The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15
HE HEALED NOBODY.
Schlatter an Ignorant Re-
ligious Monomaniac.
A CosBLER FROM EUROPE.
Not n Single Well Authenticated Case
OF Cure From Chronic ironpie
The ssueaIers' simply Crazy.
Denver Correspondence ST Louis RePub-

Denver Ia a turmot OF sAttsrihf"t III
many weeks. having disappeared i9F
time from public view. can now oe csimty
ana alspasslonstely judged What virtue
for good he may have had can Dc made
known without lnjury, either 70 himself or
IN those who believed Of had hope ~ has
power 20 cure diseases. ~ the time those
who believed in him would not nave rs
tened TO the disbelicyers and Woui1 hot
hermit allegations figures 70 Re doubted
Francis. Schlatter Is not a fraud. lie IS
not a fakir lie Is simply harmless mon
ornaniae. He Is iliiterate lie had read
but little before BE left his native land on
the border country between France ana
Germany. A. a fresh ernigrani he had
landed In New York and had-tried to make
a living at various occupations on Long
Island and the Sound country he a. that
time was liked for his good nature ana
easy disposition.
lie came 10 Denver and tried 10 make
living cobbllng shoes. but neither for him
self nor for his employers could he sue
coed in that. aud finally: he dritted away
10 wander about the country under the IN
fuence of his insane idea that he must
obey the spirit that inwardly prompted
him to profess to he healer. Practicing
first upon the supersiitieus and Ignorant
Indians Of the territory, he wandered In
TO Hot Springs. Ark. where he was placed
In the county jail as a lunatic. He re-
manned there all winter contented with
his lot. doing odd jobs for the sheriff and
submitting uncomplainingly 10 all the
rough treatment accorded him by the 9TH
or prisoners. He was permitted 20 escape
in the spring and he wandered southwark
through Texas to III Paso, thence across
the deserts TO Southern California: Among
the Mexicans In Isolated villages he prac-
ticed his healing and accepted aims from
the poor people who sought him out lie
was robbed by companion traRIps and had
many experiences which afterwards seem
ed TO him TO be humorous enough when
he recalled them. He went TO san Fran
cisco by boat from San Diego, but did not
remain long I'm the city. going southwark
again across the mountains into the Mo
taye desert. finally appearing 10 the aston
ished Mexicans of the dreary country
about Albuquerque.
It was while down there that the news
papers out of curiosity, first noticed him
and gave him a kindly mention as new
variety Of freak Some credulous people,
reading In Denver paper OF his reported
cures. journeyed down there, became con-
WINGED of his powers and persuaded him
through fattery 10 come 20 Denver. Here
his reception was cordial and friendly. lie
took up his abode In quiet section OF the
city, where ne could not annoy nor dis
turb many people. and so II game about
that his career here was unbroken by dis
turbance' or annoyance. New converts
further advertised the man. until ne be-
came a subject Of such general attention
that today every hamlet in the Cnited
States has heard Of this mysterious stran-
ger.
schlatter has been abused and mlstreat-
ed so much that a kindly display OF sym
pathy and Kindness warmed his whole be-
ing. Whenever he was surrounded by
group OF sympathizerH he was always
laughing and chattering like a child. he
was also extremely sensitive so battery.
while anything antagonistic TO him made
him instantly angry. The local reporters.
who attempted to make fun OF him. were
refused audiences afterward He easily
withstood the fatigue Of standing for six
hours day shaking the throngs by tho
hand so long as he had friends aboRt TO
fatter him or so long as the crowds smiled
upon him and filled his ears with words OF
praise anf adulation. Finally. becoming
frightened at the attention he was receiv-
ing and the crowds that continued 90 In
crease in numbers about him, he d'sap-
reared unexpectedly. leaving thousands 10
awake from their delirlum of excitement
10 wonder and reflect
During his stay in the city the medical
profession, with one exception. left him
unnoticed. They may have given their
views in private to intimate friends and 10
they waged no warfare uuon the healer
They were wise enough 10 know that II
was hut passing fancy Of the deluded
and credu'ous people. None OF them ever
anticipated that the interest I'm the ignor-
art man would spread throughout the
city and permeate all clasS9s 81 people
The most prominent men Of the eity he
came interested and believed in tho
strange man. in so FAR that they believed
ne was doing good and NO harm TO = Nv
ing soul. The reports OF cures ind the
testimony az friends seemed to be CON
yincing enough.
Army officers and graduates Of West
Point physicians, lawyers, clergymeu
public school teachers, railroad officials
bankers. brokers. merchants in fact
every class Of people. Joined in admira-
tion OF the man. or In a belief that be- was
doinr remarkable work rs a healer.
Though at first only the illiteratc fcnor-
ant and supersutinus 1ocked 20 him later
on the class of suppliCants improved. un-
Ill the very best people in the city were
standing Ina the Tong line for hours 1T "a
time awaiting their turn 10 be grasped
by the blk. heshv. warm bloodcd hands
Of this man suffering under a delusiou 81
the mind. schlat3cT Wus Invited - dine
ON Sunday NJ sontr Of the Finest hofnss on
Capitol IAN. When BE disapncarsA men
even shed tears because ne bai ,one with
out warning IL Is the most singular fea-
turc of ;hiS remarkable spectacle this
power which Schlattcr gained over the
Denver public.
And not alone FROM tire Denver ruhlr.
a prominent railway official OF o-r,at -,
was so greatly impressed with the MANS
abilities a~ "a healer that be e~a.of-l}Y of-
fered n grant posses 80 all employees az
the road who wanted To ~ ~ S.hiatfrr
Ter treatment People "a H1r froYn almost
every town Cf the West N-l Visitors ana