p. 30 | The Falling Stars by E. H. Burrett

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 8, 1856

The Falling Stars.

By E. H. Burrett

A GENTLEMAN in South Carolina thus describes the effect of the phenomenon of 1833 upon his ignorant blacks:

“I was suddenly awakened by the most distressing cries that ever fell on my ears. Shrieks of horror and cries for mercy I could hear from most of the negroes of three plantations, amounting in all to about six or eight hundred. While earnestly listening for the cause, I heard a faint voice near the door calling my name. I arose, and taking my sword, stood at the door. At this moment I heard the same voice still beseeching me to rise, and saying, ‘O my God, the world is on fire.’ I then opened the door, and it is difficult to say which excited me most, the awfulness of the scene, or the distressed cries of the negroes. Upwards of one hundred lay prostrate on the ground, some speechless, and some with the most bitter cries; but most with their hands raised imploring God to save the world and them. The scene was truly awful, for never did rain fall much thicker than the meteors fell towards the earth, east, west, north and south, it was the same.—E. H. Burrett.”