The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-07
FLYAWAYS FAILED TO FLY.
THEIR FUGITIVE LEADER CAUGHT
AT ATHENS.

Over $3.50 in Cash Collected From
His Dupes Found on His Person
when Arrested-Au Night Meetings
Held by His FoIIowers-One At
tempts TO Fly by Jumping From n
Roof and Breaks n Leg.
Atlanta, Ca, March 6.-Despite their
great faith, the Atlanta "fy-away me-
groes" did not ascend 10 heaven to-day. as
per the arrangements OF their leader.
Brother John Smith. Smith left the city
yesterday afternoon with the avowcd in
tention Of going TO heaven. He got as
far as Athens and quit the game There
he found some policemen who We're in
considerate enough TO lock him up. and
he is now behind the bars there painting
for glory He has with him about $50
belonging TO the Atlanta negroes. which
he evidently. judging from his actions,
intended TO take to heaven with him. Now,
however, il is probable that this impro-
vised mercury will not Tit any more soon
except in the direction Of Atlanta with
a policeman.
Meantime there are in Atlanta to-day
between 100 and $50 negroes, homeless and
absolutely destitute. They had, accord
ing TO "a mandate from Smith, sold and
given away everything on earth they had,
so as TO be entirely unincumbered when
the yanking began. All day the entire
negro population OF the city was in
demoralized state OF excitement en- ac-
count OF the "fiy aways," and where they
were gathered together there were many
strange scenes growing out or their re-
ligiOus ferVOr
When the Information was spread abroad
that Smith, their leader had disappeared,
their hope increased instead Of diminish
ing He had stated that several hours be-
fore the scheduled time for the ascension
he would be caught uD to heaven, and
would return for the faithful. He had re-
ceiVed an urgent call from God, lac eN-
planned, and must go. Not voice was
raised among the faithful in objection TO
this transparent scheme With tervor and
earneStnesS the negroes pleaded with MIN
10 go At that time Smith had all the mon
ey which had been turned over 10 him, the
proceeds of the sale of all their household
belongings. 1t was with this money mat
he disappeared after first giving orders
that all the faithful should congregatc on
Summerhin. According TO him they were
10 hold an all night meeting, al the end OF
which time they were TO be yanked up into
the clouds.
They were all in earnest and apparently
IL had not occurred to any of them to
doubt his airy assertions. They had al
ready become thoroughly convinced that
Washington johnson, another smooth in
dividual who went away with 500 10 buy
wings for them, had been snatched bodily
would not return. The negroes held a
meeting all night last night, and converts
were made who were all prepared TO fit
this morning.
There were many deserters from the
ranks who became fearful at the last mo-
ment and went away to sleep of the eX-
haustion of their religious orgte.
one negro attempted to take flight,
jumping from the roof of cabin, and
broke his leg in the fall.
In one place near the jail fourteen SCOT
fers, who stood outside making irreVer-
ent remarks to the faithful, who were in
the midst of their devotion, were yanked
away. The police did the yanking, how
ever, and to-day the scoffers are locked
up in police headquarters
The Atlanta negroes were not the only
ones who We're to be jerked to glory.
There were small colonies of the faithful
in other places. At Stone Mountain twenty
shivering negroes stood on the topmost
peak and waited patiently all night TO
take their jump from earth. They didn't
jump, however, and when they left the
mountain, sOOthed their disappointment by
imbibing tanglefoot freely. Many of these
negroes came to Atlanta and were dis
appointed with these here. To-day they
are wondering how they will get back
home. Atlanta has new horde of negroes
who are out of work and destitute.