Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-09-06
THREW AWAY DICE
coLoRED SOLDIERS IN A FIT OF
PENlTENcE.
Severe Storm at Sea Caused Impromp-
tu Revival Meeting In Earnest
No More Crap She otIns
During That VoYe1e.

Five hundred pairs OF dice are lying
on the bottom of the Atlantic 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. Tho
spotted cubes were thrown overheard
by the negroes OF n Kansas regiment
during n violent storm at sea, the sac
ritice having been prompted by peni.
tence. It was while the negro regi.
ment was on board the ship Vigilance
en- route to Cuba In September, 1898,
that a storm converted n score Of
boisterous crap games into a feryent
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.
Il 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 II excitement. The dis
tressed pleaded for quiet and rest,
but were UNDECIDED 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:
Its levcn an l know IT," Shoot
de money" Didn't 1 get a coon?"
Little Dick"
Late at night while the games were
running high q 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 a mighty wave. The shock
was unexpected and in n moment the
soldiers were experiencing all of the
horrors OF n storm at sea. The me-
groes grabbed up thedice and loose
change and huddled together like cat
tie, some OF them moaning and others
100 frightened to utter q sound.
The storm ragged for an hour, the
soldiers thinking hat every moment
would be the last. Fortunately there
was n negro preacher on board, the
Rev. John L.. Waller. 1t was for him
to rise to the occasion. He gathered
a crowd of negroes around him and
spoke thus:
Brethren, the Lord sent this storm
on the heads Of sinful crap shooters.
II 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.
c. In his prayer. In q short time
lamentations, means and promises
could be heard on every hand. It was
n revival meeting in earnest. Nearly
every one OF the 500 soldiers was
either singing or praying. The whole
regiment was converted" in q very
few minutes.
But the rough sea continued. The
colored preacher felt that something
further must be done. An inspiration
came to him; there must be a sacri.
flee Of some kind.
Our prayers and songs don't pre-.
rail" he shouted. There's some
thing wrong. Brethren, the dice must
go into the sea-"
The suggestion had only to be
made. The dice were tossed into tho
angry waters, about 500 pairs. Some
y" S"S 5'o NOV bhlo" Ill InO
money which they had won with the
dice. In half an hour after the dice
were given to the sea the storm
abated.
h Rev. Mr.. Waller held religious
services at frequent intervals during
the rest OF the voyage. They were
always well attended. At each meet.
ing he told his hearers that the pray.
crs Of the righteous had saved the
wicked. Then ho urged them all to
remain steadfast.
Nothing was said about crap shoot.
Ing during the rest OF the voyage.
Shortly after the soldiers landed in
Cuba there was a pay day. Then II was
that a "backslider" tried 10 borrow
some dice, but not n single pair could
be found In the regiment; they had all
been consigned to the sea.
[ This was n condition that could moi
las. An ingenious negro soldier stole
4 al ivory billiard ball from Il Cuban
/ pool hall and whitfield out a pair Of
I dice. lie sold them for $12.
. --~~e-