The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-04-23
NEGRO TURNING WHITE.
Remarkable Case of Judson Rouse Of
Carrier Mills, III.

Harrisburg, ILL.,, dispatch to St.
Louis Globe-DemocraU. Judson
Rouse, a resident of near Carrier
Mills, in this (Saline) county, who is
a negro and at one time as black as
the ace of spades, will, il nature in
it's unexplainable work continues at
the rate it has in the past, be trans
formed into a. white man before many
years. JUDI Rouse, as he is famil-
iarly called, owns little farm of 20
acres near the village of Carrier Mills
where he and his family have lived
for the past 30 years. He is man a
little past 60 years of age, and up un-
til Is years ago no blacker negro
could be found in Saline county.
About that time he noticed white
spot on his left hand, about the size
OF a 10-cent piece. He gave it only
a passing thought at first, but as it
grew larger he became alarmed. How
ever, he experienced no pain, and
consulted a physician, who told him
that it was a peculiar disease among
the cOlored race; that there were only
two other cases of the kind on record
as far as he knew, and that in the
course of time, as in the cases re-
ferred to in medical history, would
ultimately end in his death. For a
time this information gained from
this physician and others whom he
consulted caused Mr.. Rouse consider
able mental anxiety, but as time roll
ed On and he felt no pain physically
he became reconciled to his fate, and
finally came to disbelieve the stories
of the physicians.
Year after year this whitening pro-
cess has continued at a rapid rate,
until at the present time it has ex-
tended nearly over his entire body.
After this transformation had contin-
ued ON his left hand for a period of
six months it began to work on his
right hand and lower limbs, gradual
ly making it's way upward, until only
few spots remain-two on his back,
small spot on the end of his nose
and one large spot extending over his
forehead and between the eyes. His
scalp is white and straight gray hair
covers his head Where the skin is
transformed it is as soft and trans
parent as that of child. Mr.. Rouse
seldom goes to town except to make
purchases and to transact such other
business as needs personal attention.
No other man in Saline county at
tracts such attention as Mr.. Rouse
when in this city, where he is seldom
seen, except at such times as he has
business in the county or circuit
court. Mr.. Rouse has never been sick
a day in his lifetime and is at pres
ent enjoying the best of health, and
he has accumulated some money.
None of his children show any signs
of becoming white, and the only rec
ord of any of his ancestors expert
encing q like transformation was his
grandfather, very dark negro and
veteran of the Revolutionary war.
who lived to be 1913 years old and died
white man.
In the immediate neighborhoon in
which Mr.. Rouse lives he is regard
ed with considerable superstition by
the uneducated among his race, many
believing that he is possessed with
some evil spirit or power, and among
these are some who refuse to associ-
ate with him or even pass by his
home at night. Some entertain the
belief that at some period in his life
"Jud" Rouse had done some deed
which greatly pleased his maker, and
as a reward is Transforming him into
a white man.