The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-02-12

.Siiir.s.
KANSAS CITY. February A few
days ago Secretary CT the Humane So
ciety Huckctt received the following
letter:
Nh Huckett-There is something
t.'ia< cut to be called to your atten'
Ton y once which I think is bad for
vi;ized community, their is Johr
| NirEle and his two children. He hal
been sex and he is crazy on religion
lis little girl Minnie is IS year old ane
his boy John is11 Wrinkle has heard
cGpcoDle criaking blood at slaughter
aoEses for their helth and ne said ne
believed in the bible that it preachee
that the well should max sacrifices to1
the sick.
He did blead the little girl anG boy
until they are recks and he did drink
the blood. It has leaked out and un-
less something is done by you the
neighbors viii tax things into their
own aands and that quick too. He
lives cr s, little piece OF land near the
new city limits. Your respectfully,
GEORGE WEST.
| Z. :. Sa@d some officers.
lie referred the letter to Cnlef OF
Police SDeers, who sent Humane Off
| CO. ;iarran to investigate.
lwent with Officer Marian to the
place wherethe savage rites were said
70 be enacted. 1t is on the Blue River
just inside the city limits. l found
that the letter to the secretary had
not told half of the terrible state of
| affairs which has obtained in the Blue
Valley.
About year ago there appeared
| among the people of that neighoor-
hood a man named Silas Wilcox, who
went about the country preaching the
doctrine of doing good for the sick. 1t
| was not long until he had a sufficient
number of adhererts to his doctrines
| to warrant him in attempting to found
sect, which he called the Samaritals.
Among the teachings he advocated was
the drinking of blood for all diseases.
He said that the Bible taught that
blood was life. Almost daily pilgrim
ages were made by those who were
ailing to the packing houses, and there
tkey drank the blood of the freshly kill
ed beeves.
Wilcox was net satisfied, however,
with the blood of animals, and he ad-
van ced the doctr ne that it was well
to show belief in the doctrine by Civ
ing up human blood for the sick and
suffering members of the band. This
doctrine was gradually established,
Wilcox himself being the first to prof
it by the horrible practice. he ap-
parentiy became very sick and was
unable to make the pilgrimage to the
packing house. He called upon the
faithful members ofthe band to save
his life. \ woman Nancy Dixon was
persuaded to allow her preacher to
suck blood from her arm. The effect
was marvellous, for Wilcox recovered
from his alleged illness the same day.
This visible manifestation of the truth
of his doctrines made great impres-
sion of his followers, and the result has
been that from that day the habit has
steadily increased and is now a regular
practice among the Samaritans.
At the home of John Wrinkle mea-
toned in the letter, were found two
emaciated children. On the bed lay
Wrinkle, apparently in the-last stages
of consumption. When questioned
about drinking the blood OF the chill
dren, he denied having done so: The
children also denied it. Their blood
less appearance, however, excited the
suspicion of the officer and he compel
led them to show their arms. They
were covered with scars around the
elbows. When confronted with this
evidence Wrinkle acknowledged that
he had availed himself of the opportu-
nity and the children had willingly
given their blood to restore him to
health.
The man was in such condition
that he could not be removed, but the
children were taken in charge By the
officer and placed in the Children's
Home. Chief Speers is anxious to
take steps to put a stop to tke practice
BUT there appears to be no law which
applies to the case except where chii-
dren are made use of to supply the
blood.
The band of Samaritans is composed
of about twenty members. WHO hold
regularly weekly meetings at the hou-
ses of tie different members. At these
meetings the sick or ailing ask for as
sistance from the well, and they are
detailed to give their blood according
to their health and strength. When a
member becomes very sick the well
ones take turns in supplying him with
the life giving fluid. They claim that
they have a right to do this when the
right to transfuse blood from one per-
son to another.