The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1894-09-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SEARCH FOR A REVIVALIST.  STRANGE OUTCOME OF RELIGIOUS MADITEGS.  The murder of Captain Thomas Bowdin, of Chincoteague Island, Va.. last week, has worked the feelings of the people of that island up to fever heat, and it will go hard with "Bishop" Joseph Bernard Lynch if he is caught. The murder is the outcome of the fight being waged between a clan of so-called religionists, under the leadership of Lynch, who call themselves "The Sanctified Band," and the citizens of the island. Captain Bowdin's wife was influenced by " The Sauctilied Band," and joined their ranks. The peculiar belief of these religionists compels one man's wife to go round with another man, other than her husband, and preach sanctification. Bowdin would not allow his wife to do this, and finally showed her that the belief of "The Sanctified Band" was a lot of rubbish. This caused her to quit the ranks of the band, and also raised a fse,ling against Bowdin &MOB( the followers of Lynch. Bowdin belonged to the Citizens' Committee, who have been trying to rid the island of '' Tlie Sanctified Bend," and this also caused a hatred of him. Reently the fend cultninated in the worst form of rowdyism, and the lower class of people on the island have been stoning "The Sanctified Band." I The climax of the feud was reached on Sunday night, when Captain Bowdin was  _ _ RDEBJCD AS HE BLIP,' IN BED alongside of his wife. The rowdy element on the island had just been to the church of the band, where they made an attack with stones and rotten eggs. Every window in the building was broken out, and on the walls were splotchee of rotten eggs. "The Sanctified Band drove the mob back into the town. In returning to the church " Th. Sanctified Band" had to pass the home of Captain Bowdin. The window of the room in whioh he was sleeping was up, and someone Vulva a guff in. the window and shot him ;us he iay in bed. The bullet struck him in the haul, and be died within a few hours. His wife, who was sleeping beads him, was awakened by the reportnf the gun, and screamed. A second shot wan fred at her, but the bullet went wide of its mark. It is thought that the intention MEI to kill both Captain and Mrs Bowdin for opposing the religious fanatics. "Bishop" Lynch, as he stylai himself, was on the island last week, and conducted the services of the band, lie cannot be found now, and if he is be will no doubt be  TARRHO AND YHATHHRID OH LYNCHZU The other day a mob, armed with shot guns, were trailing Lynch about the island. They had bloodhounds on his track, hut the search for the "Bishop" was in vain. It is supposed that he had left the island and gone to lerankford established lie recently tablished a church. It was burned down several wecks ago by euraged citizens, and he built another church at Williamsville, near Frankford. Lynch has about 20..) followers on Chincoteague Island, and about 100 around Frankford. He first established the "Chnrch ot the Sanctified People" on the island. He claimed that an angel mune Whin. in a dream and gave him power to perform different miracle*, one of which was to walk on the sea. He gave • number of exhibitions of walking on the water, until the citizens of the island found that lie had a board-walk laid under the water and walked on this. They exposed his methods, but this did not shake the belief of his folloAer4. Ho , was driven from the island, but returned about a fortnight ag.i.