The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-29
ELDER THORNTON BELIEVED.
MS FELLOW CHURCH OFFICERS STAND
BY HIM
Tho Story that He and Eva Jewen wero
Carried Out 20 Sea by Daylight from
Coney Island aud Rescued Taken nj . 6aulp

Tho Story that He and Eva Jewen wero
Carried Out 20 Sea by Daylight from
Coney Island aud Rescued Taken nj . Guip
Elder Samuel W. Thornton retold last night
to the members Of the session OF Mount Olivet
Presbyterian Church. Brooklyn. the remarkable
tale Of his wanderinRs with his ister-ln-law.
Eva Jcwell.from Coney Island to Florida Hehas
already succeeded In persuadlng his brother
William aud his wife that he and Miss Jewell
were lifted out OF the ocean by q Spanish
schooner and transshipped to the Florida
coast. and last night his fellow elders declared
their belief in tho truthfulncss OF his story.
It was the regular meeting night Of
tho session. md Elder Thornton had
announced his intention Of appearing be-
fore his brethren and clearing himself.
Tho news that the session was to con-
slider the tale leaked out. and by 8 o'clock
there were nearly dozen reporters ut the
little wooden church at tho corner OF Ever
green avenue and Troutman street But they
wero not allowed inside the building. Extra
ordinary precautions had been taken to ex-
clude all strangers from tho church.
A burly man In his shirt sleeves stood guard
at tho cato and refused to allow any but the
officers OF tho church to pass. Then thore was
another man just inside the church door. and
II any one got past the outer guard
he was scrutlnizcd by tho doorkeeper. who
Spensd the door inch or twG and
Il the
door, while number ofyoungwomen from the
tEe usSunsss thu
WIS &ssss s5 ND 5sss
study. listening to Thornton. These are the
elders who were there and who were coz
and Samuel s. McGurdY. SerY one q thc
F sSS VII
R S Ansa Zsg rus sSS
Ths nl Board e o Trustees with tho exception
o'clock 5ote the aessp meme
% be gy0Sp so at o oeesf Tho but REV
JUNIOR sent out for them and they were ushered
$ ia s'& # tss sssssn ssss
to sy Hnt Easr Rnns t
%sGs absolutely no further statement at
Then 10 slowly read this from big brown
nc PASTOR anu OIL OuveC
Samuel W. Thorntons statement, made at his
own request. CONCERNING his remarkable GS pre-
1icting statements have been made In the
belief In its truthfuness. our conviction
that it can be verified. and our determination
to spare no pains to have such veritcation
made as speedily as possible. The pastor and
clerk Of the session are hereby authorized to
sign this minute on behalf OF tho officers.
Paw. sSuo JuN? a;I Pastor t,,:-,.
There was not a dissenting voice to this
action" said M JUNIOR An We hHye heard
sts pd Ss Matters stand RSo now we be-
out Of Justice TO our brother elder. Until we
have no reason to doubt his story. We
shall make thorough effort to verify 1t for his
own sake as we'll as our own. This is q ques-
ton OF morality that Is involved. From what
We hear we have no reason to believe that the
two ore guilty, OF any wrongdoinR. But
II we find that 1t is otherwise. You
can be sure that for the churchs good
un3etGsd Or session n sits IL, here Ter. in
has made O favorable impression upon US and
we are going to stand by Brother Thornton and
mako every effort to substantiato his statement
to U.s."
The elders Of the church also said that the
veriflcaton was going to be o thorough one.
They weren't sure whether they would have
tho Pullman car conductor up from Florida
who said he recognized Sam and Eva as two OF
his passengers from New Orleans