The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-02


conquer. See-thus shall we vanquish
our oppressors, and drive them forth
INTO the night from which no man
wakes. Looki"
He raised from the ground an OBJ
Ject draped in red cloth. 1t was an
unoouth mannikin, roughly fashioned
to represent the human form. One side
OF the strange creature, which was as
large as a baby, was composed of wax,
while the other was of soft, unbaked
clay. Daubs of white paint indicated
the features, and the trunk bore the
same mystic designs that decorated the
Voodoo doctors robe.
Look" he cried. Gaze with I'M
covered eyes at the servant of Woo
doo"
A groan ran over the assemblage,
and with one accord men and women
fell forward on their faces.
This, oh my people, is the instru-
ment of the great Voodoo. The wax
represents the whites. The other half
OF clay unhardened yet by sun, stands
for the followers of Voodoo We shall
cast the child into the holy fire. If
the clay hardens and blackens even
as Voodoo's chosen ones are black, and
the wax melts, it shall be a sign that
so will the whites melt away. But if
the clay break, and the wax hold, then
shall it be a sign that our causes will
fail"
Jerry and wriggled back into the
passage and his hand closed on my
arm like a wise.
There's just one finish for this old
fellow. If ever fire touches that abom-
Unable doll. the wax is bound to melt
and the clay to bake-and then
The pause was significant.
Jerry. there are less than 300 whites
in this town and more than 1000
blacks!" had been thinking fast Now
l gripped his hand hard.
Jerry, old boy, if we could Just get
our hands on that miserable bit of
do the rest. Dare we try it ?"
From the chamber came another
chant supplicating the blessing of Woo
doc on the holy fire. could feel Jerry's
arms moving rapidly and then came a
gasp of relief.
"Ah. thought it was here. haven't
worn this suit since Christmas night"
he murmured. Now, we'll find super
stition with red fire."
1t is a Nassau custom to set off
fireworks Christmas night, and Jerry
had led the celebration at the hotel.
In the twinkling of an eye 1 saw his
plan.
Strip off your clothes to the waist,
and between red fire, black faces and
white bodies. we'll scare those blacks
into forty fits, and grab the hoodoo
charm. Hurry Hurry"
Two minutes later our clothes lay in
heap near the entrance and Jerry
stood ready with the quarter-pound
can of red fire in his hand. Then, yell
ing like mad, we started straight for
the center of the circle. Jerry tossed
the powder into the fire. Crimson glow
and choking fumes filled the room. At
this the darkies fell face downward on
the floor. Even the chief doctor follow
ed the example of the humble worship
pers. In the same instant Jerry snatch
ed up the mannikin, and we dashed
back to the passage way.
AS we grabbed up our clothing Jerry
whispered:
I'VE don't dare take the stairways.
1t must be the secret passage way
He lowered himself into the hole
which was said to lead to the govern
7or's mansion To me, it looked like a
yawning abyss, a bottomless well, but
in it lay our only hope. How long the
thrall of superstition would hold the
negroes quiet was a grave question,
full of unpleasant possibilities.
Down, down, we plunged, by steps
that were Shiny and roughly hewn.
The bottom at last, and our hands
| searched feverishly for some means of
exit. According to tradition, a narrow
tunnel led to the Governors garden.
suddenly Jerrly showed me forward. He
pushed open small door.
I'm with YOU
We were not an instant too soon, for
through the cracks in the door we
could see light cleaning down the
Well-lghted passageway. Evidently
the negroes were trying to satisfy
| themselves that their weird visitors
had really been sent by Voodoo Rlaz-
| ing torches fell into the space, and we
watched breathlessly through the
| cracks. But apparently the blacks were
| satisfied, for none came down the steps.
AS silence settled around us, Jerry
| sighed with relief. and lit the lantern.
| Were all right so far. Now to get
! into our clothes. Then we'll find way
cut of this tunnel. Once in the COVER
| nors mansion or his garden. Wen
reach the hotel safely enough"
So we started on the last part of our
| gloomy journey. Jerry carried the Ian
tern and l held the hoodoo mannikin.
| Evidently the tunnel had not been used
in years. Thick dust rose at every step,
and bats flew about our heads. The air
was heavy and oppressive, but not I'M
| breathable, and while we met with a
| few Instructions, on the whole our way
was not as difficult as we had antici-
pated.
! In few moments the pasSageway
took an upward turn, and Jerry, who
| flashed the lantern carefully, gave a
low shout of relief. A flight of steps
led to a good-sized door.
Were up to something now and it
| leads either to house or garden. In
| either case, we'd best get rid of our
| black faces"
| He turned out the lantern, and we
used the last bit of oil to rub the SCOT
| from our faces. Then cautiously he
| swung open the door. A flood of moon
| light greeted us. 1t came through a
| grating in the governors cellar. The
| door, through which we had passed
| had not been used for years, judging
from the signs of dust and decay, and
! the cellar was forlorn and dilapidated.
| An exit was quickly found, and the
| next instant we were stealing down
| the shadowy avenue. Arrived at the
| hotel / hid the mannikin away secure
iy.
| Two days later, the hotel proprietor
| came to us with an air of suppressed
| excitement.
'I guess that native uprising scare
| is over We have 'em just about once
| in so often. But there's a mystery
| about this one. The Voodoo doctor has
been found murdered on the Bainston
road, and 1t is said that it was the
work of his own followers, who assert
he brought upon himself and them the
anger of Voodoo. There's queer talk
about strange spirits and red fire. and
dear knows what, but you can't pin
| these miserable fellows down to any,