The Anaconda standard., 1898-01-30
JAMEiCANS ARE SWIM
Pin Their Hopes Ia "A Water Diviner,
Who Ignomlniously Fails.

Pin Their Hopes to Water Diviner,
Who Ignominiously Fails.
From the London Mail
The island of Jamaica has had
short but lively experience of the ways
and Wiles of the water diviner. For
considerably over six months one of the
fraternity of the willow wand has been
exploring the hooks and valleys of the
Gem of the Antilles, and more especial
ly her desert places, in the hope and
expectation that a full and flowing
stream of limpid water would reward
his mystic operations. But the object
of his many peregrinations has not yet
been attained. He came, he saw, but
he left again with the forces of nature
in that tropical isle still unconquered,
and carrying with him the jeers of the
skeptical, the mournful complaints of
erstwhile disciples-and also a consid
cradle sum of public money in return
for his valuable services. In reference
to this latter, the parties responsible
for his presence in the island are ex-
periencing an uncomfortable shaking in
their shoes, and the end of the matter,
so far as this is concerned, is not yet.
The causes which led to his coming to
the colony were as follows:
During the last two years Jamaica
has suffered extremely from long and
continued droughts. Water at times
veyed by the railway in tanks from
Kingston to spots where the supply was
inadequate for the necessities of the in
habitants, Those VINO possessed
springs on their properties had a pro.
tempore gold mine. Water was sold by
the quart at extraordinary prices. and
wells had to be guarded night and day
by-their owners to prevent theft. This
in a country whose name signifies the
Isle of Springs" was somewhat of an
anomaly. and various schemes We're
proposed for the digging of wells and
the locating of underground streams.
During the discussion of the matter
one of the honorable members of the
Legislative council of the island had
gone on visit to England. While
there he was taken with the then pop
ular craze of water diyining. He inves-
tigated the subject. saw the diviner
himself. and wrote out to Jamaica ad
vocating the engagement of one of
these professional water finders. The
chairman of one of the local parochial
boards, and an eX-member of the legis-
latiye council. took up the matter Wig
orously in Jamaica. The proposal was
made To several of the parishes whose
inhabitants had felt the drought Sc
Verely. was eXcitedly eanvassed and
discussed. and eventually the divinef
was engaged. His terms We're the pay
ment of his passage to and from ia
maica, maintenance While there and
fee of $50 FOR each parish visited. Five
parishes voted the sum REQUIRED, and
eventually the diviner arrived. He
Travelled over various parts of the coun-
try. and rod in hand. pointed out in
Vulnerable spots where water would be
found.
The enthusiasm was immense. He
was followed by a huge crowd wher-
ever he went and his going and COM
ings from parish To parish became tri-
umphal professions. He was enter
tanned in most royal manner, the
houses of all We're omen TO him. and
two local companies were formed To
carry on boring operations for water at
the spots pointed out by him. True.
one or two little incidents marred his
triumphs. one where at Vaudeville. a
charming village in the hills, he pegged