Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-11
ABOUT WATER WITCHES.
SMALL PeAct. TREE BRANCHES USED
as OWNING RooS.


TAe Fork<d Br.nch the Kirss CArs Of Its
O~ner-Dse wiss. the Rest Known Water
witeh-How He struck Luck nd Became
Independently Rich
The articles in The Times in relation
to the extra Urinary results obtained BY
the use Of the diyining rod in finding
water and mineral deposits have had no
more interested or appreciative readers
than the people in the mountain ranges
Of the Blue Ridge and Cumberland
The doings Of the water witches have
been part OF the life of these people fur
Their back than any one can remember.
It is nos every community that can boast
the possession Of ore Of these gifted per
sons The respect in which they are
held is in inverse ratio to their hunters.
Families willingly deprive themselves of
comforts in order 10 provide them for
the water witches. In return they ex-
poet services in locating wells If it may
not De quite true that every well in the
mountains was located through this kind
of agency. there is no doubt that the
ma iority were so located. and that the
faith Of the people in the mystic power
Of the witches is boundless.
A SMILE COMMUNITY.
SO far as the natives are concerned
this is a country of poverty. They do
not call themselves poor for all are
nearly on an equality in the b. re furnish
ings of their houses, and the shotes that
they raise on the free forage of the woods
in summer and fall. with the corn. hom-
inv. tobacco and moonshine they can
lay up by small trading with the valley
farmers. supply their modest winter
needs. Money is thing that enters very
little into their calculations. A mountain
community enjoys more than average
pr,-4'er.tV, in which the cash earnings of
tile beads of the families reach as much
as So per year apiece. But all being on
about the Same basis there is no compare
tive poverty They get along from year
to wear, and never having known any
other condition they are content.
As d matter OF cotir-e, they cannot re-
paw the services of the water witches
with cash The most they can do is to
make them comfortable. This is salts
factory all around. In some way the
impression has become general that a
water witch is supernatural sort OF
creature, uot made for common toll. and
whose magic will be impaired by the
kind of labor that ordinary mortals en-
dure As witches are too scarce to be
spared. they receive very good care, and
as they are endowed along with their
nv stical gifts with the natural Incidence
Of the nlo'uitaiiieer nature, they are ex-
pected aEl are entirely willing tn save
themselves always for the small service
required of them by those vino bring
them veari. tributes of stores. The
witches tins get no richer than their
neish.ore. but they have an easier time
Of it. Sometimes, months will pass in
which one viii not be called upon.
Whenever 4 call is made, however, he
must he ready to respond to it.
4 forked branch Of peach tree is the
only divining rod known III the NOUN
,ain.. Ever witch Is as careful Of his
branch AS il it wer- genuine treasure.
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