The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-05
BUNCOED THE CHURCH.
AN INDIAN PRE- CHER FLEECES A
COLORED CONGREGATION.

hhClo III FOOT hO anu SWluOleS 1uSn
Out of 5000 and Steals Their Church
Orgsu-He Was Pious and ffered
Prizes for Attendance at Services
Then He Had a sporty Time at
Thunderbolt and skipped.
About three weeks ago an Indian preacher
struck Savannah. At least he said he was
a preacher, and thereby hangs tale. He
associated with and worked among the COL
ored people, and as a result there. is weep
ing and crashing Of teeth in certain colored
religious circles
the members OF two coIored churches
would like very much to see the Indian
preacher just now. They we're glad to see
him when he came and regretted to see him
go, because he failed to bid them adieu In
the conventional way, and on leaving for
got to return certain valuables which he
had borrowed from certain of the brethren
The preacher arrived in this city about q
week before Thanksgiving. He had the
complexion of an Indian, had long glossy
black hair like them and affected certain
oddities Of dress unusual among civilized
people, but that was supposed to be natural
because he was an Indian, and such things
were to be expected even in a civilized
member of that race. The preacher was a
large, well-proportioned man, and withal,
quite good looking. He had an easy, open
countenance and manners that soon az
tracted the attention Of those whom he de-
sired to associate with.
INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO THE CHURCHES.
He introduced himself to several promi-
nent colored churohmen, among them
Brother Powell Of St. James tabernacle,
Yamaoraw. He announced himself as
Rev. DR.. Wahoochee, an Indian divine
whose mission il was to induce the people
OF that race to accept Christianity and be
saved. The Indian talked In such @ per-
suRsiye manner that he soon convinced the
colored brethren he had great mission to
perform and created great enthusiasm
among them to aid in the cause.
That was just what DR." Wahoochee
wanted. 1t was, in fact, his stock In trade.
and he worked it for all it was worth be-
fore he left here.
To further substantiate his statements
the reverend told his dupes he was en-
ployed by the United States government
for three months in the year to con vert the
wicked Indians, and that he received for
his valuable services 81 200 per month, a
munfticent piece of charity on the part OF
government that has generally, heretofore,
acted on the principle that the "only good
Indian was dead one" That the govern
ment should give 30 large a salary for con-
verting the Indian was taken as an evil
dence by the brethren that it was about to
reform and make good live Indians"-a
work which they seemed willing to help
along to the best of their ability.
A PIoUs INDIAN.
"Dr.n Wahoochee was very pious. and
yeerned for the salvation of many souls,
and suggested that something might be ac-
complished in that line by getting up a
series OF revival sermons at st. James tab
ernacle. His proposition was taken IN and
series of meetings held every night for a
week DIR" Wauoochee electrified his
audiences by his eloquence and earnestness,
and many professed conversion under his
Ininistrations. He did not forget another
important point in the services, and that
was the collection. IL was taken up With
out fail every night with the regularity of
clock work. The money was always turned
over to ''Dr." Wahoochee, who was going
TO use it in converting indians, and Il
enough was taken up ne also intended to
help along the church.
While the preacher" was thus rakiu1
In the cash and inoidently saving souls he
was feted and dined by the members Of the
congregation. Nothing was too good for
him and no pains or expenses were spared
to make his visit here as comfortable as
possible. He continued to preach every
night for a week and raked In a big colIeo-
ton after each service.
PRIZES FOR GOING TO CHURCH.
One right DR.. Wahoochee announced to
the congregation that, simply for the pur-
pose OF bringing out as large a crowd as
possible, and inc easing the interest in the
great work which he had undertaken, be
would give 81 to every man, woman and
child who attended. When the time came
for the services the next night the church
was literally packed and jammed. Men
and women fought and almost trampled
each other to death in their frantic efforts
to get in and receive that dollar
"Dr." Wahoochee preached his usual 10.
quent, pious and earnest sermon. BE also
took up the usual collection and everybody
thought that as they were to get back A dol
lar they could hip in very i berally. Great
was the expectation when the time came IN
pass out the dollars, but the crowd was
doomed to disappointment. The preacher
very coolly announced that it was his n
tention to give a dollar TO only certain
persons-that is, to the handsomess lady.
and gentleman, the tallest gentleman. tie
heaviest gentleman, the best dressed lAdv
and so OIL. He was the sole Judge of these
qualifications and he awarded the prizes of
81 TO seven people.
rain In Inc doctor" dropped that night
away below par, but he made things SO
pleasant after ward and explained his
actions so cunningly that stock In hun took
an upward turn again.
HE sPoRTED AT THUNDERBoLr,
While ali these things were transpirinc
Wahoochse got In with Wash Shaw, who
works 'longshore. The Indian one day sn1.
gested that he would like to see Thunder
bolt, the fame of that resort having RI ched
his ears. DE suggested that Shaw 90
down with him and show him the ropes
Shaw said that he was earning from az 10
So day at his work, and could not afford
to lose the time.
80, that's a small matter" said the
Indian, IN pay you your IS a day. Come
ahead"
Shaw had no mind TO lose such a "cinchn
as that and went. The reverend doctorn
hired hack and the trip was made. They
made the rounds Of thai resort and took in
the sights and other things. As the 'doctorn
was worn out with his ministrations, and as
the salt air was chilly anyway, he suggested
that a little whisky would not 20 amiss
Shaw agreed that was a very good idea, but
the way the doctor" could hide away
whisky was an eye-opener 70 him. He said
be never saw preacher who could get next
to so much rum.
Anyway the doctor got very lively and
liberal When the pair came back TO the
city they walked around for awhile until