New-York tribune., 1901-08-18
PAPA dos, CUBAN HEALER.
CROWDS OF POOR FANATICS FLOCK TO
A NEGRO WHO CALLS HIMSELF GOD.
Santiago de Cuba, August 7

population OF Santiago de Cuba have been carried
away by a new idea and II is clear that they have
yielded TO IL all the more readily since IT is only
under the dispensation that they are per
mitted do many things that long line OF cap
tains-generaI of the faithful isle would nave
suppressed in short order. This new craze seems
TO have arisen in the metropolis or the south
coast of Cuba some time last year and to have
spread through the chatter of women at the wash
ing pools and OF men at their places OF resort
II is only within the last month or so that the
attention of thoughtful people has been
directed TO this popular folly, and 1t has been seen
what a dangerous condition existed among the
lower classes.
II began 10 be noised abroad that the most
miraculous of all human ills were to be
found in the vicinity Of Songo rustic commune
reached by hours journey on the railway and
then by ride horseback for an hour and a
half, foot mo-e tediously, in proportion to
the means or the strength of the person seeking
cure So great was the that day after day
the train which left Santiago at in the morning
packed TO the point of suffocation by the
motley multitude of those who had heard of the
healer The train has been running to the full
limit Of the rolling stock of the road namely four
cars. and these have proved all too scanty
accommodation for the pilgrims. 1t results. there
fore. that many, and they the weakest and the
poorest, have made the whole journey afoot along
roads which would be considered discredit 10
the trail class. That they veritable pilgrims
was manifest from their appearance and their
provision for the road, we'll as their CONVERSE
ton by the way. In the ranks of those afoot. as
well among those who by superior strength had
fought their way 10 the luxury of riding one hour
IN a crowded Cuban car. there were men and
women, old and young. and even infants IN arms.
The travellers bore baskets and even great sacks
food sufficient maintain them during tho
days of healing toward which they strug-
Cling Their conversation showed that they
confident OF being cured. All had faith. Some
a 8
patiently possible a brief delay in confidence
Of finally obtaining what they sought. The only
question with them which OF them would be
cured at once that very day, the merci-
tul healer came near them.
Leaving the train Songo, the pilgrims merged
into the still greater crowd which had reached that
point by weary toiling up the roads or through the
fields. Thence onward Il was nothing but walk for
all the pilgrims. There may have been few
horses but they had either been used up through
overwork carrying former pilgrims they had
been reserved long in advance. In the case of the
first educated person who made the pilgrimage in
order 10 witness the folly, II was only by the com
blned efforts OF the alcalde. the municipal judge
and the chief OF the Guarda Rural that he was able
to obtain a horse. The municipal judge felt the
affair keenly. because he proprietor OF the only
drug store in the place. shabby little shop such
might expect drug store TO be in little
village not particularly on the road 10 anywhere.
Still IL the best be could do. But now in fact
since the healer had come, II was Just lno
same whether the drug store was open or shut:
nobody bought medicines; all ran after the healer
From Songo there yet remained two leagues be-
fore arriving ar the farm Of Jagua Baral, where
the healer had established himself. The road was
crowded with men and women half paralyzed. with
children with broken arms in fact with the
manned the halt and the blind of every descrii-
don and degree of suffering. About half mile
before reaching the farm there was a little boom
kept by spaniard. Beng OF the superior race, he
lay back In mis- hammock and directed the voel.er-
ous efforts Of a horde OF youngsters VINO attacked
this walking hospital from both sides of the Toad
and tried 10 sell cigars and sWeetmeats and solt
drinks Beyond the Spaniard were other little SHOPS
where food of various sorts was sold In one was
monstrous negress, who constantly shrilied mere
your good coffee with cows milk milk OF the
ve-fsahls cow not condensed Last Of all alons
,he rro was a butcher Just beyond the butcher
was a corral, into which the horse was turned for
the rest of the distance must be mace afoot ana
with tho hat off, unless one preferred 10 iahs
chances on what might he done 20 him oy the
fanatic multitude who believed in their healer even
to tde extent OF his own assertions; me ~, ~ a.
son in authority a light muldtto, VINO sat al
ieoS - ba 10 stt on that particular spot with his
ewes Closed and with his middle nnser apphcca, 20
He was great ruffian. but he was not the healer
only follower and fr1end he drec,e1 ,.. az
TO open his eyes enough 10 scowl when asking WHAT
ms aII as it Vas for the main body Of the pill
g1ms who had not enjoyed the adVat[aEie Iisd oi The
tHbt - ehouT seen hundred yotarles seated on
The bare ground in files Of from sixty 10 elghty SO
disposed that there was left between ] nes an open
space in which the healer might walk among men, en-
They wore no hats anG mere t mns ,h ne serce rsvs
Of the sun, for such protecusoh Toatl h La ,n
gree unnecessary. since they were In the presence
He was an old negro. but he called himself God,
and the multitude believed him. for they called hirl
adre" or
sn s1li great was their fanaticsm that they would
bsss hanasq a sdsqess 6e healer in
Yet he made effort to live up to these hiEh @ pre-
tensions He was only a british negro. with the
bloodshot eyes of a sot kinky white hair. clad II
sbat a'he he bathed only once year on Johns Day
and that he had instructed all those whom ne mao
suited by more than eight thousand people. me 81
Johns Day bath stands for considerable cleaning
u His method Of healing the multitude is simple
o,iipe He 5irlqes a tbe pnrer and the people
spond Let it be So" The holiness and love r o, 81
Il be So That is all there is to it IN general
But the fanatic VotaTies must sit broiling In the
sun until he gives them permission TO depart. and
there are assistants 10 see that none 70 away De
Igft 90 thiv ne think so which is quite as good.
One of his miracles in which he -o.s had to give give
was really sick. She was brought 10 the farm TO
take her place in e Rht the dstshcg ana from Ie
which her friends could not arouse her. Papa
Dios" however. announced that she was possessed
of ten evil spirits but that he going to drive
them out She was laid out in the broad sunlight.
and then when she made some slight movement
Papa Dios'' wrenched her eyehds open with his
fingers so that the full force OF the sun struck
upon The pupil. The woman made violent effort
10 change her position and 10 avoid this torture.
Then ''Papa Dos with the full force Of his lungs.
shouted: This woman was dying, but | have saved
her! Amen, This is great day work no more;
let all retire"
He acknowledges the name Hilario Mostelier
Garzon age sxty-siX, native of Cuba and for
merly a soldier in the regiment Jose Maceo. never
having been anything more than private. IN the
war he something Of a healer. but he did not
then have the power he now has. That power came