The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-03-08
The ' oudoo Jugg.er.
\ STORY OF xEw ORLEANS.


crecy about - inquired Victor De Nou.
VILE, as he stepped silently into !. GROUP
or negroes. whom he hgI hcea watch
ing for some time with more .han usual
Interest
All started as if guilty. aud ran away
As II detected N some vile plo, Of i.isur
rection. except his own particular ser.
vant-a ma9 more than ordinarily in
telligent. and faithfully attached Il
him BY many kindaesses. But there
was an Uneasy look. one Of deep my stcry
even. upon his f,ce--an evident desire
OF avoidancc-and his lips remained
closed
Come, Tom" continued De Nou-
vile gently. tell me what this means.
! overheard the words tonight aud
fear you have committed yourself 10
some outrage"
The negro still hesiiated, rolled bis
eyes on every side, ,rembled. and it was
only after repeated commands and
coaxing that he answered in the lowest
whispers:
Not heah, Mas'r Victor"
Why no, here as we'll as anywhere -
was the somewhat inpatient question
"He might hear me. aud den" and
the black face turned ashy with alarm,
and the strong frame shook anu his eyes
again rolled wildly up and down the
street
He? Who -
"De-de- Debbil :"
Ia Nnny,iln ta,xh Il H. -.
ly At the Abject terror of his servant,
and then replied;
well. Tom. know you have good
reasons to be afraid of lis Satanic maj
esty. yet fancy you are just as safe
from his horns, hoofs aud claws, here as
any other place. However, come into
the house. aud We will put horseshoe
over the door and Bible in front Of
the keyhole. and so defy him to entcr."
The arrangement perfected, though
only so far as to go within and close
the door, the white man again qucs-
toned as to the meaning of the mys-
terious words aud gestures and alarm
he had seen and heard, and. rendered
bolder by the presence Of one whom he
looked upon as of u superior race. he
negro at length summoned sufficient
courage 10 stammer out:
Oar an, Voudoo jusgler come 10
town.
Famous rs New Orleans had always
been for the dark and unholy rites of
No1dooism, for the curious, suspicious.
almost cannihal superstitions brought
by the aged Africans from their native
land, and familiar a. Victor De Nou-
Vile had become with the terror Of the
ignorant negroes concerning them, yet
be had never heard Of one in the role Of
ajuggler before. Supposed wiichcraft
was their general character-tle selling
of charms, with even hiuts Of murder.
done for price.
"A Voudoo juggler, Tom :" he re
peated. aud questioned, ''ls that not
something new"
"Nebbtr heard OF one befoe. Mas r
Victor"
And are you ready to believe any
thing ?"
He be a debbil, mas'r'
IL believe you. But tell me more.
Where did he come from and what does
he propose to DO -
Dun know whar be cum from. but
he can do jess eberyting.'
Even to getting all the money you
have" laughed De NouvilIe; for. OF
course, you will go 10 see him. and be
profoundly impressed by his senseless
incantatiOns."
s.Naa M,s.r V;c,Nr mn .yn apJ all A..
rest"
De Nouville knew the folly of at
tempting to combat the tide of ignorant
superstition that he might rs we'll
strive to turn the Mississippi up stream
as Ia convince any Voudoo worshirper
of the faliacy of his talef, and. With
his curiosity awakened Ia know more oi
the matter. he learned the place where
the exhibition was TO be given. aud
asked:
DO you suppose. Tom. white man
will he permitted - enter
Dun know -t'ink not. mas'r."
Well" careiessly. "ii Is a matter OF
no consequence. should only be dis
gustcd with the humhugging wretch y
Nevertheless. he determined to s,e
the juggler who hal so caused the
negro population to qulver with expee-
ta,iou and alarm. If II VAS possible IL
do so He knew all about the custo-
mary mode q. proccdure-ihe buryins
If bones aud the most nansensicsi oi
articles under doorsteps-the heathen-
,sh believe IN charms. Bus the & eatesi
~ hs.t
one of the miserable race should be
bold enough Ia appcaf publicly puzzled
him.
Ordering bis horse. he rode ihroug d
that por tion Of the city that had been
designated IL was cut of the WAY AMI
of the lowest charaCter-the abiding
place If the variest scum oi the negrc
population. The particular house stood
upon a corner Of two narrow street "a
iliap,iAted, oue-s,oFy wooden affair
which he soon learned had the repata
,ion Of being haunted. and WAS passed
by the negroes, even IN daylight. viii
fear and trembling
Satisfied with his stisatioT, ht
returned home, waited until evening
armed himself. and started upon hi'
tour al invest CATION. X VAS very
DARK night t~-one. as he fAnctoi. Il 'oi
the most yil,aiuous deeds. he STUN
! bled along over ali manner If rubbish
and far frnn. rose TNrrfuned plIes al
/ dirt. There VAS no light a. gbe en
! trance of the build!ng All vas sileEc'
ani mystery. He pashe,i open ih'
DOR, aid. brave A. he was. II Mas no'
wi,hou, sps.m of irrosolu,'on that h.
gopei his way a!oag a narrow ha.! an
rsppct. AZ door AZ the extreme cal
I, Was unlac koi. and. 10 his r-.3e: ~