The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-09
.ASTRANGE STORY.

--ouOlitam. cnaracteiAsucS OF us guests
--.vaIers from all parts Of the globe meet
- and many a pleasant reunion OF not
~ takes place in the most informal
manner.
r,ke attracts like; guests OF similar
..s-es and experiences naturally form little
Guns and discuss favorite topics. plan
s..rrsions or occupations for pleasure or
Investigation
On one memorable occasion one of our
,,.,ia group said that he had been inves-
rssting the artesian wells on the river
- and had found that they were as
..riable as, and varied with. the tide; that
,,ben the tide salt water was high, the
,,aus gave a full stream of fresh water;
=, low tide the stream dwindled to a
,-,,kle. or. at extra low tide, stopped alto
gether.
Now. as not one other person of our
,-oyp knew of there being such a thing
a. an artesian well in the place. the sub
,.ct Of these wells and their peculiarities
vas news, and was at once freely dis
.nssed. our informant further interested
nc nv stating that the old-fashioned forked
,,,itcb was used here to find the proper
,is.e TO bore wells. That he had met two
MON who, in their business, used the
--.cp. one for finding the place TO bore
vsUs the other to find the places to put
,,rminals for lightning roos.
nrrina the discussion which followed
,bsse statements, guest to whom we had
ION the name of THE Traveller he
srosared TO meet friends here from every
gbsre. and to be conversant with every
rting-had Joined the group; seeing the
~lsed smile on his face, asked him
what he could tell us of this stick and
water witchery.
1 an turned toward him to hear his an
n did not come at once; he looked -
tbe group of faces before nm. - lace
eobercd, and. slowly enunciattng each
word. he said: This water witchery, as
you are pleased TO term it, is but an in
|fnitesimal part of an almost unsupported
held Of incomprehensible achievements,
POSSIBLE to many, attained by few, rarely
mastered even in part by adopts, and then
n held as secrets"
. IF it would please you. could tell you
strange story; one that would take you
outside of all the limits of recognized
science. as far beyond the range or pres
emit experiences as applications of cleo
trcity to-day were to the people of a
hundred years ago, and present you some
Evidence of it's characteristics"
To say that we were astonished hardly
conveys proper idea of our feelings. He
had entertained us often with tales of
Eastern magic. with Hindoo and Indian
lore old world mysticism, etc, and now,
10 tell us that we might here witness Won
ders to the world unknown, merely by eN-
PRESSING wish We were bewildered, fas-
tnated by this man, and no one an
Eered.
Looking intently into our faces, he con-
tnued: Il can trust you as earnest, hon
st men. l see you wish my story told.
ask you only this: Say nothing about it
Except among yourselves In day or two
will be ready and each one of you shall
be notified as TO time and place. Au re-
or.' And with a courtly bow he strolled
put among the palms.
No word was spoken for a little while
Bitter he left us. At last some one said:
What do you think of it?" Another an
wered: Let US respect his wishes and
wait results"
few days later I was sitting near the
enns court watching the game. when a
Faiter handed me card. This card bore
1he Travellers name, and on the back was
written, "at under the palms, by the
Diver"
At the hour mentioned the members of
bur group were all present in the palm
grove Some lawn chairs and table had
been brought together; on the table an
open box of cigars lay.
The Traveller was smoking, and pecu-
lar delicious aroma arose from his cigar.
Each man who smokes try one of these, y
Eas his greeting. We accepted, and, such
+ Cigars we had never had the like before,
He informed us that he was expecting q
Friend, and in discussing the cigars he told
ls that the tobacco was grown in Florida,
It's preparation was one of the fine arts,
occurring as much care and knowledge as
Pie art of perfumery.
A gentleman was seen approaching us
BY way of the orange grove. Motoning
p that direction The Traveller said, 81
Pee my friend is coming. / expected to en-
tertain you with my story and an exhibit
ton of such skill in these matters as l have
nyself, but hearing from my friend at a
Place in this state, l visited him and pre-
Failed on him to come here and show you
fome things beyond my power. Kindly
bear with my request and his humors.
Please observe carefully, ask no questions,
discuss nothing now; be simply specta-
tors"
His introduction was simply, my friends
Pie Gentleman"
Then addressing us the Traveller SAID,
fthis little meeting is the result of a doubt
IS to the possibility of finding water under
Ground by the use of a forked switch. The
Gentleman and l have gone over these
Grounds and have found at this spot an at
Fraction to which the switch responds;
thus We can have practical demonstration
" the fact, and build our theory after
yards upon a basis of practical knowl-
tdge
The Gentleman laid bundle on the Ia
lie, and picking up forked switch from
fnder guava BUSH walked some distance
PWards the bananas, turned, held up the
witch and slowly advanced towards
rs The Traveller directed our at
Fntion to these movements, saying
Note carefully the position of the switch;
is vertical. Now note the changes, as
Re gentleman advances. The switch in
vines, more, more, now it is quite in
Erted; mark the spot. Now he goes to a
instance beyond, and turning, the same
Euon is observed at nearly the same
Race. He will repeat, and you may walk
th him and observe closer this action
a force no more recognized by collegiate
Hence of to-day than was the force that
owed the frogs legs in the days of Gal
Now the Gentleman will give you the
'lch for future use If you wish 1t, and
ne from his bundle an instrument con-
ructed according to the laws of action