Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-04-02
MODERN WITCHCRAFT.
Pennsylvania People Who Stin
Cling to Old Rites.
Thu Headquarters OF = supcrStItiouS Sect
Who Believe In Witch Doctors and
HAvo Some Very Peculiar
Practices.

witchcraft has developed in that city
and township to an alarming extent.
He continues: The village Of Bobtown
is the headquarters of this superstitious
sect, but prominent disciples are found
scattered about the district in confu-
sion. They seemingly live in world
of thought peculiarly their own and
frequently congregate at the house of
some congenial spirit proven in the
faith and talk over matters pertaining
to their strange belief. They are ex-
tremely chary of admitting strangers
into their household and under no cir
cumstances will they divulge aught OF
their peculiar belief and practices.
From what can be CLEANED about
them it seems that there are two witches
in this part of the globe, one a resident
of Milroy and the other of this village.
Logan is also favored in the possession
of q doctor" or one who is invested
with the secret power to remove the
"spell" from the victim after the IN
holy eye of the witch has Cooked upon"
a subject.
Many are the weird stories related Of
the Vaccinations of the witches and
the relieving power of the doctor" to
cure the magic spell. About three
months ago a little child lay sick for
several weeks and the child's parents
solemnly believed that it was victim
Of wltch's bane, The suspected
witch was believed to be resident of
Logan. One dreary night in Novem-
Der the witch doctor Of this place was
sent for and after a lengthy pow-wow
the spell which the witch had wrought
;alI % LA 80
healer, This particular case was
heralded broadcast and at once de-
veloped q veritable host of believers,
and their number has increased many
fold since.
Another similar case of recent occur
renee has created no end of comment
among the neighborhood gossipers. In
this instance the enchanted one was q
young married woman, whose case baf-
fled the cunning of the witch doctor.
His saving power failed to remove the
spell of the sorceress, but he advised the
husband to send his wife away, which
he did, and to wear certain beads
around his neck for the express purpose
of guarding against becoming be-
witched himself. These beads were
: furnished by the doctor" and are sup
posed to possess virtues potent in re-
sisting the powers of sorcery. Since
the foregoing incidents transpired the
woman has returned to her home fully
restored and the husband has laid away
his beads.
Perhaps the most serious case result.
ing from this strange hallucination per-
tanning to witchcraft in this neighbor-
hood is that of a young married woman
whose reason has been dethroned. In
consequence of her adherence to the be-
lief and the silly practices that were
performed in her presence she has be-
come hopelessly insane.
The time-worn silver bullet story still
holds mastery over the rlinds of these
deluded creatures. A certain mans
maiden aunt, who was q member of the
household, was suspected of being
bad witch, possessing the occult power
of transforming herself into any ami
NAL that her capricious fancy might
suggest. 1t is the firm belief among
the deluded associates that she en-
chanted scores of persons and wrought
much mischief. During these supposed
periodical transformations she was fire.
quently absent for days at time, when
she was believed to exist in animal
form.
The nephew had devised many ways
! of Kidding himself of his witch aunt,
but she was sufficiently cunning to frus-
trate all his plans. Finally, it is said,
he consulted witch doctor, who adj
viscd him to shoot her with silver
bullet while she was detected in the
form of an animal. He had not long to
wait for IN opportunity, as the trouble
some aunt transformed herself into
deer soon afterward. The deer, or his
aunt, as the case may be, was shot with
the silver bullet and eaten, thus termi-
mating the career of one bad witch. At
any rate, the suspected aunt has not
since returned in the human form, and
the consequence of the distressing case
is that the nephew's wife has become
| hopelessly insane. ...-....--....,.