The Placer herald., 1869-11-06

A BEWITCHED BLACKSMITH.

A man named Downs, who was in tho
army, aud, for all We know, a respectable
man, has for years lived in Auburn. A
shoemaker by trade, be has been known to
his friends 10 possess a curious power Of
putting other people into unconscious states,
10 which be could make them do anything
be pleased. On Thdrsdsy he came into the
inner sole factory Of Mr.. Charles Wood ward
10 Auburn, and. being an old friend, threw
his arms casually around Woodwafd's neck.
thinking nothing Of the act, and soon after
be left the shop it was noticed that Wood
ward behaved strangeIy-danced, sang, etc.
Thursday night he did not come home, but
halkpast two on Friday morning pu. in an
with Mr.. Edwin Blake, on Spring street,
Auburn. Mr.. Blake thought Woodward act
ed strangely. Friday night he made inqui-
ries for him, and found Le had been over TO
q d dance-but bad been down 10 a shanty
and got somsthing to eat, and had acted
very badly 10 other respects, Blake natur.
ally thought that be wss on a .pree, and
finding Woodward at last, got him home,
though he made stout resistance. Friday
night and Saturday forenoon Woodward
continued n this Mysteries state; be would
tell any ons who came in all their family
secrets-matters be could never have known,
but yet he faithfully revealed everything
Mr. Blake saw clear that it was not a case
Of ntoxieation; for it appeared Woodward
went into the state suddenly at bis place OF
business, and continued in it many hours
after be could have had access to liquor.
| hot kn
man Of temperate and excellent habits.
AT last physician WAS summoned, who
though. it wss byseric fit. II WAS recon.
mended that he bs rubbed in strong mus
tsrd water. While Mr.. Blake was doing
this suddenly woodward came to bis sensee
while Blake was instantly attacked with q
perveu. tremor, his muscles contracted, his
bodg writhed, and soon it becams evident
th.t be was bimsslf unconscious. Tho de
monac possession, ,""the witchery," the fit,
or whatever you please TO call IL, bad left
Woodward and Blaks WAS nov the victim.
Blake was sooH foun to be entirely un-.
manageable. He showed thrice his ordinary
strength, and attacked with damaging etfec.
pls!horio physician who was summoned
He would dance and sing, and cut up all
sorts Of antics. Nobody could do anything
with him. He seemed to see beforehand
~hs. the intention OF those around him was
Finding that it was impossible to cure the
case, it was ssk-d "Whsrs 10 Downs1" II
was found that be had gone to Gardiner. L.
was then determined, rs dernier resort
J to carry Blake thilher. Accordingly, Sun.
day forenoon be was secured in a carriage
and taken to Gardiner. They found Downs
in n hotel there and brought Blake to the
room where be was. Downs put bis hands
on him suddenly Blakes muscles relaxed:
bs was restored to consciousness, Blake
says the last be remembered be WAS rubbing
Woodward in his own bouse. "Whsre am
Ir How did come herel" these and
similar questions gave expression 10 tho
Rip Van WinkIe wondermeut that naturally
possessed him on coming to bis senses
The story was soon told, but Blake WAS
forced TO see that tho explanation only
made it all still more blind, indeed, that the
explanation itself needed explaining.
Downs said that ever since be had l.f. Au.
burn be had hsd a notion ths. something
there was not right but he could not toll
exactly what the trouble was-be had bean
unusually nervous and restless, and had
prssentimept that he was needed there. AT
ter he took on himself the affection of
Blake be could for 4 lime hardly contain
himsslf. A young man who accompanied
Blake says when Downs restored him TO
consciousness he himself felt loss OF ner,
vous control, and feels that had it not been
for Downs being there bs should have been
"possessed' 10 lbe Same way.
Woodward states that be knew Downs in
the army, where Downs was quite notorious
for mssmerizing people. He says be has seen
him mssmerizs many different people WAS
himself mssmsrizsd by him in those days on
many different occasions. Ga one occasion
while in this state, Downs ssnt him through
two picket lines and back, which be thinks
he could not have passed in his right mind
Downs states that on Thursday hs had not
the least idea Of "mssmerziog" Woodward;
only after be left and went to Gardner be
was troubled abou, somelhiug-hs knew
not what.
Such weird atory as the above, If We
should hear it from almost aay ordinary
source, we should discredit altogether, or
credit it to the whisky bottle; but n the
present instance there is every reason to be-
lisvs the facts are Substantially as above Civ.
en-. We have them from the lips OF Wood
ward aud Blake, aud those who took care Of
them. Mr.. Blake is we'll known as one OF
the mos. reliable aud Christian young men
in Auburn. His father is Rsv. Mr.. Blake,
Of New York city. Mr.. Woodward, 90 far
as We know, has always borne himself in
this community we'll, and the fact 10 well es'
tablishsd that this condition, as above given,
wa. due alone to some indefiuable mesmsric
inf1usncss.
Blake and Wood ward are now confined to
their rooms, whsre va saw them to-day.
They say feel as though they bad been
pounded muscle in their bodies
balm n aWollAn and sora Thav ira thorou oh