The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-25
SMITHS REM GIFT.
A Senate Reading Clerk of the Last Legis-
lature Becomes Wonderful Healer.

Yesterday afternoon a Journal reporter who
vailed upon to go into the Capital House and see
a young man who has suddenly developed into a
healer Of nigh degree. The healer is Frank A.
Smith, of Anderson, and he does it by laying OF
of hands. Mr.. Smith ia lawyer by trade, but
was made a reading clerk in the Senate of the
late Legislature, and from that developed into "a
healer During his clerkshp he boarded at the
Capital House and roomed with Senator John
son, of Dearborn county, and it isn't improbable
that he received the gift from that eminent law
maker.
sit came on me after the adjournment of the
Legislature" said Mr.. Smith, al had heard Of
persons who were able to relieve pain by laying
on of hands, and I at first tried it as a joke"
Here Mr.. Smith, who stands nearly six feet
two, and weighs about 900 pounds net, raised
his hands to illustrate his method. They are
good sized hands, ana look as il they would make
Ii sledge-hammer hum.
"The first party tried 1t on-that was some
thing over month ago-had the neuralgia. I
took my hands, rubbed em across his face, and
the pain skipped. 1t was only minute, and
was as much surprised as the person 1 had
cured. The next case was one of acute rheu-
matlsm in the arm ] relieved that by rubbing
the arm with my hands. The pain was gone in
two minutes. The next case was one of rheu-
mntism in the neck"
"A memDoT Ot Lue 1eplSlaLur6t luQulT6u tu6
reporter.
aEhi oh-ah. I see: very good. No, gentle
man. l didn't ever touch that case just
made few passes IN the air with my hands, and
IL went away and never returned"
The passes he made bore a striking reeem-
blance to the grand hailing signs of distress an
old lady makes when the chickens get into the
garden. He shoOd The pain away.
81 cured the same gentleman-his name is NJ.
NJ Robbins, or Cambridge City; he's patent
right man, and was stopping here with Joseph
Pope-of horn cancer, about three weeks
ago."
"a horn cancer. It's called a horn cancer be-
cause its hard and shaped like cows horn. It
was on his hand. 1 patted it little, rubbed it
week. it sloughed off. You can see a
scar on his hand where it was. That's
but twoi physicians called it horn cancer.
Then cured n merchant of this place named
Allen of chronic rheumatism in his leg. L made
few passes over il, didn't touch it, and 1t got
well right away. Eight out of ten cases don't
put my hand on at all. My hands move invOlun-
tarily. just make myself passive, don't exer-
else my will-power, and then have no control
over my hands. They move OF themselves"
The reporter took another look at the hands.
1t was hardly possible that two hands OF such
fiiagnitude could be moved without the conniv-
ance of TIE person who was attached to them.
Sometimes" continued Mr.. Smith, "the passes
are only made with one hama, anu l nave even
stood with the person TO be operated upon S!teen
or twenty feet from me, and relieved him by
waving one finger toward him."
"How many cures have you nader"
81 think about two dozen, but haven't kept
any account. while ago l tackled case of
arsenical poisoning. The arsenic had lain in the
system of the patient for about six months, and
the doctors conldh't do anything for II, because
it had become imbedded in the bones and mus
Giles and tissues-you underestimate
The reporter didn't understand, but he didn't
stop the story by any captOus caviling.
81 tackled that case about two weeks ago. |
stood before the patient aud waved my hand
about him. did that several times. At first he
belched gas for about fifteen minutes at time.
He's thoroughly cured nOw.''
"What do you call this gift that you havel" in
quired the reporter.
"We," said Mr.. Smith, 81 hardly know what
to call IL. 1 don't understand it myself"
On the way down stairs the reporter met a
colored man with broom in his hand. He
asked him what he called Mr.. Smiths gift. Put
ting sooty finger alongside his nose, and wink
ing very strong, first with his right and then
with his left eye he made answer:
81 calls it a ptickler soft snap"