The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-24
KENTUCKY VOODOOISM
Supernatural Powers Credited to
an Aged Negro There.
He Is No Older Looking Now than
Twenty-Five Years Ago. and the
Darkies Believe Him a Wizard.

the present century Though the subject
has not attracted much attention since
the abolition OF slavery as when the con-
Sested districts were conducive TO the
peculiar practice. those who have an idea
that the missionary and the Emancipation
Proclamation have caused the extinction of
the poetic and picturesque principles Of
voodooisrn among the Southern negroes.
can easily detect their error by careful in
vestigation in those districts OF the South
In which the ex-slave population is numer-
GUS
on the high Knobs" in the suburbs OF
this city resides an able exponent of this
craft About the close of the d pow
erfully built negro. calling himself Elisha
Broadeaux. made his appearance in this
vicinity At that time he appeared to be
about seventy years old, though as vigor-
Gus as a mule. He established himself in
the small log hut which he has occupied
continuously since. At that time the ne
groes were just beginning to taste the
sweets OF freedom, and were enjoying the
novelty of visiting each other unrestrained.
The new arrival Immediately became
man of prominence in a peculiar way
among the negroes OF this entire section OF
the country. in their inability to pro-
nounce the old negro's name. it was cor
rupted into "Lige Broad-Ax.'
Before the old man had resided in the
vicinity year miraculous powers were at
tributed to him by the ignorant negroes.
~ few OF the cOlored people were too intel
ligent to be deceived. but his influence with
the majority great that these better
informed were not anxious to assert their
skepticism. To some Lige Broad-Ax was
voodoo doctor. and controlled life and
death; to others ne was the high priest Of
black magic and in league with the devil
communing at will with demons and de
parted spirits To all his race, with few
exceptions. he the embodiment of good
and evil, as he preferred TO exercise his
influence, and a terror generally
He was never known to have done
days work, yet he always appeared TO have
an abundance or food, though his clothes
were OF the poorest quality. In fact, 1t
was asserted by negroes in confidence, that
the old voodoo doctor was dressed in a
povetry-str1cken manner from choice in
order to more easily terrify the ignorant
class with whom he came in contact.
Even 10 the white population Uncle
'Lige." as he was commonly known, was
always an enigma In their presence he
was universally polite and humble though
among his colored acquaintances arrogant
and commanding. To the white children
the aged negro was never known TO be
otherwise than kind. though the fear he
inspired among the negroes by his reputa-
tiCn as a voodoo doctor was shared in an
exaggerated form by them He was known.
ETC., among the negroes
THE yOODOO'S SPELL"
For the past quarter Of a century the To-
cality has been disturbed periodically by
accusations against the old wizard by
members OF his race, who believed they had
been placed under ''spelP' for some fam
ciei slight. or because he was paid 10 do so
by their enemy. These complaints were of
various forms In one case the old negro's
pretensions alleged that he had forced hin.
IN, ME of
sleep. He could feel the point cutting its
way through his flesh He was examined
by physicians and appeared to be suffering
ali the torments incident 10 the introduc>
ton or a metallic substance in the human
stomach.
after lingering several days in awful de-
nrluT1. In which he repeatedly claimed that
ne had been ''tricked by old 'Lige Broad
Ax the victim died a post-mortem in
frfghtfully swollen and infamed: but If. as
was believed. the negro had been poisoned,
the drug used was so subtle as to defy
surgical skill TO detect its presence. This
only served TO convince the negroes more
thoroughly OF the voodoo doctors knowl-
Though he has resided here more than a
quarter i, or q century he has not perceptibly
Gus now as when he first made his appear
ance IN this locality. The best authorities
hhgreG that the 9id negro is more than one
his age. Familiarity with events early in
the present century Indicate that he was
probably born in the last decade of the
eighteenth century. He declares that he is
l4O years of age, and that he will never die.
Many OF the superstitious negroes assert
that the secret OF his longevity is that he
occasionally takes the form of a vampire
and repairs his shattered constitution with
the blood of his younger victims
reporter visited the cabin of the alleged
gro's photograph. He was invited into the the
small hut by the old man. who received him
was crowded with rubbish and a oueer COL
lection of dried vegetation The pronriator
sat In its midst. wearing dilapidated old
hat and other clothes to correspond He
was unusually communicative but peculiar
ly guarded in his remarks at first A re-
markable feature of the conversation was
the excellent language used by the old man
one moment. while probably the next SEN
tenee would be expressed most ungrammat-
FORCED, ana ne was apparently making a
constant effort 20 conceal the polish and
pure diction which he occasionally used
PLACES HIS AGE AT 40
In appearance he was puzzle. His
good-natured. kindly old face was wreathed
In wrinkles and furrowed even under his
snowy beard. Small tufts of long white
hair dotted his head. Indicating the mixture
Of races In his veins. For two hours the
voodoo doctor conversed on general topics
drifting from one subject TO another with
an ease that was most remarkable con-
sidering his surroundings. An effort to
draw him into a discussion Of voodooIsm
appeared to annoy the old negro. He pre-
ferred TO talk OF religion, OF the prObabili-
ties or a great war in the country. which
he knew was impending. Yes, he would
see II, because he would yet live long
time. No. he did not know his age. guessed
he was most 1t0; was a grown man in New
Orleans when Jackson defeated the British
there.
The queer character was running along
thus, apparently taking considerable salts
faction in recOunting his experiences. when
he was again reminded that ne was widely
known = voodOo priest. The old man
ceased spea king and appeared To be in deep
thought for several minutes. Suddenly he
turned most piercing black eye on the
Questioner. His face assumed a most pc
cullar expression. He began to speak rapid
". but with remarkable distinction The
dialect OF his race was not blended with
his Anglo-American pronunciation.
II aware that some people accuse me
OF being n VoOdoo and declare that | prac-
tice s0rcery. he said. Il do not DENY
these charges. They too numerous, even
II / was inclined Am 1 TO blame for
these impressions? History presents no in
stance of any race In which pretenders to
black art or magic have not existed An
clients believed that all the planets in con-
junction had peculiar effects ON individuals
This was taught by their wisest and best
Was this true? Was not the ma ri.
the priestly class OF the ancient Medians
hOnored2 Were their ideas correct ?
Teachings OF the Persian priesthooa We're
similar 10 the magi, yet their learning bene-
flied mankind
II know something of occult properties.
either medical Or rnaCica1 I I'M IN -