The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-24
TWO WONDER MIND READERS.
Remarkable Feat of Psychic insight rer-
formed by Children.

"A TeHlarkaDle story OF aCCoia'S
reading travels north from Texas. John
Shrum, farmer, who until 1890 had lived
for many years on the farm OIL deorge
Boyed well-to-do farmer residing hNe
miles north of Bonham, is known by near
~ every old settler in the county. he IS
the father of nine children, hve girls
and four boys. Two of these children,
boy and a girl. are possessed OF remark
able and seemingly miraculous power.
BY their wonderful feats in nina read
ing, locating hidden articles and descrlb-
ing homes they have never seem theS
have become objects of great curiosity
wherever their lot has been cast. Iheif
ages at present are 10 and Il years, re-
spectively.
In the period of Mr. Shrum's residence
in this county nothing out of the ordi-
nary was noticed in any member OF the
family. The Shrums We're hard-WorKlhg'
honest people, who held the commence
and respect of all their acquaintance
and earned their bread 'by the sweat
of the brow Mrs. john Crittendeh,
whose maiden name was Shrum. still re-
sides in this county.
In 1890 John Shrum and family moved
to Johnson county, Texas, near fort
Worth, and continued to till the SOIL. II
was here that the wonderful powers OF
the two children were discovered. me
father went to Eastland county on Dus'-
mss SoiiS tulouSl lHt Nouiitfs -
wagon. 1t required several days to make
the trip and a camping outfit was carried
along. Several days passed without any
news from the father. and the mother De
came uneasy. Day after day passed after
the day set for his return. and still no
tidings. One day when Mrs. Shrum was
sitting in her room with the children
around her she gave expression to fear
concerning their father. AT this time
James, their second son. was lad of IL
years and Bell the oldest girl, was Ii.
Observing their mothers great distress,
these two children, to the mothers sur
prise. told her that their father was at
that time camped within days journey
Of home; that he was in good health and
all right in every way, and that he would
be with them the following day at noon.
Then they gave a minute description Of
his camp. outlining the position OF his
wagon. where his camp fire was located.
how his mules were tied to the wagon and
that his pallet was under the wagon
The mother listened to their story and
at the conclusion asked them where they
obtained this information To this they
We're unable to reply, but to their childish
minds 1t seemed to them as If every one
could see and understand this as they
did. and in their innocence wondered why
it was that their mother doubted them.
At u o'clock next day, as predicted by
THESE CHlluTell. JOHH Sululll WAS SllliHS
at the dinner table surrounded by his
family he detailed all the circumstances
of his journey and of his noon camp of
the previous day. which did not in one
instance differ from the story of the chill
dren. This being the first information
that the children were 50 gifted. the par
ents were dumbfounded and slow to be-
ieve, remaining in the doubling column
unit! further tests were made. The chill
dren We're then questioned regarding their
relatives in this county. which is dis
lance of 12S miles from their home. In re-
ply they said that their grandmother was
then seated on the front gallery hold
ing a baby and their aunt-Mrs Critten-
den--was in the cotton field. A letter was
written to the relatives here and the an
swer fully and completely corroborated
the statement made by the TWO children.
trial was next given to them to test
their power of locating hidden or buried
articles. All the family valuables in the
way Of jewelry and silverware were
placed in q pitcher and buried near a
spring over a mile from their home by dis
| interested parties, Thecchildren were sep
arated and asked concerning the pitcher.
Both gave ready answers to the ques-
| tons put to them. and both told of the
| exact place and manner incident to the
| hiding, gave complete description of the
| participants and the depth of the hole
| in which the articles We're buried, told
| of each and every article the pitcher con-
| tanned. Blindfolded and alone, without
the assistance of guide. Bell Shrum
| found the place of concealment and re-
| turned with the pitcher and it's contents
| This demonstrated to the parents and the
| doubling public that they were more thar
ordinary children and endowed with pow.
er to perform feats that would battle the
| most skilled mind readers.
| Fhn Il nf +,
was made at Burleson. the first station
| on the Missouri. Kansas e. Texas railroad
| south OF Fort Worth, at camp meet
| in. child years old wandered ava.
| from the meeting and was lost: whe1
two miles from the camp grounds thu
| child was found by a farmer. who carried
it to his home, and. after putting it il
| bed and lulling it to sleep. he went il
| search of a claimant for the child Whel
| the child was missed thorough searcl
| was instituted, which was fruitless. TIL
| Shrum children, being near, were aske,
to assist in the search Without the leas
| hesitation they informed the distracte,
mother that her child was safe and a
| that time was in bed asleep; that it ha
been picked up by a farmer who was thel
in search of its parents. They mappe
out the route which would lead to tn
child. Following the route thus giver
the child was found quietly sleeping i
the farmers house. The farmer, bein
questioned, related the circumstance Q
his finding the little tot, which was iden
teal with that told by Bell Shrum.
In the fall of 1894 Mr.. Shrum took tn
two children to the Texas state fair q
Dallas and gave public exhibitions c
their powers before hundreds of peopl,
While there skeptical parties arranged
test. They purchased and hid pair c
gold bracelets. These bracelets were cal
ried six blocks from the hotel where tn
shrums were stopping and We're secrete
in a pile of rubbish in the rear of dar
cellar. Bell Shrum was then blindfolde
carefully with yard of black silk, folde
several times. making it impossible for
ray OF light to penetrate. When this wa
done she led committee of three to ii
cellar. going by the exact route previou,
, ly taken by the same committee in hit
ing the trinkets. She walked to the ri
of rubbish and Immediately produced II
bracelets, which We're presented to her 6
token of appreciation for the success!
ful performance of the test. While
Dallas they We're visited by thousands
people and performed feats which must