The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-28
THE YOODOO DANCE
The Outlandish Celebration OF
ST. Johns Eve.
BY LOUISIANA NEGROES
Scenes Of Savagery in the Pont-
CHAIRMAN Swanps.
A CAR gArsN sY the DANCERS
----------~-----~s~--.-
AS They Became imprisoned The Black
Fetch Worshipers Tore OFF
Their Clothes and Danced
Naked
BY LOUISIANA NEGROES
A CAR EATEN sY THE DANCERS
Naked.

Noodo0iSm is not dead IN New On
leans. 4 waycntuI police, fortified b,
a strong moral sentiment on the par
| OF the community, has driven the ole
African fetch worship into daxi< cor
/ ners. but. like the fungus Whicl
/ thrikes best in the dark, Noodooisn
| has increased in strength in proper
ton to the secrecy imposed by fin d,
steele conditions.
Twenty years ago the Noodoo was
cons picuous strand in the social fabric
of New Orleans. The dark neighbor
hood enyironing the old Parish Prison
was thick with the filthy nests OF the
fetish woTshipers. and Queen Zourin
Gus and her followers danced under
many a moon round the famous Woo
doc tree of Congo Square. A jolly
Jacll-tar from British man-of-war
who knocked over the bowl of gumbc
one night, stole the hundred-dollal
bill from the hollow tree, and put the
half-naked dancers to fight with q
marlin spike. was the first to deal a
decisive blow to Noodooism. After
that the Noodoos took to narrow lanes
deserted tenements and abandoned
burying grounds. Many a crumbling
graveyard in lonely quarters could tell
strange tales if it would of wild scenes
among the willows and sunfowers,
and there are solitary islands in the
swamps strewn thick with the rotting
relics of many goddess orgie.
NOODOOISM NOT DEAD.
But Noodooism is not dead, as the
facts hereafter to be narrated will
show. Marie Layeau. who less than
ten years ago exercised a power and
influence among the ignorant classes
of New Orleans not second to that
held by the Congo fetch men, has
gone TO a swamp paler than any of
this world: Doctor Jim has long since
been ferried across the Styx, and the.
gigantic frame of Doctor Alexander is
rotting in the black ooze that binds in
the yellow waters of Lake Pontchar
train.
But the reign Of the Vodoos has
not ceased. Their kings and queens
rule mor~quietly than in other days,
but their outlandisih sovereignty is
none the less absolute over their super
stitious subjects. Feet Of frogs. toes
of babies, snake skins and chicken
feathers are found every morning of
the year upon becursed thresholds,
and direful diseases smite the unbe-
levers aud enemies Of Voodooism as
often as of yorc.
As far back as the animals Of Voc
dooism extend. the 23rd Of June,
known throughout Catholic countries
as st. Johns Day, has been the especial
day of the year set apart by the Woo
docs for their widest celebrations.
Twenty years ago anyone fortunate
enough or well-posted enough to find
the chosen spot might have made sure
on St. Johns eve Of seeing the Noodoo
dances. Even in those days the Curl
Gus must perforce conceal his presence,
for theVoodoos, crazed with liquor and
the enthusiasm engendered by their
superstitious rites. would have made
short work of any outsider stumbling
upon their ceremonials.
Within latter years the st. Johns
Day celebration of the Noodoos have
taken on a secrecy which has baffied
even the most sagacious espionage of
the police. Police officers, young men
about town and pubic characters, who
in other days might have told to a
dot where the foodoo dances were
to be held, are to-day so far off the
scent that they readily aver the cere-
monies a dead custom.
SECRECY OBSERVED.
Nothing will better exemplifv the
adroitness with which the Voodoos
have thrown the public off the scent
than a brief recital of the efforts made
by Times-Democrat reporter to dis
cover the location of the St. Johns eve
dance, which took place last night
Four well-known citizens, supposed to
be well-posted in the matter, said the
dances were entirely discontinued
Three detectives of the police force
said they had degenerated into mere
vulgar dances, patronized by iesvd wo-
men, and run in the interest of Mann
mon and not Voodooism. Nine police
officers detailed in the slums and ten.
derloin said ''the dances were all talk.
colored policeman on duty in the
vicinity of the notorious Pig Ankle
dive, on Franklin and Customhouse
streets, alone said that he had reason.
ably reliable information that the
dances would take place somewhere in
the swamps along the margin of Lake
Pontchartrain.
With no more definite information
than the above, the reporter began
making the rounds of the disruptable
neighborhood environing the old ST
Louis Cemeteries, known to be the
location of a number of well concealed
Voodoo dens. Inquiries were futile
and it seemed as if the search must
result in failure, when the reporter
met up with well-known Creole ply
stefan, who proved a Golconda of in
formation.
why. my dear boy" said the ply
stefan, II could send YOU to the very
spot. were it not that | fear | would
be violating the canons of professional
| secrecy
! The physician then explained thai
/ his colore9 servant, whom he was
treating for a severe attack OF bron
/ ehitis, and whom he had prohibited
out after dark. had applied to him fol
permission to go out to the Lake. Aftel
close cross-examination he had ELECTED
from the woman the startling infor
nation that she was a kind of lady-in
waiting on the Noodoo Queen. anc
that her services were urgently in re
QUESTION at the celebration Of ST
Johns Eve. Further questioning, will
the view of discovering the nature o
the ground upon which the celebra
ton was to be held, in order that tn
physician might say whether or no
II would he had for his na tiapt I'm,