The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-06-30


The following article is copied from
the Fairfield (Texas) Ledger of the
2Sth ult:
yoUDooIsM.
Every newspaper report relating to
the Voudoo rites and ceremonies that
are now being practiced to a greater
or less extent all over negrodom, are
in very great measure regarded as
mere fictions-the result of a settled
prejudice against the negro race, OF
greatly diseased Imagination.
We now propose to chronicle bare
facts, with nothing overdrawn, and
naught set down in malice" If any
person far or near, doubts what we
write, we refer him to the white citi-
zens we name for a confirmation of
our statement, and there are none of
more yeracity in this State.
On Sunday, the 18th day of this
month, at the farm of Mr.. j. Wright,
lying two miles east from Springfield,
in Limestone county, Texas, an old
negro woman named Jane, who, with
her husband, lived on said farm, an
nounced to the rest of the negroes on
the farm, some eight or ten adults in
number, that she had just received a
revelation from God, that the millen-
mum was to come on Thursday, the
26th day of this month, and that the
mighty "Ship of Zion would come
water or no water-and take all
those to glory who would follow i'm
plicitly the directions she (Jane)
would give them, she being, she
avowed, the chosen instrument of
God for the:r salvation. She first
preached whole day to largo con-
gregation, and after having made
many converts, she commanded them
to burn one-half of all the household,
kitchen furniture, clothing, ETC., they
possessed-no baggage being allowed
which they did in mighty bonfire.
She next commanded them to cut up
with hoes one-half of all their grow
ing crops, which they did, digging
everything UP by the roots. Much of
the corn was nearly waist high, and
both corn and cotton were good gen.
orally. She then commanded that
they give away half their children,
their wagons, horses, plows, and 9TH
er farming utensils, which they did,
to seversl persons living near. Then
came command for both sexes to
entirely disrobe themselves and pray
and dance the "Holy Dance" which
was implicitly obeyed. Many of the
small children upon refusing to obey
these orders, were severely beaten,
and one man, who refused, was very
nearly beaten to death by the women.
They were then made to partake OF
what she denominated the "Lord's
SUPPER" the bread consisting of wa
ter and salads, and the wine of water
and molasses. She said human sac
rifce was demanded and accordingly
stripped her own infant of its cloth
ing, wrapped it in cloth and pre-
pared to give it as burnt Offering,
and would assuredIy have done so,
but for the interference of some pres
ent who were not so insane. They
were then commanded to kill all their
dogs, which they did to the number of
fifteen, and after some two days
these things all the time going on
they were ordered by their leader to
eat of the dead carcasses, at which
command, they, for the first time
evinced disposition to ago slow"
While they were halting the leader
endeavored to show them how to " go
through dorg," but her stomach be-
ing of different notion from the head,
eschewed the repast, and speedily de-
livered itself of such wonderful NOR
sells.
At this stage of the proceedings,
Mr.. Isaac Durst, a gentleman living
near, and who had desired to stop the
insane proceedings before, but knew
not exactly how to proceed, told her
husband she was crazy, and to get a
chain and fasten her where she could
no longer do mischief. She at once
fed and was pursued, caught and Sc
cured, and at once the rest of her fol-
lowers gathered round and seemed
for the first time to become aware of
the mischief they had wrought. They
thanked Mr.. burst greatly for break
ing the spell Jane had thrown around
them-went to their now almost ru-
ined fields and commenced work
again in good earnest, the parties hav-
ing kept and returned to them their
stock, farming utensils, etc. They
are now, however, without the neces-
sary apparel and food to enable them
to work successfully. The excitement
lasted some ten days, and all that time
no work was done by these deluded
creatures.
Until the confinement of the old
woman, every one of her commands
were obeyed, and from what we have
narrated none can doubt that If she
had commanded her followers to COM
NIT murder among the whites, they
would have essayed to do it. In the
case of the negro man beaten, she
commanded them to beat him to death
unless he joined their band. But for
Mr.. burst, he would have been killed
outright. The gentlemen to whom
we refer for the truth of what is here
reported to us, are Isaac burst, 4, F,
Waller, J. Wright and E. B. Smith,
Had it nat been for the presence and
efforts of these gentlemen, there is no
telling to what insane lengths these
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