The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-09-30
VOOOO0ISn RAGING
IN TEXAS TOWNS
Cows Butchered, Hides Taken
OFF and Hearts Torn Out
by Its Priests
MEXICAN INDIANS SUSPECTED
Sheriff and Deputies Make Arrests
Reward offered for Capture Of
Butehers-Attribute TO Ancient
Aztec Religion.

San Antonio. Texas.-An outbreak
Of voodooism IS responsible for the
mysterious butchering of COWS in the
vicinity of this city. Many owners OF
fine bovines living in the suburbs have
looked in vain for their milk purvey-
ors in the morning The gentle friend
Of the family was found 10 be missing
and the instituted search usually uis-
closed her carcass in the chappaial
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 similar losses.
The odd feature of the case is that
nothing but the hide and the heart OF
the animals are missing. Evidently
that is all that is desired by the thief.
At first ii was thought that the ami
mails had been killed for their skins.
but a close watch kept over the deal
ers in hides has shown that so far
none of the hides have been disposed
Of
Sheriff Lindsey and his deputies
nave been working day and night to
SFN a NAtW AAAeAN AAA4e-AAA A'aAh ~ a f.b4N
ion of the mystery. but so far they
nave not been successful. The offer
Of a substantial reward has now been
called to their aid
Though the Mexican population OF
San Antonio is very orderly and
law-abiding one as a whole, there Is
1nough of an Indifferent element
among them that would not be averse
o committing these depredations II
inspired by what they would consider
lreligious motive. As is we'll known
he Indian strain is prominent in the
'ower class Mexicans. AS a matter
If fact, in the large percentage of
hem the Spanish or other Asyrian
blood is a negligible quantity. That
ONE of the old Indian superstitions
;hould have survived in them and be
liable to periodical outbreaks is not
o be wondered at
Indian voodooism as practiced after
ne fall of the Aztec empire is really
Hothing more than continuation Of
ne old Aztec religion, the principal
sature of which was human sacrifice.
he victims of the old Az'ec priests
Uttered death by having their hearts
,rn out Of their bodies by main force.
fter the Spanish Fed succeeded in
-amping out this b2rbarous practice,
re Indian tribe, still adhering to the
nth of their fathers, though nominal.
Christians, took to sacrificing ami
ais in the same manner that human
9ings had formally been sacrificed
I'd, like ali primitive people, thought
appease their gods best by sacrific'
that which was considered most
erished. In tearing out the animals
art the object to-day is to get pos
ssion of the blood contained in it
this fluid is ascribed a number oi
iraculous properties of q disease
mbating nature.
To what extent the possession ot
hide figures in voodooism of this
nd is not clear Positive informa
N on this point seems difficult Il
tain, but it Is thought that the ap
cation of the warm and bloody sEir
~ be regarded as cure for mulcu
or other exterior ailments.
The authorities Of this city ant
unity are in no mood to permit al
yious a practice as voodooism t
urish under their noses. Though ;
mber of arrests have been made
re important clews are now beinl
lowed and further developments ar
tlcipated as n result of the rewar'
cred. OF all people the low.clas
nyican iS the least obfa IN with q n,
lure of money. Every effort vii
made to get the high priest Of tn
t into the clutches of the law. TIL
nishment that will be meted out vii
doubt be such as to make adheI
CO to voodooism and its attendan
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