The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-10-02

the late summer early fall they
VIII return, they say, to observe the startling re
suits OF secret demonstration now under way
To locate rich deposits of coal and iron deer
down in the earth by walking about on the sur
race holding in ones hands a bit of wire or
twlg OF birch seems fit material for an old wives
tale Yet that Is what the Landrat Won Ulsar
friend of Kaiser Wilhelm announces he has
accomplished in the far-reaching wilderness of
northern Michigan and Wisconsin And more
In region In this country where the presence of
petroleum had never before been known or even
suspected he has OWNED by the use of his little
metal rod the existence in vast quantities of the
Wealth-bringing crude oil
THESE lands are owned by hard-headed bunco-
Prool american capitalists, who are now proceed
Ing to verify the findings of the Landrat Mean.
while he has sailed back to his duties )as chief
government official for the district of Apeprade,
SchleswisHolstein. With him has gone the
friend who accompanied him on this trip, Herr
Folkmar Franzius, nephew of the harbor direc-
tor Of Bremen, who wdened and deepened the
River Weser to admit ships of the greatest draft
Ihey VIII return as soon as borings have been
completed at the points indicated by Won Usar
when they expect the mine owners to acknowl
edge that the diVining rod has been corroborated
Herr Won Usar does not boast of his power or
attempt to explain it, He exercises it for the
benefit of those seriously interested. Their DUR
pose may be to profit directly by the location of
subterrahean water or mineral deposits, or to
discover an answer to the riddle. He places him.
self at the disposal of both and is content to rest
on the facts.
He has located many deposits of water and
minerals in Germany, where the subject has ere.
ated profound stir in recent years. Societies
whose membership includes many of the fore
most scientists of the empire have been formed
to collect all the valuable data on dvining rods,
and to carry on an exhaustive search for the true
explanation of the phenomenon
1t was through the interest of Herr Won Rue
low, VINO In 1895 became an enthusiastic convert
to the art of locating minerals, water, ETC., by
the aid OF the rods, that Herr Uslar's natural
glft was brought to the attention of Emperor
William Then followed an imperial expedition
headed by Won Uslar, to the German desert col
onies OF southwest Africa which lasted two years
ana half and demonstrated so conclusvely the
reality of the Landrats mysterious power that
the emperor was thoroughly convinced.
Ihe writer called on Herr Won Uslar and Herr
Franz1us at the Hotel Astor, in New York before
and after their recent trip to Wisconsin and
Michigan. At the first visit they spoke vaguely
OF planning tour to the Yosemite Valley. At
the second the Yosemite not mentioned In
stead, they described the difficulties of climbing
over fallen trees in the trackess forests of north
ern Wisconsin and Of the delightful qualities of
easy friendship found among the men in charge
OF certain mines in the same region
Herr Won Usar would fit we'll into story
book as an austere country squire. He is tall
and slender and straight as an arrow
The Landrat is stranger to English but the
dehciency was supplied by Herr Franzius who
SPEAKS 1t iuently. Their visit here had not been
without humorous interest, for it appears that
Won usiar takes boyish delight in exhibiting
MS power for the entertainment as well as profit
or his friends. One evening Franzius and Won =
uslar we're being entertained at the club house
OF prominent German society in seth street.
Conversation turned to the Wunschelrute. or di
Vinlng rods, and the Landrat asked if he had
not rod with him, so that he could exhibit his
power He did not have one, but offered to see
what he might find If they would furnish him
with piece of ordinary wire
A long hunt at last unearthed the desired
WIRE ana with this in his hand Won Uslar wan
dered from room to room about the clubhouse.
Nothing occurred until he reached the billiard
room when the rod began to turn rapidly
Well Welt" exclaimed the German. "T don't