Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-03-05
MODERN FANATlclsM.
Aged Woman Immersed Through
Hole in the Ice

lung from cxlTeIle COlu anu lecpleuSSS
Mrs. Jane Shorts, who is almost Lot
years old and lives on Alder street
near Columbia avenue, was Immersed
IN the cold water of the Delaware river
yesterday afternoon through a hole cut
in the ice, and in the face OF q gale. al
the foot of .fwenty-eighth street, IGs.sl
Side. Camden. by Bishop w. s. Croudy
of the Church OF God and Saints OF
Christ. A large crowd witnessed the
baptism, expressing their Indignation
at the seeming cruelty of the affair in
groans and utterances. But the bup-
tism was finished without a hitch
I There We're three women baptized, but
the sympathy of the 300 persons was
plainly with the aged woman.
Preparations for the ceremony Were
lnado about an hour before the person
to be immersed put in their appear
ance. Bishop Croudy and Other
that measured about 10 by ~ feet. II
took half an hour to complete the work.
When the tide had risen the three cam
didates had arrived. They stood on
the bank. Mrs. Shorts was protected
from the biting wind by Il heavy shawl.
Then the ceremony began. The
bishop, who Wore thin stockings, read
Dixon. The latter was barefooted, bu,
trod on the ice just as though it We're
carpet.
Bishop croudy called for the first
candidate. Then Mrs Shorts threw
the shawl from her shoulders. She
tottered a few feet, when two men, one
on either side, took her by the arms
and assisted her towards the hole in
the ice. where already the water was
beginning to freeze over with a thin
crust OF ice. She slipped on the ice
Then the men seized her bodily and
carried her to the hole where Bishon
Croudy and Rev Dixon stood waist
deep in the water, shivering and trem-
bling.
The Indignation of the crowd then
burst. They had thought that perhaps
mersed because Of the cold, but be
sprinkled.
It's shame" cried one woman,
1.-THE poor woman will never live
through it,
Others cried to her to stop, but on
went the two men with the woman.
She'll catch her death of cold" said
another woman THAT isn't religion;
that's cruelty"
The bishop and the preacher caught
Mrs. Shorts by the arms and lifted he,
off the ice
AS she was thrust under the water
only slight cry escaped her. Again
she went under, and still another time.
The ceremony was finished. The only
outward sign she gave while In the
water was q slight quivering of the
chin and the shaking of her arms and
hands.
With the water dripping from her
clothes, she was lifted out on the ice,
AT once her garments began to freeze.
The same persons that helped her to
the hole in the ice took hold of her.
lettering and almost helpless, shivef.-
ing with cold and with teeth che
Ing, the woman was led throue
crowd back to the bank.
The Indignation of the crowd L.,
broke cut anew at the sight of the thin,
pallid face of the woman VINO risked
her life in her religious zealousness.
They ought to be arrested" said
one heavily built man. II wouldn't &C
through that for amy amount of money,
and much less should that woman"
She'll never live a week after this
said q woman who watched the cere-
mony with fear. Look at her now
Shes almost dead from the cold o.
all foolish, ridiculous things and si,
walked away.
The woman was taken away to the
home of another member of the church
and taken care of.
bat after the immersion of the feeble
woman the crowd took little interest
in seeing Miss Sadie Snields and Mrs.
Minnie Parker, of 1922 South Camac
street, baptized, and dwiudle1 away
until only the bishop, the preacher and
his little flock remained on the ice COW
cred Delaware.