The Princeton union., 1907-01-31

EASTMAN THE WATER-WITCHER.
The Outing Magazine for January Tells
How Conductor Eastman OF the Milaca-
Willmar Run Locates Wells on the
Pratries.
Locating hidden springs and dig
ging wells in dry places through the
mysterious agency of the divining
rod hark back to the dim, dark ages.
The average person in this practical
age is wont to laugh at such practices
and set them down as curious surviv-
ais of out worn superstitions. "What
power has a witch-hazel twig or a will
low wand to find water where all
other signs fail? Pooh!" says the
skeptic. And he has the strong end
of the argument. The only trouble
with his scoffing and hilarious atti-
tude is that "witching for water" as
they call it in the northwest, does sue
ceed where the professional we'll dig
ger has to confess himself beaten to a
standstill.
On the broad prairies of North Da-
kota the greatest handicap to CON-
fort in living is lack of good water.
Towns spring up over night, and tank
wagons trail in from miles away to
supply enough water for drinking
purposes. The problem becomes even
more arduous when it confronts the
railroads that are stretching new
tracks up into this virgin territory.
A locomotive is the thirstiest brute IN
all creation, and millions of gallons
a day must be supplied along the line.
It is superhuous to remark that for
absence of superstitions and senti-
mental nonsense of all kinds a great
railway corporation is almost in a
class by itself. If silly or un-
founded romance is afoat, it is not
likely to find welcome refuge in the
practical headpiece of general
manager.
It was therefore singularly impress
sive when the writer, touring a new
branch of the Great Northern in North
Dakota, fell in with an elderly and
digniied gentleman, conductor of
many years. service on this system,
who had been detailed on special duty
from the general managers Office to
search for water supplies with the aid
of divining rod or "water-w witching"
outfit.
It may be that his errand was in the
nature of cheerful gamble after
other resources failed, but the fact re-
mains that Mr.. Eastman was on the
ground equipped for business, and
that the train waited upon his investi-
cations.
His outfit was simple. A friend,
acting as assistant "witcher, " carried
a bundle of freshly cut witch-hazel
boughs, trimmed in V-shaped
branches, the leaves and buds still on
them. The two men disembarked.
From up the raw, new street of the
town that was not more than six
months old, gathered a score of mer-
chants, farmers and idlers. They
greeted the visitors with interest and
respect. This looking for water
touched upon vital matter in their
daily lives. They were still hauling
their drinking water in tank wagons
from spring a mile out of town, and
the water was sold at so much a
gallon.
Mr.. Eastman, stout, conventional
as to dress, and looking as essentially
practical as a veteran railroad mar
ought to appear, took one o f the V.
shaped witch-hazel boughs an6
tightly grasped the plant ends in his
two fists, holding the point or crotch
upright. Thus equipped he movee
sedately across the prairie. Tht
witch-hazel remained upright for per
haps fifty feet. The crowd trailed il
behind, vastly curious. Presently th'
bough began to turn, or waver. Th'
inverted V twisted slowly, until it wa
parallel with the earth or pointing
straight out from the bearer.
| He slackened his gait and move,
; ahead, while the telltale bough move'
J slowly down until it was pointin,
toward the soil. Now the "water
witcher" had it SO grasped that it wa
twisting in his fists, and the tende
bark along the plant ends was be
ginning to break, showing that som
: force other than muscular effort wa
, pulling the bough toward the eartt
| When it pointed straight down b
l stopped and heeled a mark in th
' grass.
t Then he moved on, and very slowl
/ the branch began to rise, until {
. length it had returned to the perpe1