Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-01-13
Iyitch HAZEL Pointers.

/
Witch Hazel Pointers.
SINGULAR ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA.
1t has been common belief among large class
in the community for many years, that springs Of
water beneath the earths surface were pointed out
] by the mysterious movements of witch hazel rods,
held in the hands by persons capable of exercising
this wizard power.
Statements made time and again, by men Of much
probty and intelligence, Of the wonderful accuracy
of these witch hazel pointers in directing 10 the
proper locality for in boring for water, have
attracted but very little attention from of sci
elce. They have probably regarded them as SAVIOR
ing too strongly of that vulgar necromancy, which
portion of mankind manifest strange affinity ior to
ente them to consideration.
| My attention has recently been called to this mat
ter by witnessing experiments of character anala-
gous 10 those alluded TO above, and am free to
confess that they have interested me much, and
shaken somewhat my previous ncredulliy in the
matter
/ 1t has been ascertaned that several kinds ofwood
of dense, compact FIBRE answers the purpose equally
as well hazel and that rods of whalebone are
still better than vegetable substances.
A few weeks since highly intelligent and scien-
life friend remarked that he had been very much
surprised and interested in observing the movements
of the whaebone in the hands of guest of his, a
| cf Tgymen of high standing from distant town in
Out h1tdlO' LIS VI pHeuuuleilVu was
altogether accidental, and when we consider his I'M
doubted integrity of character the suspicion of trick
or deception on his part is dspelled entirely.
lie first observed the attraction of the rods down.
wards, while workmen were engaged in excavatng
for well upon his premises, and directed the exca-
Walton In accordance with the direction of the rods.
Complete success crowned the labor, a fine gushing
spring reached, and copious supply Of water
obtained. 1t worthy of remark, that repeated at
empts ha been made before this, to find water in
this locality, but without He has since
tt e the experiment upon the premises of his neigh
bors and friends and in every instance the rods have
proved unerring guides.
The instrument is very simple, consisting of two
pieces of whalebone about I6 inches long, of size
that will bend with tolerable facility These are
roin'ed at one end, and then tied firmly together
W n bit of Irvine. In experimenting, the two ex-
tfemes of the rod are grasped, one in each hand,
and held apart few inches with the point vertical
describing figure like the letter inverted 1t is
a singular fact, and one that be accounted for
upon no known principles of electrical SCIENCE thai
the experiments fail, and the instrument remains
quiet, unless the thumb and fingers turned out
tcard in grasping the rods. This has proved true in
the case of all expermenters who have con under
my observation, and should be remembered by tho
who may hereafter be desirons of testing the truth
funess of the experiments described in this commu-
ncation.
The following is given as the results of some ex-
periments made at the suggestion of the writer of
this article and which are deemed worthy of espe-
clal notice. There being small stream of water
beneath the cellar of his place of business formed
by the waste from fountain, he requested the cer-
gymen alluded to above, to find its locality with rods
5 ms was done with surprising accuracy, not only
was the commencement of the rill pointed out but
Its somewhat serpenne course towards the
river accurately traced, When the operator stood
over the stream, the rods with sudden impulse
tnrued over and pointed directly downward So
strong was the attraction that the resistance was
sensible fet when It's movements were opposed by
the hnger. In tracing the course of the stream any
deviation from the true one marked by the
quick uprising OF the points. So delicate and Ilccu
rate was this attraction that the deviation of an inch
was Indicated by the instrument These tnotions
were as marked and decisive, when two floors IN
terposed between the stream and the operator As
corroDoratlve OF these experiments, must not for
get TO say that this stream has since been detected
by others entirely unacquainted with its locality
Neither must forget 10 mention the fact that when
passing The bridge over the Merrmack the rods tnrn
downwards as soon as the edge of the stream Is
reached and remain in this position until the oppo-
site shore Is gained, when the point resumes yerti
| cal position once more.
Before alludlng to some experiments to determine
the nature OF this attraction, will say that exneri
mens similar to and equally as uneqniyocal and do
cislve as those described have been tried unon |
grounds belonging to the writer Upon these grounds
Is well recently excavated, and fiom careful olsor
Va'lons made during the excavation he was satisfied
that no spring or gush of water was reached nv tho
workmen But as the side nfiItrations were coni
GUS II was decided to depend upon them for a SIM
| Ply OF water and suspend further boring. The ro5s
ned over, and within a radius of five feet on e;tbor
side the well remain unaffected Beyond that NM,
per oil ieet westward the attraction is powerrnI,
iet AMI the course Of stream across ha garJa9
pointed out. Other streams within few le6t If
each other have been found, one of which was tra-
ced directly to the well of neighbor who has an
abundant supply of pure soft water
Ihere may be considered nothing very remarka-
p'1 VI iehape IN 'hese experiments when shown on
W cne person. But wht others knowing moth.
hS Oh previous experiments are taken mon ,ho
ground, and precisely the S; me attracting innanoas
are found in precisely the same places. Ibe exor;
nents then assume Importance which ,mnor H.,
y demand investigation. Such has been he caso
~ tnis instance, and each trial has been prodnc,;va
OF precisely the same results. P'Vu"''Ne
Auh'itllng then, that the phenon enon dascr;hod
'o "s sla'eu, ana that imposition on tn. mart NJ H.
oSPe'nenters Is impossible, are there anv nrircIos
Vi natural science which will expa n il, /, i oL";
Gus 10 my own mind that it is owing to cec,;oI J..
nuehces, and that it may be found T. ACT IN oo,,;
ehce 10 known laws in electrical Sc nee V'0''-
10 prove TINS, let the conducting Medium bo c,,
vi ny m'erposng silk handkerchief bpl,yeen h.
oh' oi une rod bent downwards, ami the stream ~
al''acps Influence below, and the rods Instant. a.
49, I" asa",' remove the handkerchief and ~,
h., pon. uP"n' as before lnsu'ate the opera,or
IL rs ~ upon wax, or the insulating stool and
VIC "''Ipc'on instantly ceases. Connecf III, .ai,I
al. ~