The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-02-03
FANATICS PREPARE FOR
LAST HOURS ON EARTH
MILLERITES EXPECT WORLD
TO COME TO AN END ON
FEBRUARY 9TH.
DISPOSE OF ALL POSSESSIONS
Members of Strange Religious Cult,
Undismayed by Hoots at Their
Forefathers, Preach Doctrines of
The Coming of Christ.

The Coming of Christ.
Expecting the world to come to an
end February 9th, OF this year, and
firm in the belief that on that day they
will be taken to heaven, members OF
one of the strangest religious cults in
the United States are making prepare
tons for their last day on this earth.
The fanatics are the followers of Will
liam Miller, who in 1843 predicted
that the world would come to an end
in that year, and they firmly believe,
as their forefathers did of the date
back in 1843, that Feb. 9th will be the
new judgment day.
Sell Earthly Goods.
The members of this queer sect have
sold all their worldly possessions and
are travelling about the country dis
| tributing religious tracts and preach
ing their strange beliefs. When Feb,
9th comes they will gather on the hill
tops and await the coming OF the
Lord. They will do so in the firm be-
lief that the world will be destroyed
by fire during that day.
/ Strange have been the happenings
of the past, for three times before
these Millerites have predicted the
end of the world and prepared for
the great occasion A few of these
incidents have been recorded
Terrified Countryside.
In Stow, Mass, lived a man named
Ben Whitcomb, who early prepared
for the end of the world. He trained
his horse to jump over fences, chick
en- coops and wood piles, and dressed
himself in the most fantastic clothing.
He wore garments made Of all kind
of rags and long red cape on which
he sewed stars cut out of yellow pa
per. On his head was collegian'S
mortar board hat, and the half OF a
! hornet nest was fastened to each
shoulder
Ben rode about the country shout
ing his doctrines, and even made a
home for himself under the tombstone
on the grave of his brother. Finally
/ being ridiculed by the residents OF
Stow, he hanged himself.
D1GW l
In the town of Westford, Mass.
Cray" Amos thought long and deep
| " over the strange acts OF the Mil
lerites. Then, on the eve of the pre-
dcted millennium, when the Millerites
were in their meeting house, he took
COW horn, stationed himself in the
center OF the town and footed with
might and main.
The Millerites rushed forth in great
haste to get good positions before the
Lord, and Amos is said to have made
himself i'll laughing. At any rate, the
| world did not end then.
Many Other Instances.
There are many other instances OF
tragedy and humor in the history OF
| Millerism.
Some of the followers of Miller got
huge baskets, in which they believed
they could ride to heaven, carried
them to the tops of the hills, and sat
down to await the end of the world.
! Later they plodded tragically home
amid the boots OF the sCotfers.
People crawled up into trees and
! Jumped out, believing they would be
snatched up into heaven. One man put
on turkey wings, climbed into tree
and implored the Lord to take him up
ahead of the others. He tried to fly,
but fell and broke his arm.
Despite all these records OF the past
the Millerites OF today firmly believe
that the world will come to an end
Feb 9th They have sold their prop
critics and are preaching their doctrines
throughout the land.