The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-18

half-groWn youth, who sang a line or
two and the youngsters came in on the
refrain. The melody was very like some
Of our old-time darby songs and most
pleasing TO the ear.
Three times did this strange procession
march around the square and then left to
repeat their performance at neighboring
han. It was not long gone, however. for
soon renewed cheering was heard, and the
procession re-entered the Walden square
When the white horse came again into
view 1 was Mortified TO see that the white
robes of its little rider were bloodst ainef
and that a crimson stream was running
down his face from wounds he was. APP
parently, inficting In his scalp with a
sword he carried. The poor pigeons TOO,
were blood-stained, and even the priceless
shawls and scarfs had great splotches of
the crimson gore on them
The mourners came again with re-
doubled lamentations, followed by the men
with the barred breasts. These were shout
ing the names Hassein, Hussein. with
monotonOus regularity. accompanying
each cry with a terrific blow of the right
hand on the barred left breast. The sound
thus produced somewhat .resembled the
Simultaneous discharge of number of
small arms.
Then followed the men with the Chain
scourges." They. too. were shouting the
names of Hassein and Hussein, and with
each shout they would swing the scourge
over their heads. the chains striking the
bare skin with a vicious swish, leaving
cruel white welts. There was no make
believe about the force OF the blows. for
already the skin on the backs of some was
broken and bleeding freely,
And then I witnessed a most horrible
sight. The men who told you were dress
ed in white robes and carried swords next
came into view. They were bloodstaine1
from head to foot. They still walked
sideways, and with every cry of "Hassein
Hussein" the swords came down on their
unprot heads. At first l could hardly
believe my eyes. and tried TO persuade
myself that they had merely besmeared
their faces and dresses with the blood of
some animals, but as they drew near /
saw that II was with their own blood,
from self-lnhicted wounds, that these poor
fanatics were disfgured. As the two lines
passed the place where / was standing.
and l could have touched those nearest me
by stretching out my arm. I saw the
swords raised. their fan and the squirt Of
blood which followed the contact Of the
blade with the bare scalp. The white shirt
waists OF the ladies OF our party were
sprinkled with the crimson fluid. IL was
horrible, Incredible. disgusting. | shrank
back as far as / could, and would have
fed the place had such a thing been pos
sihle The ladies' Of our party were ter
riby affected. and after one horrihed look
at the CHASTITY scene turned away and
buried their faces In their trem bling hands
To get away at that moment was next to
an impossibility. and We were forced to
remain 10 the bitter end.
Again the procession passed. the frenzy
OF the principal actors increasing every
minute. They were by this time beyond
control. and were inhcting terrible wounds
on themselves. Friends Of the partici-
pants walked back OF them. sticks in
hand, with which they would ward of the
blows. Several OF the mon fell to the
ground IN "A fainting condition. and were
quickly borne from the scene by eager
hands OF their compatriots. Al the third
and .ast turn Of the procession around the
square. those who could suil walk stag
gered along as though they were badly in
toxicated, and were horrfying sights.
Their heads and faces were one mass Of
clottod blood. and their once white robes
were fairly dripping with blood we LEFT
the scene Of this barbarous ceremony with
the least possible delay. My hands trem
hled. my steps were unsteady. there was
a taste OF blood In my mouth. taste which
follows the extraction Of troublesome
tooth. and crimson mist rendered dim
my eyesight Never will again voiunta-
rily witness such q scene. A battlefield