Most certainly"
And wha: will your feeling be thenf'
"Either that the date has been misunder-
stood or that the good God has willed other
wise"
VIII Have Picnic, Anyway.
special from Santa Rosa says that the
faithful there are making active prepare
tons for the tidal wave Between twenty
five AMI thirty of the doom sealers fled to
Taylor mountain, two miles southeast of
town, yesterday morning. and Darlington,
the leader OF the local believers made ar
rangements yesterday to move to higher
ground tn 100 of his followers, early this
morning. I'VE are going upon the noun
tain, said Darlington, "to have a religious
picnic anyway, and if the wave does not
come we Will have lost nothing by days ali
sence from business and may gain much
in spiritual bleSSedness
Fifty Feet Above the Danger Line.
"Our camp is ninetyfour feet above the
level of the valley, aud as the wave is to be
only forty feet in height. we have nothing
to fear" John 5. Taylor, owner of the
mountain to which the people have fed, re-
lusctt 10 ildhb u LOT the privilege OF
worshiping God, and defying the devil on
the green slopes of his mountain Taylor has
had much quiet amusement in encouraging
the delusions of Mrs. Woodworth's dupes
Parson Overton, of the holiness band, saws
little, but it is plain he is nervous He will
probably 60 with friends to Taylor noun
tain.
Erickson in the Asylum.
telegram fran Stockton says that Pro-
het Erickson, who is in the insane asylum
here, has grown wilder as the day of doom
approaches. He raves about the destruction
shat will fall on unbelievers, and the ply
stefan thinks there is small hope of his re-
rovery. He was visited by small banb of
disciples Saturday, and impressed on them
the Importance of getting into high noun
tlins before to-day.
The Bible in Wisconsin Schools
OSHKOSH, Wis. April i4--According to
she statement of one of the judges of the
state supreme court the Bible can be read
IN the public schools of Wisconsin, notwith-
standing the recent decision of the supreme