The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-19
Weird and Uncanny Scenes In q
Swamp in Wayne County,
Tennessee.
There We're Present Colored Peo-
plo From Five Different
Southern States.
Occurrence-Wsird Proceedings In
tho Dismal Swamp.

tbS ssfD OSS"S ~bS SD
old-time southern negroes took place about
four miles south Of Lanes Ferry, in Wayne
county. For two days preceding the dance
they began to arrive and tho cOIored people
Of five states were represented. there being
worshipers from Tennessee, Alabama,
Mississippi, Georgia. and the priest. or
leader, wasa native born Louisianian. Very
few knew Of the ceremony, and no white
persons were present rs spectators except n
reporter and q inwycr Of Waynesboro. The
meeting place WAS in Ocoltee swamp, down
in the wire grass, where the pine and the
kemlock and the cypress m the juniper
grew side by side. Very few human crea-
lures have ever traversed it's hidden recess
ca, or gone beyond the open close
to the margin OF tho sluggish
black pools, which abound in all kinds
Of creeping serpents and fish. 1t is 4
dense swamp, as nearly imy enetrabie as the
Dismal swamp Of Virginia. BrIars Of lustry
growth, and the creeping roots of the trees
and shrubs, make it dangerous for one to
walk even in tho edges Of tho thickets, for
rible place to onter after nightfaIi, NJ the
wild scream of the panther, the growl OF
the wild boar and the hooting of owls make
ones blood run cold. Step by step, slowly
and as noiselesslv az possible. the scribe
and the lawyer. with pistols ready for any
made their way from hnmmock to hum
mock, miring into glush and mud. and wad-
ing through the sluggish pools. The weird
Loneliness Of the swamp, with no light ex-
cept the rays OF q buifs-eye, terriI1ed them,
but il was "see the 'voudoo' dance or die"
or hearing the frightened chIrp Of a little
bird that had left it's nest. they made their
way for three-quarters Of a mile.
In the center Of the swamp is the Devils
lake, a small, brackish body of water, and
n this a peninsula runs ont for several
hundreds yards, and instead OF tapering to
q point widena Mt the end. On tho end Of
the peninsula ~ Il thick growth Of trees,
while in tho center is Nh open. In this open
the vOudoO wOrShipcrS were to make their
sacrifices. Before the war this used to be Il
favorite meeting place OF theirs, but of late
Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. The
two spectators found shelter in the hollow
of a gigantic oak, and for three long hours
sat cramped up in their narrow quarters
awaiting the appearance of the negroes.
As the hands of the watch pointed to the
hour OF midnight Il shrili scream woke the
echoes OF the swamp and was answered by
yeiIs On all sides of the swamp. In q mo
ment a light loonied az through the thick
undefbrnsh about a quarter of n mile 10 the
east. followed by Others until in a moment
the jungle seemed to be alive with torches.
TIN priests, followed by the negroes. ap-
preached the peninsula and singing a mo-
notonous chant, entered the clearing and
circled around the priest three times. when
st a wave OF his and or stick the men
threw their torches to the ground in Il
pile and rushed off to the woods
sfter fagots and ffewood. -Four out
Of the thirty-four women grasped
a heavy ksttls and going to the edge of the
peninsula filed it with the black water OF
the lake. They brought it back full to the
brim inc placed it on the roaring bonfire
which the men had made. The fire lighted
the scene for 100 Yards or more. and the
two spectators crept farther back for fear
of being seen. The crowd Of about eighty
five then Joined hands and began circling
around, singing II yelling, while the old
priest in the center-a gauHt, hollow faced,
toothless and aged negro-Iay fiat down on
his belly to Invoke the spirits. Over the
backs of each one of the worshipers WIS
strapped a long sack. They stopped when
the priest arose, and each one lay fiat on
the ground while the doctor walked around
tho circle touching each ones head with his
wand, which WAS no sooner done than the
one touched would rise and stand motion
less in his place. When they had risen they
began a march around the big kettle, which
WAS roaring Bow Their sacks were trans
ferred to the front, and each one dived his
or her hand into the sack and drew ont a
~wriRgling snake, a lizard, scorpion. frog.
turtle or other reptile. which was flung into
the kettle. This was kept up until they had
each put into the loathsome mass three rep
tiles or animals. When this was done the
doctor began Il %harangue. while the wor-
shippers stood with bowed heads and folded
hands. Then began the dance around the
kettle. No human pen could describe the
gyrations. contortions and tw%istings of the
x0rfhIVsn q a nj V.lta .nrA.-.-
scree:hes and cries filed the atmosphere
With bideous vibrations. II looked rs if
each one WAS doing bis best to throw him.
self out of joint, and outshriek his neigh
Dor. Thu awful dance was kept up until
one By one they fell to the ground exhaust
ed. Presently all was still.
The priest cried ont something in q sharp
voice, and. as if by magic. all arose. From
their sacks each one drew u sharp stick. and
the circle began moving about again. Each
one thrust his stick into the seethin4 cal |
drou and drew it forth with some reptile |
impaled upon it. In a moment each one of
the whole fendish crew had q sickening
mass on his rod. Then followed the same
writhing dance. with stick nnd reptile held
high in the air. until again they fell to the
ground in an exhausted state. 1t was now
that daylight began to dawn. and the FIRE
went out. leaving the exhausted dancers
out OF the ground.
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