The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-27
NEGROES IN A FRENZY.
Scenes of BarbarOus Africa Re-
peated in So Outh Carolina.

Mountville, S. c., Aug. 27.-The devil
is being buried in this little town with
strange rites. The negroes of South
Carolina and of several neighboring
states have conceived the idea that the
Evil One has ceased to exist, and nearly
10, 900 of them have gathered in Mount
vile to celebrate his demise.
The excitement began two weeks ago
upon the arrival here of a church bell,
intended for use in colored church in
the Southea stern portion of the city.
AS soon as the bell was received and
hung in the church steeple it was rung
steadily for six hours. Being the only
church bell in the city, it naturally at
tracted attention. The colored popu-
lation became excited, and period of
religious exaltatiOn set in which mas
continued without abatement eversince.
The pastor of the church at the Deg1n-
ming of the excitement announced that
the devil was dead and that all who
wished to attend the funeral should
hasten to the place.
When sl1eptical darkies asked for par
ticulars the exho-ters explained that
the evil one had been tried before the
high court of heaven, where God sat in
judgment, and that he had been con-
demned and executed.
And, brethren exclaimed the lead
ing negro preacher, hes been turned
over to US right here in Mountville, to
the negroes of this town, to bury for
ever The old DEVILS dead at last, and
we are going to bury him deep, so he'll
never trouble the people any more"
The credulouS darkieS shouted: Clio
ry Hallelujahi' The message spread.
1.-The devil is dead, The devil is deadi
Come to the meeting and help to bury
him.
From North Carolina and Alabama,
and Georgia and Florida, the negroes
came fiocking in-men, women and chill
dren. The little meeting house for a
fortnight has been crowded and thou
sands are camped on the lawn. Every
train brings hundreds to join those al
ready on the scene. Farms are desert
ed by the negroes everywhere and the
ripening crops are neglected.
Men and women shout and yell and
| shrek with frenzy. They hug each 9TH
er and dance up and down and spin
around until they are exhausted and
| fall, screaming, to the ground.
A platform three feet high and 20
| feet front square has been built in front
| of the church. When the negroes be-
come exhausted they are laid on this
| platform to recover their strength and
| senses.
! Today when new party arrived
| from Florida, the frenzied negroes lit
orally tore the clothes from their own
| and each others back, the while keep
| ing up the cry:
''The devil is dead. Glory, Hanelu-
| jah.''
One negro came on a bicycle He
| placed a plank on a trestle 10 feet high
| with the other end on the ground. Then
| he started at full speed to ride up the
/ plank, saying he was going to heaven.
| He fell off the plank and broke a leg,
| but still he shouts with the rest that
| he is on the road to everlasting glory.
| Nearly everyone is dressed in white
| Many have stripped off their outer
clothing and wear only their under
| garments.
| Colored girls, sobbing and screaming,
| fall senseless to the ground and lie
| there, while others dance and sing in
| circle around them.
The white peop,e are becoming alarm
| ed and wonder what the end of it all
| will be.
| There are at least 20 negro exhorters
| on the ground and more are coming
! The people are getting weak from wa mt
/ of food, loss of sleep and the unusual
| excitement. and three of the negroes
| today became wholly insane.
| By the Union Pacific.
| 81 so to Kansas City and return Sun
! day Special train 5:27 a. m.