Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
"wITCHING" FOR WATER
An Operation That May Occasionally Be
Seen Out West

Seen Out West
From the New York Times
Il see that you had something in your pape,
the other day about water Witches" said O
gentleman to Times reporter
''Yes." said the reporter, II believe that we
did,"
"Well, do you know that was entirely mis-
led by the heading to the story that you printed
Until read that story had never seen the
term water witch applied to the undertow of
mountain stream. l got the idea when saw
the headline that what followed had something
to do with one OF those fellows who 20 about
telling people where to dig wells. They are
water witches I've seen lots of them"
"How do they do it?' asked the reporter.
LET me tell you about one of them and then
you'll know. I'll pick out one whom saw
about ten years ago when was out in the ter
ritory OF Dakota. I'd gone there to grow up
with the country.
II settled in 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 dollars would have
put up all the buildings in the place. There
wasn't drop Of water to be had in all the
town. The nearest well was at leust half mile
away.
There we're lots Of big holes about the place
that had been dug by thirsty people, but they
were all waterless
We've got to do suthin right away said
the Oldest inhabitant (he'd been there six
months). I'm in favor of hoidin' a mass
maetin''
Il acquiesced, ard the others who were
spoken to were willing, and the mass meet
ing was called. About twenty came-all there
were-and l was made chairman Of the meet
ing. There wers remarks from several per
sons, and then up got the oldest inhabitant
and moved that We hire q water witch. The
motion was seconded. and before knew it
had declared it carried. Then somebody passed
round the hat for money. Being the chairman
of the meeting felt that must chip in hber-
ally, and did. didn't know nor care what a
water witch was. proposed to show my new
friends that they had made no mistake in sizing
me up as mt man to preside at one of their
important meetingS. Besides, l hadn't had a
bath for d week and felt scratchy and des-
perate.
The second day after the meeting the water
witch came to town-a grizzly bearded fellow.
mufied up in what looked like fur-Iined
buster, q blue wooden comforter tied about his
neck, with the ends tapping in the wind.
''he had a T-shaped piece of willow with him.
the arms six inches long, the other part, say,
eighteen inches long.
+" Well, Mr.. Loring.' said the oldest inhab-
itant- addressing me, what kind Of a trade
sEdAl VIZ Lubhe! iue NdtCE WHICH Offers TO witch
for us, and not guarantee, for $40 He'll guar
antee for So extra
"'Guaranteer I exclaimed.
"Yes, guarantee US water
"'By all means, let him guarantee an
swered, decisiveiy. we need water so badly
that 50 isn't worth looking at
''The witch took his SIS and set himself to
work. He graspcd the T-shaped willow by
the arms an arm in each hand. and held it 80
| that the long piece stuck straight out in front
of him. Then in the solemuect manner imagin-
able he began making tracks across the prairie.
Wherever he went, the crowd followed close al
his heels.
Suddenly he stopped, and. turning to the
Oldest inhabitant, said mournfully: ''Fraid ]
shan find no water here
keep on, old man, l shouted. Don't give
it up
"He rested awhile 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
"'Whatd tell YEP exclaimed the Oldest in
| habitant, eXultingly.
"The next day the digging began
And what came of it2" asked the reporter
"a hole, eight feet in diameter and q hun.
dred feet deep, as dry as dust from top to
bottom"
"And what about the guarantor?"
He'd sloped when We sent man to call him
to account"