Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-26

mistook him for Mosie Gabbie and
mounted him, determined to prevent
ror-stricken, thought the witch had
chosen to mount a new horse and was
on him; and in the agony Of apprehen-
sion, rushed under the bed. 1t was not
very long until the double mistake was
discovered; but meanwhile, during the
scuffle, Mosie was up and gone till day.
! light, when he returned, haggard and
buried as usual. I do not know that
Ferguson was q convert to Burns's
opinion, but he never could be induced
to make another effort to keep the
witch from her ride and Mosie was left
TO his fate for five years.
One day was passing Sam Wright's
hotel in Yorkville, when I noticed a
crowd Of people in the house and yard.
1t was not public day, and my curios-
| ity was a good deal excited as to the
cause Of the assemblage, and conclud-
ed to go in and see. Enquiring Of some Of
the crowd, I was informed that the eel
ebrated DR.. Brindle, from Lincolnton,
North Carolina, witch-doctor, was In
the house to prescribe for all who need
ed his services; and, Furthermore, that
the day before, he had cured Mosie
Gabbie. Old Burns. who always kindly
took great interest In the poor lad,
heard Of DR.. Brindle and his great sue
cess in like instances, and went to
North Carolina to see him. The doc
tor said, with confidence, he could cure
Gabbie, and agreed to return with old
Mr.. Burns to try it. A large number
Of persons-probably 50-from the
neighborhood, gathered In to see how
the doctor would proceed in the matter.
The first step Of the physician was to
administer an emetic, which caused
Mosie to eject from his stomach crook
ed pins, needles, hair balls, etc. This
was attested by many persons who
were present, who, in telling the tale,
would say they were willing to swear
on the Bible they saw him throw up
this trash. After this, a black cat,
which had been procured for the pur-
pose, was tied to chair, switch OF
dead hog-weed was provided, and the
doctor gave the cat nine "clips." Mosie
then taking the switch, gave the cat
the same number Of strokes, then wait
ed nine minutes and resumed the feline
|castigation, striking different number
Of times, and pausing a longer or short
er period, but always by odd numbers.
The doctor told them that the witch
who rode Mosie, would, by this means,
be brought to the house and ask for
some trifling favor, and would be In
great distress Of mind and not leave
until the favor was granted. They
continued the discipline Of the black
cat until late in the afternoon, when,
sure enough, up walked old Mrs. Big
CERT, as the doctor had predicted,
though as Mrs. Burns said, she had
not been in the yard for years before.
On this visit she asked for some little
thing, perhaps a pitcher Of buttermilk,
which being refused. she seemed in the
greatest trouble and hung around in
stead Of leaving. 20.
This seemed singular fact for those
present. By little sleight-of-hand the
needles, pins and hair-balls might have
been so manipulated as to deceive them,
but the presence Of old Mrs. Biggert
was unmistakable. Late in the evening
Mrs. Burns gave her what she wanted,
whereupon the old creature expressed
great delight and trudged off home.
From that hour Mosie Gabbie was free
from the spell, and slept In his bed all
night like other folks.
After this over tale, I, even, must
test the conjurer, and went into the
room at Mr.. Wright's to see him. Ad-
vancing, told him, wanted to know
If he could cure pain in my arm. 20,
yes, he could make 1t WELL" Taking
my hand so as to extend my arm to a
right inclination, he passed his hand
quickly down the length Of my arm
from shoulder to wrist, and with
flourish, as he passed the extremity OF
my fingers, said, "in!-out!" with each
manipulation; and repeating 1t three
times, pronounced me we'll. certainly
was, for my ache was entirely feigned.
I paid my quarter for the manoeuvre
very willingly, having satisfied my Gu
riosity, and amused myself awhile
longer watching him with others.
When I finished my tale, Mr.. Elliott
said, DO you think any one could be-
lieve such a tissue of absurdity?"
YES" was my reply; many, before
your revelations Of mesmerism." "Oh!
no." he insisted. We were walking up
the hill at Glenn's Springs, and point
ed to group Of men sitting in front Of
the store-door talking politics and
news while waiting for the mail. 1
proposed we should join them and re-
peat our variations, predicting would
have the most believers. He willingly
agreed, and joining the crowd, intro
duced the topic. He talked we'll, and
they were much entertained. When he
was done, I said it reminded me Of
case, I'd heard of in York, and told
them of "Mosie Gabbie." When I was
done, I asked, Now, gentlemen, If you
were bound to believe one story or the
other, which would it be?" "The witch
story" was the reply Of all. Mr.. Elliott
with his true courtesy, laughed at the
confirmation Of my statement. Now,
probably as memerism is no longer
new, he would find as many believers
as +.
ITO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY.
STORY OF DIR. CARLIsLE.-The follow
to ro1otod nv norrasn0n-