Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-23

He Could Comfortably Carry-Df-
vine Healer Listens to Suggestive
StOries-He Talks to q Reporter.
! The New Mexican Messiah" has
again fallen from grace, in the eyes
of the Christian world, as represented
by the inhabitants of Wheeling. Schlat-
| ter has gotten drunk again, and he
hasn't been in the city twenty-four
hours. To say that this fact will de-
teriorate from what lite influence he
might have commanded over certain
class of people is not stretching the
truth in the least after his recent es-
capade in Parkersburg.
1t was between seven and eight
o'clock when he began to play the
Deacon went astray' game. He be-
gan to drink beer, and, to quote the
bar-boy at the hotel, the way he
mopped up that booze was awful. /
don't know where he put it"
The the trouble commenced
Schlatter went to his room and there
was some kind of trouble with the
lady of his choice. About this point
very little definite information was to
be had, and what little there is was
obtained from clerks, porters and bell
boys after long and anxious question
ing. 1t was learned that Schlat.er
attacked his wife in such a furious
manner that her clothes were torn
from her, and had some one not inter-
fered she might have been injured
She was given a separate room from
her husband.
Schlatter same down stairs to the
bar, but it didn't do him a bit Of
good, for orders had been left there
not to give him anything more, and
he did not get it.
When Register reporter arrived
the divine" was pretty well sobered
up. He was the center of an inter-
ested circle of men, composed for the
most part of travelling statesmen. His
brain, however, was still somewhat
befogged, perhaps from the fact that
he has not as yet become accustomed
to the Wheeling brand of the amber
fluid.
The conversation was anything but
enlightening. Profanity was in vogue.
But it was amusing to the crowd and
the divine" stood for 1t, so it went
Things came to such a pass that the
talk merged into stories mot of good
repute," which Schlatter seemed to
enjoy as much as anyone else.
Even the context of most of the con-
versation would not bear publishing.
One gentleman, a travelling man, in
the crowd, who was pretty we'll "all
in" seemed to be on most familiar
terms with the divine and kept up
running fire Of repartee at his ex-
pense. After a time this gentleman
remarked that it was nearly time for
another drink and invited the push
Directly to Schlatter he said:
4 say, Mr.. Jesus Christ, won't you
come in and have drink"
How do you know I'm not Jesus
Christi" said Schlatter.
Because if / did," was the droll re-
ply, Il wouldn't believe in the Chris
tan religion any more
And the crowd laughed.
The two and another man went in
but the barkeeper would not sell
Schlatter anything and he returned dis
gusted.
Some man entered into a discussion
with him on the merits of the Dar-
winian theory. 1t was during this dis
cussion that 1t became evident that
Schlatter is an unlettered man almost
void Of culture, his only argument be-
ing that Darwin was fool and a
SILLY fellow
During the conversation Schlatter
said he would make the gentleman that
was we'll up in his cups believe he was
Jesus Christ. That gentleman soon re-
f,,,-1 Nd ixyiy cd
to make good his statement He and
the gentleman began to argue the
point, but the conversation soon merg
ed into the former strain.
The gentleman, in making a point
in an argument he was setting forth,
told of his family. He said he had
some trouble. His only daughter in
tended to get married and he would
prevent it If possible.
81 wish hy father-in-law had been
man of your description" said
Schlatter and the crowd went into con-
yulsions.
1t was after one o'clock when every
one retired and the divine sought his
cot to sleep off the effects of Wheel
ing's best trouble instigator.
Francis Schlatter, who is known as
the divine healer" arrived in the
city yesterday morning, accompanied
by his wife, and will remain here for
about two weeks for the purpose of
conducting meetings, at which he ex-
poets to perform great miracles in
the way of relieving the afflicted" He
claims that he is possessed of divine
power to make the blind see, the deaf