The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-27
PRICE TWO CENTS.
THE BALL OF THE GALLONS.
THE SINGULAR SCENE THAT FOLLOW.
ED A TIRGINT1 HANGING.


The Hail superstiuously negun at Midnight
Negroes Fighting for Bits Of the Gsllovys
Rope. sold by an Old voudou Woman.
New KENT COURT House, March 26.-This
morning at o'clock closed one Of the most
remarkable balls ever known in the history Of
Vrgnia-a gaows ball. Yesterday two me-
groes. Patrick Smith and Julius Christian. were
hanged for murder. and the hanging attracted
hundreds from every part OF the country The
negroes came in immense numbers. 1t was
gala day for them, and they were all in holiday
attire. The field In which the men were hanged
looked like country fair. Booths were erected
An enterprising Yankee mad side show and
educated pig and itnerantmusiciuns enlvened
the occasion. After the hanging the crowds OF
whites went away. but the negroes hung about
the field and around the shallow graves Of the
felons until dark. They had determined to
have bail. but according TO some superstition
among them II could not begin until after the
midnight hour. A large barn near the field
was swept clean by hundreds OF willing hands.
At IL o'clock it was crowded. On small stage
in corner the stand for the musicians was
placed. which was occupied by four banjo play
ers and one fiddler. In the middle Of the room
WINS another stand upon which the man who
called out the figures stood. II was a weird
scene. Boys stood in the corners OF the room
with black smoke and made a murky Light.
At 12:l5 the festivities began. Peter johnson,
n hurly tobacco hand. occupied the stand in the
middle ot the room. and sang out IN stentorinn
voice: Choose your partners" The strange
y made-up orchestra struck up The Missis-
sippi Sawyer" u wild Ethiopian air. and the
dancing began. As the music went on. the mu-
sicians and dancers grew wild and wilder un.
til they shouted and sang ms though possessed
10y the devil. Such eXclamatiuns rs / could
die dis moment" On. Lord, how happy
is !" and the like were heard, especially from
the women. At about O'clock Lucinda Macon.
an old Noudou uegrrss. suddenly made her ap-
pearanre In the barn. The musicians and
dancers stopped in terror The old hag slipped
into the middle OF the room. and then begun
series Of strange incantntion scenes. The
trick " dortress WAS dressed in an old blue
and white checkered dress. and had in her
hand Il large bundle. tied up in a red handker-
chief. She opened Il. and after muttering n lot
OF gihbersh, IN what the negroes say here was
Hn African dialect, she said she had the rope
with which the men were hanged. and that after
she had touched any bit OF It, that piece would
secure the possessor against the evil designs OF
any person who tricked them or poisoned them.
She cut II up in small bits. aud over each bit
she muuerel ana sprlnKled something rom an
old jug, ana then she sold i for hity cents.
The rush for these pieces Of rope was great.
The men fought for them.
This ceremony was kept up until ~ A. M.
The rope did not 40 around. and when this
became known. those who did not get piece
acted like hends. and begged the bag for a
thread only. She told them that nothing else
would effect the chnrnN except small particles
Of the clothing in which the men were buried.
a large party llt'n sthfleu OH 10 tne grave uu-
derneath the Rallows for the purpose of disin-
terring the bodies and bringing back the gar
ments. They soon returned in horror to the
ballroom. swearing that they had seen the two
men who were hanged walking around the
grave. The hag added to the excitement by
declaring. at the top OF her voice. singing out
the words. that Smith and Christian had not
died. because she had given them charm. Tho
secret is. that the visit OF the dancers to the
grave frightened Off two resurrectionists who
were after the bodies for the Doctors The
dancing and singing was kept up until o'clock:
| Ii was announced 10y the Voudou doctress that
| all who danced at the gallows ball would be able
70 dance as long as they lived. no matter II they
| lived 10 be 81.