Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
Louisiana VOudOOiSm.
The Disgusting Rites Still Pave a
FOOth0ld There.
Strange and Shocking Sights at a
NOudO0 Dance-White and Negro
Women in the Crowd.

NEW ORLEANs.-A case in the second
recorders court the other morning estab-
lished the fact that voudooism and its
disgusting rites still have foothoiu ID
Louisiana. 1t was generally supposed
that the youdoo Was extinct. Careful In
curry by the city press. covering a series
of years, had failed TO uncover genuine
case Of voudooism, and IL was believed
that this relic of Africa and slavery had
finally disappeared with the death some
years Ego OF Marie Leveaux, the voudoo
queen. The judicial proceeding, howev-
er, show that the voudoo fetch still has
its votaries, and that they are not CON
fined to the negroes.
For sometime past there has been at
stated periods promiscuous gatherings OF
whites and blacks in q house on st. An
thony street, far removed from the hustle
of the city. Although in retired locality
the assemblages become so noisy that they
disturbed the neighboCs, and attracted TO
the vicinity large crowds of boys. As the
house was retired from the street and
the doors and windows were kept tightly
closed, those who gathered from curiosity
were unable to discover what was goIne
on inside.
At last the place became a nuisance to
the neighbOrhoOd and the public were
Informed. Steps were taken at once to
discover the secret of the house and the
cause of the disturbance therein. To
this effect the place was closely watched,
A number of black and white women and
several negro men we're seen TO enter the
enclosure yesterday and appeared
within the house. Shortly aftergard the
noises of which tn: leighbors mad com
planned were heard.
At this juncture patrol wagon filled
With police drove up. The house was
surrounded so as to prevent the escape
of the occupants, aad without warning
the police entered. A strange and dis
gr sting sight met their eyes. In 8 circle
formed by eight white and six negro
women and seven negro men was a half
breed lndian and q negro named AIexan-
der, who, dressed in silken tights, was
performing typical voudoo dance, NUT
terlng at the same time weird incanta-
ton, the refrain OF which was taken up
by the men and women surrounding him,
the chorus at times rising to great vol
ume of sound. The negro men were "
ing on the floor partly clad, while the
women standing around had also laid
aside mach of their ordinary wearing
apparel. The entire party were SO en-
crossed in The antics of Alexander that
the entry of the police was complete
sur prise.
Capt. Donnelly, in command of the
police, ordered the arrest OF ali in the
house. The women protested violently
against this, one of them expressing the
sentiments of all when she exclaimed:
"This is scan0alous, the idea OF arrestipg
women for trying to get cured"
Finding that the police were memorable
they begged for time to make their toilet,
which was granted. When they were
robed for the street it was found that
they were nearly all white women, were
well dressed and apparently very respec
table people. They were Mortified to
learn that they were TO be taken to the
police station. When they reached there
they volunteered an explanation Of their
presence in suoh an assembly and in such
scanty attire. Afterwards they said Alex
ander was a voudoo doctor. He had
made many wonderful cures and they had
full confidence in his power TO relieve
their sufferings by his nominations. They
stoutly insisted thet they had experienced
benefit from his treatment and were con
fdent he would affect thorough cure.
The women were evidently sincere in their
statements. They were of all ages. rang
ing from Is to so, and several of them
were decidedly handsome.
The entire pacty was erraigned IN curt
and the men and women were fined 81 so
each for taking part in an immoral show,
while the Voudoo doctor was required to
pay $25 for the same offense.