The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-12
Watcr.Witcsin-.

;IFrnm the Denver Tpiaune.I
Colorado has recently received new ac-
QUESTION to her population in the person
Of Mr.. G.. F. Latimer, who, :aS he comes to
this STATE to introduce 4 new industry, and
starts out with the prospect OF revolution
ling mining in the Centennial State, de-
SERVES more than 4 passing .nolice. BE 1t
Known, then, that Mr.. LaGmer is water
witch. he has heretofore esIned living
| BIZ fype4Stieking but, armed with aiorked
stics5. Mr. ,Latimer will start ont next Fri
day for Boulder county, whose he hopes to
put the dNifino rod to the uess use Of find
ing ore deposits. It may BIC seen that,
whatever may be Mr.. Latiaer's calling,
whether heeontnues to foiEew the hum
drum life OF The composition, or whether he
shoots into nstoriety on 4 foNscd switch as
seco.ad Ediscn, lie will make ais living by
means Of a.stitA>. Pc. -... ....... .-.....
He is sood-naturcd, good-lesking young
man, rather slp-shod in appearance, but
bears az honest expression, which con-
vinces alIthat, however much his instrument
may be derldel, the owner and defender OF
It is thoroughly ia earnest.
Chow do You propose to proceed 2"
Tribune cross-qucstoner asked the young
man yesterday. "Where is yor.z instru-
ment!' '-.'-
"Hcre 1t isl replied Mr.. Latimer, pro-
ducing the stick above referred to-a forked
twig, each prong bcias about foot long.
Il take fork Of this stick in each hand,
holding the point upward. and walk over
the ground. If there is water or other SUBJ
stance underneath near, tire point will be
attracted towards it. 1t will be attracted by
anybody, by 4 stove us well as anything
else, as you may sce." Here the young
man undertook to illustrate the nl0duS
opera1,di upon the Iri6une's official stove,
ard the beTondcrcd reporter saw it grad
ualIy bend over towards the heater, with
about the same delibcration which charac-
teriZes the "dcyil" when he attempts to
rckindic the fire. It went over and at last
pointed towards the warming pan like the
finger Of destiny. .r.~'
"Bravo!" exclaimed the reporter. "Now,
can you Tell ME whether there is silver in
the pile OF ore lying on that table," The
specimens referred to were from the sup
posed new carbonate district in Boulder
county, the character and value Of which
arc not known.
Mr> Latmer said he thought he could tell.
He had not, however, yet had any expert
ence with ores. He would try. But ne must
have silver on the stick in order to deter
mine the presence OF this metal IN the ore
before him. Could any one furnish the ne
cessary silver? Hall dozen editors and
printers said certainly" and went down
III their rockets. and were all on tue eve OF
furnishing the requisite piece OF coin, when
the Office boy, who had taken the hint from
the foreman. returned from the business
office with the necessary amount. which was
brand new from the hand OF Dr. Under
man.
Some alloy in that" said Mr.. Latimcr,
"but l guess it will do" So saying he
placed the dime in slit at the end OF the
rod and took it in his hands as before.
Gradually but surely and persl>tenty the
rod went over with great dignity until the
vortex touched one particular piece OF ore
TOP rock. and very shabby in appearance.
"There's silver in that piece" said Mr..
Latimer.
"Sure?"
"Sure as you live. YOU can bank on it,"
This piece was then taken out OF the pie
and the rod was held over the remaining
portion with the same effect, though II came
down more deliberately. "There's some
ieit.n said the experimenter, "but it's
nearly all in 'totber piece"
cry it on the hammer" suggested the
scribe. w
&c tried it on the hammer. The stick
went down, but in going turned toward The
ore. thus carrying out the theory OF the
manipulation, that g like draws like" THAT'S
his motto.
.sCan you find water with the rod, as
others boast they can 2"
"Every time"
elbow can you tell whether 1t Is water or
other matter that attracts? II you go into
the mineral regions and your diver goes
down. how will you determine but what
the attraction is water?"
'sOh, that's easy enough; we go on the
ground of affinity. Like attracts like. II
we want to hunt for silver we put silver on
the stick; if we want gold we put gold on
the stick, and so with iron, copper. etc. No
bait is required to find water or oil, but it
Is required in searching for all other artt-
cies."
GLOW do you account for the influence
which the water or the mineral has upon the
rod?"
'sIt is electricity or magnetism, and no
thing else, as can prove to you by stand
ing upon glass sandals and making the eX-
pertinent. These are non-conductors, and
The switch is not influenced in the least"
"There is, then, some science about the
diYining rod"
''Oh. yes; 1t merely obeys law OF ma
ture. Some OF these days the divining rod
and the dowser will not be laughed ut as
they now are, Why, doesn't Edison 60