The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-05-26
SUPERNATURAL POWER
Possessed By Priest, Who Per
forms Many Seeming
Miracles.

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the hands of Rev. Father p. S. Dag
nault, Catholic priest who is said
to possess remarkable healing pow
ers. The pilgrims have not consist
ed of any one class of people, but
the lame and afflicted of nearly
every strata of society are number
ed among those who have sought re-
lief, and the exodus at the present
time from this city is estimated to
be at the rate of % per week.
Charles j. Johnson. a landscape
gardener, who has just returned from
Peshtigo, is one of numerous Mar
quette people who have been cured
by the Catholic clergyman. john
son says that he had been bedridden
with rheumatism for two months
before he decided to make the trip
to the Wisconsin town and that at
the time he left Marquette he was
unable to touch his feet upon the
floor or even to assist in dressing
himself. Two men carried Johnson
aboard the outgoing train on a
stretcher and when he arrived at
his destination an ambulance was re-
quired to convey him to the priest
residence.
Il stayed at hotel in Peshtigo
for 10 days" said Johnson in an in
terview, land | received one treat
ment each day from Father Dag
nault. who came to the hotel to see me.
He did not tell me anything about
my case at fist and only said he
could cure me in time. His treatment
was not what would call massage.
He simply took my limbs in his hands
and by a gentle pressure worked
from my knees to my feet with a
kncading movement.
when his hands came in contact
with my flesh thought a thousand
needles were entering my body, the
prickling sensation being most pro-
nomced as he worked toward ny
feet. watched to see if he said any
prayers when he began treatment,
but he did not. and he afterward
told me that he does not claim to
possess any supernatural powers.
After two or three treatments the
rheumatic pains left me entirely
and began to walk a little until
finally, when returned to Mar
quette, | walked on and off the
train"
johnson says that Father Dag
nault treats on an average of 40 pa
tients each day and that the number
is constantly increasing. Every pas
senger train into the town brings a
new consignment and the procession
of cripples to and from the priests
residence is almost continuous
throughout the day. The greater
number of pilgrims are from North
ern Wisconsin, but there are many
from Chicago, Milwaukee and other
cities.
Father Dagnault is described as a
S4ort, thick-set man, with a round,
chubby face. His age is given as
g. years and his manner is both
kindly and sympathetic. His resi-
dcnce is a modest frame structure,
plainly furnished, and he leads a |
simple life, treating the sick and af-
ficted when not attending to his
duties as pastor of his church.
Father Dagnault told me he
could not cure every case" Johnson
related, land know that bad case
f paralysis was turned away when
| was there, the priest telling the
patient that she could not be cured
by him.
II asked Father Dagnault how
long he had been treating patients.
He replied that he had practiced
healing for several years as cases
came to his notice, but that for over
a year he had been almost burdened |
by visitors.
Religion was never mentioned in
my hearing and when asked Faith |
err Dagnault what his charges were
in my case he replied that his SER
vices were given free. Most of the
cases treated are cripples, although |
he has almost every kind of patient.
Some of his patients make him pres
ents, but he never asks for money,
and the poor man gets the same
treatment as the rich"
Txun HaaAaa Dir