a fate worse than death at the hands of the wicked, who
glory and take delight in shameful treatment of the defenseless." He
heard the tramping of horses' feet among the bushes only a short
distance away, and soon several men galloped past where he lay--so close
that one of the horses brushed against the bush which sheltered him. The
frightened minister lay perfectly still until the footsteps died away,
then he arose and went cautiously back to the city to see, if possible,
what had been the fate of his wife and children, left to the mercy of a
disappointed and angry mob.

The feeling that the church was the only place for safety filled the
breasts of most of the frightened souls in the neighborhood of Seventh
and Red Cross streets on the evening of the dreadful 10th of November,
after the band of Red Shirts had terrorized the people in their
blusterous hunt for the negro minister. "It seemed like the day of
Judgment," said an eye witness. "There were no loud lamentations, as is
usual when colored people are wrought up under excitement, but sobs,
groans and whispered petitions. Bless our pastor, Lord, an' save him ef
it be Thy will," came from many lips, followed by "Amens" and "Do,
Lord." Suddenly the church was thrown into a spasm of excitement that
could not be suppressed, for while they were breathing prayers for his
deliverance, the pastor, wet, footsore and tired, entered and strode
slowly up the aisle. "Why did you, oh, why did you come back?" exclaimed
his wife, throwing her arms about the minister's neck, while others in
their excitement gathered about them. The Rev. Silkirk gently led his
wife, who had almost fainted in his arms, to a chair and raised his hand
for silence. "Brethren and sisters," he began, "my escape from death
to-day has been a narrow one. I knew that my attitude in the Manly-Fells
controversy had caused some of my friends to cool toward me, but I did
not believe that it would ripen into a desire to murder me, because of
my opinions. Nevertheless, my attitude is the same. I do not retract a
single word said in defense of my people. Twenty or more men were killed
to-day--men who are innocent of any wrong. I may be numbered with them
before morning; yet love for my wife and little ones and you caused me
to tempt death by returning here to console and speak a word of comfort
to you. These may be evidences of God's displeasure; we may have in our
prosperity forgotten to give Him the glory due unt