Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-01-18
SCARES IN LONDON
When Cranks Predicted the De-
struction OF the City.
TERROR RULED THE PEOPLE.
Bell, a Lunatic. Had the Entire Popu.
Iation In a Frenzy OF Fear Awaiting
the End by Earthquake In t761-rhe
River Thames Panic OF 1924.

tatoU w = FFoU@y " Ecss SWah'HB
the End by Earthquake In t761-rhc
River Thames Panic OF 1924.
Men. IL has been well said. think IN
herds lt will be seen that they go
mad In herds. for innumerable In.
stances Gun he given OF whole people
suddenly shaking OF the trammeis OF
reason and running Wild under the de
fusion OF some impending calamity.
panic terror OF the end OF the
world spread over London In 1896 by
the propbesy OF the famous Winston.
who predicted that the world would
be destroyed on Oct. 10 In that year
Crowds OF people went out on the ap-
pointed day to lslington. Highgate.
Hampstead and the intervening fields
to witness the destruction OF London.
which was to he the "beginning OF the
end"
Again in the year 1851 the citizens OF
London were plunged into excitement
by two earthquake shocks. aud the
prophecy Of third. which was to de-
stroy them altogether The tirst OF
these shocks was on Feb. and threw
down several chimneys; the second
was on March y. Public notice was
directed to the fact that there was ex
actly months interval between the
two shocks. and crack Drained fell
low named Rel was so impressed with
the idea that there would be third in
the forthcoming month that he com
pletely lost his senses and ran about
the streets predicting the destruction
Of London on April 8.
As the awful day approached the ex.
element became Intense. and great
numbers OF credulous people resorted
to all the villages within a circuit OF
twenty miles. there to await the doom
Of London. Blackheath. Islington.
Highgate. Hampstead and Harrow
were crowded with panic stricken
fugitives who paid exorbltant prices
for accommodations 10 these secure re.
treats. Such as could not afford to pay
for lodgings at these places encamped
In the surrounding fields.
AS Is usual In panics, the fear be-
came contagious. and hundreds whc
had laughed nj the prediction n week
before packed up their goods and chat
tells when they saw others doing so
and FASTENED away. The river was
thought 20 be II place of great security,
and accordingly all the available mer.
chant vessels and barges were packed
with people. who passed the night be-
tween the 4th and 9th on board cx-
pecting every moment TO see st. PauI's
totter and the towers OF Westminster
abbey rock and fall amid cloud OF
dust. But on the following day the
greater part OF the fugitives returned.
convinced that the prophecy was a
false one. A few months afterward
Bell was confined In a lunadc asylum
where he died.
Great CONSERVATION was caused In
London IN 1924 by prediction that on
the LIST day OF February the waters OF
the Thames would overflow the whole
city OF London and wash away 10000
houses. The prophecy was implicitly
believed. and many families packed up
their goods and removed into Kent and
Essex. As the time drew near the
numbers OF these emigrants increased
In January droves OF workmen might
be seen. followed by their wives and
children. trudging on foot TO the vii
lagos within fifteen or twenty miles to
await the catastrophe People OF
higher class were also to he seen IN
vehicles bound on n similar errand
By the middle or January NJ least
10000 persons had quilted the doomed
city. leaving nothing but the bare walls
Of their homes 10 be swept away by
the impending foods Many OF the
wealthier class took M their abode on
the heights OF Hampstead flighgate
and Blackheath. aud some erected tents
as far away MS Waltham abbey on the
north ana Croydon on the south OF the
Thames
On the faieful morning the wonder
Ing crowds were astir at an early hour
TO watch the rising OF the waters. II
was predicted that the inundation
would be gradual. not sudden. so that
tney expected 10 nuNe plenty OF time
TO escape ns soon ms they saw The WA
tiers rise beyond the usual mark.
The day grew Older. and the Thames
flowed on quietly as OF yore The tide
ebbed ut Its usual hour. flowed 10 its
usual height and then ebbed again. just
as II twenty astrologcrs had not pledg
ed their word TO the contrary.
Blank were their faces as evening
approached. and as blank grew the
faces OF the citizens to think that they
had made such fools OF themselves
Night set In. and the obstinate river
wonld not lift It's waters to sweep
away even one home out OF the To-
600. Still. however. the people were
afraid 10 20 TO sleep Many hun
ireds remained M Till dawn OF the
next day. lest the delmge should come
upon them like thlef IN the night
On the morrow II was seriously dis.
cussed whether n would not he adyis
able TO duck the false prophets m the