Dispatch, August 21, 1889
Untitled
Infrastructure -- Public : Camp meetingsLaborers -- DomesticLaborers -- FarmWeather -- Droughts
Onancock, August 19, 1889.
The colored Methodists are holding a great camp-meeting near Savageville, about three miles south of this place. Yesterday was a big day with them. An excursion steamer from Baltimore brought nearly five hundred negroes of all ages and conditions, and every part of the Eastern Shore peninsula sent is quota to make up the crowd, which could not have been less than five thousand strong. During the entire day crowds continued to pour through this town on their way to the meeting. The woods around the encampment were alive with dusky forms flitting about, shouting lustily to each other and occasionally getting into fights, none of which resulted seriously. The worshippers sit under an arbor covered with green bushes, and the preachers hold forth from a rude plank platform. Their services begin soon after sunrise and continue, with a short intermission at noon, till long after midnight. This is a season much dreaded by Eastern Shore farmers and housekeepers, as field-hands and house-servants consider it their religious duty to attend these camp-meetings day and night. It is safe to say that there are but few negroes on the Eastern Shore of Virginia who will not attend the Savageville camp-meeting.
NORTHERN METHODISTS.
During the past week the northern Methodists have been holding a camp-meeting near New Church station, on the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk railroad, in the northern part of this county. Immense crowds have attended every day, and many conversions are reported. The home preachers have been assisted by a number of distinguished preachers from Maryland and Delaware. The meeting will close to-night, when all the church members and new converts present will form in line and march three times around the camp-ground, singing songs of triumph.
Sweet potatoes are going to market in large quantities, and prices continue good.
Dry weather and crops suffering for rain.