Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-08-29

JOE LYNCH PREACHING.
SUFFOLK, Va, August 22.-Tht
congregation of religious fanatics, who
stvle themselves the ''Sanctified
Band" and whose extraordinary antics
while on Chincoteague Island, Va.
several months ago, led to their prose
cution by the authorities, have taken
up their home in four sailing boats
which they call "aiks," on the Chowan
River, near Montrose, n. G. An at
tempt was made by residents in that
vicinity early this morning to dislodge
and drive out the intruders, and the
result was fierce battle in which
guns, revolvers aud other weapons
were used, one woman being killed
and several men wounded. Both
sides fought with desl Grafton, and tor
time there was perfect fussillade OF
small arms As neither side gained a
decisive victory, hostilities will proba.
bly, soon he renewed, and doubtless
with even more serious consequences
than that which marked the furious
engagement Of 10 day.
\ PECULIAR COMMUNITY.
The "Sanctified Band" soon after
locating itself on Chincoteague Island
began to gather numerical strength.
They were under the leadership of a
man known as Joe" Lynch and Mrs
Sadie Collins, a handsome, bright-eyed
young woman These leaders and
others preached "sanctifcation and
holiness" aud their liberal matrimon-
ial views attracted to the colony many
lads and lasses from the surrounding
country.
Among other features Of their method
of worship was that oil watch meet
ings." These were held in the houses
OF the bands Sister Jones and Brother
Smith would meet at house, and
entering room alone, remain there
for long time watching" and pray
ing, and this plan of specification was
pursued by all the members of the
band.
Serious scandals followed this style
of worship and the Virginia author
tiles finally prosecuted the members OF
the band, and they were compelled to
flee from that section of the country.
| FLoATED AWAY IN "ARKs.
But the '.Sanctiiied Band" chung to-
gether, and upon leaving the jurisdic-
ton of the Virginia authorities they
embarked in four boats. which they
termed arks. and which they anchored
finally near Montrose, \. c., in the
Chowan River. Here their "sanctiti-
cation and holiness demonstrations
were continued, the watch meetings
being held on the decks and in the
cabins OF the "arks."
Many of the residents of the neigh
borhood are ignorant and superstitous
people, and IA considerable number of
them locked to the standard Of the
"Sanciiiied Band" and embraced their
faith" while they paid marked atten-
ton to the prettiest girls and women in
the congregation.
THE SEIGIIBoRHoOD AROUSED.
The ranks of the band continued to
grow. and hundreds Of converts" were
soon made. The mixed doctrine OF
free love and sanctification proved a
drawing card to many of the ignorant
North Carolinians, and the congrega-
tions Of the Churches in the neighbor-
hood were quickly thinned out.
Among the converts" were many
of the most vivacious and pretty
country lasses, and those of their
fathers, brothers and sweethearts who
had also Joined the band, united for
protection and determined to drive out
the intruders who were corrupting the
morals of the neighborhood.
ATTACK on THE FANATICS.
The outcome of these deliberations
was the gathering of about 200 enraged
citizens about o'clock this morning
determined to dislodge the crowd OF
fanatics.
Hostilities were begun by ordering
the band to depart. This elicted a
defiant response, and the ''arks" were
moved fifty yards from the shore, so
us to be less exposed to attack or cap
ture. Then the battle royal began
and it ragged terrifically for several
hours. The fanatics secluded them
selves in cabins and holds of their
boats, and from these points Of vantage
they kept up fusilade on the crowd;
gathered on the shore. The latter
we're armed with all kinds of weapons
and they sent shower o! bullets and
shot in the direction of the "arks,
peppering the hulls of the boats.
FURIOUS FIGHTING.
The fanatics, inspired by their lead
i. ers, believed that they were fighting
for the protection of their homes
and they desperately resisted, and
fired volley after volley at their assail
ants. As far as known only one per
son was killed. a woman, but many o.
the besiegers and besieged were wound
ed, some of them, it is supposed, ser
iously. After both sides had become
thoroughly exhausted the firing ceased
but il is understood that hostilities vii
soon he renewed by the residents o
the neighborhood, who declare thei
: determination of dislodging the fanati
cal band from their river quarters.