Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-23
HE WILL CONE HERE.
TIE MOUNTAIN PREACHER TO VISIT
vIRGINIA's CAPITAL.


reporter few minutes before he left his
Office and shown copy OF the New
York World containing nearly page OF
illustrated matter about Rev. Joseph Z.
Wells, tho mountain preacher OF Nir-
ginia, OF whose great power and eloquence
little seems 10 have been known until
very recently.
publication" said .he Doctor, "and L
have glanced at the World, but have
not had an opportunity to read 1t as
carefully as I wish to do
HOW lie CAME TO NOTICE.
DR.. Dickinson again glanced over tho
paper banded him and being asked II ho
would give some Of his impressions OF
this famous mountaineer, said: " am
busy, but will tell you a few things
about him. In tho first place, let me
explain how the New York World got
upon the track OF the 'the old mountain
eer.' as il calls him, although he is only
fifty.nine years old. A number OF VS.
vent ont TO Big Stone Gap few weeks
ago TO big Baptist meeting. The com
pany included DR.. Curry. Mr.. IL. IA;
Ellyson, Professor Il. Harrison, ana
others. While tho convention was IN
session Senator J. b. +. Mills called my
attention 10 Mr.. Wells, saying: There IS
one OF the most eloquent men God Al
mighty ever made, and yet no never saw
q railroad car until a few weeks ago,
when he looked ont OF bis humble
dwelling and saw the first train on our
new railroad coming into Big-Stone
Cap and then the Senator added L
owe more TO him than to any man llv-
ing
INTERVIEWED HIM.
"That remark from Senator Mills,
The Doctor continued, "led me to seek an
interview with Rev, Mr.. Wells and to
inquire into his history. L wrote q
sketch of him and printed it in the Ret'-
pious Herald. On reading 1t the man
acer of the World sent one of his lady
correspondents to Big-Stone Gap IN
search OF this mountain preacher and
with her an artist to draw pictures OF the
odd man," his wife, his cabin. his
church. &C., &c. Senator Mills tells me
that he was surprised when this fair rep
resentatiye OF the press drove up to his
home and drawing out a copy OF the
Herald asked to be directed to the home
of the mountain preacher. Senator Mills
entered warmly into the scheme ana
helped in every way he could in getting
the facts about Nirginian, who within
the twinkling OF an eyealmost has gained
q national reputation. That's the history
OF how it was done.
GREAT ORATOR.
"Can you add anything to what the
New York World says about MIR.
Wells?"
"Yes, I have some very pleasant re
collections of Mr. Wells. / heard him
once at great meeting. where he was
almost forced to speak by visiting
brethren who had heard of his marvellous
oratory but had never till then seen bin.
They called him ont on n subject which
furnished no room for eloquence-it was
q mere question Of routine before the
meeting indeed il was question as TO
appointing an executive board to look
after certain minor matters-but the De
nosthenes of Wise county was forced
out He glanced at the question
before the body and in an in
slant lie took his upward flight
and left not one of us behind. lie
took us to the judgment-seat made us
gaze into the face of the Judge, and
listen to the sentence as it fell from his
lips. Some of us he sent bowling
down into torment and others he had
shouting amid angel bands 1t beggars
all description. When Joseph G.
Wells came back so softly with his au-
dience the faces OF strong men were
bathed in tears, and as for myself, i
really did not know whether / was in
the body or out of the body, and l did
not care. But there was something OF
The ludicrous in the reply of the Mode
rator when, as Brother Wells resumed
his seat, some one asked, Whats the
question before the body 2 Hereplied :
Its about appointing an executive
board.
MS HOME LIFE.
"Can you give me some more points
Shout him 2"
Eyes. indeed, almost any number.
He lives within thirty-five miles OF
Bristol and no has never seen that
or any other city. He has pro
found conviction that his mission Is to
the mountain people. He said to me
81 have never been TO Bristol, the near
est town TO me, nor did l ever see 9
steam-car until few months ago, wheI
The South Atlantic and Ohio train began
to run in front of my house, bat L hae
seen and travelled almost every hog-patf
in four adjoining counties For thirty
Eve years / have been roaming owe
these mountain counties pleading for m,
Saviour. have never received so
year, all told, for my ministerial work
Often have / gone thirty miles to preacl
q funeral sermon and received not cen
for it, nor did expect anything. W lei
Twas converted l could not read, but
felt that must learn TO read the sacre'
Scriptures. i worked all day in til
fields and ct night l studied with M
another. She taught me TO read.
HIS BIFR's WORK.
"To another question he replied: M
greatest Joy in life has been TO encourag
young men to make the best OF them
selves for God. / can count up now
dozen who have almost a national repu
Aation who have grown up under IN
ministry He gave the names OF to
such, all eminent men, and then point
ing to Senator j. b. +. Mills, said
ASK that man who put him on his feet
Then he told how one day young Mil
came TO him with fifty cents for til
church and said he had made it by shove
ing dirt in playtime. THAT very day
be said. Il put my hand on Mills's hea
and made prophesy that has come tru
i saw that he had great purpose to /
something IN the world and i said /
would some day be great man and
preacher
Nh IS COMING TO RICHMOND.
DIR. Dickinson continued: "Tf
last time / saw this wonderful man
begged him 10 come TO Richmond al
spend some weeks in my home, and
promised 10 do no on condition i wou
come to his homo and spend as mar