The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-23
THE NEGRO GHOST DANCE.

Weird Orgies Tint are Carried On In BELLE.
view Hollow, Kansas City.
A Kansas City correspondent Of the 81.
Louis Republic recently visited the part Of
that city known as Belleview Hollow. ana
by the aid OF n negro friend secured admit
lance to the room whore the so-called ghost
dance was in progress. II was presided over
by Reuben Carter, who proclaims himself
ne the forerunner Of the black messiah.
The dance WAS one of tho most grotesque
scenes ever witnessed in this part Of the
country, and was nothing more nor less
than the ''voodoo" dance OF the negroes OF
Georgia and Louisiana, only the orgies
were not 80 horrible.
Carter was most Enthusiastically arrayed and
led the mad dance with an energy which was
surprising. He was stripped stark naked
with the exception Of a cloth which was
fastened around his waist and hung down to
his knees in the form of a shirt. His body
was oiled until it shone in the light of the
candles which we're stuck around the room.
Around his neck and down his back were a
lot OF r%att!esnake skins. On his brenst bung
a "voodoo" charm string, composed OF zones
shells aud odds and ends OF all sorts. In his
left hand he carried q rabbits foot, while in
his right he held q willow wand, at one end
of which was tied n bnnch OF ROSTERS feath-
ers, which he whirled about as he danced.
The prophet vent from one end OF the
room to the other, while the followers OF
the new craze sat aroand ON their Launches
watching the mad gyrations closely. AS ne
passed along the line he would touch one
after another with his wand and those SO
designated would follow him III the dance;
This was continued until fifteen men and
women were on the floor dancing, present.
ing a weird scene. As the dance proceeded
those assembled kept up monotnnOus song
full of negro melody, with a humminR In.
terlude, the refrain being the word come"
which some Of the singers repeated con-
stantly.
Faster and faster became the dance. until
suddenly Carter came to q full stop in the
middle Of the floor with both arms extended
forward and upward. His eyes became
fixed and assumed q CLASSY appearance, and
he slowly sank to the floor and after q few
.convulsive tremors lay perfectly quiet, while
the devotees waited with painful silence for
the next manifestation. Slowly, like one
asleep. the prophet rose to a kneeling posi-
ton, and with his eyes still fixed began to
talk. His voice was changed and seemed to
come without the action OF his lips. Grad.
ually it rose from a whisper until the full
volume filled the room with a sonorous
LIS WOrOS W0I0 CUaG Oh u Cdmp-AuoctluR
exhorter, and his talk continued for many
minutes, during which his hearers inter
spersed the harangue with groans and cries.
BY degrees his voice grew weaker and grad
ualIy it ceased. He again sank to the floor.
where he lay fort moment, and then he
started wildly to his feet and gazsd around
the room in a dazed name He was led
to the corner of the room, where he was
placed on a couch and given nourishment
by some OF his followers. AS he lay there
he told OF the glories which had been re:
vealed to him while in big trance. He told
them that all who believed would be led to
a land of perpetual summer. They would
all have what their hearts desired. They
would be shown miracles and signs and
wonders which would convince them that
their leader was the true messiah. Okla
homa wal the promised land; there cities
would rise out Of the earth to be possessed
by the blacks. He continued in this strain
for more than an hour and then dismissed
them, telling them to spread the glad It'd
ings among the people.