Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-15
The DiyineP.
London Black and White

'Incredulity Is my greatest obstacle"
said Mr.. Leicester Gataker. as they rushed
through the dreary wastes Of Eastern
La ndon on their way TO Essex whittier
he had been summoned TO find water by
means of the "dowsing" or dlyining--od
People will not believe the evidence of
their own eyes. They see the twig turn.
and cry. Trick; they find water in the
spots | have indicated. and cry, 'Fluker f."
But this unbelief is only natural in
the person OF average culture" I sug-
gested. There Is something mysterious
and uncanny in divination Of any kind"
And especially in diyination which is
impossible OF explanation even by .he
diviner." Mr.. Gataker added.
How did you, discover that you pos
sessed the power?" | asked
by the merest chance. After leaving
Bath College, where | was educated,
went into a London Office: but the con-
hnement made me Ill, and / was obliged
10 90 down TO the West country to rest
| was walking one day with friend, who
knew a local water-divlner, and he sug-
gested that we should try If We. too,
possessed the faculty of finding water
He was unsuccessful. but. to my great
amazement. rs | was walking across a
field / suddenly felt a mild shiverins
forked twig held In my hands began TO
revolve. l thought very little about the
matter at the time, but, when, after an
other trial, | found that my health would
not bear the strain OF Office life. and when
l discovered that my power increased
with practice, | seriously considered the
possibilities OF water-diyining as pro-
fesslon."
But. surely, you met with a great
deal OF opposition
mo, my father, who was a captain In
the Bengal STAFF Corps. and now lives al
Bath. was most interested. and after |
had studied and practiced some months |
commenced my present work with his
permission. That was about two years
ago"
What happens when you light upon
hidden waterg'
"A sensation not unlike a slight SILVER
comes into my arms first, and afterward
all over my body. | then hold the twig
In my hands, and SO long "a ! am above
the water II reyolyes, oeasing Immediately
l get off the bed OF the stream A twig
freshly cut from the hedge serves the
purpose best. but wire answers equally
well, copper wire being. however. much
less sensitive than steel or iron. This
would seem to argue some magnetic at
water divination is a corresponding power
| to mesmerism-a kind Of animal magnet
| ism. You would be surprised at the num-
Der Of people who have the power and are
| ignorant of the fact, ladies more espe.
cially."
Surely the presence of water affecting
you as II does. hidden. stagnant pool OF
a closed drain might deceive your"
"No. am only affected by running
water, and can gauge its depth and the
number OF gallons that 1t runs per min
ute"
rs there any attraction between the
twig and the hidden water?'
Mr.. Gataker smiled 80 many people
ask me that question" he answered. d
little YEARLY "and II the water | find Is
pure and ut for drinking purposes. The
attraction Is I'm me alone. The movement,
OF the twig Is merely its outward sign.
can find water without the twig, simply
by holding out my hands. j guarantees
to find water-not pure water; that IL OBJ
viously impossible"
Have you had many failures In finding
water?"
He shook his head '"rhere are failures
and failures, you know. ! have always
found water when water has been there
to be found. but sometimes that has not
been in the place where IL was needed OF
desired"
"Water-divinlng has fallen into such
disrepute that l expect you found some
difficulty in getting work at first, didn'i
your
well. you see, my friends believed In
me, and that was half the battle. The
smile OF the sceptical was rather hard td
bear when / started. but l soon got used
TO II, and now ! have the courage OF
many successes. You see. water-diviners
are usually wise men in country dis
tricts; they rarely come from any but the
lower classes. and naturally cannot Drlne
any great intelligence to bear upon theiI
discoveries, consequently they are niue
known beyond their own districts.
and are only employed upon small work