Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-24
A WITCH DOCTOR.
Weird Work ola Voodo Priest in a Mis-
souri, Town

Special to the Gazette.
LIBERTY, Mo, Sept. 16-The colored
population of this section of the country
are much stirred up over the alleged weird
work of i voOdoo or witch doctor. This in
dividual is an old negro who acts in most
mysterious manner and does all he can to
induce other members of his race TO be-
lieve that he is possessed with Supernat-
ural power In appearance he is tall and
angular end his spectral appearance is
heightened with splotcheS of red paint
with which he freely adorns his cheeks. 1t
gives him a most CHASTITY appearance. He
wanders about the country after nightfall
gathering herbs, which he says he uses to
make charms with and to conjure with
He has great repute among the darleyS.
who believe that he is able to put spell
upon them and cause them TO have aches
and pains and even to dry up and blow
away. This power is visited upon all who
do him an injury or slight him in any way.
An incident occurred last week which. to
the cOlored population, is confirmation strong
as holy writ. Among the cOlored people
here Is 4 large negro named Jim Duncan,
who is regarded by the others of his race
with fear, as well as by white people who
fear his depredations He is known as
Dad man and does not hesitate to use his
strength to the injury of others when he is
Ill an unruly mood. Duncan was on one of
his tears 4 few days ago, and in his rounds
came across the witch doctor Jim grasped
the old fellow by the neck and gave him a
shaking which almost dislocated his bones
The old voodoo turned upon him when he
was dropped. and in language strange and
unknown, put 4 curse upon the big negro
The words We're said TO De those of the
language used by the forefathers of the old
man when they wandered in Africa. jim
did not seem to mind the cursing, and
started for the old man again, when an
officer appeared and put stop TO the
trouble.
1t is alleged that late that night the old
man was seen walking around the house
wherein Jim slept and scattering ashes or
dust of some kind on the window sills
and doors. muttering his strange spells.
Next morning it was learned that Jim Dun
can was down with some terrible disease
which racked his body with pain, and which
the doctors said would kill him. The doc
tors said it was inflammatory rheumatism,
but the cOlored people well knew that it was
nothing more nor less than the spell work
ing which had been put upon him by the
old witch. jim grew worse and worse and
AT last his friends prevailed upon him 10
send for the old man and try 10 get him to
take off the spell. 1t was difficult to get the
old voodoo to consent to go, but at last he
consented TO hear what jim had to say for
himself. The tortured black man cried and
begged the Old fellow TO take off the spell
aud promised 10 be his slave forever if he
would only stop the pains which were rack
ing his body.
At last the old man said he would see
what he could do for him if he would prom
ise to work for him one day in every week.
and pay him $40 This jim promised faith
fully TO do and the voodoo doctor went to
the swamp and soon returned with the bark
of tree, which he stewed into an infusion
with which he literally dosed the Suffering
negro. The decoction acted like a charm.
and Jim was out of pain in six hours from
the time the first dose was given
The doctors say that the old man simply
gave him decoction of the bark of the tree
from which salicylic acid is made, and gave
1t in much stronger doses than they dared
10. However that may be. the negroes can
not be made TO believe that the old voodoo
doctor is not the best doctor inthe country,
and bis power is now greater than ever.