The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-12
MIRACLE OR NOT,
CRIPPLE IS CURED
North Dakotan, Inmate in
Ramsey Poor Farm, Prays
and Discards Clutches.

counts it a miracle. The inmates OF
the poor farm count 1t a miracle.
superintendent Albert Moore does not
know how to explain lift he had
not seen it, he said, he would not haNe
believed. DIR. A.. b. Ancker of the
city hospital throws the cold water
of scientific doubt-perhaps, he thinks,
the man never was SO i'll as he seemed.
Whatever be the truth, whichever
of the explanations is correct, the
fact is that something out OF the Or
spring from intense religious teelins,
has arisen at the poor farm to create
a profound impression there. a man.
seemingly a wreck, suddenly begins
to pray after a lifetime OF indifference,
that he will be cured i
certain day, II on that day is cured.
The extent OF the cure probably never
will be known, but religion ana PRAYER
either made him we'll Or gave him
will power to walk.
The Two Viewpoints.
His name is recorded as Peter Nell
son. 1t is not his true name. Tint
will not be given by Mir. Moore, noH
his home town in North Dakota. us
is Ca years old. He went TO the farm
sciatica, and was on cruiches. From
this point, side by side. are given the
differing Neither Is taise,
for they are different viewpoints.
On days his legs were swollen. THAI,
is not questioned. He could not Walk
without crutches. and Was bent over;
He could do no work, and was asked
to do none. He was treated ny DIR.
Ancker. who says that he could lind
none of the symptoms OF rheumatism,
such as high temperatures, except '.'r
the swelling. Nevertheless, the !aan
would scream with pain.
DR.. Ancker believes that he was &
victim OF the slow d~egeneracy of cid
age the old age that always comes
differently TO inmates OF the poor farm
and we'll fed INT sheltered PED 'e.
Believes Religion Renlade Niil.
Furthermore, pr. Ancker believes
that his trouble Was not suFilc: n 10
cause him TO lose control OF MS jI:a:1s,
ii the mans Will had been sLrons. he
believes That his religious ieel;.!g Ie- 1
made his Will. There Is no question az
the mans sincerity, no question n
he believed ne could not Walk.
When the pain seemed w.rsc he
was told that prayer only wodid help
him. He began to pray. That was
in September. Then he announced
that in six weeks he would be cured.
,ha, he had not prayed sufficiently,
and that he would be cured February
3. Tha, was Sunday. He repeated
10 MIR. Moore then that the time had
come.
Leaps Up After Prayer.
He e into the services held b.
young people from the Asbury Meth
odist church. Others spoke, and it
came his turn. He spoke and PRAYED,
leaning over a chair, because he could
not kneel. or thought he could not.
When his prayer was concluded, he
leaped to his feet, to a chair, to a
table. dancing, crossing and recross-
Ing his feet, to show tina he was we'll.
He gave a prayer Of thanks. This was
witnessed by more than 100 people.
He said when he went to the poor
farm that he had been in q helpless
condition for two years or more, and
that treatment at Hot Springs and in
California had failed to relieve him,
after he had left his family to avoid
being a burden to them. He was sent
to the farm after he had asked the
board Of control to assist him to get
back to California. He says now that
he will return there. His family does
not know where he is.
Yesterday ne was able to walk. Ev-
eryone thought that he would be in
his former condition, and there was
surprise approaching bewilderment
that he was not.