The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-30
HUMAN OWNING ROC.
hnn Who Always Feels AN ELECTRIC
Shock Whom Ncnr NIInrrnls.

a hlnn who Always Feels AN Electric
Shock When Near Minerals.
II read an article entitled Tho Di-
vining Rod with considerable interest"
said MIR. John Holmes, of South Meal
ester l. l., yesterday, respectfully rs |
am myself gifted with the phenomenal
powers OF which the article treats. My
hrst experience with this power was
thlrty-two years ago, whom J was II boy
OF ten years and il Is not likely to DO
over forgotten by me. l was sent by my
father ono day 10 look for some stock,
and rs WAS crossing u mountain not far
from my acme felt 4 strange sensation
al through my body something like an
electric current As | proceeded it
grew stronger, until at last l stood
rooted TO the ground. 1t tool, all my
strength to tear myself away from the
spot, and when l did l lost no
timo in getting back homo, and
for months afterward l could not
be prevailed on to go near that
mountain. Two years later rich vein
OF copper was discovered on the mount
ain whero ! had my first experience
with the mysterious power The
supcrstitious people of tho neighbor-
hood loved to relate my adventure they
believing that the fairies had guarded
this treasure Tor centuries, and had tried
to abduct me; they also predicted tor
rlble calamitics to bcfall those who had
broken into tho fairy treasury. But the
miners kept on, and all Of them are rich
men now.
This power, for which ] know no
name, seemed to develop in me with
years, until became so accustomed TO
lt'that paid but little attention to its
manifestations, and it WAS not until
about three years ago that | became
aware OF tho factthaJ was. so TO speak,
living mineral rod. Since that time.
however, have experimental with and
made Il study of this gift OF nature, and
am convinced of its virt,c in locating
minerals or water. Singularly enough.
in locating minerals | am as helpless
without Il twig Of hazel or peach as
surveyor wit ut his transit.
| may walk ov@s the ground and
feel the currcnte@all through my
body yet without the indicator | an.
unable to define tho exact locality of
the mineral. But the hazel twig has
never failed to locate even coin or
p'ccc Oh metal hluuor by parties dCSir-
ing to test the powers of tho divining
rod
About Il year ago my work was so
situated that had TO walk about ono
mile to and from my field OF labor. At
ono point Oh the road | always felt the
electric current Finally l concluded
to try the hazel and learn the cause of
the sensation. l found that tho pro-
truding ledge of limo rock was the
agent. had never heard of mineral
existing in lime rock, but broke of a
few pieces and sent them TO the School
OF Mines to be tested l was surprised
to learn that the rock contained 15L
troy ounces of silver to the ton This
seems but small quantity OF mineral,
but still its presence attracted my
nerves. have often been asked why
do not cast my lot among tho miners
of the Far West but am not familiar
with mining, and am sensible of the
fact that it requires money TO succeed
Some day, however, I may take nv
hazel twig and seek my fortune in the
Rockies. st Louis Globe-Democrat.