Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-21
NAMES HUMAN MAGNET.
His Finger Tips Too Strong for the Heavy Weights of Lewiston and Auburn.


 From the Auburn Gazettel
 Perhaps it is not generally known, but in the city of Lewiston lives a man who is possessed of magnetic or some kind of wonderful power which is truly miracu- lous. Oscar F. Whitman, 36, the man in question, lives with his wife and little daughter in a cosey house at 76 College street. A Gazette reporter called on MT. Whitman and received cordial reception. NIT. Whitman is a man about the average height with pair of broad shoulders and deep chest. He is in every way an ath- letic and healthy appearing specimen of humanity, and his face, though at times it appears stern, is in itself picture of be nevolence and kindness.
 After brief conversation the party ad- journed to the kitchen and MT. Whit man proceeded to give an exhibition of his power.
 Seating himself at the head of a large table in the middle of the room, MT. Whit man held his hands out at an angle of about 45 degrees. In a short time . con vulsiye expression seemed to creep over his fsce, and placing his finger tips on the ta- oAc AS Aaaecu II up atl1 nelu lI m the ar as If 1t was nothing but sheet of paper. The reporter, with MT. Whitmsn's consent. then took seat at the opposite end of the table and tried to hold it, but the magic finger tips were too much. and he was pulled over chair and all. Now, Mir Brad bury brides himself of being a pretty strong man, so with smile on his face he changed his seats for the one at the end of the table. Grasping the table legs firmly he braced his feet, and the look that stole over his face plainly said: 'sNow. friend spirits or whatever you are, I've got you" He did have them, though, and the 215 pounds of human flesh, chair, and ta- ble followed the dictstion of the wonderful finger tips over the room in a manner which made every one else laugh
 NIT. Linscott during those proceedings had been rubbing up his muscles and pre; pairing for grip with the supernatural. He took the seat calmly, got good hold and announced that he was ready He was | ready, too, for his muscles stood ont like | whipcord, but still he was not ''in ii" and like the others yielded 10 the inevitable Messrs Tarr and Wood concluded it was nc use to try it, and so this part of the pro ceedings came to an end.
 Now some think that Mir. Whitman is a walking electric plant, but such is not the Sose, HUI ue PiaScu pane Ol glass on Inc table and placing his fingers on it lifted | it just if the non-conductor was not | there.
 MT. Whitman does not claim to be & spi- ritualist or an electrician. When he wants | to 1se his latent power he holds his hands out as stated above, at sn angle 45 degrees. and the current starts from his shoulders and runs to his finger tips, and when he is done using it he dips his fingers in cold water, sprinkles few drop on his forehead | and, holding both hands in the air, allows | 1t to run back to its receptacle in his | shoulders ''It seems, ''said MT. Whitman, | ''as if there was a hollow in my bones | through which this power is transmitted '' This power was noticed in MT. Whitman when he was a small boy. Sometimes, when playing with other children, | he would place his fingers on chair and, for his amusement, pull the other children around the room hanging to it. Mrwhit- man grew up the same as other boys, and being of a rather reserved disposition, said little about his powers. He has been work. ing and is now employed as a cutter with the firm of Gay, Woodman & Co, although lately he has not worked more than half | the time.