Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-04-17
THE "WICkEDEST TOWN. 9"
But Salvationists Turn in and Save
It in Three Weeks

GaleStOn, Pa. April IA half dozen
salvation army women here conducted
a religious revival that in three weeks
has resulted in the conversion of over
800 persons. The town has been
| evangelical. Less than two years ago
a prominent minister of the gospel re-
ferred to Galeston as the "wickedest
town in Pennsylvania Now move
ments are on foot for the enlarging
of two of the churches. and PRAYER
meetings that We're formerly attended
by few, are now the gathering places
OF men and women who, prior to the
coming of the salvation army cru
saders, seldom saw the inside of a
house of worship.
The revival is far beyond anything
in the history of northern PennsyI-
vania. The salvation army workers
were under the leadership of Brigadier
General Mcintyre. A somewhat ro-
mantle ending of the wonderful series
OF meetings was the marriage of one
OF the army women to an officer of
the organization. This wedding. known
as halleIujah wedding, was solemn
lied in the Presbyterian church.
twenty-five cents admission was
charged those who desired to see the
ceremony, and the church was filled
to the doors, the money to be used
for the uplifting of fallen women.
When Potter county was no.
license county and the illegal drink
ing places known as pigs ears. >"
tlOurished throughout the county,
GalestOn was recognized as the center
OF the illegal traffic. Though the
town has less than 5000 inhabitants
there were nineteen pigs ears, ="
within the borough limits. Some of
these were hidden in cellars, the en-
frances to which were through a bar
Der shop, a restaurant or some other
"blind."
One establishment became so nau-
seating to the good people of the
town that fire was set to the building,
and at a precOncerted signal the Dor
ough hose company turned out and
directed three streams of water
through the windows of the building.
drenching the occupants Men and
women scampered from the place and
fled. The raid was effective
Another Objectionable pigs ear"
was blown up with dynamite by
party of vigilantes who had C.ganized
in an effort to suppress the vice that
ran rampant. This was less than
two years ago. and it was at that
period that Galeston was declared to
be the wickedest place in the state.
The women of the town finding the
churches unable to make an impress
sion on the evil wave. formed them
selves into an organization of cru
saders. They determined to put a
stop to Sunday dances and prize
fights and Chicken sOcials." and sev-
eral other styles of Sabbatl amuse-
ments that were INDUCED in. But
in this they We're only partially sue
cessfUl
About this time, added to the rev
eiry that was 0ccasioned by the
troops of lumhermcn and wO0dsmen
who first find employment in this sec
ton, came the excitement attendant
upon the discovery and development
of oil in the Gaines field GalestOn
was headquarters for drilers. pros
pectOrs. scaIpers and Iea5ers. an
many of these added their money
and their leisure to making GaletOn's
already unsavOry name still worse
Preachers of the gospel a,.d the good
people Of the town We're al their wit S
end. Practically no attention was
paid to religious OhServances.
A month ago little bs I'd of Sal
walton army women cam" to town.
They began holding indOcr meetings
in the First Presbyterian church and
each evening brief open air services
were conducted on the street corners.
This mode OF worship was a curiosi-
| ty and naturally attracted the pOpu-
lace, who gathered to hear the
men sing and pray.
There came a sudden awakening.
A dozen of men. stirred by the ex-
| hOrtatiOns OF the pretty-faced women,
and moved by the hymns they sung.
sought solace at the altar. There
were among that number several of
the toughest wOodsmen in this sec
ton. Their going had a remarkable
effect.
The meetings grew surprisingly.
One night there were almost forty
men, women and children who fell
upon their knees at the altar. where
! the army women stood singing. One
of their number. a man past forty
years-arose during the meeting and
declared that his prayer that night
had been the first in twenty-three