New-York tribune., 1907-09-02
A VISION THAT FAILED.
CAME OUT OF ARKANSAS.
Sam Wdlhife a Better Farmer
than a Latter Dau PrODhet.

On a railroad train somewhere between Nam
haitian and Norfolk. Baxter County. Ark. Samuel
Wtllhite must be pondering this morning over ths
futility Of having visions that do not work out
First. he had expected to the world come TO an
end on September l. Later he made up his mind
that his first vision had become twisted during the
transmission process. and recasting of it set the
date, in mis- mind. for the end OF all mundane
things as Thursday of last week.
Throughout the latter day Wflhite sat on the
steps of the Municipal Lodging House No. 3ss
First avenue. Bible in hand. waiting the pass
Ing of earth. and at odd moments endeavoring to
convince some Of the other guests Of the city that
he was the genuine. real thing in the prophet class
William c. Yorke. the superin tendent much TO the
surprise OF Wfhite continued about the duties OF
his Office. the last of which was to see that the
Arkansan. his wife and two little children were
safely slowed away for the night Three other
children were placed IN the care of the Gerry So
ciety Immediately after Willhite became inmate
of the municipal lodging house August 2s-
Wil1hite OF the Southwest last June.
According 10 HIS own story, he had been at va
riOus times a preacher farmer and merchant
The two latter avocations did not pay very well.
though. when June l he "visioned' that the
word soon coming 70 an end ne possessed
a farm which he sold 800 He was ploughtng
in the field when the message came to him In
this wise: 'In ninety days shall the unexpected
come 70 pass Go thou among the accurseds say
unto them that destruction IS near Let them pre-
ffAAAA-AN0 -
with
A second vision directed his steps Europerard
and he took his wife, five children. and passage 70
London Just three days did he remain In the
British capital. Our cousins. he felt. didn't
to be saved. for he permitted 70 preach
his gospel in the streets. and how else could rs
let them know the end so very. very near,
Back to America came WiIlhite and family. OF the
s400 just S11 remained when he landed here. and
william c. Rogers inspector OF the State Board
OF Charities. escorted the vsicnist- his wife anu
three young children the Municipal Lodging
House The Gerry Society took the older two. On
Saturday afternoon the five wers placed aboard
train tagged for Arkansas
4 week ago yesterday wiIIhfts decided 70 give
his vision to the people Of Manhattan and naas
arrangements To preach in the street near ms
lodging house but G.. Neuhaus, the Inspector IN
charge. advised against that unless a license ware
procured. The self-styled prophet thought tr oe-
meath his dignity TO so 10 the city Hall and Apply
for permission to save the world and ne oonnoe1
his attention 70 the other inmates Tney Hseeneo
TO his talk good naturedly. and discussed ne 81
uatfon with him in apparent seriousness' DUE not
a single man evinced a desire % be among those
TO Iinger on OF after September L
For two or three days WuIhite was very restless.
and when Superintendent Yorke asked nm uns
cause the Arkansau said he was oegfnnms 70
doubt the accuracy OF his prophecy. and tnar ne
fe1r he had made error in his calcuiat1ons Ons
whole dav spent over his Bible and calendar con
virced him that ne had been wrong. and thsn
V-iuhfte startled those about him by declaring IN
his most impressive manner that Thursday was ths
da- OF days and that all those who did nor get Il
( orr OF the wet would then and there be wiped or
/ the map. Stiu there were no converts ana ina
,1s;on gette- decided that Il was up TO nm 20 90
+ ,t alone in the new world Not convert had rs
made No one in busy New York seemed 70 cars
whether the world came 70 an end or not
Then came the uaorlentous Thursday Wiinile
arose e7rIv ard prepared TO watch everybody eise
shuttle into eternity. Why should he caref NO on7
hal headed hts message. and It would serve Inein
-,sb+ ANYWAY the fewer who remained "lth Nm
the more room there would be for Samuel WllH1'7
and The five little WiIIhftes say nothing or the
,rife who never had evinced much -rallh 10 le.
T husbands prophecies He was ql'ite chesII sIIlieU
-be- s,1rerfntendent Yorke and Inspector NeuIais
Tf1s5 70 hid him goodby. and he couldnt hep ca9'
,,g co,-a11pt1ror1s glances at the ofners Who no
-ofec+a5 70 save themselves from the frreslSI-4
+ata that was impending. Anyway ne was g.
A,d so he sat all day long on the steps u 80
To5gi,o- r7o41se When turuirg-iu time cams 10
,.-srt S,-rovvfJIIy bed. still sure t1iats &c i-a
.--.5 o,t from all the rest as secoTic1 NlE7'' ~
.ta- r,,rzzled as 20 why things had gore a"IJ-
~, SATURDAY when an officer OF the Sfate boalu
- C,ftfas came 10 escort the Willhite 1aInlly 10
tho rafIroad sta ton. the prophet reassurec t-o
= t v,,,nfrinal hotel tne end was not I4r o-'
t 4,td them that he would send corrected dAts
O. 10 sIufFing off from faraway Arkansas JUS
z soon as he could borrow q plough ana se- Ni'i'
IN range of another vision