The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-24
BURNING THE DEVIL.
Satan Destroyed by Ills Own Peculiar
Element at st. Louis.

St Louis, April 24.-Surrounded by a
a crimson light, that Illuminated his
horrld countenance and flaming figure.
ana brought into bold relief the forms
OF those who applied the torch the
body of his Satanic Majesty, Mephis-
topheles, was slowly consumed by fire
last night The Most Evil One appear
ed to resist cremation, for at times the
yellow blaze Sputtered and spit out
and seemed to be dying, but then it
hamed up anew and finally reduced the
devil to ashes.
1t was a rare spectacle to see the
one who is supposed to be the king or
ruler of an everlasting fire that will
torture for eternity sinful humanity
wiped out OF existence by the applica-
ton 10 MS crime saturated form of a
couple OF Lucifer matches But it was
so, and hundreds saw him absorbed by
the very fire he is supposed to control.
His crematory was the platform of
the hall occupied by Salvation Army
corps No. 4, at 203 South Jefferson ave
nue., and when the last vestige of him
disappeared, the Salvationists and their
friends sent up mighty 'Hallelujah!"
Satan was dead and they could not re-
strain their joy. He died the horrible
death that is reserved for humans who
do not repent their sins. He did not
suffer the agony, however, that hui
mans will undergo. as told in the Scrip
lures, because he could not feel. He
was merely a dummy devil
Long before s o'clock crowds began
" SdlIeI III the nail, because OF the
announcement that Satan would be
burned in effgy, and by that hour there
was standing room only, and very lit
tie of that Then the regular Saliva
ton Army service was held. It occu-
pied about a half hour before Ensign
Keast began to speak upon the subject
that drew such an immense audience.
He said the Salvation Army believed
that there is a real devil but at the
same time believed there was a power
greater than that Of Satan. He also
announced that the army would be
glad if the old fellow himself We're
consumed in the flames, but as they did
not have him they would do the next
best thing"
Upon the table beside the speaker lay
a chest or small trunk, labeled in red
letters THE Devils Chest In the
center of the platform, lying prone up
on the floor face downward was the
figure of Satan. Ensign Keast opened
the chest and drew from it whisky and
beer bottles, a pack of cards, chewing
and smoking tobacco, a pipe and a. box
of cigarettes, several cheap novels, some
sensational and obscene literature, and
Autographs of theaters, circuses and
horse races. These represented the
tools of Satan in leading to the down
fall of man. Testimony was given by
army lads and lassies. after each vice
had been placed upon wire that
stretched from side to side.
Then the figure of his Satanic Males
ty was uncovered, and, with a rope,
was hoisted to a standing position He
stood facing the congregation. He was
the most repulsive object that resem-
bles a human being that has been seen
in ST. Louis for a long time. His face
was of a greenish black with flaming
red mouth and eyes, while his head was
surmounted by horns. He was eight
feet tall and his body was red, his
neither extremities being a pair of
horses hoofs Upon his breast was
printed: Il am not a myth"
In his right hand he grasped a spear,
and in the left he clutched a satchel
labeled "Imps of He'll" Ensign Keast
drew out the .'Imps' and tackled them
to the pillars of the scaffOld. They
were placards having upon them in
large letters the words Lust" Hat
red Greed, . Pride . Time Enough,
Jealousy" Doubt "Backbiting,'
Lies" Gossip" and "Ingersoll's
Works" Then a red powder was
poured into a pan, the lights were eX-
tinguished, the powder was ignited and
the devil was wrapped in a garb of
blood-red flame.
The audience stood up and craned
their necks to see what would next be
done A match was lighted and touched
to the hoofs of Satan, and the blaze
fickered and then slowly began to eat
up his body 1t continued until the
figure was devoured, amid the cheers
of the crowd. The gas was lighted and
the skeleton of Mephistopheles alone