A Bullet Bible

Subject: A Bullet Bible Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:02 pm

Have anyone read of this before? and if so, is there a mention anywhere of it being used during the AZW?
Also who was Rev O ?
Obviously used when a Reverend found himself in a dangerous situation.

The Monmouthshire Merlin and South Wales Advertiser, March 21, 1879.

The Rev O Missionary, now in this country, begs to inform geographical, civilisation, and Missionary Societies that on his return to Rorkes Drift he will be in a position to offer an immense number of the above ingenious articles for sale at a very low price. The Modis Operandi is as follows:- An ordinary sized bible is placed in the hands of a poor heathen Zulu. Carefully concealed in the book is a conical-shaped explosive bullet, of the same pattern as those presented by Sir S Baker to alligators and hippopotami in the swamps of Egypt. The book is contrived to fall open at the words "Peace on earth, good will towards men" - poor Zulu reads, and is glad. In closing the book he touches a skilfully-hidden spring, when immediately the bullet explodes, and the Zulu is sent to his peaceful grave. It will be seen that this ingenious arrangement is at once simple and effective. Missionary Societies taking a quantity, supplied at cost price. Address Rev O Rorkes Drift South Africa.- Echo.

Subject: Re: A Bullet Bible Mon Oct 07, 2024 6:14 am

“Eddie”,

Here’s an answer to one of your question: Pastor Peter Otto Holger Witt.

JY

Subject: Re: A Bullet Bible Mon Oct 07, 2024 10:46 am

Hi John

Thank you, it was the obvious answer but I had not known his full name, I should have looked that up.

Subject: Re: A Bullet Bible Mon Oct 07, 2024 11:41 am

Hi All

Whist doing some Google searches on the Bullet Bible mentioned above I came across this article. It may well be an old wives tail or the clergy highlighting good and evil, but I wondered if there were any claimants to this that happened to them at Isandlwana.

Found in: California Digital Newspaper collection
Morning Union, Volume 25, Number 3965, 17th December 1879.

Headed: Just as well

At the dreadful battle of Isanndula (their spelling) was a young man, the only son of a widow. His mother was a good Christian woman, and had taught him to read his Bible, and when he left his home she blessed him and gave him a copy of the sacred book, and he, in the far-off land where he went, read it often, and he cherished the book as his mother's gift and always wore it next to his heart, and in that terrible battle it saved his life by stopping a bullet that would have otherwise have pierced his heart.
He had a companion; a wild, reckless youth, who didn't even own a Bible, and who spent his time in gambling, and when a bullet winged it's way to his heart, there was no Bible to stop it, but he had a pack of cards in his pocket that did just as well.

Subject: Re: A Bullet Bible Sat Oct 12, 2024 8:33 am

This report sounds like a piece of home-spun nonsense for the already converted. Hallelujah!
Sorry Eddie, I know of no survivor's account (and I have them all) which ever told such a tale, nor anything remotely similar.

» Souvenir Bible, Ladies of Natal ?
» MH Bullet Heads
» Mr Crewell and his vomiting bullet