Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-13
AI&fan0ria @azette
THURSDAY EVENING, deer. 13.
Calico Soup.

People in the upper market, at Evansville,
Ind, we're astonished the other morning to see
a yous butcher seize butcher kolte and run
up behind an old woman who was peddllng
soup greens, hastily cut piece about ten 10
ches in diameter out of the skirt OF her calico
dress, and run away. The woman was not only
incepsed but she was nearly frightened out OF
her senses, and great commotlOn cDsued. 10
the talk that followed it was developed that the
bit of calico was wanted for charm to break
the spell which the old woman was accused OF
having put on q young girl. ~
The witch's victim is a Miss Julia Well, the
sis,cr of Simon Well. a cattle dealer Miss
Well has been i'll for some time. her disease
being Of such a nature as to puzzle the physl
clans. She had been troubled for some time
with lameness. and her mother bad employed
the old soup.greens woman, whose name Is
Pfeiffer, to treat her. Since being placed un.
der Frau Pfeiffer's treatment the serious NJ
ness came upon her, and 10 the course OF their
consultation with friends they were advised to
consult man named Vogt, who has the repu,,
taliop among the ignorant OF being sort OF
witch master general.
lie is tall, awkward old man, knock knccd
and homely. He is also very eccentric, apd
seems to have avaiIed himself OF the superstl'
ton of his acquaintances to establish reputa'
top for supernatural powers. After hearing the
case through, Vogt told the Wells that their
daughter was beWitched, and that Mrs. Pfeifer
was the witch. He prescribed course OF
treatment for her cure, and seemed confident
that it would be effectual. His prescription
was to procure some greens from the old wo
man, and to cut pace from her dress while
she was wearing it, and make a dish OF calico
SOUP as remedy. which they were to admins
ter to tho youog lady, with certain mysterious
observauces which would aid in rendering the
potion effective.
The relatives Of the girl give as an evidence
that some supernatural power had affected her,
that on examination Of her bed the feathers
were found to be gathered 10 beautiful wreaths.
bouquets and flowers work which they think
could only have been performed by the hands Of
witches On inquiry of one of the physician;
who ATTENDED Miss Well. it WAS ascertsined that
her mslsdy is hypsrtrophy CT the heart and
vslvular disease Of the aorts, q very serious
form Of heart disease, which produced tho symp-
toms which tho rcstivis attributed to witch
craft
The young man who cut tho calico is Max
Eiche relative CT the afflicted girl. Anecdote
Of Vogt are told by several to show that he has
freely made use OF the reputation he has &C
CURED as an exorcist Ct evil. On one occasion
no was applied to by farmer whose wife COM
planned that, churn how she would, she could
not make butter come. Vogt visited the farm
have load of hay on which the COWS were fed.
1t was granted, and he loaded up all he could
pile on his wagon. Ho them told the people to
watch until he had gone one hundred yards and
then to begin churning. 1t was hot August
day and the frau began churning with will,
and churned until the perspration started from
every pore, and then only gave up when ex.
haustod.