The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-10-25
Strange superstition.


10
Strange Superstition.
Some four weeks since a Holland
family named Stupemeyer las near as
it could be pronounced by the police
MANI, arrived in Detroit from Grand
Rapides, where it seems they had re-
sided for about two months, and took
possession of cottage on Water street,
near the reservoir. The man worked
for a few days, and was then taken
sick with chills and fever, and if lie is
not dead at this writing, undoubtedly
viii be within day or two. During
his illness, with his own consent,
Stupemeyer has been subjected to
some of the strangest antfs and condi-
tons ever known. None of the neigh
bors knew. Of the mans sickness for
several days, or until q woman went
in and found the wife practicing witch
craft to cure him. The man was then
holding bag of hot ashes in one hand
and cup of cold water in the other,
under the impression that his fever
would be absorbed in the ashes, and
then at the proper moment he could
dip the bag into the cup and thus
qnench the heat.
Not being able to make herself un-
derstood, or to understand, the neigh
Dor could not offer advice and she was
not allowed to interfere with the ar
engagements. She, however, went and
called in doctor, but the son of Es-
cnlapius was not allowed to do more
than approach the bed, the man being
as earnest as the woman in keeping
him away. On the following day the
neighhor, whose name is Let's, called
in again, and found that the supersti-
ton Of the couple had undergone a
change. The patient was in chill,
and the wife had hot bricks to his feet,
cold cloth on his head, and plaster
of some sort on his chest, the object
being to drive the chilIs into the
plaster.
The man was in sad need Of ply
sician's services, but neither one OF
them would consent to calling doctor.
After the child had partially gone off,
the patient was made to get up, pace
between two chairs about two feet
apart, twice around them, kneel twice
before going to bed, and to hold his
arms above his head for some moments
after living down. He was allowed to
drink all the water he wished, but the
wife took care each time to carefully
take from the cup three People stones,
wipe them dry, and then drop them
into the water again. Once, when
Mrs. Let's was in the house the man
was given large plate heaped with
boiled cabbage, having no food of any
other kind and again he was eating
bread crammed into cold water, al
though the wife had money in the
house sufficient to get him any sort OF
nourishment.
On Wednesday morning last the doc
tor called in again out of curiosity.
and this time he found the man rolled
up tightly and tied up in quilt, moth
ing but his head visible. lie was
very sick, but would not touch medi-
cines, motioning the doctor to go away
Before the doctor went the wife tool
the sick man, drew him down in bed
and then put his feet upon the foot.
board, causing her weight to rest. or
the mans shoulders. That IN
evening the woman dressed the man
took him on her back and carried him
distance Of Eve rods and back, she
seeming to think that he required ali
and exercise. Several Of the neigh
bors proffered their services to sit uI
with the sick man, but they were
turned with shake of the head. Nc
light was allowed to burn at night, as
it might guide evil spirits to the house
Matters went on in this way until
Saturday, when Stupemeyer seemed tc
be in dying condition. The neigh
bors say that on Friday morning the
wife tried to get the man out of doors
again, but he tainted away, and she
had to call negro to help get him on
the bed. She had no sooner got hin,
there than she removed his clothing
and was going to give him rubbing
down with soap and cold water, When
the negro protested to vigorously, that
she had to abandon her design.
man who could speak the Holland
language was secured on Saturday
morning, and after cursing the wife in
round terms, he called in a doctor and
gave him instructions to attend the
man, threatening the wife with arrest
if she made any interference.
sSS The latest dodge of the impe.
cunious carpet-baggers in the way o.
leyying black mail on their sable
brethren is q penny substitution Iis1