The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-03
ON GLOWING GOALS.
sHINTo MIRACLE OF FIRE WALK
ING IN A JAPANESE TEMPLE.

AVA
Deception.
From the Springfield Republican.
We found our friends. and on again a |
half hour more through the crowded |
streets to the temple. There a crowd was
gathered. 1t was about O'clock, and at
dark the priests were 10 begin to walk
over the fire-for that is what we were
there to see. Twice a year the gods are
prevailed on to take the heat from the
fire, SO that the devout may walk upon it
unframed. The skeptics in our party out
numbered the believers, but you shall see.
At the steps we must take off our shoes
and contribute our one yen to the support
of the temple. Arrangements had been
carefully made beforehand, and for the
Europeans a small veranda was reserved
directly opposite the whole length of the
fire and so close that our faces grew hot
ter and hotter as 1t burned brighter. Half
Toxic was there; Russians and French,
Swiss, Germans, English, Scotch, Ameri-
cans. Some of US slipped away to see the
ceremony preceding the fire walking. In
the temple a crowd was collected. and in
the chancel, as I may call it for want of
another word, two rows of priests sat fac
ing each other Several were in robes of
white silk, one in blue and one in green.
The effect was brilliant and made stin
, more picturesque by the close-fttng
horsehair caps with long tails of the high
priest and his subordinates. After some
muttered invocations the high priest turn
ed TO a cupboard-lke shrine in one corner
of the chancel, where he burned incense
end performed other acts of devotion, ap-
parently. Behind him in two long lines
like a flying wedge in a football game
knelt the other priests now joined by two
women of the temple with reverent faces.
The half-intOne service was not unlike
Gregorian chant, and was accompanied by
continuous response from the congrega-
ton. Throughout the latter part we stood
in the doorway of one of the temple apart
ments opening out of the chancel Here
refreshments were provided for guests
oranges, tea (0-and for courtesy, not for
payment. Later in response 10 thanks
the high priest presented his card to one
of the visitors.
The Bed of Charcoal.
AS the priests filed out Of the temple we
took our places on the veranda, a pro
ceeding less easy than it sounds. as we
had to find ourselves places on the al
ready crowded floor. and sit or kneeI in
of charcoal was already lighted when We
arrived, and was now fully on fire. 1t
was, we agreed some sixteen feet long,
four feet wide and perhaps a foot deep.
1t was in space fenced off from the
court yard, and on the side opposite of
US the crowd of men, women and children
pressed against the barrier The fire was
at present covered with ashes, but soon
attendants entered the open space and
with long-handled fans blew away the
gray covering and famed the charcoal IN
til it was a mass of blazing, glowing en-
bers Little flames sprang up over IL
in all directions, and one lady among US
put up her umbrella to protect herself
from the heat. Another of the party be-
gan to feel the headache which the char
coal always caused her. There was no
doubt in any ones mind that the fire was
hot-blazing, burning hot and something
like sixteen feet of it, too. 30 les mall
heureux, les malheureuxr' exclaimed an
excited French woman, she fancied
walking over those embers.
When all the ash was famed away and
the fire had been beaten to a fierce glow
with long poles, white-robed priests enter
ed, one of whom, taking salt from a sup
ply placed near us, attended the high
priest as he went to each of the four cor
ners of the pile. At each he clapped his
hands, clasped them and raised them high,
as if in supplication, bent his head in
prayer ana enQGQ DN StIGWiuB duului
of salt about him. It was the motion Of
man sowing seed, and but few grains
have fallen in any one spot At the mid
die of each side and end this was repeated.
1t was now growing dark, and the blaz-
ing embers threw a glow over the white
dress of the priests. The high priest was
a striking man. His motions were quick,
decisive. intelligent as he rapidly passed
from one place TO another We could see
his face distinctly; we were so close.
Unique and Picturesque Scene.
The darkness lent added effectiveness to
the next ceremony. Each corner and side
was now purified again, for publication is
meant this time. The attendants struck
a flint as the priest prayed, and the
sparks, flying off in the dark made
shower of tiny, thin, yellow lights against
the rich glowing red mass of charcoal
and the darker crowd of figures beyond.
A drizzling rain was falling, but it af-
fected the fire little. 1t was now beaten
with poles until it glowed again, as the
high priest ended his invocations. And be-
fore l understood what he was doing a
little scream from our French lady star
tied me into realizing that making no
break or pause, with one of his swift mo-
lions he had stepped out and along the
fire path. The glow of colors from below
on his white dress and dark skin was
worthy Of Rembrandt. He trod on the
!
priest followed. The high priest walked
nine times. He set each foot down firm
ly and only once appeared TO feel the
smallest discomfort. Then he stepped
somewhat to one side, by mistake ii SEEM
ed, and visibly WINGED. carrying it Off
by a series of affected steps, high in the
air, as if it were all in his part.
Pain a Confession of Impurity.
After the priests came the crowd, wo-
men carrying children, a man with a sick
person on his back, boys of all ages. Each
stepped over a wet mat. through a small
pile of salt, on to the fire. The salt
was ordinary coarse salt 1--WE had it an
alyzed). At least six steps were neces-
sary 10 cross the fire; some walkers took
more; nearly all were fairly deliberate.
One or two, fancied, felt the heat I'M
| comfortably II not painfully, for on COM
ing off the fire they wriggled their feet
about in the pile of salt at the farther
end as if it cooled them. Most of them
disregarded it altogether, often stepping
I D. to- .n.sr.N