Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-18
"a BLACK Dla1ne.~
Mr. LAScsfoNs VIRGINIA cANvAse-A WILD STORY
FROM HAYTL

FROM HAYTL
Richmond correspondent Of the New York
World, commenting on Mr.. John n. Langstons
canvass for Congress In the "Black Belt" says:
Mr.. Langston's resemblance to Blaine, srhe only
republican leader" 10 30 notable as TO have won
for him the sobriQuet Of 'rhe Black Blaine" Mr..
Langstons friends aver that he resembles the
magnetic statesman In other than PHYSICAL re-
tsm, 1ndom1table energy, and signal acumen as
Political veal leader ae can speak wen IN public ana
pro TO he ne maT he oS S So g
money, he WIN undoubtedly SO divide the repuoli-
can vote, which Is In a vast preponderance In the
democrats 10 ell ct to Congress q representative
Irom q district held continuously BY the repubh-
The enthusiasm for Langston of the colored
people, VINO once followed blndly where the little
white boss led Is tremendous When he passes
house. TO deliver his political harangues his sable
fellow-citizens crowd In mad alteration and com.
petitive devotion about the railway carriage in
Wnlcn ne travels and are ready to seize the slight
est opportunity to unhitch the horses from his
hack ana pull him In triumph from the railway
station TO the hall where he is to IRE their willing
His white fellow citizens do not deny to Langs-
TON marked measure OF abtlitiea He is an adept
organizer, and at times brilliant stump-speaker.
IL Is generally believed, however, that he has
never recovered entirely from an experience
muS fro one a yOaCoU worsnppers OF aayt which
settle the hardest mental equilibrium.
STRANGE STORY FROM HAYTL
u"aS one evening, the story goes, just after the
nrst publication in American newspapers OF the
extent and depravty OF the voudoo superstition
Minister LangsLon disguised himself and pro-
ceeded under the guidance OF an aged black woman,
revered IN Port au Prince as witch OF unusual ac-
tatl0ns and cannibalistic rites OF the inner coeres
OF voudoO. After going some distance into the
lhIerlor on mule-oack the minister and his black
guide dismOunted and climbed Cautiously over q
thickly wooded ridge. Below them, through the
6oles OF luxur1ant growth Of evergreens the
DARKNESS OF the nigh. the nre seemed to have
been kinded at the bottom OF a sort OF sink-hoie,
high enough-hair snrOuded in pitchy smoke of
strange and powerful OdOr-tO be visible as they
crept down the decnvity.
Mhen they got TO the base OF the slope they
found themselves confronted by q natural wall OF
rock over which gnarled frs hung their branches
ana which seemed to surround the sink hole In
seml-clrcle. Climbing TO the top OF this by the
aid or The trees they leaned over the further edge
and saw sight which might well have unsettled
the strongest nerves. A number of young black
women or athletic build and distracted aspect
were dancing to strange wild measure about
cairn on which piles OF fiat" pine or "lighlwood
knots were blazing In sOOty splendor, casting out
an aromatic fragrance on the neavy air. Mingled
with the cracking Of the burning WOOD and half
d1sIy Objects WHEN now 'ae ea lanes 1si wt a
10 present to the eye Of the spectator
surface as Of human skin. smothered cries, that
oSSAa0u w Son0 Aiou tuo pyIt, nlAcQ Win the
wild chant OF the black prestesses In their dance
which gradually increased in speed and abandon
Seated In circle three or four deep around them,
were other backs, men, women and children, eyes
starting from their sockets, lips hall opened and
6reathlessly bent on the terrific ceremonial In
front or them. AS the strange writings on the
pyre became less noticeable and the blaze grew
Ireer and stronger and their song more Wild the
dancers approached nearer TO the fire and one
after another, hewed from the naked bodies first
one breast and then another, casting them bleed
ing into the flaming pile and falling one alter
anOther prone in an ecstasy OF agony. The spec
tacle night have made stronger men faint, and
when he was revived at his own lodgings Lang
ston Is said 70 have raved for days his horri-
ole experience and to have shown ever since an
emotional unsteadness-not greatly to be won
dered at