The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-20
sAs AsvxrCxxD ALAcxsxIzz.
ne ssasusav Pvwss ~ . Maine Kaa he.
called - . Hs~osr Tswus0As.

ne 0ansusav Pvwss ~ Maine n1aa Rs-
called ~ . Hs~oss Tswusass.
" don't know what thero may be IN this
Lulo Hurst business" said former resident
OF Gardiner. Maine. now In business IN this
city. but do know that John Downs OF
Auburn. Maine. possesses . power that 10
much more extraordinary than the Hurst girls.
even II there bs no deception about the latter.
Downs Ii known ~ the bewitchSd blacksmith.
When I left Maine. fifteen years ago. he had
Just become aware that the exercise Of bis
power was involuntary. and he was In great
distress Of mind over IL possible consequences.
having Just had painful demonstration OF
what might occur from its presence. He was
not particularly strong man himself. but BY
touching others he seemed to endow them with
extraordinary strength. This singular power he
was able not only to confer ON human beings. but
he could iniuse animals with II. remember
once seeing team stalled In Q road leading to
Auburn. They were attached 10 . heavy load
and the forewhssls Of tho wagon ran into .
deep rut. and the horses were unable TO pull
Thorn out The driver was about to remove .
portion OF his load. whom Downs CHANGED 10 DO
driving By. He stopped. and. telling the driver
10 leave the load - II was. alighted. He rub
bed each horse on the head and nsok. and al
most instantly they became nervous and rest
less. Downs told the driver 70 start them up.
Ms did sS snd re horsss hauled the 1sd
a such s GAIT that he driver found dimouity
ln oontroll!ns them. Boys who we're barely
sSop ssS only
the power from the bewitchod backsnith,s
touch r. sps hST Nth hs ::ss 81 "a
TO others would remain ~ forcs from tsn min.
utss TO half an hour. and in passing away left
time: S Saiss H. For this resson Downs nsiy
possessed. also. Of greet mesmsric power. and
running on the most foolish Of srrands. or per.
one occasion : stern. dignIiied,' and greatly
smitS 70 piscs him undsf the influence u his
bowsss Il. 10
bacconis!'s. long distance away. for . clay
Ss PIKE and n ; ss !: ss; q Ss most 9Th
Downs finally ceased exercising this power
more t6an : year. Charles Woodward. wolf
known business man Of Auburn, apd = great
having y ssn n the army soxsssr returned
!S:s ,%s PEN: s < 81 ess: n: # SSs
nsct. fhis was on Thursday forenoon:
dance and sing and manifest AZ sxabsraace Of
Spirits that rs tOnished his associates: Although
man 81 stsadY and seTy gSIsr hsStts NJ ~
mot I'M In IL IL With
Edwin Blake. Blake thought that Wood
his return home Blake learned that Wood
ward had been around town smashing things
. physIcisn. People called to see woodward.
Sd he sy Rnd se Sy
means Of Seeoming acquainted with. The
hystsris. and advised that no be rubbed with
strong mustsrd water; Blake undertook tho
task. He had rubbed Woodward but o short
At tho same time Woodward came to his senses.
a SsY S0v hs n .ad dans SI
most wonderful strength. and II required four
the still more remarkable power, Of telling
what the intentions Of any one Of his attend
an . and .s as them to
sfsS Wa not s until Woedward was restored to
s
Ssss 81 Ss Downs "a. N.
sent for. TO ses n no could not remove the spell
hs had inspired. He visited Blake at once.
aelf. For the frat time In his life. ~ he said
at the time. Downs himself felt the influence
OF tho power. or whatever 1t might be
called a. he removed 1t from Blake. and
with only the exercise OF his will to tho utmost.
He said that he had felt depressed and nervous
ever since his visit TO Woodward on Thu rsday.
and had not been able to account Tor IT,, There
was no thought Of mesmerism In his mind
when he greeted Woodward on that day, He
said then that he would never shake hands or
touch any one again. II he could help It. l have
never seen him since ! loft there. and / had
almost forgotten the bewtchei blacksmith un-
tn the performances OF the Georgia Wonder
called him to my mind"