New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
THE DEVILS CROSSROADS.
HEALING PLACE on LONG ISLAND FOR
sUPERsTITIOUs coLoRED FOLKS
THE LoADsToNEs POWER

said 10 have been the scene Of many a mid
night incarnation. and In the dust Of the road
he'd the gossips say. many hoodoo doctor has
drawn his magic circle. The Evolutionary lore
~ the region sbounds in marvellous cures which
have been effected at this unhoy meeting place.
The existence OF such place and the preva-
,epcy OF the superstition Of hoodooism among
some OF the colored people who have settled in
and around the city OF New-York were discov-
cred the other day by a Tribune reporter in a
talk with a oolored man Of the Tenderloin. who
himself processes 10 have superhuman powers.
Although believing little, SO he said, in the en-
,ehantments Of the DEVILS Crossroads. in
other ferns OF voodooism or ho0dooism he told
Of beliefs OF his own which appeared 20 be
equally benighted He told, for example how
he could call UP the shades OF two kings Of an
Gent Israel and advise with them in regard TO
lynchings and other such interesting subjects.
AN EXPOSITION OF HooDooIsM
Those who arc familiar with the subject say
that hoodoosm as il prevails in this city at the
rresent time is the belief that evil spirit. a
hoodoo can so take possession OF a human being
rs 10 shape his every act for ill., and last even
drive him 10 destruction. Hoodoos are believed
also 10 haunt inanimate objects. as. for example.
q ship, house or a tree. Indeed, the hoodoo.
should one Of his kin ever be compelled TO reveal
the chief insurrectionist of heaven. who. though
exiled from that high place. has been exceedingly
busy elsewhere ever since. The hoodoo would
also claim as knsman the Furies OF the Greek
and the genii OF the Arab. He would also own
that he was related TO the spirits who inhabit
the fetiches Of the savage.
To the hOodoo OF the present time, therefore,
entrance cannot be refused into certain circles
for lack OF family connections. Nevertheless in
spite OF his strong personality, he has his equal
and. what is more. his master in the hoodoo
doctor. However shrewd and cunning the hoo
doc may be the hoodoo doctor. II he knows his
business can outwit the spirit and bring about
3ts defeat.
THE HOODOO DOCTORS CURES.
Accordingly. when some poor fellow has fallen
victim 10 a hcodoo his only recourse is to seek
she services OF a hoodoo doctor. The patient
may have caught this spiritual infection by
Rssociating with somebody else that was hoo
dooed or by coming in contact with the spirit
by some other undue familiarity. Once hoo
dooed. however. The victim encounters nothing
but bad luck until the hoodoo is driven out
The hoodoo doctor. 10 whom the unfortunate
must come for treatment. has made study of
al the habits and whims Of this relentless Of
spring Of the devil. and an especial research OF
those objects which ahhorrent to these spir-
SIS The doctor knows Of certain herbs and GER
cain stones which are particularly hated by the
hoodoo. and by applying them 10 bis patient
under peculiar conditions he is able to drive the
hoodoo out. II the case is far advanced. how
ever, and the hoodoo has obtained an especially
powerful grip his victim often no drug or
other material element be found powerful
enough to thwart the spirits designs. In such
case, there is nothing eft but the Devils
Crossroads and direct appeal TO the powers
OF evil.
Accompanied BY his patient. the hoodoo doc
tor reaches the weird spot just before midnight
After series Of passes and mystic signs the
doctor draws circle in the dust OF the road
and leads the hoodooed victim within the pale
Incantatons follow at the stroke Of midnight
and the powers Of the under wcrld become visi-
bic on the outside Of the ring. AS the doctor
has employed two or more confederates 10 ap-
pear about this time srrayed in long white robes
his appeal always meets with hearty response
Since none but pure spirit remain within
the charmed ring. the incarcerated hoodoo breaks
loose from his victim and joins his sheeted fell
lows without the circle
CHANGES AND A SPREAD OF THE CRAFT.
Ever since the death Of DR.. Bass. one Of the
most celebrated hoodoo doctors OF this city
and the decline Of his especial school OF the
craft the Crossroads has not been frequented
90 often before. More modern forms Of hoo
dooism have arisen which resemble and in some
cases are indistinguishable from certain rites Of
Spiritualism. Hence many hoodoo doctors are
beginning 10 call themselves mediums and
their signs may be read throughout those parts
Of the city that are especially inhabited by col
ored people.
The use Of drugs. stones and incense. which
are the chief weapons Of the hoodoo doctor, has
been adopted also by the more ignorant Of the
many immigrant races which have settled here
One medium who was brought into publicity a
fortnight ago because Of being duped out of $50
in an attempt 10 buy a maidstone, although a
negro himself. has as patients almost entirely
Irish servant girls and Italian laborers.
Druggists whose stores are convenient 10 the
Office Of hoodoo doctor, or, as ne more often
calls himself, a medium. tell of Of the
drugs and stones which the patients Of such a
doctor ask for
I want pint % love drops" says
toner.
What are you going TO do with them?" IS
asked.
Got gal as I likes right well. but she don't
Ike me-" SAYS the customer. I've a-treated
her mighty swell but it don't DO Done all 1
could, but it don't. don't do. Hurry UP! want
those love drops"
The druggist measures out a pint OF some
exceedingly red looking pills composed of sugar
hno harmless dye for the thwarted lover.
Ten times out OF eleven my pills work" said
druggist who had told OF such experience
20 a Tribune reporter.
Then too" continued the druggist, people
come IN here and ask for dragons teeth never
could learn exactly for what ailInent dragons
teeth are most efioacicus. Yes. keep a stock
on hand, which more scientifically should call
cows teeth. Nevertheless. they sell for dragons