Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-29
VOofo Doc,or,s work,
he SETS CROWD OF NEGROES TO WORK pIGGl
FOR BCRIRD TRFASrRES

he SETS CROWD OF NEGROES TO WORK DIGGING
FOR BCRIRD TREASURES
A Dispatch from Starrsvile, Ga, AuguSes5, says:
In June Of this year negro came from Alabama
Montgomery, he says-to a neghborhood about
nine miles south OF Covingtan. He worked a short
time as day laborer on the plantation OF John
Dukes. He soon made known to the negroes on the
place and In the neghbOrhood that he had been d.
rected to this place by spirit 10 find seventeen
and half bushels OF gold that had been buried by
band OF robbers about Seyenty-iive years ago He
said the place was on branch road about 100 yards
below the Covington and Monticello road, and
about ten miles from CovingtQn. He promised the
owner or the land onefOurth Of the gold To negroes
who would assist him he would give liberal share.
AFTER much praying, many incantations and much
ceremony he selected the precise spot for the dig
ging. He sat near with an open Bible. beneath
which several horse shoes were placed and a white
rock laid ON the open pages; He neither spoke nor
certain distance OF the excavation.
The faen are working night and day with great
earnestness. The excavation is about fifteen feet
square and about twenty feet deep The dirt is
lifted out with bucket The men are not allowed
to chew tobacco or stop work during the time alot-
ted to the work lest 1t may cause the bad spirit TO
Overpower the good spirit under whose guidance
| they are working. THIS bad spirit has Ii In his
power TO move the gold II at any time he gains as
ccndancy 81 the good spirit.
The man has infatuated so many negroes that
there are many standing ready TO I'LL the places OF
those who are tired The excavation is about six
feet through washiugs from the feld: then soft
| rock is struck, which continues deep as the eN-
cavation has been made. The disintegrated rock
has no appearance OF ever having been disturbed.
The faith in the vOodoo doctor seems TO blind
them to the fact that had any gold been buried
there this rock would show signs OF disturbance.
The owner OF the land forbade their working longer
but they entreated him so earnestly that he con-
sented to let them go deeper They are willing go
eighty feet deep the doctor says SO. This portion
or Newton county was settled about sixty five
years ago. There Is no tradition that money was
ever buried here, nor that IL ever Infested by
band Of robbers. The grandfather OF the present
owner Of the land settled the lot upon which the
excavation Is being made
There are other families In the neghborhood who
have lived there continuously from the first settle
ment that never heard Of money being buried. The
voodOO doctor is black negro, with high cheek
bones and retreating forehead. He goes barefooted
and with his clothes very much worn. lie appears
to be about sixty years OF age. He has never lived
| in the county before, so far as is known.
LITTLE RHoDY's BIG SNAKEs-The curious old
| saltwater hamlet or Quonocontaug, r. l., is noted
for its big black snakes which grow long as the
| name OF the place, on the bruShy sand reaches
near the ocean. A few days ago. as Horace Wilcox.
70 years old, and Lad, ChaS. Greene, were moving
| near pond, black snake over seven feet long
SpranG out Of the rank salt grass and attacked
them, cOiling itself around the old mans leg. Mr..
Wilcox struck the reptile with his rifle, which was
broken into pieces. The snake dropped, and, max
ing another spring. wound itself around the scythe
Snathe, and, with its head uplfted above the old
man, struck at him. Greene came TO his compan-
ions assistance and with his Scythe cut the ser
| pent In two, but was so seriously cut by Wcox's
Scythe that after the snake had been killed he had
to be assisted TO surgeon. A few days before,
Greene killed the snakes mate, about eight feet
| long, In the same meadow. Martin MAN, OF North
| Stonington, killed water-snake on the shore or
MyaSSOp Lake recently Az feet long and Is inches
Its greatest circumference. He cut IL open and let
loose So young snakes that wriggled into the
| grass