Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-03
OUTBREAK OF voopoIsM
Is Responsible for Mysterious Killing
Of Gown in Texas. IS

San Antonio, Texas. Aug. 2--(Spe-
ciaD.--An outbreak OF voodooism is re-
sponsible for the mysterious butchering
of many fine cows in the vicinity of
this city. Many owners Of fine boyines
living In the suburbs have looked In
vain for their milk purveyors in the
morning The gentle friend of the fam
lily was found to be missing and the
instituted search usually disclosed her
carcass in the chapparal. G. A. Davis
of this city was one Of the first to miss
his valuable Jersey in this manner and
since then others have sustained SINH
lar losses.
The odd feature of the case was that
nothing but the hide and the heart Of
the animal were missing. Evidently
that was all that was desired by the
thief. AT first 1t was thought that the
animals had been killed for their skins
but close watch kept over the dealers
in hides has shown that so far none of
the hides have been disposed of by tho
malcreants. Sheriff Lindsey and his
deputies have been working day and
night to get clue that might lead to
complete solution of the mystery
but so far they have not been too sue
cessfnl. The offer of a substantial re-
ward has now been called to their aid.
Though the Mexican population of
San Antonio is a very orderly and law
abiding one as whole, there is enough
of an Indifferent element among them
that would not be averse to committing
these depredations if spurned on by
what they would consider religious
motive. AS is well known the Indian
strain Is very prominent in the lower
class Mexicans. AS a matter of fact in
the large percentage of them the Span
ish or other Ayrian blood is a negligi-
BILE quantity. That some of the old In
dian superstitions should have survived
In them and be liable to periodical out
breaks is therefore not to be wondered
at.
Indian voodooism as practised after
the fall of the Aztec empire is really
nothing more than a continuation of
| the old Aztec religion, the principal fea-
ture Of which was human sacrifice.
The victims of the old Aztec priests
| suffered death by having their hearts
torn out of their bodies by main force.
After the Spanish had succeeded in
stamping out this barbarous practice,
the Indian tribes, still adhering to the
faith Of their fathers though nominally
Christians, took to sacrificing animals
| in the same manner that human beings
had formerly been sacrificed. and like
all primitive people thought to appease
their gods by sacrificing that which
YVES considered most cherished. In
tearing out the animals heart the OBJ
ject today is to get possession of the
blood contained in it. To this fluid are
ascrib"d number of miraculous pro-
perties of disease combating nature.
To what extent the possession of the
hide figures in voodooism of this kind
is not clear Positive information on
this point seems difficult to obtain, but
1t is thought that the application of the
warm and bloody skin may be regard
ed as a cure for muscular or other ex-
terror ailments.
The authorities of this city and coun-
ty are in no mood to permit as noxious
a practice as voodooism to flourish un-
der their very noses. Though num-
Der of arrests have been made, more
important clues are now being followed
and further developments are anticipa-
ted as a result of the reward offered.
OF all people the low class Mexican is
the least able to withstand the lure OF
money. Every effort will be made to
get the high priest of the cult into the
clutches of the law The punishments
that will be melted out will no doubt be
such as to make adherence to vOodOo-
ism and it's attendant features very I'M
desirable.