Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-18
A YoUDoo DooroR.

$500 FNAVnN ZIG IAheA Oh U aUEAN&4'
Maxville, a hamlet in Florida, sever
miles south Of Baldwin, on the Florids
Central u Peninsular railroad, is becom.
ing famous, judging from the numerous
passengers for that plaes the past month
or two. The town has a store and three
houses, and the surrounding country is
Bparsely settled. Ordinarily not more
than three or four passengers week
would make up its quota but when the
number increased to IS, and then to 100,
the persons under whose notice the in
crease came began an investigation. A
New York Sun correspondent made fly
ing trip to Maxville Thursday and inter-
viewed DR.. 'Lisla Wilkinson, the great
magic healer and youdoo of the negroes
for hundreds of miles around.
The reporter arrived at Maxville at
night, and had to ride mule back two
miles through the deep pine forests
before reaching the doctors habitatior.
On the way camp of some fifteen or
more colored people was passed, who,
the guide said, had come from northern
Georgia to consult the doctor. They
we've oil ranged around big fire holding
an excited consultation and examining q
big sheet of paper that one of them held.
As the reporter approached they ran of
into the woods and nothing could induce
them to converse with him.
The guide said that this was the usual
custom, tbs paper being some kind of
magic voudoo or spell the doctor had
given them, and they thought that if
strangers saw il it would loose its force
and power. The party approached the
house and the house and the newspaper
man went in. A short, stout man, with
one eye bandsged, approached him, say
ing, II was expecting you," and shook
him by the hand. Thia upset the re-
porter, 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
twinkied with unusual force. A slonoh
hat was over his gray-white hair, while
rough flannel shirt, Jeans trousers with
out suspsnders, and big brogans com
pleted his costume.
"Doctof," said the reporter, nI'Ye got
rheumatism the wOSst way in my back.
What can you do for me? The doctor
motioned for him to bare his back. He
did SO; the doctor then ran his open hand
over the bare flesh in circles and then did
the same usipg his index finger alone.
An uncomfortable feeling soon mani.
tested itself aud 1t seemed as IL that
finger was piece of red-hot iron. He
stopped shortly, and abruptly told the
reporter TO resume his clothing. Taking
up small square of pastsboaHd ruled
into four squares, with tha numbers /
10, is, "a in them, he gave that to the
reporter and told him TO read these of
backward every night as he retired for
week, and AFTER that the rheumatism
would never be felt again. The reporter
expressed his gratitude ard then had o
long conversation with the Healer.
lie said that his power to cure by touch
any disease. wound, or hurt was bestowed
upon him when young man by an utter
stranger, and that he has pEaetioed it Tor
go years. II con cure droDsy, rheuma-
tism, cancer, &c., by looking at the
patients, sometimes not even touching
them, " said he. ~ can't say what this
power is, but do all can to cure them,
and succaed when lots Of doctors have
given up the Job. can make absent
and separated couples return TO each
other, make a woman love you, and tind
stolen and lost property. l knew to-day
that you were oomingn The reporter
soon found out thst the old fellow would
NOT give any resi- details OF his work, and
SO sought out some of his neighbors.
What do the niggers say about him ~
repeated one OF the oldest settlers. "Why
they come hundreds Of miles lust to see
him on all sorts Of business. l have
known them to come from the OaEolinas,
Georgia, Alabama, and from ali parts OF
this Dtate. They camp out when they
come here and wont have anything to do
with white folks. I've seen many a queer
proceeding in their camps while mere
dancing around the fire, 'Youdoo' prac-
tice, and ali that sort OF mummery. lhey
think the world Of him, and they will 70
without the!E last dollar to pay him big
'um. You see he doeHn't charge them
anything. Oh, no He knows q trick
worth two Of that. He 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 to take n from
So to 800 dey for days together.
They go to him for tetishes to make come
woman look upon them, for 'gpells' to
injGre an enemy, or even to Aill some
one. He will look on one OF them when
brought before aim and tell him to 90
back home, and thar lie will be wGll Wneu
hs gets there.
"sut he whites are helping tO1Fae' TO
FIJI fhts iraua q ccfsrg. ia gsts from 81
TO 200 letters wesk, macy az item MI
closing money esking f9E advice. He
csunot rea1 a line, and these lstters ars
simply opsnad, tue money taisea oat ana
the letters burned. He las never beer
known to answer O lett9r of any kind
even by proxy. He assures bis dqpsg ia,
he can treat then az wei wien thev ~
al home as Rhen loar III.
white wcmen ftom New York Cbi
csgo, Cincinnati AKA other places riaited