The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-11-23
voudoux Mysteries and Crimes.

VOudOux Mysteries and Crimes.
Among the ancient superstitions import
ed with the black race from Africa, mona
mas retained such fixed impression on
the mind of the negro as Vouduoxism.-
Here, in Cuba, in Jamaica, and in Hay,i,
it has always presented more or less of its
old Ethiopian characteristics though
oannibalism and the sacrifice of human
victims to the Fetish god have, in a great
measures, been superseded by less revolt
ing rites and ceremonies. On hundreds
OF occasions, within the last quarter of a
century, the police of this oity have inter-
rupted Voudoux orgies, both white and
colored, have believed themselves to be
the victims of Voudoux spells. 1t is par
ticularly in affairs of the heart that the
New Orleans followers of Voudoux have
woven their charms and incantations, and
but for the degradation involved, their
ceremonies might be looked upon as in
terestingly ridiculous. A nude dance
around central altar, in presence of the
fetish queen ohaldron boiling and bub-
bling In the detection Of virtues from
more varied ingredients than those used
by the weired sisters of Macbeth's blasted
heath the excitement caused by the wild
ly intoxicating fumes of the strange dis
tillation the distribution to the faithful
OF charms and conjurations rife with
mighty magic-all these are features in
the rude ceremonial, which impose on the
ignorant and inspire awe in bosoms of be-
levers in fetish orthodoxy. Almost
every ancient Creole family had its You
doux worshipper in its list of family SER
wants, and sometimes nay young mistress
was half indoctrinated into the belief by
her faithful nurse, and spells were woven
to bring lovers to her feet. Occasionally
strange deaths were attributed to You
douxisrh, and whispers of foul play were
not wanting; but generally, the ceremo-
MES were looked upon as a comparatively
harmless vent for the gas of Congo su-
perstition. Curious things of various
kinds confidently believed to be of fetish
manufacture, are frequently found in pill
lows or mattresses, and how they get
there no one can tell. These are held to
mean mischief, and on weak minds they
often produce imaginary ailments, till
counter-charms are invoked to exercise
the first unholy influence. Recently in
Hayti eight Voudoux devotees were tried
and executed for the murder, or sacrifice,
as they called it, of young negress. By
command of the President, and under an
order of the council attached to the civil
tribunal of Port-au-Prince, it was declar-
ed that there was sufficient cause to pro-
ceed against Juana Relic, Floreal Apol-
Ion, Guerrier Francois, Congo Pelle, Jul
lien Nicholas, Nereina Francois, Roseida
Sumera and Bayard Prosper, for murder,
committed on the person Of young girl
named Clarina. The trial took place in
due form, when it appeared that the aunt
and upcle of the deceased had hand 10
tie horrid butchery. Congo PelIe, the
uncle, stated that the god of his worship
had ordered him to offer up human sac
rifce. He communicated the fact to his
sister, Juana, and they agreed together
that their niece, Clarina, should be the
victim. After making all their arrange
ments, the girl was led to the slaughter by
Congo. She was first placed in a mystic
rious sort of box called "Humfort,"
with her limbs closely bound to her body.
There she was kept four days, a peculiar
description of sarrifcial food being daily
administered to her, and as soon as she
Wdc sunOiCuIiJ PiCpdHeO lOI suuSiIus5J u u
ana strangled her by violently compress
ing her throat, while Floreal pressed in
her sides, and Gucrrier held her by the
feet. Thus, in fearful commissions, the
poor child died. Floreal then took a
knife, and, after separating the head from
the body, skinned the latter while it was
yet warm. This done. they quarreled
over the carcass, each contending for
choice portions as the material for hell
ish feast; and after the first part of the
diobolical banquet was over, they cooked
the girls head with yams, of which each
fendishly partook. Subsequently the
skull was placed on an altar, and Juan,
taking bell in her hand, circled round
and round, followed by the others, all
chanting mysterious song. When this
ceremony was finished, the skin and en-
trails were buried, and the bones, which
had previously been burnt, were, with the
blood, placed in earthen vessels and care
fully preserved.
Part of these facts came out by the
confession of somo of the parties, and
more were elicted from a girl, named Lo-
sama, who had been kidnapped and kept
in confinement as the next victim. This
girl had been obliged to carry food to
Clarinda during the four days of prepara-
tion.
At the execution of the eight Voudoux
murderers, the populace cried out, "Long
live the President of Hayti! Long live
civilization p-M 9. Times