Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-12-01
MODERN DIAB0LISM.


from the old German city of Water town,
forty miles west OF US. 1t was said that
young German had been afflicted with di
vers "evil spirits. and that seven Catholic
priests had been astonishing the good city
with miraculous feags of exorcism, driving
the devils out Of the young man, with great
fourishing Of prayers and incantations, rs
in old Bible times. As miracles and exor-
cism have become rare products in this
country we decided TO visit the scene of oc-
currence, and gather the facts in authentic
form
Re ching Watertown on Friday evening,
We took ourawaY to the house Of the Inflated
family, accompanied by Mr.. Sleeper, depot
agent, Ed. Coe, the Republican editor, and
Mr. March, the artist, as interpreter The
fam ly live in small wooden house Just east
OF lie depot. They are of the poorer order
OF peaSantry, coming TO this country some
two years ago, from the small province of
Pomeramia in Northern Germany. The fam
lily name is Seige, and consists of father,
mother, and three boys and FIVE girls, nearly
all grown, and all living in old Fatherland
simplicity together.
We found the Young man in his shirt
sleeves setting by little old pine table; try
ing TO polish his face with q razor. There
was prayer-book and three Or four old
dirty bad charms on the BILE, and shll-
ling picture Of the Cross witt deaths head
ut the bottom, hanging in front. The young
man is slight, simple, light hearted, nerve
less looking youth of 20, who would be no.
ticeabl only for his "game leg" and with
ered twisted hand. We took our seat on
pine stool beside him at the table while the
old folks and the four grown girls stood
grouped about, with opened mouths and
staring eyes, ready to rehearse the wonder
ful history of the devils and the miracles
This wonderful history dates back to their
old peasant home some twenty odd years
ago, and we give their version OF it with
literal exactness.
hen the young man was but i've years
of age his next oldest sister found duck s
egg with small pin hole in it, deposited
under tree near their door She brought
it IN to her mother, who told her to take it
hack. After putting the egg under the tree
again, it was picked up and eaten by their
old house dog, who was mediately strlck-
en- blind and raging with madness. The
dog was quickly killed, when the little girl
was seized with similar blindness and
spasms, and taken to bed. She fingered
outa year IN blindness and agony, TIL re-
lieyed by death The boy, Carl. was then
Immediately attacked with blindness and
paralyzing palms, continuing for months,
and leaving him deformed as described. He
eked out a feeble existence for the SIX years
following, when the dlabolical agencies
seem to have come in and got the upper
hands of him entirely.
The BOY would now be suddenly taken
with contortions, pulling round the head
ierkings of the shoulder, shifting of the fists.
grating Of the teeth, trothing at the mouth,
and looks of most malignant hatred He
would often be thrown violently on the
ground and strike at all who approached
him He would be seized at table with
shaking hands, and his food scattered upon
the floor When master ofhimself he would
make the signs of the cross in Gods name
or others would for him, and sometimes APP
pease the raging demons thereby. These
spells occurred at irregular int ervals, often
lasting day. The German doctors piled
him with strong roots and physicing herbs,
but all to no avail. There seemed no peace
for them in the old country, and in the
spring of '67, they made across the big
waters, and found their way where they are
But trouble pursued our hapless family
across the waters Soon after their arrival
in Waterfowl, one of their girls, pretty,
contiding little miss of sixteen was put t.
living in the family of the Lutheran min
ister in the city whose church they all be-
longed to. The Wisconsin, is in error in
regard to this statement; the minister lived
at Waterloo, fourteen miles from this city,
EDITORS REPUBLICAN
The minister had seven children in his
family. In a short time the simple creature
became the victim of her minister passions
and IN due season she bore living evidence
OF her misfortune to her fathers home
After the advent Of the little stranger, tbs
old demoniac symptoms broke forth upor
the young man with added violence Wher
under spells, he would spring toward tn,
child with teeth crashing and eyes extend
ed, threatening to break every bone in his
body. Oftentimes nearly all the family
would be effected with him, aud ieei blind
ing, painful rush of blood to their heads
lasting for hours
During evenings, the doors would slam
the windows shake, and strange, hollow
noises be heard in one of the rooms. hui
nothing would be seen on entering. Late
one evening, large ball of fire was seen on
the cook stove, when the young man rushed
forward, smote it with his ist, scattering tie
fragments over the room. Soon after, the
devil, they thought, got into their COW in
the yard. She would suddenly rear on her
legs, smite her tail, and shake her horns with
savage fury. For days no one could ap-
proach to milk her. while the young man
would gaze at her antics with a ''whoop" Of
joy.
such troubles could hardly be borne
| t trly last winter they called in Doctor
| Q.lnney, son Of tie great Stock brldge Indi.
; Il chief, to apply his skill He administer
| ed powerful herb physic to the young man
| also put powerful drawing plasters on his
! shoulders. The plasters were left tor day
and when removed were found to be covered
| with 6rastLes, of various colors, from hal
to three inches in length. StraL ge things
| to come out of the young man, and no one
| could account for it.
| The spiritual medium was next consulted
when new difficulty appeared. snake
| seemed TO be pushing its head up the young
mans threat, till he was black in the face.
! The lashings OF his tail could be heard under
his ribs below A goose quill was pressed
| down his throat, and passes made over his
| head, till relief was obtained, and the young
man qcietly disposed of in bed. The medi-
um seemed to have power over the devils
for the time, but nothing beyond.
The Catholic priest was next applied to-
but he declined to engage the devils, because
the young man was not d Catholic.
The Bishop, who happened in the city,
was afterward visited. The Bishop reached
forth his hand, the young man shaking like
an aspen, unable to raise his hand in return
Presently the young man was qui eted. The
devil, his father said, would not let the young
man eat for twenty-tou hours, because OF
his visit 10 the Bishop.
Some toar weeks ago, a Catholic convoca-
ton was held at Watertown, attended by
seven priests. The young man was taken
to the church, to test the miraculous power
Of the priestly body, and have the devils cast
Out en- naasse. On being questioned as to the
names of the devils, the father of the young
man SAID one OF them gave his name rs Will
holm Rur IfunyUu RI tho fofbnr hain