The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-07
WATER WIZARD OF PASADENA.
Locating Underground Sources of Supply
by Animal ELECTRICITY.


A correspondent of the San Francisco
Chronicle from Pasadena says: John
Il. Godfrey of this city claims to be a
water wizard, or at least, he claims to
zdo the things which water wizards do,
and all his life, pretty much, he has
made money at 1t. He has steadily re-
fused to talk about the strange force
he possesses until recently, when he
gave some of his views and related
some Of his accomplishments in the
way of locating underground streams
OF water. For some years he has been
quietly in the employ of the North
Pasadena Land and Water company,
President Painter had heard that he
knew great deal about the water de-
velopment business, and resolved to ex-
pertinent. At that time the company's
supply was very inadequate Now, as
a result of Godfrey's work, it has the
best equipped system in the city. Cap
tain Godfrey located well prospects
north Of town, wells were sunk, and
during the dry season of last summer
wells pumped about 70 inches of water
a day, and aroused much interest
among water company directors in the
neighborhood. Captain Godfrey's serv-
ices became Immediately in demand
and his ability was recognized, but he
refused to locate water except for
Mr.. Painter and for two other gem
tlemen with whom he entered into con-
tract.
THE business Of finding water" Cab
tain Godfrey says, sis as old as Noses
but 1t has been abused by takers who
pretend to do wonderful, preternatural
things, which in reality are merely the
simple workings of nature. You are
familiar with the forked stick used as
a divintng rod. For generations it has
been the plaything of country children,
in the western and middle states par
ticularly. The diviner takes a forked
stick, graSps the ends of the fork in
each hand, holds the point upward and
walks along until it turns over, when
he declares water exists at that place.
Very often it does, and there is no
doubt that there is something in the
forked stick experiment. for many peo-
pie have tried it and have found that so
strong is the tendency of the stick to
turn down that if held tightly it breaks
off in the hands. Still in the hands of
some people the experiment does not
work.
II do not use the forked stick. 1t is
useless to me and foolish. I do not pre-
tend to accomplish uncanny things.
With me this is a business proposition.
When I was in the war oftentmes it
became necessary to find water on short
notice. Very often the streams had be-
constantly crossing them that wells had
to be dug. We had no time to dig
deep we'll, though water could doubt
less have been found almost anywhere
at reasonable depth. But the men
would come to me when they wanted
water, and I would tell them where to
dig so that they got water at depth
of three or four feet. Then we would
get a barrel and a bucket and proceed
just as at natural spring. After the
war I went to Vermont and Maine and
located hundreds of wells for people.
i was quite well known, and people
came ito me from everywhere. They do
so yet but uniformly refuse to locate
water for them. 1t is silly, this telling
people there is a stream underfoot, be-
cause out of 10 so informed only one or
two would know how to proceed in or
der to make we'll there pay. The wa
ter would be allowed to waste. How do
] develop a current once found? Well,
there you are going into my private
business. I have made it life study
and practice makes perfect. you know.
1t is the same in this business as in
any other.
IT have received many requests from
the department of the interior and
from scientists to give my help to an
investigation of the question. I have
always replied that would be glad to
throw in my mite provided serious,