Year: 1874

to the southwest, still following the
way the cane fell, until they arrived
in New Madrid, in Missouri. Here
the prophet Butler took sick and died.
Before lis death he told his people /,
the Lord had sent for him to 60 to
heaven, but in two years he would re-
turn to them on earth-but he has not
fulfilled his promise. Before his
death he told his people that the Lord
had raised up minor prophets, who
would conduct them to the promised
land.


Although greatly reduced IN mum.
bers, from New Madrid they continu-
ed their course to the mouth of the
Arkansas river, where, one lie be-
low the mouth of said river, on the
northwest bank Of the Mississippi
river. they came to what they said was
the promised land When they arriv-
ed here they had all died or left them
but four men and two women The
year after arriving here two OF these
laep died. aud the following year one
81 the two remaining men died, and
the other man lett tor New Orleans.
1t was never known what became of
him. That left the promised land, as
they called it, only the two women.


In 1924 | was on my way to New
Orleans with a hat-boat, in company
with two other fat-boats and their
crews. We landed at the mouth of
the Arkansas river. j. d. Black burn,
Esq. OF Lebanon; Captain Cochran,
of Madison, Indiana; one or two other
boatmen and myself. got a man who
lived at the mouth Of the Arkansas to
pilot us to the promised land, and see
the last OF the Pilgrims. We found
the Pilgrims promised land to be the
most forbidden place We ever saw for
man or beast to live in. From the
mouth of the Arkansas river there is
narrow ridge of dry land on the
northwest bank of the Mississippi
down for little over mile; immedi-
ately back of this ridge there is
swamp extending almost. if not quite,
from one river to the other, where, i'll
time of high water, the water in the
swamp is from ten to twenty feet
deep. On this little ridge, about a
mile below the Arkansas, we came to
their tent. 1t was built by setting
forks in the ground, and laying poles
on them. The tent was enclosed by
setting reed cane on the sides, and
covering it with bits Of old boards
and bark. The tent was twelve CT
thirteen feet square, with no floor but
the earth In this desolate place we
found the last of the Pilgrims two
beautiful and interesting young la


dies, say from twenty. five to thirty
years of age. They were neat and
clean in their person and dress, but
their dresses were patch upon patch
until we could not tell what they were
or iginally made of. Their appearance
was very different from what they
were when they passed through Ohio;


then they were all filth and dirt.
| When we went down to see the them


l took basket of apples and gave


them. for which they thanked me very


kindly. We stayed and talked with


them for two hours or more. We


found them very sensible, intelligent


and we'll informed on matters and


things in general. In a word. they


were perfect ladies' To me it was a


sickening sight to see two such accom-.


plished ladies spending their days in 9


place only fit for the abode of alliga


tors. Before leaving them | said te


them: Ladies, you are here in lone


some, desolate place. | am now or


my way to New Orleans. l will re


turn in one or two months. If yor


desire it, | will cause the steamboat
return on to call and take You OF


hoard. will see that your passage


is paid to Cincinnati, and then if yot


wish to return to your own New Eng


land, | will see that means are pro
vided for you to get back" The.


thanked me very kindly for my offer


but said, they started out for tn,


promised land, and they hao found it


and nothing on earth would induc'
them to leave it. l found item oil


everything but their religion sensible
but on that they were monomaniacs
We bade them good night, and lei
them After we had got few step
from the tent, Captain Cochran said t.
? me: Hunt, those women are tit fo
wives for Congressman or Cover
nors."


The next year, on MY way to NeN
Orleans, stopped at the mouth 0
the Arkansas river. and inquired TO


these two women. Twas told that on
had died the last year, and that tn
other had left for New Orleans, wit
the intention of getting back to Ne,
England, but whether she ever &c
back or not do not know.


u Yours, John HUNT.