Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-10-21
MIRACULOUS WOUNDS OF A KENTUCKY
WOMAN.
ALLEGED THAT BLOOD FLOWS
FROM UNBROKEN SCARS ON
HER HANDS, FEET AND
SIDE.
LIKE THOSE OF CHRIST.
Priests and Physicians to Determine Whe.
ther the Phenomena Can Be Ex-
planned by Natural Laws.

[By Telegraph to the New York Herald.l
LOUISVILLE, October 10, 1s91.-That a
miracle is taking place in this city is the
belief of large number OF Roman Catho-
lies as we'll as the family and intimate per-
No. 2,516 st. Cecilia street. That some
thing extraordinary is the matter with the
woman or that she ia ign0rantly or inten-
tionally carrying out remarkable deoep-
ton is an undoabted fact.
Mrs. Stuckenborg for seventeen consecu-
tive Fridays has gone into a trance which
has had remarkable characteristics. The
statement of her family and friends, of her
pastor, Father Mackin, of her spiritual di-
rector, Father Ratio, and of many other
priests is that during these frances wounds
like those suffered by Christ appear upon
her person, although the skin is unbroken.
and blood 0ozes therefrom. She remains
in these frances, which always begin about
the hour of three O'Clock, generally for five
hours. Her agony is intense, but when she
recovers, beyond little weakness, she ex.
periences no evil effects. The wounds close
and for the remainder of the time until the
next trance are only visible as we'll defined
blotches upon the skin.
The reports of these extraordinary mani
festations have excited the curiosity of
thousands. None but priests, the family
and friends of the woman and physicians
who have been investigating the case have
been permitted to witness the frances. By
strict Injunction from Fathers Ratio and
Mackin neither Mrs. Stuckenborg nor her
husband nor her friends are permitted to
discuss the matter with curious inquirers,
newspaper reporters or medical men anxi-
L. vxnC
about the sights they have witnessed they
lutte ignorance or frankly say they have
been forbidden by the priests to talk.
UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Under the circumstances there is no won.
der that much incredulity has been express
ed as to whether the woman is really suf-
feriug from the frances and alleged wounds
at all.
Her strange case is however the subject
of semi. official investigation by the priests
of the diocese of Louisville, with the full
knowledge and sanction of Vicar General
NJ. Bouchet. The Vicar General states
this frankly, and Father Ratio, under
whose supervision the investigation ia be.
ing made, has constituted himself sort OF
press agent to give out such details as are
thought judicious to publish. The investi
cation ia being made very thoroughly by a
committee of priests and physicians. Each
| Friday one clergyman and one doctor are
present at the trance with Father Ratio.
Each is given the utmost opportunity to
scrutinizs the woman and detect the fraud
if there be one. The next Friday another
priest and another physician will witness
the wonderful manifestations. When all
the committee have finished each memhar
is to report his observations and conclu
sions.
If then no deception haa been discovered
and If no satisfactory scientific explanation
of the phenomena has been made, BshoI
McCloskey and Vicar General Bouchet viii
institute an official inquiry into the report
ed miracle in such manner as may seem
best to them and to the Church.
No doubt this last investigation will be
made with the sanction and perhaps under
the direction of the Primate of the Church
in America, perhaps of the Vatican.
THE FIRST INQUIRY.
Tue first investigation was officially made
on Friday, September 25. At the request
of Father Ratio the local newspapers die
not publish tie names of the members o.
the committee. The medical man who at
tended the trance was, however, DIR. JOhr
A. Onchterlong. He is one of the most
prominent physicians in Kentucky, is pro
fessor of obstetrics and general practice il
the University of Louisville, is member
of the Swedish Academy of Sciences, an(
last year received gold medal from the
King of Sweden AZ q reward for the scienti
io requirements attained by an ex-Swedisf
subject. He Is . deyout Catholic. Not al