The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-13
JAMA1oA's HEALING STREAM.
strange Superstition Among the Ma
tives Of the Island.
From The New York Times.

/ beginning of this year an unparalleled
craze has been on the increase in Jamaica.
IL mas assumed such proportions and has
aroused the population to such an extent
mat the government holds in readiness
several regiments of white troops to quelI
any disturbance or to suppress what
might develop into q religious war.
AT the time previously stated an igno-
rant black man named Bedward, living in
a lonely district some ten miles from
Kingston, stated that he had had vision.
and that an angel of the Lord had an-
nounced to him that he had been chosen
from among the rest of the people to per
form certain miracles. He was at first
laughed at, but he came forth again with
something more definite. He had had a
second vision he said, and on this occa-
sion the heavenly messenger told him
that there was river near August Town.
not far from where he lived, running from
the north, which would heal and cure
disease and sickness of every description
Bedward was instructed as to how the
water was to be administered TO effect
cures, and he was specially charged to
give to all without money and without
price.
DESTROYS of testing the reality of his
vision, he undertook to cure a man in his
NtoNLiCO w NJ udQ SuuGf6u from severe
pains for over ten years. He washed
this man in the river. and afterward
made him drink quantity of the water
ms hydropath1c treatment was con-
t1nued for some time, and according to
Bedward the man with the pains began
to get better A great boil appeared on
the mans side, and when it broke he was
thoroughly cured and able to work in his
fields. The news Of this alleged miracu-
Ion
Bedward, and also by the man who was
healed, who appears to have been only an
accomplice in getting up this great delu-
sion. In few days Bedward found him
self at the head of large gathering.
Then came the time for display. Bed
ward Immediately assumed apostolic
powers, meetings were held in an adioin-
ing mission house, the waters were
blessed by the false prophet, and thous-
ands tOclIed to the place, much to the
satisfaction Of Bedward who is making a
go09 thing out of it.
Presently he selected Wednesday as
his special day for appearance and demon
stration, and the news having by this
time spread all over the country, such i'm
mense crowds betOOk themselves to the
spot that they became unmanageable.
Starting sometimes on Sunday, so as to
get to the spot in time for the moving of
VIC NdpClS > 4ldltJ ifOOI people lelJ GH6lI
homes in distant parts of the island, and
never returned. The hardships of the
journey on foot were too many for their
enfeebled frames
Such extraordinary reports were spread
about regarding this alleged "Pool of Be
thesda,0 that a representative of the
New York Times determined to pay a
visit to the place. Starting from King
ston at the break Of day, so as to avoid
no 1,
amazed at the number of people already
en- route for the waters. Every road, for
miles around was black with human
beings hurrying to the pool, and carrying
bottles, pans, pitchers, Gala bashes. demi-
johns, cans, in fact anything and every
thing that could hold water. On arriv-
ing at place called Mona, three miles
from August Town, the crowd was so
great that horses had to be walked, and
there was no room for buggies to pass A
little further on ii was impossible to pass
any one. From side to side Of the road
was one solid mass of humanity.
Fortunately, all were going in the same
direction, and after many hours the cor
respondent reached the healing stream,
much exhausted During this time many
persons, unable to stand the pressure of
the crowd, had tainted; yet no one
stretched out hand to help them. If
any one unfortunately slipped to the
ground, he never rose again till the crowd
had passed over him. tanaticism seemed
to have overcome every other sentiment.
When within 100 yards of a little mis-
sion house near the river, singing was
heard. That over, the prophet" as
Bedward calls himself, began an address
to the people, but only those around him
were able to hear what he said. Others
were obliged to content themselves with
watching afar off his extraordinary GEES
ticulations, waving a Bible in the air,
shaking a stick, throwing down his cap,
and gazing at the sun. No useful purpose
could be served by remaining here, and
the correspondent at last got within sight
of the river. 1t took some hours to get to
the brink, so great was the crowd. A
convenient tree was scaled after much
eXertion, and from that exalted position
bird 's-eye view was obtained of all that
was going on.
All sorts and conditions of men, women
and children we're there. A few it was
apparent, had come out of motives of
curiosity, but 80 per cent. were there with
but one idea in their heads.
At the lowest estimate there could not
have been fewer than 10000 people
present. In addition to those on the road
unable to get near the place, the river
for two miles was black with men, women
and children, all bathing in the water. e
Hundreds on hundreds were standing
naked on the bank waiting their turn.
Hundreds, again, were stripping without
the slightest shame.
Just about this time the cry went up
that the Prophet" was blessing the
water. A great crowd was advancing,
and way had been cleared for a lean,
cadaverous, COMMISSIONING specimen of
humanity the Prophet" He mounted
a huge rock, standing on the edge of the
stream, and, after delivering a short
harangue, turned to the river, and, with
most ludicrous antics, blessed it, telling
the people to bathe, drink and be cured
Men and women actually fought to get |
into the river. Bedward remained on the
rock for three hours, pretending to be
gazing at the sun. while the pilgrims"
repaired to hishouse and made offerings
to his wife. 1t is safe to say that in five
minutes at this place the Christian teach
ings of years was blasted.
The whole affair is an unmitigated
fraud, yet to-day the delusion is as strong
as ever it was. The Protestant clergy
have denounced it in vain; the Power of
the Keys" has been invoked to no purpose.
The government analyst has pronounced
the water to be nothing more than Ordi-
nary drinking water "before the pilgrims
battle. but unfit for any purpose whatever
after they have washed, save TO spread
disease" The police are powerless to
interfere, as the spring rises on private
property, and the governor is evidently