The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-04-18


might not be amiss to give some idea as
to its location and surroundings. The
building is long, wide, frame struc-
ture. Il must be at least 300 feet long
and no less than 100 feet in width. It
IL situated about mile and half west
Of the depot, at the crest of gradual
incline of possibly 100 feet in that dis
lance. To the west the hill declines.
Over space of perhaps ten acres,
the trees have been cut and the taber.
nacle stands in the center of this clear.
ed space, towering in the air and visible
for many miles on all sides. There is
only one general approach and that is
Elijah boulevard.
At night, when meetings are to be
held, the tabernacle Is q picturesque
spot. It is surrounded by series of
arc lights, lighting the entire cleared
space 80 that it is as bright as day for
ct least 500 feet. Not q tree stands in
the way of the lights and not shadow
il to be seen. The actual entrance to the
building is unusual and peculiar, made
so for obvious reasons.
The doors are all raised about fifteen
feet from the ground. Access to them
10 ever line of elevated sidewalks,
built up in the air, considerably above
o mans head. These sidewalks are
mounted BY four flights of steps, one at
each corner of the building.
On nights when there is to be spec
ial called meeting of the faithful, guards
are placed in every conceivable spot,
where intruders and strangers can be
detected, long before they reach the side
walks. Two guards are stationed at the
foot of each stairway, leading to the
walks; a patrol is strung along the en-
tire length of the walk; four men are
placed at the doors of the big building,
two ON the outside and two on the in
aide. Then in addition to these, guards
are scattered all through the woods and
patrol the light space, during the entire
meeting. This system of guarding is a
practical guaranty that strangers and
curiosity seekers will find it an impreg-
nable fortress, when the redoubtable
DR." Dowie desires that it shall be SO.
It Is such q condition as this that
confronted the reporters, the night that
Dowie's financial integrity had been at
tackled SO severely that the United
States government had become a party.
Il was in the security of such guardian
ship that the "first apostle" called his
followers together to hear the Zion side
Of the story.
The ten groups of reporters, consist
ing of ten men each, now began to study
out their plan of campaign. First they
took upon themselves VOW to "get the
news" even though they suffered the
indiguity of arrest.
The final plan was to surround the
tabernacle at distance of about mile,
or at least far enough away to get out
side the posted guards. All watches
were set alike, and it was arranged to
advance at exactly 7:l6, as that was
the hour when the largest crowd would
b entering the building. It was then
thought advisable for the ones that were
able to do %. to mingle with the crowd
and endsavor to escape the scrutiny of
the guards and eject an entrance with
the vast throng Of people that would be
walking over the board walk at that
time.
II would be amusing to tell of all the
experiences that al Of the boys went
through during the next half hour. Suf-
Gee It to say. however, that only one
man succeeded in getting into the build
ing tn night. He managed to get to
The Cd % Of the circle Of light with his
somrads. Then BY Encouragement, they
separated, keeping about 100 feet apart.
At the opportune moment, one Of them
made . signal, intended to attract the
attention Of the guards. There was the
expected response from the vigilant
watchers, and about q dozen of them
made jump in the direction of the
noise, to capture the intruder. The lad
led them Of on merry chase, leaving
the way clear for his companion to walk,
almost entirely, unnoticed to the ele-
vated sidewalk.
He was in plain sight in the glare Of
the light. He had succeeded in making
his way up to the sidewalk, and then,
fearing discovery, he hid beneath it and,
climbing through the supports, gradually
made his way in the shadow beneath
the walk to the platform just under the
main entrance on Elijah boulevard. In
some mysterious manner, he Skinned
up" the supports and in . jam of peo-
pie, gained entrance to the inside Of the
e,s,f1dinu