Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-09-04
HUMAN OWNING ROD.
4 Man Who Always Feels Electric
shock When Near Minerals.

Man Who Always Feels an Electric
shock When Near Minerals.
Il read an article entitled The Di-
vining Rod with considerable interest"
said Mr.. John Holmes, of South Meal
ester I. T. yesterday. especially as
am myself gifted with the phenomenal
powers o. which the article treats. Ny
first experience with this power was
thirty-t'yo years ago, when l was boy
o. ten years, and 1t Is not likely to be
ever forgotten by me. I was sent by my
father one day to look for some stock.
and as | was crossing a mountain not far
from my home l felt a strange sensation
all through my body something like an
electric current As 1 proceeded il
grew stronger. until at last l stood
rooted TO the ground. II took all nv
strength TO tear myself away from the
spot and when l did l lost no
time in getting back home. and
for months afterward l could not
be prevailed on TO go near that
mountain. Two years later a rich vein
of copper was discovered on the mount
ain where l had my first experience
with the mysterious power. The
superstitious people of the neigh Dor
hood loved 10 relate my adventure. they
believing that the fairies had guarded
this treasure tor centuries. and had tried
TO abduct me: they also predicted ter
rible calamities to befall those who had
broken into the fairy treasury. But the
miners kept on, and all of them are rich
men now
This power. for which I know no
name, seemed to develop in me with
il that paid but little attention to its
manifestations. and it was not until
about three years ago that l became
aware OF the fact that was. SO to speak,
a living mineral rod Since that time.
however, / have experimental with and
made study of this gift of nature, and
/ am convinced of its virtue in locating
minerals or water. Singularly enough,
in locating minerals l am as helpless
without twig of hazel or peach as
surveyor without his transit
| NAV walk over the ground and
feel the current all through my
body, yet without the indicator I am
unable to define the exact locality of
the mineral. But the hazel twig has
never failed to locate even a coin or
piece of metal hidden by parties desir-
ing to test the powers OF the divining
rod.
About year ago my work was so
situated that | had to walk about one
mile to and from my field OF labor. At
one point on the road l always felt the
electric current Finally | concluded
TO try the hazel, and learn the cause OF
the sensation / found that the pro-
truding ledge of lime rock was the
agent ] had never heard of mineral
existing in lime rock, but l broke of
few pieces and sent them 10 the School
of Mines TO be tested l was surprised
TO learn that the rock contained 1871
troy ounces Of silver TO the ton. This
seems but small quantity of mineral,
but still its presence attracted my
nerves. I have often been asked why
I do not east my lot among the miners
of the Far West but / am not familiar
with mining, ard am sensible of the
fact that it requires money 10 succeed
Some day, however, L may take my
hazel twig and seek my fortune in the
Rockies. st Louis Globe-Democrat-