The Onliest One Alive: Surviving Jonestown, Guyana

by Catherine H. Thrash and Marian Kleinsasser Towne

Book Overview

The Onliest One Alive: Surviving Jonestown has been a collaborative project of Catherine (Hyacinth) Thrash and Marian Towne since 1982, when Mrs. Thrash returned to Indianapolis from the Los Angeles... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 096426661X
• ISBN13: 9780964266612
• Release Date: May 1995
• Publisher: Marian K. Towne
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Only One Survived Jonestown and Lived to Tell!

Catherine Hyacinth Edwards Thrash was an incredible witness to one of history's most tragic and catastrophic events in Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978. By her sheer will, she chose not to attend the final White Night as it was called by Jones to engage a stand-off against the world and for his followers to take poison. Unlike other white nights, this final white night occurred after Congressman Leo Ryan's visit and the defection of about fifteen members. Not a lot considering that there were over 900 left in the South American jungles. Hyacinth fell asleep under her bed and she was waiting for her sister, Zipporah Edwards, who was a devout follower and her housemates to return from the meeting but nobody did. The book is different from other books about Jonestown because it is told from an African American woman's experience and her history with Jones from Indianapolis to Northern California to Guyana. Hyacinth was crippled and needed assistance in walking. Unlike the others, she didn't see or meet with Ryan or any of the press during their visit. Hyacinth like so many other followers were becoming disillusioned with Jones who was becoming mad, paranoid, and drug-addicted. She regrets not leaving Jones sooner than when it was too late. She and her sister didn't have husbands or children of their own. They cared for mentally ill patients in their home thanks to Jones. Hyacinth writes lovingly about the innocent victims of Jones' madness. Of course, she wanted to escape and made plans to go to Georgetown when possible. But I think she couldn't leave her sister behind or the hundreds of others. She had softness for Mother Marceline Jones who was obviously victimized by her husband and she recounts an incident where she tried to kill him. Oh if only Marcie had succeeded, there wouldn't any books, memorials, or movies and hundreds of innocent victims would have their lives. JOnes wanted it all from his followers whether it was money, homes, cars, possessions, etc. and finally he took their lives as well. The horrifying event on November 18, 1978 is forever etched in my mind as one of the most catastrophic events in recent history. We must now learn from it rather than bury it or assume their deaths were voluntarily. Jones had robbed his people of everything that he held dear even the children's lives.

Doomed...But Thank God 4 1 <

I really enjoyed reading this book it was refreshing to hear the Jownstown experience from a Black elderly person's viewpoint. It was unfortunate that the media never allowed more of the Black surviving members/followers to be interviewed so they could enlighten us about their personal experience and perspective on the People's Temple movement. Most information obtained and shared with the public is based upon interviews with White members of his hieracy, psychologist and/or cult experts. This book is one of the most powerful, eye opening and truthful accounts I have read. She accepts and deals with various levels of her responsibility; leading the reader to understand there is a potential for all types of people to become engaged and victimized by religious cult(s). But again it falls back to one thing; our government failed to protect Congressman Ryan and other uninvolved U.S. citizens. How does any government allow their Congressman to go into the jungles of a foreign "socialist" unstable country that is harboring another wanted man without military assistance? The volatility was already known based upon other informants of this cult. Even if these people in Jonestown wanted to leave on that very day with the Congressman; they were not given a safe avenue for escape. They were doomed!! If half or even 25% of them stated they wanted to leave no way would they all board one plane. They also knew no armed military personnel was there to ensure their safety. Therefore, they had no option as this lady clearly points out--they were on their own. Due to our government's mishandling potentially unhappy members of an extremist religious cult were left behind with no hope for a future. Our citizens became victims a second time; the cost this round? loosing their lives. Thank God for she slept through the massacre. Making the number one less!