St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-10

" good one. Mrs. Gus-i
tava Swanson, forty
- five years old, is at
- the Detention Hos-i
MN.kta<M pital for the Insane,,
NETA8iT praying God to re-
SS.;s.ssSW move a snake from
IXHP6[ II her bosom. In a.
rrMST suite of tidy but poor
ly furnished rooms in the rear of 139.
Oak street are the two helpless little;
daughters of Mrs. Swanson, weeping
over the misfortune which has taken
from them their last parent and thrown
them upon the world, says the Chicago
Herald. AT 1923 State street, in brown
cottage abutting the sidewalk, is big,
brown negresS, who, under the name of
Mrs. Stewart, adyertiseS that she reads
the past. present and future, and cures
disease without the use Of medicine. 1t
was this negress who told Mrs. Swan
son her internal organs were infested
with serpents, which had been placed
there by an enemy as curse.
Jennie Swanson, a bright little girl of
perhaps fourteen years, who makes Sc a
week sewing in tailor shop. told Tri-
bune reporter the story of her mothers
afflictiOn. She said: "Eight years ago
mother was proStrated with sunstrOke
and since then she has had a severe
headache. She tried all the doctors
about here and nothing helped her.
Then we were recommended to Mrs.
Stewart, and mother and l went down
there. We went into the front room
and sat down. After talking to us
awhile Mrs. Stewart put her hands to
her forehead and presently said: You
are infest d with snake. 1t was placed
there as a curse upon you by your hus-
Dand. with whom you are not living.
lie had doctor put the snake in you
by applying snake oil to your bosom and
insect powder to your lips. The doctor
you had before you came to me is the
one who did this. You are bewitched.
/ understand how to drive out the
witches from you. and will do it if you
declare you have faith in me and will
take the medicines l give. You must
have them driven out or you will die.
You must take the medicine give you.
and you must pray
Mother brought home a lot of the
medicine and she began to pray. She
prayed day and night and took lots of
medicine. Then she became very sick,
and seemed worn out. She said that
while she was sitting in the room pray
inc big spot of light came out of the
kitchen and wrapped her up. and then
THE SNAKE BEGAN TO TAUNT HER.
She would not let us sleep on account
of her prayers. We got her to quiet her
voice, but she would pray in a whisper
all night. Mrs. Stewart got great
influence over mother. Mother went
down there twice, | went four times,r
and Mrs. Stewart came here twice.
She gave US four bottles of medicine.
We have paid her $3.50 and | owe her
81 more. She made the bill small to US,
because got her some other patients.
When mother got SO bad that we could
do nothing with her, they took her
away. Mrs. Stewart was to have come
to-day, but she has not put in an ap-
pearance. She may have heard about
mother. Mrs. Stewart wanted me to
take some of her medicine, but l would
not do it. She makes everybody pay as
soon as she visits them, but she said we
were poor and she would let US run an
account. l think mother was scared
terribly by what the woman said. The
story about the snake impressed mother
SO it was on her mind amt in her prayers
all the time.'' ..srres.,.. -. = -
When reporter of the Tribune rang
the door-bell at No. 1928 State street a,
heavy step was heard within. Pres
emily the door opened slightly, the
brown forehead and weasel eyes of the
woman appeared, and she asked:
mended you?"
Let me in and I'll tell you," the re-
porter replied.
The door was then opened and the re-
porter entered. 1t is good house for
soOthSaying and Witchcraft. The cell
lngS are low and damp, and there is an
arrangement OF drapery that makes
things weird. When the negresS was
told that Mrs. Swanson was crazy she
said: 81 dun tOle FER shed be sick fore
dem wiches come out. She's got a
snake in her, and de tracks of sco'pions
and Lizards cross her breast. She's in
bad condition She feels dat snake
craWlin' up 'er neck, an it sometimes
chOkes 'er. I'se de only doctor in de
city dat can bring dem witches out, an
does it in lots O. cases, both white and
black"
OMrs. Stewart thensbecame angry, and
said: II don't allow no reporters to
come and see ME. l throw 'em all out,
and don't tend nothin's gwine ter be
Sed bout me-"
But her rage cooled down and her
rage was not demonstrated.
Mrs. Stewart is attending a number of
unfortunate and ignorant people. She
told Anna Carson she had been be-
witched by the medicine young man
gave her, and Anna believed it. Anna
had the habit of staring and was cured
1t was she who sent the Swansons to
Mrs. Stewart.
This week Mrs. Stewart took 50 from
Clara Carlson-it was the last money
she had. Clara is hopelessiy i'll with
infiammatory rheumatism. Mrs. Stew
art told her she was bewitched and that
the curse could be driven away. Hilda
Carlson is also under the treatment Of
Mrs. Stewart. There is said to be much
indignation among the neighbors of
Mrs. Swanson, who say she was driven
insane by the negress, Mrs. Swanson
being in condition at the time to be
undnly affected by the horrible stories
told her.