Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-09-02
DIVINATION,
A Rod That Discounts the Stick
of Aaron for Practical
Purposes.
What Latimer, Of Cleveland, Is Do
ing With a Pronsed Branch
of Green Wood.
Able to Find Anything From a Rot
ten Gas9ips Up to Capt.
Kids Treasure.

CLEVELAND, u, Septembt my. CnarieS
Latimer, of this city, has been for some
time past astonishing resldents' Of this
neighborhood by his expert use OF divin
ing rod. Superintendent Whitelaw, of the
Cleveland Water Works, who was inter
viewed yesterday, said he used to be very
skertical regarding the divining rod, and
had frequently twitted Mr. Latimer about
it. "He had always laughed good.naturedly
ct my expressions OF doubt, and remarked
that sometime he would convince me. |
had, of course, heard Of the powers claimed
for the rod, but had never given the matter
great deal of thought. In fact, 1t being
something that could not understand,
was loath to believe it. l am convinced
now, however, that there is something in
it, and / believe that it is simply
A Scientific Principle.
that can be worked by any one who has
sufficient amount of electric force in his
organism. But | will tell you what so
thoroughly convinced me. Some evenings
since, Mr.. Latimer, my son, and myself
started out on the street 10 test the power
Of the rod, or rather OF the operation. We
proceeded over part of the city in which
knew Mr.. Latimer could not be acquaint.
ed with the location of water mains. | did
not take this preCautiOn through any suS
piCion that he would take advantage
OF any knowledge that ne might pos
sibly possess regarding the location OF
mains, for | consider him one OF the most
conscientious men in the world but did
so almost unCOnsCiously. Well, We pro.
Ceeied along the sidewalk, and he would
locate cross pipes and pipes that led into
houses where there was not water plug
in sight TO indicate the locality of them
He procuTes pronged stick, which must
be OF green wood, and grasps it firmly in
his hands with the palms up. When he
comes near metal or water, the butt end OF
the stick
Begins 10 Turn SLOWLY Downward.
and when immediate over the substance, ii
will point directly down to the ground, re-
eardless of how tight he may grasp the
prongs. The rod, as it is called, is about
this shape" and Mr.. Whitelaw drew dia-
gram like an inverted y. THE most severe
test gave him." continued Mr.. White!aw
was in the square. There is twenty-ipch
main running diagonally across the south
side of the square, from near the Forest
City House, in a southeasternly direction,
coming out at the southeast corner into
Euclid avenue. Idon't think there are ten
persons outside of this office who know OF
the location Of this main. AS We started
into the square, said to Mr.. Latimer, 'Iou
know We have no mains in the park, but
wish you would hold the rod as We walk
through mere anu see IL lutIt 10 buluS'
He did so, and as We approached the main
| could see him tightly grasp the prongs,
as il started to turn slowly downward.
There IL Something Here
he said. and when he came directly over
the main the butt of the rod pointed down
to it. The main was not only located ex.
aCtly, but he told Ine the depth at which |
would lind it, as well rs knew it myself.
Then we went into Euclid avenue, and
with the use of the rod he told NE the di-
rection of the electric current in the rails
of the street railroad. The current on the
on track wss east, and on the other west.
Yes, but can't you tell that from the di.
reCtion in which the cars rum | asked
i suppose So he replied, 'but ! could
go into a strange city blndfolded,
and, by being placed on line Of road,
could tell the direction OF the current
Just as readily. tested him a,,ain at the
corner Of Euclid avenue and Erie street.
At that point there are two sewer and two
water pipes, and he loca'ei all four OF
them more correctly than | could myself
with the knowledge ! possess Of their Ioca'
tiCn. This convinced ne hey nd doubt.
At another time myself and '"mily were
with Mr. Latmer at Geauga Lake, and We
were anxious to have him show the rod
there. After he had Cut one asked him
to go over a little stream OF water tLat we
saw running from the bank. We knew
that the water was there, and we wanted to
ser if the rod would work over 1t.
10 was Surprising.
He held the prongs so firmly in his hands,
and il turned so stubbornly downward,
that the green bark twisted of in his palms.
| could want no more convincing proof
The engineer who took us there then tried
il. and it worked Just as Well with him. In
NY sons hands il only moved slightly,
while in my own it would not move az ali.
ANY one may cal! him crank on this sub
ieCt who chooses to; but although | was Ss
NJ believing rs the most sEepucaI, am
now most thoroughly convinced that ther'
is truth il it
What in your opinion is the philosophy |
Of it,"
Electricity is my only explanation. !
think that any man can work il success.
July whether he is possessed Of cEtra0rdl' |
nsry brain power or not, bat think he |
must be whole electric battery to do it,
or rather
A Reservoir of Electricity.
Of course in calculating the number OF feet |
Al which the substance is buried aud the |
quality and quantity OF the material, what
ever il nav be. believe comes from eX.
periencp, mental power, and mathematical |
calculation. You are perhaps aware that
Mr.. I.atimer will use none % the money |
Obtained by the use OF this science for him
self. Whatever he obtains by II, he turns
over to some charity. He has remarked TO |
me. that he did not believe in using gilt !
God had given for personal gain. Toe
money he receives from the coal mines
that have been located by him, all goes to
some useful charity
One of the gentlemen interested IN the
Witch Hazel coal mine, that was located
by Mr.. latimer, an account OF which has
been published, said yesterday
There's no use Talking.
7 believe that the use OF the divining rod is
a scienre. ard one that can be cultivated,
to what extent time only show. When ]
heard ths. Mr. I.atimer was going 10 en-
deavor TO locate the mine ! laughed at the
idea as absurd, and cilled those who told
me OF il a lot OF superstiiioIs crauks. TIE
result proved that | was the crank. II there
was any crank in the party, and am now
a most thoro ngh believer in the science,
though | cannot begin to understand 1t.
or course I say it is electricity, but say
so without knowing to certainty. 1t Is
easy. you know, to attribute everything t)
electricity thst you cannot understand, or
what seems my sterious to you. The thing
n AZ DO know aboutit, is that II Is fact,
snd there is no getting around 1t, no mat
ter whet skeptical people may say.