Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-29
A SORCERER'S HELP
Invoked to Locate a Quaker City Girl
Who Has Long Been Missing.
THEpR0PHET GOES INTO A TRANCE,
Tells Where the Wanderer May be Found,
and Gives Information.
ABOUT A MAN WHO NEVER EXISTED

| hDUOA n NAV INV N6E 0AkOl LII
PHILADELPHIA, April 28.-Hoodooism
is by no means lost art in Philadelphia.
A case in point was recently called to the
attention of reporter. The story, as run
out, is one Of long lost child. The pa
rents and a brother and sister use every ef-
fort to discover her whereabouts, but 20
years pass and no trace of her is found. A
hoodoo doctor, who is accredited with won
derful powers of foresight and prestidigita-
ton, is then called upon and makes wonder
ful revelations. Twenty-Five years ago
there lived on Aspen street, in West Phila-
delphia, family named Bohana. The
family, besides the parents, consisted of
three children, William, Harriet and an
elder sister. Harriet was winsome little
tot Of % months when childless doctor, by
the name of Ritter, took her to raise. The
doctor also lived in West Philadelphia and
was in comfortable circumstances.
The future seemed full of bright promise
for the little lady, until about six months
I from the time OF her adoption into
the doctors family. Then she was lost
sight of. The doctor one day mysteriously
disappeared, and took with him the pride of
the Bohana family. That was "a years ago.
The distracted parents used every effort to
discover their lost darling's whereabouts,
but one disappointment followed another
until finally active search was abandoned,
and the child was given up for lost. Four
years after her disappearance an anonymous
letter was received by the family, telling
them Harriet was dead. Then slumbering
hope gave way to despair, and the child
was mourned as among the dead.
THE MISSING GIRL.
Since these events the Bohana family has
separated. The father is dead. The elder
sister is married and living at Bristol, Pa.
The boy Willie is now a robust man of %,
a hard working and industrious butcher by |
trade. With his wife and little daughter |
he lives at 3510 Turner street, in that part tof |
the city known as Franklinville.
The story of the missing girl had often |
been told by the married sister, living at |
Bristol. An intimate friend of this lady, |
while travelling recently on steamer on
the New York Bay, struck up casual
acquaintance with fellow lady passen-
ger. In the course of their conversation
the stranger recited part of her history.
She said she was an adopted child,
that she had been adopted by rich doctor
who had acted as a father to her, but thought
that her own mother was still living. The |
filial love was still strong. The young lady |
expressed the most fervent desire to find her
mother. She also said she was now mar
ried.
No special significance was attached to
the story at the time, but on the lady's re-
turn to her home at Bristol, with the story |
still fresh in her mind, the story of little |
Harriet's disappearance recurred to her, |
and she communicated her meeting to the |
sister of the lost girl. The similarity of the |
two stories at once struck her, and she be- |
came convinced that the strange girl on the |
turn communicated her suspicious to her |
brother William, and active interest was |
again revived in the case.
SEEKING HooDoo AID.
It was at this point that the famous hoodoo |
doctors powers were called into requisition. |
William had heard fabulous tales of the |
powers of Jacob Groppe, of 1106 Fairmount |
avenue, as necromancer. Full of faith, he |
visited the wizard and was more than
pleased with the result.
Mr.. Groppe, after going through a lot of
mummery. told him that his sister was not
dead, but was living at the base of hill in |
the Allegheny Mountains, aad was still
with the doctor. He spoke confidently of
her recovery. The young man, as he left
the doctors" presence, was handed slip
of paper on which the following characters
were inscribed:
''Your sister is not dead. You will find
her in the Allegheny Mountains with one
-" (Here follow some illegible names.)
William then hastened to his home, where
renewed hope again sprung into the aged
mothers breast.
Friday night visit was paid to the
hon,aofaoH Hara fha p,nfhar |
William and his wife were found to be
unanimous in their confidence IN the "doc-
tors" predictions. William said he paid
the doctor 81 for the information he had OBJ
tanned. Later it was decided to ask the
assistance of Chief of Detectives Woods In
discovering Harriet's whereabouts.
Desiring to learn Groppe's power, re-
porter was yesterday detailed to visit him
with "fake" story. 1t was high noon
when the little two-story brick house at
11O6 Fairmount avenue was reached. The
doctor" was found to be an athletic-look-
ing man of about 45. He was seated in the
parlor and greeted the
reporter with benign smile.
A MYTHICAL BROTHER.
The object of the visit was then made
known. The visitor had brother who in
1876, at the close of the Centennial Exhibi-
tion, left Philadelphia with $1,000 in his
pocket to engage in business at St. Joe,
Mo. Since that time this mythical brother
had not been heard from. Could the "doc-
tor" give any information as to his wherea-
bouts? Was he still alive or dead?
The "doctor" listened to this short recital
of the disappearance of the beloved brother,
and then asked his visitor to call in Mon I
day, as he had denied audiences that MORN
ing already to half dozen would-be look ,
ers into the future, owing to the severe strain
on his brain. The visitor then told him
that he was q cigarmaker by trade and had
been laid off for a couple OF days, but would
have to return to his bench Monday. Visions Q
Of the fee finally decided the 'doctor" to j
undergo the mental strain. ]
When he had reached this conclusion he v
arose and darkened the room, then took
seat at a small table on which rested slate
On this he made number Of illegible char 2
acters, then proceeded to put himself in a {
state of trance. To accomplish this he went c
through the most inconceivable mummery Z
Imaginable. He threw himself back in his t
chair, then placing a thumb over either eye, 8
With his disengaged fingers he rapidly t
.ubbed his head, as il to incite friction. c
Then he removed bis hands with many Z
,rimaces and placed them on his stomach, n
7ery much in the manner of small boy
who has indiscreetly laid in o stock of green
lpples Then he was ready for business and
lad full knowledge of all events past and ,
o come.
THE sEER'S VISIONS. l
The harangue that followed was almost t
1oI1 L. H. |