The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-10-04
THEY WAITED In VAIN
FOR END OF WORLD
Gathering Of People at West Derby
Were Disturbed BY Many Tenn
poral Signs.

West Derby. Oct. 4.~This town has
just emerged and partially recovered
from an experience similar TO that OF
West Duxbnry, Mass, Derby being the
mecca Of Vermont Holy Rollers during
the recent end of the world vigil.
An apostle Of this singular sect came
here several weeks ago and began O wig
orous campaign, announcing the near
approach Of the millennium 1t Is said
that several Derby people, who at hrst
| looked on the movement with amuse-
ment, became strenuous belieyers. It
is also said that the converts were Civ
en- a vigorous treatment in preparation
for the great event, one stunt being to
place the candidate in q prostrate posi-
tion apd then administer a long and
severe drubbing 'to drive out evil and
innoculate the convert with the holy
ghost
One aged man, who possessed Of con
siderable metns, gave away several
thousand dollars and was about to dis
pose of his farm in like manner when
his SON arrived and succeeded in getting
himself appointed the old mans guar
dian just before the papers were drawn.
Many of the farmers neglected their
crops and there WAS a general disregard
Of things temporal
Unlike their Dxbury brethren the
Rollers gathered here did not believe
that they were on ground exempt from
the coming end Of the world. They be-
lieved that after eight days Of prayer
and meditation they were to he carried
skywafi in a white cloud. while their
wicked neighbors would be cut into
small pieces and, still living, float about
in their own blood.
The local pilgrims met on each Of the
eight evenings at various private houses
the sessions being held in darkness. Al.
though for the most part the community
regarded them with amusement and pity
a few hcartless practical iokers could
not let the situation pass unnoticed.
On one evening one Of these funny fell
lows attended the Rollers meeting while
his friends assembled on neighboring
hsil with ouele. magaphone and a large
quantity Of brushwood. When the fan
atics had worked themselves into q
proper pitch Of excitement he stole out
and signalled the hilltop. Immediately
l.-. bonfire was touched of, the shrill
notes of the bugle pierced the evening
quiet. and the man with the megaphone
got busy The effect was such as to
satisfy the boys most sanguine expec-
tations,
On another evening the Rollers Yeeeis-
ed an equally startling shock from an
altogether different source. A Canadian
steamboat, stranger 70 the Vermont end
cf Lake Memphremagog, came down 20
Newport to be inspected by government
officials When they tried out the search
light, with no malace aforethougbt they
happened to direct It's powerful rays in
to the windows Of house whore some
fifty Of the Rollers were assembled. In
an instant every person in the room
was on Els feet and a rush for the door
followed. The men and women shouted
Jt's come, it's comel" rolling IN the
read and ieaping IN the air When they
found that it WAS a little Canadian
steamer instead of the angel Gabriel
their faith was undiminished and they
resumed with their prayer and medita
tion.
On the evening following the landing
Of party who had been up the lake
for q elambake and added somewhat to
the noise of the brass band upon landing
served az another false alarm.