Strange, sad ending. Leo Ryan, congressman from San Mateo, comes to investigate because of complaints by relatives. Jones goes into a panic. He has practiced mass suicide in the past and thinks this might be the time. Ryan's visit, though, is hardly earthshaking. Only 20 or so Temple residents want to leave--not many out of 900. Still, to Jones that is the beginning of the end. when Ryan leaves, Jones sends assassins after him. Shootout on the runway; Ryan killed. One plane takes off, some people hide in the jungle. The assassins return and Jones orders the mass suicide. Children and infants are killed first--syringes of cyanide-laced Kool-Aid like drink are shot into their mouths. Next are the elderly, then finally the adults. Anyone who tries to escape is forcibly injected with the poison or shot. Animals are shot.
The world finds out in bits and pieces. Guyana troops are the first there; then US troops take their place. Impossible to identify all the bodies. Heat and decay in the jungle.
Assets of the church are close to 10 million, but most of that goes to US government to repay all the costs of the handling of the dead.
Jim Jones two sons, Stephan and Jim Jones Jr. survive because they are on a basketball team trip and are in Georgetown. Stephan calls SF repeatedly telling Temple members there not to commit suicide. some members in Georgetown do kill themselves and their children.
Author notes that the people had been living in the jungle for years. Jones was their source of information. He repeatedly told them they were about to be attacked by outsiders, so they believed him. They chose death by suicide rather than being slaughtered by troops.
Book is very factual, impressively researched, and written without sensationalism, going to great pains to include the good the Peoples Temple did as well as the bad, and also going to great lengths to portray Jones as a complete person, not a maniac. A great achievement.
The world finds out in bits and pieces. Guyana troops are the first there; then US troops take their place. Impossible to identify all the bodies. Heat and decay in the jungle.
Assets of the church are close to 10 million, but most of that goes to US government to repay all the costs of the handling of the dead.
Jim Jones two sons, Stephan and Jim Jones Jr. survive because they are on a basketball team trip and are in Georgetown. Stephan calls SF repeatedly telling Temple members there not to commit suicide. some members in Georgetown do kill themselves and their children.
Author notes that the people had been living in the jungle for years. Jones was their source of information. He repeatedly told them they were about to be attacked by outsiders, so they believed him. They chose death by suicide rather than being slaughtered by troops.
Book is very factual, impressively researched, and written without sensationalism, going to great pains to include the good the Peoples Temple did as well as the bad, and also going to great lengths to portray Jones as a complete person, not a maniac. A great achievement.
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