Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-10-29
MODERN WITCHCRAFT.
Come Queer Examples Of It Found
In England.
0ArAake Revelations Through tho Demise
or Purported Wiz ird-Absurd
Letters from Simple.
Minded Folk.

hhSuIurul couutAcS, particularly IN the
wcsk OF England, haa been demon
.etratcd recently, says Casscll's Saturday
Journal, by circumstances which have
como to light in connection with the re-
cent death of q Taunton oracle, who
was, known throughout Somerset,
Devon and Dorset as 'Billy the Piper"
lie was for many years looked upon us
tho "Wiznrd of the West" and large
bundle, of letters which were found in
his house reveal to On astonishing cx-
tent tho crcdulity of certain people in
those parts.
Billy, who was scvcnty-slX when he
died, had lived in the same house For
forty years. He commenced life by
hawking pipes. but doubtless the ac-
Quaintancc he, formed with country
folk while he was percgrinating with
humble "clays" opened his eyes to their
supcrstitious. beliefs and induced him to
pose as past master of witchcraft and
fortunc-tclling. And it was not only
simple villagers who wcrc reclSQned
among Billys clients. Farmers aud
wcll-to-do people frequently consulted
hiTp-thc former believing that nc could
cast disease out of their cattle, the lat
ter regarding him Us IN infalliblc aid in
the discovery and punishment of those
who had done them wrong
Billy was Il thin, wiZcned old man,
and in his long Inverness cloak and
sombrcro hct was Il familiar figure all
the country round. His fingers were
covered with rings, and dilapidatctl
wig, which, covered tho top part of his
tncc, rendered his appearance extreme
" curiou3. 1t is said that when he Wis
tied sonc parts. of Somerset offers of
oHpitality were SO numerous that he
nd to exercise his choice. This rose
rom an idea that it was lucky to. have
the wise. man. under the roof. The
ettcrs which were found in the house
ut tho old mans death arc mostly from
jilitcratc people.
In many references arc made to in
closures for "valuablc serviccs." Ono
woman wrote: 'Evcrything is going
wrong at ray house to-day. 1 don't
know whose been, or if they caused it
without coming. Mother was going to
have the, chimney swept, and the rlun
isn't como yet, and expect he will
come after dinner, so shan't have
chance to burn the water us YOU said.
Also l thought of going to grand site
ut Exeter; but they have caused my
fEthcr to want to go, AM, we cant both
get away. Also they ca.;,cd tho girl
not to be able to do her work fast
enough
An example of the absurd idea that
talc wizard could divulGc the name of q
PERSONS enemies is found in the letter
af II Dcvonshirc girl, who said; "Shc
game back again last night. I hope
yen will try and stop her, as it makes
Inc quite i'll. bhc thoughts of it! wish
t'N Old thing was dead, rs. Pm afraid
there wont bc no peace for NC while
she is living. Thore is another woman
tlntshc is very friendly with; who goes
sl1out to places with her, 80 I've been
Md. Her name is I've done all yo
have told me. 4 forgot to tell you be-
sarc that she takes in work what
used to do."
Dcvonshirc farmer, equally simple,
wrote: 81 thought would drop you
few lines to let you know how things
arc Eetting on. Wc have not lost any.
tl,ing since, but tho, things scc,n to Lc
kIlScn in Il very queer way sometimes.
rs they was not to work. yesterday one
oil thc>horses fell in the, hcdge-trough.
Gld they wore obliged to get two or
Slrce men to help III out again. Thave
done aud am doing every morning what
you told INC. should like to know
Who my enemies are, that might be.
ware OF tl,em."
a Brhsgowater CLIENT growing i'm
e"tient, thus addressed the wise man:
"Drar Mr.. Brewer: have carried out
Your Instructions, hut Grsl it don't in
icet, tho parties yet, Do You think
you could recommend. any ether thing
TO find them. out, us fancy want
70 know who it Is that is doing INC
wrongP'
TIE largest dam OF any hind in tho
southern hcmisphorn is thnt nt