Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-07-14
[FrOm the Fairfield CTszasl Rssister.l
Voudooisrn in Texas.

nenaFkaOIcf NaFfdIffeh OF 1seErO
Phrenzy--Astonishing Action.
On Saturday, the fifth day of
this month, at the farm of Mr. j.
Wright, lying two miles east from
Springfield, in Limestone county,
Texas, lives an old negro woman
named Jane, who, with her hus.
band, lived on the farm, annOun-
ced to the rest Of the negroes on
; the farm, some eight or ten adults
in number, that she had just re-
ceived a revelation from God that
the milleniHm. 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
iglory who would follow implicitly
the directions she Jane) would.
give them, she being, as she a.
vowed, the chosen instrument of
God for their salvation, She first
preached whole day to a large
congregation, and after having
made many converts, she COM.
manded them to burn one-half Of
all the household, kitchen furni-
ture, clothing, &c, they possessed
mo baggage being allowed
which they did in a mighty bon
fire. She next commanded them
to cut up with hoes one-hah Of al!
their growing crops which they
did, digging them up by the rootA;
much of the corn was nearly waist
high, and both corn and cotton
were good generally. She then.
commanded that they give away
halt of their children, their wag-
ons, horses, plows, and other far
ming utensils, which they did, to.
several 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.
refusing was nearly beaten to.
death by the women. They were
then made to partake of what she
denominated the sLord's Supper,"
the bread consisting of water and
salads, and the wine of water and
molasses. She said a human eac-
rifce was demanded, and accord
ingly stripped her own infant of
its clothing, wrapped it in a cloth,
and prepared to give it as a burnt
offering, and would asSuredly have
done so, but for the interference.
of some present, who were not So
insane. They were then COM
manded to kill ali their dogs,
which they did to the number Of
fifteen, and after two days--these-
things all the time going on
they were ordered by their leader
to cat of the putrid carcasses, at
which command they for the first
time evinced disposition to "go
slow /"
While they were halting, their.
leader endeavored to show them
how to ego through a dog" but
her stomach being of a different
notion from her head, eschewed
the request, and speedily delivered
itself of such wonderful morsels.
At this stage of the proceedings,
Mr.. Isaac burst, a gentleman liv-
ing near, and who had desired to.
stop the insane proceedings before,
but knew not exactly how to pro-
ceed, told her husband she was.
crazy, and to get chain and fas-
ten 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
followers gathered round, and
seemed for the first time TO be-.
come aware of the mischief they
had wrought. They thanked Mr..
burst greatly for breaking the
spell Jane had thrown over them
to theirnow almost ruined
fields and commenced work again
in good earnest-the parties hav-
ing kept and returned to them,
their stock, farming utensils, &c.
They are now, however, without
the necessary 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 deludsd crea-
lures.
Until the confnementof of the old
woman, every one other commands
vas obeyed, and from what we
have narrated none can doubt that
f she had commanded her follow
ers to commit murder among tho
whites, they would have essayed
10 do.it. In the case of the negro
man beaten, she commanded them
TO beat him to death unless be
ioined their band Ruk for Mr..