The San Francisco call., 1897-04-07

that. The attendants began to grow ex-
tremely alarmed.
There's a hoodoo around this place
somewhere, and nobody can convince me
that there is not" said Superintendent
McLaren in worried sort of way, when
he was told OF the mishaps, and had
have to locate the thing and get It out OF
here, that's all, !" he added with a deter
mined shake of his head
Then was inauguratcd the search for
the evll-possessed object that was tn reat-
ening TO totally destroy the parks cole c.
ton of antiquities. 1t was not until yes
terday, however, that the "hoodoo" was
cornered. and now ii is dollars to marbles
that the thing, if allowed to stay in the
park at all. will be relegated to some
isolated spot out on the hills where it will
have little opportunity to exert its evil
influence.
1t is an old Indian idol that was re-
Gently discovered and purchased by John
L. Bard dweli-that interchangeable searcher
for antiquities-and given by him to the
Park Com mmissioners. A glance at the
distorted and horror-inspiring carving is
enough to convince any body that even if
the thing did not possess the power to
wreck lives and homes, 1t ought 10. Just
what 1t Is, or what 1T was ever intend ed
TO represent, not even the museum cura-
tors are able 10 divine. In appearance it
resem bles an over-grown toad, posse ssed
OF dragon-like head, and snout tha:
belongs to the family of swine. Clutcned
between the two fore-legs, or tentacles, or
fins-or whatever they are-is the figure
in miniature of human being; and fro m
the expression of this images counte-
nance and the agonizing twist of its linn bs,
ii is plain to the beholder that it is not de-
lighted with its job.
The record of this ruin n-tracked relic OF
north-coast barbarity certainly entities it
to the pionship title IN the "hoodoo'
class. Wherever it has gone disaster and
desolation have been rife. The question
now is, What next?
To one Hans Anderson, an unscrupulous
and sacrilegious follower of the sea- is at
tributed much woe of the past thirty
years. This Hans Anderson was a trader
who piled the Pacific Coast three decades
ago. One eyl! moment he directed his
vessel toward Queen Charlotte Island on
the British Columbia coast. The Indians
on the island were at that time peaceable
enough. but knew naught of civilization.
They were idol worshipers like all of the
tribes that Inhabited the northwestern
country. Anderson invaded one of the
villages, ostensibiy TO do come small trad
ing with the Indians, but with the real
heart of a pirate. Awaiting favorable
opportunity he and his men on dark
IL ght raided one of the native temples, if
such they could be called, and carried
away everything of value and everythip g
that even looked valuable. Then came
the retreat to the ship and hasty setting
of sail.
Among the articles carried away from
the temple was the hideous carving that
Is now ensconced in the park museum.
The theft of this idol was particularly be.
axr;v, 90 . h. I'll.
tlves and exasperating as well. While the
sails of Anderson's craft were still sill
houetted against the horizon the medI-
cine men or priests were called out and in
the presence of the enraged popuiace
went through series of weird incanta-
tions, the meaning of which was, so the
strange story goes, that for ages to come
terrible curse and the worst of luck
would pursue those who should become
possessed of that cherished but ugly
image.
What happened?
Skipper Anderson sailed down to Van.
couver and there died in horrible agony
from convulsions. He had owed a del BIT tC
the captain of the sealing schooner o. F
Fowler, and in liquidation of that obl ga.
ton most of the deceased's possession,
fell into the hands of the creditor, among
them being that wall-eyed and chill-in
spring idol. The o. F. Fowler was a.
stanch a craft as ever sailed the main, bu
she could not sail with that "hoodoo
aboard. The very first voyage she at
tempted with it as passenger ended in
disaster. She was crushed ON the rocks
and the captain and several of the crew
we're lost.
Blu. the 'hoodoo" lived. Along with
the wreckage it foated ashore. 1t was
picked up by a fisherman who died a week
later from brain fever. In some way OF
other the Id ol got into the hands of some
whalers. who brought it to San Francisco
and sold it to Robert Llewelyn, who al
that time-this was about twenty wears
ago-was wealthy and prosperous and
known and liked by every BODY bob. y
as he was Familiarity known along the