The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-09-11
YOUDOO IN THE FORESTS.
Both White and Colored FlockIng to Max
rilles Magician.

rille's Magician.
SAVANNAH, Angus: 29.-Maxville, q
hamlet in Florida seven miles south of
Baldwin, on the Florida Central and
Peninsula Railroad, is becoming famous
judging from the numerous passengers
for that place the past month or two.
The town has store and three houses,
and the surrounding country is sparsely
settled. Ordinarily not more than three
or four passengers a week would make
up its quota, but when the number in.
creased to seventy FIVE, and then to one
hundred and fifty, the persons under
whose notice the increase came began
an investigation. Your correspondent
made flying trip to MaxVille yesterday,
and interviewed DR.. 'Lisha Wilkinson,
the great magic healer and Youdoo of the
negroes for hundreds of miles around.
The reporter arrived at Msxville at
night, and had to ride mule back two
miles through the deep pine forests before
reaching the doctors habitation. On the
way camp of some fifteen or more COL
ored people was passed, who, the guide
said, had come from Northern Georgia
to consult the doctor. They were all
ranged around a big fire holding an ex-
cited consultation, and examining big
sheet of paper that one Of them held. As
the reporter approached they ran off into
the woods, and nothing could induce
them to converse with him. The guide
said that this was the usual custom, the
paper being some kind of magic voudoo
or spell the doctor had given to them,
and they thought that if strangers sawit
it would lose its force and power. The
party approached the house and the
newspaper man went in. A short, stout
man, with one eye bandaged, approached
him, saying, II was expecting you," and
shook him by the hand. This upset the
reporter, and for moment he stood still
looking at the celebrated doctor. His
rugged, tanned face was one of shrewd
determination, and his small gray eyes
twinkled with unusual force. A slouch
hat was over his gray.white hair, while a
rough flannel shirt, jean trousers without
suspenders, and big brogans completed
his costume.
Doctor" said the reporter, "I've got
rheumatism the worst way in my back.
What can you do for me?" The doctor
motioned for him to bare his back. He
did 80. The doctor then ran his open
hand over the bare flesh in circles and
then did the same, using his index finger
alone. An uncomfortable feeling soon
manifested itself, and it seemed as if that
finger was piece of red.hot iron. He
stopped shortly aud abruptly told the
reporter 10 resume his clothing. Taking
up a small square of pasteboard ruled
into four squares, with the numbers l,
10, 16, 81 in them, he gave that to the
reporter aud told him to read those off
backward every night as he retired for a
week, and after that the Rheumatism
would never be felt again. The reporter
expressed his gratitude, and then had
long conversation with the healer"
he said that this rower to cure by
touch any disease, wound or hurt was
bestowed upon him when young man
by an utter stranger, and that he has
practced it for sixty years. ~ can cure
dropsy, rheumatism, cancer, etc, by look
ing at the patients, sometimes not even
touching them," said he. II can't say
what this power is, but do all l can to
cure them, and succeed when lots of
doctors have given up the job. I can
make absent and separated couples return
to each other, make woman love you,
and find stolen and lost property. 1
knew to day that you were coming"
The reporter soon found out that the old
fellow would not give any real details of
his work, and so sought out some of his
neighbors.
"What do the niggers say about him 2"
repeated one of the oldest settlers.
"Why they come hundreds Of miles just
to see him on all sorts of business. 1
have known them to come from the
Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and from
all parts Of this State. They camp out
when they come here and won't have
anything to do with white folks. I've
seen many queer proceeding in their
camps while here, dancing around the
fire, 'voudoo' practice, and all that sort
of mummery. They think the world of
him, and they will 60 without their last
dollor to pay him big sum. You see,
he doesn't charge them anything. Oh,
no /! He knows trick worth two of that.
BE tells them to compliment him, and
they strive to see who will give him the
largest and most expensive compliments
in the way of money. I've known him
tn take in from $50 to Sl00 day for
days together. They go to him for
fetishes to make some woman look upon
them, for spells to injure an enemy, OF
even to kill some one. He will look on
one of them when brought before him
and tell him to go back home, and that
he will be well when be gets there.
"But the whites are helping 'Cufee'
to fill this frauds Golfers. He gets from
| fifty to two hundred letters O week, many