The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-14
"wITCHING" FOR WATER.
An Operation That May Occasionally
Be seen Out West.
From the Ne,0 York Times.


From the Ne,o York Times
81 see that you had something in your
paper the other day about water witches, ~
said gentleman to Times reporter.
YES" said the reporter, II believe that
we did"
"Well, do you know that was entirely
misled by the heading TO the story that you
printed Until l read that story l had
never seen the term water witch applied TO
the underkow OF q mountain stream. | got
the idea when saw the head line that what
followed had something to do with one of
those fellows who 60 about telling people
whore TO dig wells. They are quite numer-
Gus out west, and are always called water
witches I've seen lots of them"
chow do they do itp' asked the reporter.
LET me tell you about one OF them, aud
then you'll know. III pick out one whom I
saw about ten years ago when was out in
the territory of Dakota. I'd gone there to
grow up with the country.
81 settled In a paper town, that Is to say,
In town that had been laid out on a map
into streets, squares, and sites for churches,
public schools, opera houses, and hundred
thousand-dollar hotels. Two hundred dol
lars would have put up all the buildings In
tho place. There wasn't drop of water to
be had IN all the town. The nearest we'll
was at least half q mile away.
"There were lots of big holes about the
place that had been dug by thirsty people,
but they we're all waterless.
"'We've got to do suthin' right away,
said the Oldest inhabitant (he had been there
six months. Pm in favor of holding q
mass meetipg'.'
81 acquiesced, and the others who were
spoken TO we're willing, and so the mass
meeting was called. About twenty came
all thara yara-and I uvaQ TnNta
of the meeting. There were remarks from
several persons, and then up got the oldest
inhabitant and moved that we hire water
witch. The motion was seconded, and be-
fore | knew it / had declared 1t carried.
Then somebody passed round the hat for
money. Being the chairman OF the meet
ing, felt that l must chip in literally and
| did. | didn't know nor care what water
witch was. l proposed TO show my new
friends that they had made no mistake In
sizing me up as fit man to preside at one of
their important meetings Besides, hadn't
had bath for week, and l felt scratony
and desperate.
THE second day after the meeting the
water witch came to town-a grizzly,
bearded fellow, muffied up in what looked
like fur-lined duster, blue wo len CON-
forter tied about his neck, with the ends
Tapping in the wind.
He had T-shaped piece Of willow with
him, the arms 6 inches long, the other part,
say, eighteen inches long.
Well, Mr.. Loriug,' said the Oldest in
habitant, addressing me, what kind of
trade shall we make9 The water witch Of
fers to witch for us, and not guarantee, for
$40. He'll guarantee for IS extra
Guaranteed exclaimed.
"'Yes, guarantee us water.
"'By all means lot him guarantee, | an
swered, declsively. we need water 80
badly that s. isn't worth looking at
The witch took his S15 and SCI himself to
work. He grasped the T-slaped willow by
the arms, an arm in each hand, and held it
so that the long piece stuck straight out in
| front OF him. Then in tbs solemnest smau-
| uer imaginable he began making tracks
across the prairie. Wherever he went the
crowd followed close at his heels.
suddenly he stopped and, turning to the
Oldest inhabitant said mournfully: "Fraid
shan't find no water here'
Keep on, old man. l shouted. Don't
give it up"
HE rested while and then started out
again. Suddenly his stick turned in his
hand and pointed to the ground.
Dig here, he said, an I'll guarantee
you'll find all the water you want
"'What'd l tell yeP exclaimed the Oldest
inhabitant. exultingly.
THE next day the digging began"
And what came Of itF' asked the repor-
ter.
IA hole, feet In diameter and 100 feet
deep, as dry as dust from top to bottom"
And what about the guarantorT
He'd sloped when we sent man to call
him 10 account