The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-05-27
THREW AWAY DICE
coLoRED SOLDIERS IN A FIT OF
PENlTENcE.
Severe Storm at Sea Caused lmpromp-
tn Revival Meeting in Earnest
No More Crap Shooting
During That Voyaoe.

NeN w 0A1s
Five hundred pairs Of dice are lyinr
on the bottom Of the Atlantic ocean
somewhere of 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 were thrown overheard
by the negroes of a Kansas regiment
90 ing q violent storm at sea, the sac.
riiice having heen prompted by peni.
tcnce. II was while the negro regi.
ment was on board the ship Vigilanca
en- route TO Cuba in September. 1898.
that a storm converted 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.
l. Is said that practically all Of the ne
groes who We're not prostrated with
seasickness We're shooting craps. The
scene is described as one of mingled
suffering and excitement. The dis.
trcssed pleaded for quiet and rest.
but We're unheeded by the noisy gam
biers.
Above The cries and noans of the
suffering, such language as this could
be heard in different parts of the yes
sci;
It's 'Ieven an know it, "shoot
de money" Didn't | get coon?t
NLittle Dick
Late at night while the games were
running high a violent storm broke
suddenly upon the sea- When the wind
struck the Vigilance 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 asstorm 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 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. He 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. It was
a revival meeting in 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
colored preacher felt that something
further must be done An inspiration
Gang to him; there must be a sacri-
fec OF some kind
Our prayers and songs don't pre-.
vail" 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
OF the negroes alsa threw in the
money which they had won with the
dice In half an hour after the dice
We're given to the sea the storm
abated.
The Rev. Mr. Waller held religious
at frequent intervals during
the rest of the voyage. They were
always well attended AT each meet,
ing he tola his hearers that the pray.
ers Of the righteous had saved the
wicked. Then he urged then All to
reIcain steadfast.
Nothing was said about crap shoot
ing during the rest Of the voyage.
Shortly after the soldiers landed in
Cuba there was pay day. Then Il was
that a "backslider' tried 10 borrow
some dice, but not single pair could
be found in the re.s.is--t. they had an
been consigned to the sea.
This was condition that could not
last. An ingenious negro soldier stole
an ivory billiard ball from Cuban
pool hall, and whitfield out a pair OF
dice. He sold them for s12.