Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-02
vOudOOism In Toxas-BsmaPkR.
bic Narrative Of n Negro PhTenSY
astonishing Actions.

vOudOOism In Texas-BsmAarkR.
bic Narrative OF NegFO PhTenSY
astonishing Actions.
From Fairfield, II xls Register, May gs.
On Sunday, the 18th day Of this
month, at the farm Of Mr.. J. Wright,
lying two miles east of Springfield,
in limestone County, Texas, gu old
negro woman named Jane, and who
with her husband, lived on the farm,
annOuncedto the rest oft negroes
on the farm, some eight or ten
adults In number, that she had just
received q revelation from God
that the millennium was to come on
Thursday, the 26th day of this
month, and that the mighty "ship'
Of Ziony would come-water or no
water-and take oil those
to glory who would follow impli.
city the directions she (Jane) would
give them, che being, 90 che Gvowad
the chosen instrument Of God for
their salvation. She first preached
a whole day to large congregation
and after having made many con-
verts she commanded them to burn
One-half Of oil the household kitch.
en- furniture, clothing, &C., they
posessed-no baggage being allow
ed-which they did In mighty
bonfire, She next commanded
them to cut up with hoes One-half
Of oil their growing crops, which
they did, digging everything up BY
the roots much Of the corn was
nearly waist high, and both corn
aud cotton were good generally.
She then commanded that they
give away half their children, their
wagons, horses, plows aud other
farming utensils, which they did,
10 several persons living near.
Then came q Command for both
sexes to entirely disrobe themselves
aud 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 den0mina-
TED the Lords SUPPER" the bread
consisting of water aud salads, aud
the wine Of water and molasses,
She said human esUrince was
demanded. @uu accordingly strip.
pea her own infant of its clothing,
wrapped 1t in o cloth, aud prepared
to give it as burnt offering, and
would assuredly have done 90 but
for the interference of some present
who were not 90 insane. They
were then commanded TO kill all
theif dOgs, which they did to the
number OF fifteen, and after come
Two days-thsse things oil the time
going on-they were ordered by
their leader to eat Of the putrid car.
casses, at which command, they, for
the first time, evlnced q disposition
to "go slow"
While they were halting, their
leader endeavered to show them
how to "go through o dorg." but
her stomach being of q different
notion from her head, eschewed
the repast, aud speedily delivered
itself of such wonderful morsels.
At this stage Of the proceedings,
Mr.. Isaac burst, o gentleman liv.
ing near, aud 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 fasteu
her where she could no longer dc
mischief. She at once fed and pur'
sued, caught, aud secured, and al
once the rest of her followers gath,
cred round, and seemed for the first
time to become aware of the mis-
chief they had wrought. They
thanked Mr.. burst greatly for
breaking the spell Jane had thrown
over them-went to their now al.
most now ruined fields aud CON-
menced work again in good earnest
the parties having kept aud re-
turned to them their stock, farming
utensils, sc. They are now, how
ever, without the necessary appare
and food to enable them to worE
successfully. The excitement last
ed some ten days. :.and all that timt
no work was done by these deluded
creatures.
Until the confinement Of the old
woman every one of her commando
were obeyed, and, from what We
have narrated, none can doubt tina
il she had commanded her follow
ers to commit murder among thu
whites they would have essayed t
do II. In the case Of the negro
man beaten, she commanded then
to beat him to death, unless he join
ed their band. But for Mr.. Durst
he would have been killed out
right.