The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-09
HAYTIAN HORROI y.
CsSnibalism Among the Negro Population
Blood Sacrifices and Child-Slaughter
Common.


here by the receipt from England OF
copies of Sir Spencer st. Johns work
on Hayt, writes a correspondent OF
The Nel0 York Mercury from Porl-au-
Prince. The author was formerly
British consul general here, and his
regulations as to barbarism and cannl-
b4ism in the black republic nave
proved q decided sensation. Com
menting upon this work a well-known
gentleman in conversation with your
correspondent yesterday made the tol'
lowing almost inconceivable state
ments: 81 was present at dinner, at
which, by the way, Sir Spencer st.
John was also guest, and heard
story told by the archbishop OF Port
au-Prince which Sir Spencer has in
corporated into his book. 4 will let
hin<tell it you. Says he: In 1867 q
French priest, who had charge of the
district of Arachave, had the curiosity
to witness the Voodoo ceremonies, and
he persuaded some of his parishioners
to take him to the forest, where
meeting of the sect was to be held.
They were very unwilling, saying that
if discovered he and they would be
killed; but he promised that whatever
happened, he would not speak word.
They BACKED his hands and face, and
Disgusting him as a peasant. took him
win them. The neighboring villagers
tlocked into the ceremony. With these
the priest mixed, and saw all that
went on. The people came to ask
that their wishes should be gratified,
and the priestess stood on a box con-
tahhng the sacred serpent. At first
she went into a violent paroxysm, then
in sort of half trance; she promised
all that they could desire. A white
.c,ck and then a white goat were
26led, and those present were marked
with their blood. Presently an ath-
letic negro came and knelt before the
priestess, and said, 80 mamma, L
have a favor to ask" "What is it,
my sonp" "Give us the complete
sacrifice, the goat without horns. -
She gave a sign of assent, the crowd
in the shed separated, and there was
child sitting with its feet bound. In
an instant a rope, already passed
through block, was frightened, the
achild's feet flew up toward the roof,
1a2d the priest approached it with
FMife. The loud shrek given by the
victim aroused the Frenchman to the
truth of what was really going on.
He shouted: "Oh, spare the childn'
and would have darted forward, but
he was seized by his friends around
him and literally carried from the
spot. There was short pursuit, but
the priest got safely back to town. He
tried to arouse the police to hasten
to the spot, but they would do nothing.
In the morning they accompanied him
to the scene of the sacrifice. They
found the remains of the feast, and
near the shed the boiled skull of the
child
AL have frequently heard similar
details given by prominent Haytians.
One of the most atrocious cases of
scannibalism that ever became gener-
ally known in the island is that which
occurred during the presidency of
President Geffrard, really enlighten-
ed and able ruler. The village of
Bizoton lies couple of miles inland
from Port-au-Prince. There lived
sister Jeanne, Voodoo priestess.
Congo had been in what you may call
hard luck, and he went to his sister to
procure relief through the medium of
the Voodoo. After a consultation be-
f&een Jeanne and two Voodoo priests,
named Julien Nicolos and Floreal
Apollon, it was decided to offer up a
female child, and Claircine, the niece
of Jeanne and Congo. was chosen.
On the 9th of December, Jeanne en-
ticed her sister, the mother of Clair
Cine, away from the house, and in
their absence, Congo kidnapped the
girl, who was about II years old, and
concealed her in the house of Floreal,
where she was bound and hidden
under the alter. Search failed to re-
veal the whereabouts of the child.
Four days later, in the night time,
festive gathering took place at
Jeanne's house. The girl, who had
laid without food or drink for four
days, was brought thither in a sack
Jeanne held the struggling girl by the
waist. Floreal checked her, and the
Others held her limbs until she be-
came unconscious, when Floreal cut
off the girls head with huge knife
banded him by Jeanne. The blood
'Sas caught in a jar, and Floreal fay
the victim. The flesh was cut from
the bones and placed in wooden
dishes, and the entrails and skin were
bruised. Then carrying the remains
of their victim, the wretches formed a
procession. following Jeanne. who.
carrying the head in one hand and
ringing a bell, acted as leader. Ar
rived at the house of Floreal prepare
tons were made for feast. The noise
made by the carousal of the cannibals
aroused woman and girl sleeping in
an adjoining apartment, and they,
looking through chinks in the wall,
witnessed the horrid orgie. They saw
Jeanne cooking the flesh with congo
beans, while Floreal, putting the head
in an iron pot with yams, prepared a
soup. Whilst this was going on a
young woman, Roselda Sumera, urged |
by her Unsuitable appetite for human
iiesh, cut of and ate raw pieces of
flesh from the palms of the child's
hands.
"All DartOok of the dishes nranorod