The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-19
BURIED BY LANTERN LIGHT.
FUNERAL OF NEGRESs REPU7BD
10 BE VOUDOo WITCH

"
Preacher WARDS wue wanted to ne
Buried Fac. downward with Her Hus-
band and Dog the Only Witnesses
Her Request OuIy Party Complied with.
AsnurY PARK Dec 1S-Mrs. Martha Ward.
who was reputed to be q \oudoo witch. died
last Fri lay night and was buried by lantern
light early this morning. She was the wife Of
the Rev. Harrison Ward a colorcd Baptist
preacher living in Adams street. West Park.
n little settlement % colorod people west OF
Ashury Park. The negroes came mainly from
tho Southern states, and they are very excited
ovcr tho woman's death.
Mrs. Ward was tail slare negroes, with
long gray hair which hung down on her Shout
dors She always used long staff in her
walks. She LAD piercing black eyes which
flashed with all the viGor OF youth. II Is i'm
possible to say how the stories that she was n
Nuudoo witch originated. That tho ignorant
negroes were terribly afraid OF her no one can
doubt She had been III for some months
Before her death, it Ia said. she made the re-
quest that che he buried face downward be-
tween the hours OF midnight and suntlsc.with
Only her husband and the old family dog ne
witnesses Of the Interment Mr. Ward EN-
ployod ndrrtakcr james II. Sexton OF Asbury
Park. There was considerable difficulty in so
curing n clergyman to Ofliciate Mt the funeral
services because Of the hour at which they
wcre TO he held. Mr.. Ward drove down to
Belmar and prevailed uron the Eov. William
Green pastor Of the Baptist church Of the col
orcl people to come IN and read the burial
service. II was after = o'clock this morning
when Dominic Green reached the home Of the
dead woman.
In the little front room, near the head Of the
coffin sat tho husband. The old family dog
lay colcd up at his feet. Several friends OF
the family sat about tho room. Dominic
Green read short selection from the Bible and
made brief address upon the uncertainty OF
life. outside in the front yard were little
groups Of negroes who talked in low tones
about tho dead woman.
When the coffin was placed In tho hcarso tho
negroes climbed into two stages. aud Mr.
Ward and Dominic Green took seats in coach
furnished by Founder Bradley OF Asbury
Park. Then the littlc procession started on the
drcGry drive over the dark roads to Mount
Pros pcct Cemetery. on the sand hills two miles
west Of Asbury lark. Tho Old family dog.
which tho dead woman loved fondly. slowly
trudgcd along behind tho coach which con-
tAincd his master,
The grave was on the west sido Of tho hill
Here, hy he aid Of The HicEering light OF Ian;
terms. the DO ~ OF the old rcgress was lowered
into the grave. Dominic treen with great
difficulty managed to read the burial service
and committed tho body to the Earth. 1t WAS
weird scene. Back IN the shadows stood
groups OF negroes whose faces were occasion
ally frightened 10y glpHEs IRON tho lanterns.
The light lckcred on the trees and bushes
AMI flashed hack from the POLISHED top OF tho
coffin. As the gravcdiggcrs began throwing
in the background clustered around the foot
OF the grave AVID with uncovered heads listened
to the soiemnly uttered words OF Dominic
Green.
After the intermcrt the undcrtakcr's men
said that Mrs. Wards request to he buried |
face down ward had not been CON piled witt.
Tho sGEerstitiUus negroes cay that Mrs.
Jeremiah Williams l. living evidence OF Mrs.
Wards ROVER rs witch. Mrs. Williams has !
suffered for years from an nhn orlnal growth on |
the abdomen and side. she and her friends |
say that she was Cursed 10y Mrs. Ward and |
that the curse caused hug" bunch tn grow |
on her BODY he bunch, they thinE ia nile with |
snakes. and when the snakes move around it |
causes her great pain. which sho relieves 10y |
rubbing. Tho physicians who hay" examined |
Mrs. VILLAINS say she l. suffering from n |
tumor. which weighs yearly forty pounds. |
II was also sail that the Rev i'andolrh \. !
Eo!en. pastor Of the second artist Church Of |
potion IToiIrod ~ the alleged Noudoo witch !
and had nearly died OF It, Dumini" Holen was |
found yesterday III In bed with Erir. Ne said |
that he had heard Mrs. Ward cal el u Noudoo |
witch tut she had never given him ANYTHING. |
A friend Of his named Lewis, who Is now In |
Mrs. Ward. Lewis said he tried to induce |
him to bring Mr.. 30 en- over 70 her house in |
order that she might give him u dose that |
would end him. Acting On this warning Mr.. |
Bu,en refused several invitations to dine at |
Mr. Wards house.
Park They all said that the dead woman WAS !
II witch hut refused o give the name ~ people /
upon whom II was alleged that che had excr- |
cisel her powers.