, 1875-12-26
Celebration of Pagan Rites in
Chicago.
Negroes Who Are Faithful to the Greed
Of Their Fathers,
/ Reporter Succeeds In Viewing the HJs-
terfous Incantatfons.
sundry Individuals solemn1y Devoted to the
Neroies Of the Devil.
How the Interesting Business is Done

To man Of this age, bred North Of Mason and
Dixon's line, "Voudooian " implies weird and
horrible fantastic dream. It seems to him that
such d system OF the era OF the Dark Ages
could not have escaped utter demolition IN ita
descent upon modern civilization. And, OF all
cities in the world, Chicago would probably be
the last place that your ordinary, practical sort
of a fellow would select for a monstrosity
OF this kind to hinge upon. Notwith-
standing this, there Is : FetlEh SET
tlement hanging upon tho ragged ed%e
OF CUR municipal limits. and by the meress
accident in the world, q TRIBUNE reporter DIS
covered its whereabouts. While investigating
the extent to which the poorer, more part1co-
larly the colorcd, classes patrou1zed an Outrage
Gus swind]ing dey1ce yclept lottery. tho reporter
WAS aEtonished by the information that IN
near suburb the majority OF the popularon
vera Voudoos. It was difficult to control an
inclination to sneer at the idea OF such 3
thing. but tho earnestnesa Of the informant, and
the cleaIness Of his data, finally commanded
eeriuus attention, and inspired resolution On
the part Of the reporter to investigate the mas-
tor
To obt.in an admission to feast OF g1oH1ca-
tioa Of the Supreme Fetch, 1t il necessary that
one should ba
yorcHED Foa By ERo1uE1 AND SISTER
of the Order, who, during probation OF fort
night, subject the processing convert to the
most hldeous tests Of his faith in his professions.
1t did not take very long for the writer to de-
termine that, under the circumstances the ma
circulation vac too sultry for his organization
Divers ingenious schemes were concocted to OBJ
tain glimpse of celebration Of the rites, but'
despite the brains that we're literally expended
in preparing them, they were sll, and stngly'
Conspicuous failures. Incidentally, while st1ug-
Cling to get the edge on the ben1ghted b3roa-
rians. the reporter learned rhat they had been
in full enjoyment OF their worship
ssst austns theS ans si Ead successfully badled
all attempts to encroach upon the sacredness OF
their ceremonies. With three exceptions, the
youdoos are negroes. There are two female
whites and one male white, aud these are all peo-
pie OF more than ordinary intelligence
After exhausting all the means at bis command
10 get N insight ct the doings OF the soudoos,
the reporter returned to the person who arst
gave him the information. That person #as
fazkey on Fourth avenue, and when it WAS pro-
posed that be should take the writer to the houae
ii uorship, he shook as # he had fever
THE vouDoo SETTLEMENT
is on the Milwaukee plank ROAD about mile be-
yond Holstein, and between that place and JEFF
ierson, 1t first this WAS all tho information the
darkey would give about it. and he impaired that
in fear and trembling. Strong persuasion, after
the reporter was foiled in every attempt to gam
admission to the scene OF the mysterious ntes,
induced the negro to show the way to the trail
leading to the .Worship-House." Monday
night Is slways the occasion Of . feast to the
Youdoo gods, and Thursday night is always de-
voted to 3 service to ap2ease the evil spirit
1t transpired, while Oh the way to the Soudooa.
that the darkey guide Tas memher 10 full
faith. but he was anxious to free himself from
all connection with the order. His reason for
shs will sppear he1e1fter.
The country between Hostein and Jefferson
is very pleasinz, and handsome residences are
not at all 1are. After leaving the omnibus ut
North avenue the coored guide insisted upon
walking the remainder Of the distance. The
time WAS about s o'clock the road was bad, and
the mile tlat sas tramped oTer seemed neTar-
ending.
"sroP OAR Sow,"
said the darkey, suddenly. and away he went,
and in = moment be was o1s OF sight. The re-
porter had faint idea that when his guide came
back he would bring Inducements along strong
enough to make his victim ''stop dhr "
altogether; but "a he did not know but that he
would meet as war1n reception in tho direction
from which he came, as be was likely to get
IRON those whom be was quite sure tho darkey
kou1d b1ing with him, he concluded to await the
advance, and it there WIS hole left take his
shances Of being able to crawl out Of it.
After weary wait Of quarter OF Al hour
the negro returned, and said that the conditions
we're alI right for the feast that night, anu that
It would be held At u O'Clock He could not
optain admission for tho writer to the circle Of
the brotherhood but il tho tt gem'men would tux
3 chance he would show him place where he
could lie concealed and see the whole perform
arsce. To do as the negro proposed necessitated
the absolute surrender Of personal safety, it he
WAS dishonest; il be was sincere, it made the
opportunity for which the reporter had been
aching for q fortnight At all events, it was
agreed that the reporter would "tuk
tie chance; and the negro started briskly up
the road, still in the direction OF Jefferson. A
sharp walk Of three miDutes brought them to q
small settlement adjoining the plank-roadt aud,
leaving the r1a1n thoroughfare, the negro struck
into : side trail which he followed about 100
yards and suddenly stopped, and in whisper
said to the reporter, This is
TIE WORSHIP HoCsE-"
Tho building waa an ordinary one-nnd-arhalf
frame cottage With peaked roof. There we're
lights in tho windows Of the first story, but from
the circular window in the second story there
was not q gleam- At signal from the da1key
the reporter skur1ied around to the side Of
tie house. and he (the darleJ) walked
out into the light and raped loudly
upon the door. Ills knock Was answered jmme-
diately and 3 child's voice inquired what was
wanted, and in the next breath, in accents Of
recognition, said son. is it you. Mr. jackson 2
Come in." 1lr. Jackson went in. but, rs he bad
agreed to, left the door open, and in moment
4Q6 reporter AEh4A ILL " S3V EAA4s A4AAAse1
wha*'s de folks?" She replied, at Byron Lees.
There WIS silence for an instant and then he
told her to 20 and tell them that Alr. Jackson
was waiting to SEQ them. The little girl had no
sooner left the house than Jackson called the
reporter in and conducted him into the upper
story, and, removing . strip of catpetng, exposed
CRACK BETWEEN The PLAEks.
through which perfect view of the room below
could be obtained. Very eoon after the reporter
had settled himself into comfortable position
to view the impending ceremonies, the noise OF
the arrival Of several persons brought his eye to
the crack in the flooring in time to see strange
man and woman ecter the house with the child
The newcomers, who we're evidently the parents
OF the child, at once began IN earnest converse
ton with the guide, bus they spoke in q low tone
OF voice, and the conversation was but muf-
fed, confused murmuriug to the man on watch.
When the reporter went into the loft it WAS
kbout O'Clock and he was doomed to vigi1-it
one can call sitting in the dark, with the only
light that came through sir between two
planks. sig1l-of three hours before the per-
formance begun. The time passed drearily
enough, but after what seemed almost m eter-
nifty,
PEOPLE BEGAN TO ARnryE.
~Rr4