The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-21
Witch Doctors
They Still Practice
in Pennsylvania.

Belief in witches and witchcraft is as
Common in Eastern Pennsylvania now as
1t ever was in Massachusetts in the sew
enteenth century, when they burned
witches at the stake This is not mere
gossip, but is the serious and important
statement of DR., John NJ Bertolet, OF
Reading, who has Investigated the matter
carefully. The New York Herald sent a
representative last week through the
region which Dr. Bertolet is familiar, and
all his amazing revelations were con-
drmed.
1t is two centuries and half since the
witchcraft delusion was supposedly
stamped out in this country. AS a matter
of fact, the belief in witchcraft survives
today. The charms and incantations and
spells believed to be powerful in exorcis-
ing evil spirits are as jealousy practised
as they were in the Middle Ages or
among the first colonists Of Massachu-
sets.
Nor is it necessary to go among the
superstitious blacks in the negro belt or
the South TO find this belief. 1t fiourishes
within a hundred miles Of New York
city. in a state that prides itself on the
Intelligence Of its inhabitants, and among
people who are pointed out as models Of
citizenship No doubt there are many
out of the way corners Of the country
where lingering remnants Of this super
stition are to be found, but the section
which is its stronghold and where the
charms supposed to counteract spells"
and "hants" are regularly practised by
witch doctors" is Eastern Pennsylvania.
Berks and Chester counties and the
Schuylkill Valley harbor a widespread
belief in witchcraft. The city of Reading
contains a number of witch doctors. and
they are to be found also in some o. the
smaller towns One Of the most pTomin-
ent of these witch doctors told me that
his practise extended over a circuit of a
hundred miles about the city of Reading.
OF course this belief in witchcraft evil
spirits and all the paraphernalia Of the
black arts is no new thing in this region.
1t has persisted here among the quiet
Pennsylvania hills since the time it was
shared in common with the rest Of the
world. These people, first cousins Of the
Beers, do not change with the changing
centuries any more than have the Dutch
men whom the English have been fight
ing The old beliefs are handed down
from generation to generation. Likewise
the arts OF the witch doctors and DOW
wowers who are supposed to be capable
Of combating the malign influence, are
usually handed down from father to son.
Several Of the witch doctors of the pres
ent time are descended for two or three
generations from men who have practised
the same arts in this same locality.
The hold which these beliefs have gain
ed upon the minds of the inhabitants Of
this particular region, it is almost impos-
sibe fer an outsider to understand: In
fact the whole structure and the Gus
toms of society here are different from
what may be found in any other part
of the country. The people are out of
the world, and not Influenced by events
that take place beyond their encircling
hills. They cling to the old beliefs with
a tenacity that loses none Of its strength
with the passing generations. Their
superstitions are cherished as sacredly
as their religion-in fact they form a part
of their religion. To destroy their belief
in witchcraft would be almost as difficult
as to shake their faith in the Bible itself.
SO firmly intrenched is this witchcrafr
delusion that it has resulted in the addi-
ton of some peculiar forms to the vocab-
ulary Of the people. In the discussion Of
a battling case of illness or misfortune,
it is not uncommon to hear some Cd
hausfrau say with a shake of the head
that So-and-so is "fur-hexed' (0e-
witched) The term ''heXen' (the prac-
tee Of witchcrafD is frequently heard,
while those who treat these peculiar af-
fictions are known as 'pow-wow' doc
tors. "wurst-fraus." or by other equally
strange designations, according to the
particular modus operandi Of each one.
The exposure Of the existence Of this
medieval delusion on the very edge Of
the twentieth century is due TO DR.. John
NJ Bertolet, a prominent physician Of
Reading. Pa DR.. Bertolet has frequently
come across evidences of the witch doc
tors work in the course of his practise.
Becoming interested in the subject, he
collected much information concerning it.
He recently read a paper on the belief in
witchcraft and the charms that are used
TO eonnteract it, before the Berks County
Medica. Association. As a result OF the
evidence which ne has collected it is likely
that some of the witch doctors may be
prosecuted for the illegal practise OF
medicine.
When I asked DR.. Bertolet the other
day to tell me some of the results of his
Investigations. he said:
''The first charm I found was about two
years ago. I was hastily sent for to see
a woman. In making an examination of
the patients chest. ! found something
under the undergarment, and asking her
what that was. 1 was told, the witch
doctor placed that on my chest saying
that it would drive away all my ailments
into the body OF him or her who was
haunting me.
when I removed the charm and placed
it in my pocket the woman was Mortified
and said:
" I would not carry that charm in my
pocket one minute, if ] were YOU. for
any amount of money. 1t viii bring the
spell upon YOU.
u assured her that there was abso-
lutely nothing to be feared from such
nonsense. and that 1 was not afraid 10
carry bushel OF such charms with me
She seemed. however, very much worried
as TO my welfare. and repeatedly referred
to the. matter whenever l visited her.
This woman's child had also been sick.
and was believed b. its mother to be Re
witched. I had difficulty in convincing
her that such was not the case but that
the child was suffering because it was
fed on sour milk. After few days
treatment the child entirely recovered. /
The mother was suffering from some in /
ternal trouble which became entirely
cured after an operation for lacerated
cerviX.
= "A few months ago I was consulted ny |