Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-06-01
ElLEN'S DREAM
LOW 1T AFFECTED THE NEGRO
POPULATION OF CITY
OF MEMPHIS.
K
Neoroes Were Excited and Held Meet
inus on River Bank With Faces
Set Toward Arkansas.

following interesting account of how
Ellen Burnett's prophecy affected the
negroes of Memphis:
"Haye you heard from Pine Bluff ;"
was the most frequent message that
came over the telephone to the edi-
torial rooms Of the Commercial Ap-
peal Friday afternoon and last
night until the paper went=to press.
Shortly after staff meeting tie ding
a-ling, ding a-lng began at both
phones. and for long hours its inces-
SAINT .jinglejangle kept up. The Office
boy and members Of the staff We're
kept en the trot and to Hello and
to the above question the answer was
returned Nothing yet until definite
tidings came in that Pine Bluff was
still en- the map, and the imaginings
of disordered brain had proved TO
be a hoax.
The witty irish operator Who sits
quietly by his mill, ever and anon
breaking the solitude that invests his
personality with bull Or an apropos
epgram on some passing thing, stood
it as long as he could, and beckoning
the devil, said: Tell 'em that Pine
Bluff won four to one LateA he
nj ho - y>1o
Washout on the line and Baton Rouge
could not get there
No single item of news has more
quickened interest among the readers
Of the Commercial Appeal that that
which emanated from Pine Bluff to the
effect that negress had prophesied
that tornado would destroy that
town and it's inhabitants yesterday
This was the wild idea Of a dead in
telligence, but it fell on fruitful soil,
and in this enlightened age found
many believers. So great faith did
lumerous inhabitants Of the Arkan.
sas city have in thist oracular saying
that thousands left the place of their
habitation and fled to safer spots. The
terror was not restricted to that sim
&c burg, but it flew on the wings of
the wind, and wherever it passed
dread seized the people.
Neighboring towns and villages and
hamlets and vicinages caught the in
fection, and they were in measure
the superstitions of the middle ages
and yield not up the idea of their for
bears. Most of these we're negroes,
who see spooks and ghosts and can
hear haunts in secluded spots or aban-
doned houses while at their mad rev.
els. Others were Of the dominant
race, and, strange to relate. the in
fection seized some of every degree
and station.
Memphis seemed to be peculiarly
interested in this alarming prognosti-
cation. Every manifestation of in
terest was betrayed by the citizens
of this community all day long. On
the streets, in the cars, at the clubs,
around the hearthstones, wherever two
or more met to exchange the glad
word or comment on tht days develop
ments and gossip, this question came
up, and more than one person of
more than average intelligence was
seen and heard to ask: What do
you think?" And the answer was re-
turned oftener than not in a sort OF
hesitant way, "She might be right"
Then both would look at the sky and
over at the Arkansas side, where the
clouds hung low and lowered as far
as the eye could reach. One keen OBJ
server, who takes cognizance of ev-
erything that goes on around him,
after hearing SO much comment and
noting the countenances of the COM
mentators, remarked: "The age OF
superstition has not gone. Rabbits
feet, conjure bags and talismen linger
with u.s.
A reporter took several turns around
town and over to the bluffs where the
noble red man had stood with shaded
eye gazing into the expanse beyond
the Arkansas shore, and there where
slhe Indian had fixed himself on his
1.-the limbs spying into the mysteries
told him by the medicine men of his
tribe. he saw the twentieth century
Caucasian with unshaded eye occupy
ing similar stand and peering into