The age-herald., 1898-01-30
JAMAlCANS AXE SWINDlED.
Pin Their Hopes to Water Dviner, Who lgon. E miniously Fails.
From the London Mail.

From the London Mail The Island of Jamaica has had a short but lively experience of the ways and wiles of the water diviner. For considerably oyer six months one of the fraternity of the willow wand has been exploring the hooks and valleys of the Gem of the An titles, and more especially 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 skep- tical, the mournful complaints of erst- while disciples-and also a considerable 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 experiencing 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 Jamica has suffered extremely from long and contin-
 ued droughts Water at times was so scarce that it had to be conveyed by the railway in tanks from Kingston to spots where the supply was inadequate Tor the necessities of the inhabitants. Those who 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, ,af- for the digging of wells and the locating of underground streams.
 During the discussion of the matter one of the honorable members of the legisla- tive council of the island had gone on visit to England. While there he was taken with the then popular craze of wa ter divining. He investigated the subject
 saw the diviner himself. and wrote out to Jamaica advocating the engagement or one of these professional water finders The chairman of one of the local parochiai boards and an ex-member of the legsla- tive council, took up the mattetr vigorous ly in Jamaica. The proposal was made to several of the parishes whose inhabitants had felt the drought severely, was excfted- ly canvassed and discussed, and even- tually the diviner was engaged. His terms were the payment of his passage to and from Jamaica, maintenance while there and fee of $50 for each parish vis- tied. Five parishes voted the sum required,
 
 travelled over various parts of the coun- try, and, rod in hand pointed out innum- erabe spots where water would be found
 The enthusiasm was immense. He was followed by huge crowd wherever he went and his gongs and cOmingS from parish to parish became triumphal pro- sessions. He was entertained in a most royal manner, the houses of all were open to him, and two local companies were formed to carry on boring operations for nfv,fo ont hxrI h af,,,
 True one or two little incidents marred his trumphs. One, where at Vaudeville, a charming village in the hills he begged out part of the course of subterranean stream and retired to sumptuous lunch at neighboring hotel. In his absence some wags removed his pegs and lined out a totally different course. On his return the dviner took up the new direction and continued it for over 100 yards mare, and did not discover his mistake until one of
 his admirers pointed out the deception.
 But no borings for water had yet been
 made, and the authoritative statements of thediviner were -unchallenged At length the necessary implements were obtained, and an attempt was made at several points to reach the water so confidently indicated. At one point where water was predicted as at a depth of forty feet a, boring of 150 feet was made, with the only result that no water could be found, the
 machinery eventually broke down, and after going down about 200 feet, the ,borer could not be extracted. The same ridicul-
 ous result occurred in other places, and up to the present at none of the points in- dicated by the diviner has water been found.
 The water finder has left the island dis comfitted. and the auditor general is now asking who is responsible for the $250 voted and paid by each of the five parochial boards. This incredulous official fails to see how public money could be legitimate ly used for fees to water divner. and has intimated that the parties responsi- ble for the payments are personally re- sporsible.
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