The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-07-31
THREW AWAY DICE
coLoRED SOLDIERS IN A FIT OF
PENITENcE.
Severe Storm at Sea Caused lmpromp.
tu Revival Meeting In Earnest
No More Crap Shooting
During That Voyage.


Five hundred pairs of dice are lying
on the bottom of the Atiahtic ocean
somewhere off the east coast of the
United States, unless the fishes have
swallowed them and carried them
away, says the Kansas City Star The
spotted cubes we're thrown overheard
by the negroes of Kansas regiment
during a violent storm at sea. the sac
rifice having been prompted by Deni-
tence. II was while the negro regi.
ment was on board the ship Vigilance
en- route to Cuba in September, 1898.
that storm converted a score of
boisterous crap games into fervent
religious meeting
The regiment went from Topeka to
New York city and from there sailed
for Cuba. There was no sleep on
board the Vigilance the first night out
|. is said that practically all of the ne.
groes who were not Frustrated with
seasickness were shooting craps. The
scene is described as one Of mingled
suffering and excitement. The dis.
tressed pleaded for quiet and rest
but were unheeded by the noisy gam
blers.
Above the cries and means of the
suffering, such language as this could
be heard in different parts of the yes.
sci:
It's 'leyen an know IT," "Shoot
dc money Didn't | get a coon?"
Little Dick"
Late at night while the games we're
running high violent storm broke
suddenly upon the sea. When the wind
struck the Vigilance a rudder was
broken and she whirled round and
round and then dipped down into the
hollow of mighty wave. The shock
was unexpected and in moment the
soldiers we're experiencing all Of the
horrors of a storm at sea. The ne
groes grabbed up thedice and loose
change and huddled together like cat.
tie, some of them moaning and others
too frightened to utter a sound.
The storm ragged for an hour, the
soldiers thinking that every moment
would be the last. Fortunately there
was negro preacher on board the
Rev. John L. Waller II was for him
to rise to the occasion. lie gathered
a crowd OF negroes around him and
spoke thus:
Brethren, the Lord sent this storm
on the heads of sinful crap shooters.
If we want TO be saved let's pray"
Then he dropped down on his knees
and his voice was heard praying above
the noise of the storm.
The soldiers Joined with the preach.
e: in his prayer In short time
lamentations, means and promises
could be heard on every hand II was
4 revival meeting I'm earnest. Nearly
every one OF the 500 soldiers was
either singing or praying. The whole
regiment was converted" in very
few minutes.
But the rough sea continued. The
,olored preacher felt that something
'urther must be done An inspiration
came to him; there must be a sacri.
ice of some kind
Our prayers and songs don't pre-.
vail" he shouted, There's some.
hing wrong. Brethren, the dice must
90 into the sea-"
The suggestion had only to be
made, The dice were tossed into the
angry waters, about 500 pairs. Some
)f the negroes also threw in the
money which they had won with the
lice. In half an hour after the dice !
we're given to the sea the storm
lbated.
The Rev. Mr., Waller held religious
services at frequent intervals during
he rest Of the voyage. They were
always well attended. At each meet. |
ng he told his hearers that the pray.
'rs of the righteous had saved the
wicked. Then he urged them all to
'emain steadfast.
Nothing was said about crap shoot
ng during the rest of the voyage
shortly after the soldiers landed in
cuba there was pay day. Then il was
hat "backslider" tried to borrow
ome dice, but not a single pair could
'e found in the regiment; they had all
'een consigned to the sea.
This was a condition that could not
asst. An ingenious negro soldier stole
IN ivory billiard ball from Cuban
'ool hall and whitfield out pair of
lice He sold them for $12.