, 1870-06-18
VOUDOOISM IN TEXAS.
Remarkable Narrative OF q Negro
Phrcnsy-Astontshk Actions.

Fra7s the Fairfield, {T:tas) Register, Nay IS
On Sunday, the 18th day Of this month, at
east Of Springfield, IN Limestone County.
Texas, an old negro woman named Jane, who,
with her husband, lived On the farm. an
:,ounccd to thcrc Of the negroes On tho farm,
some eight or ten adults in number, that she
had just received revelation from God that
2Gstl day this month, and that the mighty
"Sh.p OF Zicn" would cone-water or 10
wster-and take all those to glory who
would follow implicitly the directions she
(Jane) would give them, she being, as she
avowed; the chosen instrument Of God for
their salvation. She first preached a whole
dsy.to \ large congregation, and after having
made nany converts she commanded them to
burn one-half Of al the household kitchen fur
nituro, clothing, ETC., they posseseed-no bag
gage being a1lowed-wfich they did in Almighty
bonfire. She pe3t commanded them to cut up
Which they did, digging everything. up By
the roots much Of the corn WAS nearly waist
high, and both corn and cotton we're good
generally 8hs then commanded that they
give away half their children, their wagons,
horses, plows and other farming utensils,
which They did, to several persons living near.
Then came command for both sexcs to en-
ti1ely disrobe themselves. and pray and dance
the Hol. Dance, which Was implicitly obey
ed. Many Of The small children, upon rcfusing
to obey these orders, were severely beaten, and
one man who refused WIS very nearly beaten
to death by the women They were then made
to rartake OF what she denominated the
Lords Supper, the bread consisting Of wster
and salads, and tho wine Of water md mo-
iasees. She said human sacrifice WAS de-
manded, md accordingly stripped her own in
fsnt Of its clothing, wrapped it in cloth, and
prepared to give it az burnt Offering, and
would assuredly have done go but for the in
terfarence Of some present who wcre not 81
insane. They we're then commanded to kill
| all their dogs, which they did to the number of
| fifteen, and after somo two days-t1ese things
all the timo going on-they wcrc ordered By
which command. 4hey, for the irst time,
ey1nced disposition to" 60 SLOW"
While they we're halting, their 1eader en-
! deayored to show them how to Ego through
dorg," but her stomach being Of = different
| notion from her head, eschewed the repast,
| and apeae1r delivered itself Of such wonder-
! ful morsels.
| At this stage Of the proceedings, III. Isaac
burst. a gentleman living near, and who had
desired to stop the insane proceeding before.
but knew not exactly how to proceed, told her
husband she WAS crazy, and to get chain and
fasten her, where she could no longer do mis-
| chief, She st once fed and WAS pursued,
| caught, and secured. and at once the rest Of
| her followers gathered round. and scanned
for the first Tina to become aware Of The
mischief they had wrought. They thanked
Jane had thrown over them-went to their
now almost ruined zelda and conmenoed
| work again in good ea1nest-the PSF
! ties having kept and returned to them
| their stock, farming utensils, DC. They are
nov, however, without the necessary apparel
ard food to enable them to work successful1y.
I The excitement 1asted some ten days, and al
that time no work YVES done by these daluded
| creatures.
| Until the confinement Of the old woman
! every one Ut her commands were obeye3, and
from what we have narrated, none can donbi
that il ehe had commanded her followers tt
commit murder among the1 whites they wouI!
baro essayed to do it. In the case Of tht
negro man beaten, she commanded them L
beat him to death, unless he Joined their band
But for Mr.. Durst, he would hzve beel kn!el
] 1ntfipht.