The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-24
SOUTHERN NEGROES IN FRIGHT.
The Preachers Telling Them That the End
Of the World WIN Como Next Month.


CHARLESTON. 6. c.. Nov. 23-Not since they
were set free have the negroes In this State
been moro excited than at present. For months
negro ministers have been preaching that the
end Of the world will come with the closing
days OF the nineteenth century. thinking that
1889 Is the last year OF the century. and igno-
rant followers have quit work to pray. Last
week the excitement was increased . hun
dred fold by the expected arrival OF tho
meteors, supposed to be sent as warnings
Men and women absolutely refused TO work
and their time was passed In meeting houses
and churches. The non-appearance OF tho
meteors did not allay the excitement Nothing
oan shake the belief OF the negroes who have
heard 30 much OF the coming end OF the world.
They are simply waiting and watching and
praying. and the ministers. with an eye to
money and large church memberships. have
been bringing the converts to tho affairs.
Down along the coast, on the Sea Islands. the
negroes have been In a continual state OF fear
and terror. Many have hocked to the city
where they believe better protection and re-
ligious facilities can be had. though the bulk
Of the black population has remained by tho
old homes TO die there like christian men and
women. The feel Ia hay, been deserted.
Little preparat o o. the next working year
has been made because the negroes cons der It
useless and they think. too, that the brief time
left can be best employed In an extra rush Of
religious iervor. While waiting dayA and
nights for the coming OF the starry showers
the negroes have been madly frightened BY
wild reports circulated OF damage from the
metsors elsewhere. In Charleston the other
day the report was circulated among the ranks
Of the coored people that In eteor had fallen
on church In Colum bia, and that six hundred
men and women and children had been
crushed to death and buried with the blow.
The report was contradIcted. but the frst
stories made such deep and lastlng i'm presslon
on tho excited minds OF the people that no
faith was put In the reports of denial. There
are still hundreds who believe the church was
Wednesday and Thursday nights OF last week
saw tho greatest end Of the excitement The
Leonids were expected to fall. Every moment
stone and IRE 70 come wS1rips tSroS STSs the
atmosphere to strike where tho most harm
wildcat kind. throughout thu City Cites especialiy'
sunday, school ' room Was S pssEqd 's aad
aa tho men w Sns w some snHn,sg
was preaching and talking strangely. and his
escsmatIons Of fear and r words sc" OF prayer 10
on their finest clothes. took their belongings
one church In Charleston there was such a
thronR OF people that the minister had to dis
miss the meeting for fear that the building
would fall from its heavy weight. Tho negroes
and many sat In the parks and shivered while
their eyes were turned heavenward in search
OF falling missiles. Even when the clouds
came on and obscured the heavens the va cheers
continued to gaze.
Meetings. az which ministers, have preached
OF the worlds ending with the close OF the
nineteenth century have been In steady
progress since July. Congregations have been
told thar the Rreut Ru Ter would not let tho uni
verse roll on longer when there was so much
war and the war with the Beers are cited. In
shorleston strong argument was placed on the
fact OF so much bloodshed In the neighbour
hood, 30 many murders and lynchlngs and
aseassinatlons, and superstitious negroes who
put faith ami implicit confidence IN the words
and they live now In mortal dread OF tho end
which they expect to como before the new year
begins.
Excitement among country negroes IL even
greater than that OF negroes In this city On
the sea Islands there Ia IA feeling OF absolute
over Ten Mile hiil. the widest negro s settIeo
ment IN the South, There Ia only one theme
OF TAX the end OF the world. The financial
cnd mas by no means been overlooked by min
isters during this great excitement. and by
hitting the right gait the donations have been
who know their flooks aud even II they do
preach that the end OF the world Is near they
eau or FUNDS TO DO used for a grand religious
celebrat on and festival which will mark tho
c0sing days OF the century. The excitement
Win grow with the approach OF January and
enacted on the last days and nights OF De-
ccmber,