The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-05

OMAHA, Neb.. April 2.-Jansen, Neb.. lie
three hundred souls, located on the prai-
RE in the southern part of the state. Most
of the inhabitants are Germans and Rus
SLAMS Among them lives John Pruder a
mild-mannered old German, who earns q
Sscanty substance for himself and family
by Iaboring on the sheep rancho of Peter
Jansen. The only one of the family who
understands English is little Frisda. girl
Of nine.
Just before the holidays Freida was
taken iii and confined 10 her bed and un-
It'll ten days ago she was the victim OF q
most mysterious ailment. She was sub
1ect to spasms in which her fingers were
cramped until the nails were buried in
her palms and her toes were turned under
h er feet She lost sight, hearing and
speech and her little finger was wracked
with n variety of involuntary contortions
She was entirely helpless for hours and
days, and for one period of three weeks
1ife was sustained by pouring milk down
her throat. At other times she imagined
sshe saw visions. Sometimes it was an
san0el. then rabbit and again q woman
In white.
physician ventured tie opinion that
the chiids liver was affected. Another
said il was typhoid fever. another admit
ted he did not understand the case The
circumstances Of her sickness are vouched
for by American neighbors Of respeeta-
bility who can have no motive for misrep-
KesenteliOn. One of the euperslitiOus old
women suggesred that Frsida had been
sbewitched. In support OF her theory she
urged that the inside of the bed upon
which the child rested be examed. Act
ing upon this suggestion the Pruders
opened the tick from time to time and
then curiously enough they found the
feathers matted into peculiar shapes.
The superstitious neighbors suggested
that these feather objects be buraded, say
ing that the witch would be the frat per
son to visit the house after the burning.
The first caller happened TO be a Mrs.
Miller. Her husband had at one time
made a vain attempt to sell Pruder a piece
OF property and they readily accepted the
conclusion that Mrs. Miller Was Dewitch-
ing the child in revenge.
News of the affair reached farmer
pEmed William Noltensmyer, formerly Of
Missouri He advised the PTuders to send
for John Erinberg Of Warrensburg, Mo-,
and told wonderful tales OF the cures
wrought by him.
Mr. Erinberg arrived at Jansen last Sat-
urday morning and went 10 the Pruder
home. The stranger looked at the
child, said be could cure her
and asked for q room In which be
could be alone. An adjoining room
was given up TO him, but what be did in
there Is unknown. When he came out he
was perspiring as though he had under
Eone some great physical exertiOn. Three
times that day did he give the child this
Treatment" as he called his private oper-
ltion. He neither touched the child nor
gave her medicine, and it is supposed that
he devoted himself to prayer while in
Ssecluson.
During the day there were mutterings
pf ill-wIll among the supplemented for
eIgners and al night company of twenty
four organized with leader. called at the
Pruder home and notified Erinberg that
be must leave the Town the next morning
Or they would prosecute him. The
stranger from Missouri wac a peaceful,
Fhite-bearded man of seventy ard was
evidently frightened by these threats, but
when Mr. Bruer and other intelligent citi-
eens, satisfied that he was at least doing
mo harm. promised TO protect him, hs
agreed to stay.
Mr.. Erinberg gave little Freida three
Ptreatments' Sunday morning and in
yhe Afternoon she was about playing with
Bhe other children Of her age. sunday
Eight che was at the house of Mr.. Brusr