Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-06-16

The AFRICAN sVOUDoU.--Fh fashionable
delu,ion of the present day has now been set
lsce to face with the Pagan superstition OF u
thousand yaars Spiritual affinity the OF
madness of young America. has sprung up IN
the stronghold OF the mysterious African Nou-
dou. The New Orleans Picayune reports that
there resides in that city "an old woman
named Mira Pamauttl, who, By reason ot what
she dcnomiuatcS spiritual affinity, has pro-
cured an almost absolute iGilueucc ovcI mum
Der of gentlemen. by some means she has
taught them to believe that she holds In her
hands the issues Of their lives In this way
sne has made them contribute to her support
10 an extent that has enabled her to accumulate
ouite a respectable property. So strong is this
influence, that it defes reason, common sense,
aud the eBtreaties and persuasionS OF relations
and friends. Their weekly stipend is paid as
regularly as the days come round. BY some
the old woman is regarded as witch, but these
centieme n regard herwith n reverence one would
scarcely be excusedin bestowlng on q saint
IL is said that sha promises them long lle,
freedom from pain and sickness, ana success IN
the pursuit of gain. Singular as the deluslon
nav appear, they believe in it implicitly. Ii
g;ll be noted that in this case the spiritualist
has invested Lersalf,to some extent withsthe
mower assumed by the Yondou priestcss,. .and
instead of swinding her dupes in the manner
ordinarily practised in the Northern cities,
boldly evies her contributions by threats OF
.ieath or ether misfortune IN case OF ialluFe 10
comply with hes demands. From the New u
leans Times OF tho same date 1t appears that
there is considerable excitement at this time
IN Vondou circles. The celebrated Noudou
Doctor Jack received a warning that his spells
were no longer sufficiently potent to
avert the approach OF the fell destroyer
to whom all must hnalIy yie'd. Al
tne head Of Jacks bed had hung tor
many wears charmed beei's heart,
whioh, while remaining untouched, would pro-
tect bin, from all harm. Some days ago this
hns-t fell Of its own accord. Jack knew his
loom had soen recorded, and died in solemn
reaipnaton. His loss was sadly regretted by
the yotarics of his sect The great event OF the
,lav was, however, still to come. During the
first of June the Voudou worshippers ceebra.
tod their most sacred rites. At this period
;bey retire to Lake Pontchartrain, and there
indulge in midnight bathing, DANCES and other
supeYstitious observances. Ii is said tho cleo
ton of new Queen took place. Marie Lebau
who has for twenty years held this othee having
become superannuated was foroed to resign.
The followers of the Fetish faith worship only
youth aud beauty and would no longer tolerate
even so dreaded ruler rs Queen Marie at
sixty or seventy years OF age, and she has ac'
eorSingly been deposed in favor OF some more
Youthful and beautiful goddess of African de-
scent. whose name has not yet been announced.
During Marie's reign her power was at one
time disputed by O rival named Rosalie, who
had the enterprise to send to Africa Tor large
doll like idol, and which, when dressed and
bedeyiled with beads, tattoo marks and all man
ner OF Congo toggery, produced tremendous
impression among the credulous. 1t was re
garded by Marie as such dangerous taliSman
that tho idol was carried away-was brought
at ore time before the Recorder for him to de-
eide whose property it was, or whether any
violence had been used In wrestling it from Its
first owner. However. the scales OF Justice ln-
elined against Rosalie and the magic doll was
decreed to the Queen.
This record OF folly and idolatry, which read:
ike tale from some heather country, serves
20 show TO how great an extent supersttloT
can rrevail, even in highly civilized and en-
hehtened community. Bait Gazette.
ONE DAY OF CRIME IN New loRK.-Ever!
few days the New York papers TEEN with
horrible record of all the crimes OF the calendar
that have been committed in or about the city
during the preceding twenty four hours. Sun
day is generally especially prolific with murder
and assaults, with an occasional extensive skin
mlsh at some OF the public resorts. Summln!
up the list OF the previous day, the Tribune o
Monday says: Our chapter of crime in ant
about the city is again painfully full. No clu'
has been found to the murderer of Woodall.-
4 notorious liquor seller in Houston stree
(who beat 4 man to death q few mouths ago
nearly killed Joseph Hogan on Saturday =
There was shooting case in Pearl street; ther,
was an assault with hatchet in Roe street;
Sixth ward fight in Elizabeth street; q stabbiu,
case in East Broadway; another in CATHERINE
street; more stabbing in the Ninth avenue;
man found in the river at South Brooklyn
probably murdered. Besides all these, ther
were halt dozen smaller affairs OF q simia
no,:c-e; and an attack upon negro in Brook