Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-26
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER a6, 1878.

Burns, horror stricken, thought the
witch had chosen to mount new
horse and was on him; and in the
agony of apprehension, rushed under
the bed. It was not very long until
the double mistake was discovered;
but meanwhile, during the scpfie.
Mosie was up and gone till daylight,
when he returned, haggards andS
buried as usual. / do not know that
Ferguson was q convert to Burnss
opinion. but he never could be induced
to make another effort to keep the
witch from her ride and Mosie was
Zone asday was passing Sam
wright's hotel In Yorkville, when l.
noticed q crowd Of people In the house
and yard. SgIt was not a public day,
and my, curiosity was good deal ex-k
cited as to the cause Of the assem-
blage, and concluded to go in and
see.- Enquiring Of some Of the crowd,
was informed that the celebrated q
DR.. Brindle from Lncolnton, NORTH
Carolina, a witch doctor, was in the
house to prescribe for all who needed :
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 DIR. Brindle and his
great success in like instances, and
went to North Carolina to- see him.
The doctor said, with confidence, he
could cure Gabbie, and agreed to re-
turn with old Mr.. Burns to try It.
A large number Of persons-probably
fifty-from the neighborhood, gath
cred in to see how the doctor would
proceed in the matter. The first step
Of the physician was to administer
-. L. xxxtxt tnH a n
eject from his stomach crooked pins,
tested 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 a chair, switch Of
dead hog-weed was provided, and the
doctor gave the cat nine "ciips." Mosie
then taking the switch gave the cat
the same number Of strokes, then
waited nine minutes and resumed the
feline. castigation, striking different
number Of times, and pausing q longer
or shorter 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 trifiing 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
dicted, 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 pitch
er of buttermilk, which being refused,
she seemed In the greatest trouble
and hung around instead of leaving.
This seemed a singular fact for
those present BY a little slight-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 OF home. From that hour
Mosie Gabbie was free from the
spell, and slept In his bed all night
like other folks. lh NtDr5 10 silt
After this over tale, I even. must
test the conjurer, and went into the
room at Mr.. Wright's to see him. Ad-t
Ivancing, L told him wanted to know
if he could cure pain In my arm.
TO, yes, he could make II WELL Taking
my hand so as to extend my arm to 3
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, in-out!" with
each manipulation: and repeating 1t
three times, pronounced me well 4
certainly was, for my ache was en-,
tirely feigned. ! paid my quarter for
the manoeuvre very willingly, hav-
/ ing satisfied my curiosity, and anus
ed myself awhile longer watching
him with others. 80 -
when I finished my tale. Mr. Ell
lott said, DO You think any one
could believe such q tissue OF absurd
| lity? Yes was my reply; many be-
fore your revelations OF mesmerism.'
tOh! no. he insisted. We were walk
ling up the hill at Glenn's Springs,
and pointed to a group Of men sit
ting in front Of the store door talk
ling politics and news while waiting
for the mail proposed we should
ljoin them and repeat our narrations.
Ipredicting would have the most be-
levers. He willingly agreed, and
ljoining the crowd, introduced the
ltopic. He talked well. and they were
much entertained. When q. he was
case I'd heard of in York. and told
lthem Of .Mosie Gabbie.' When was
done, asked, Now, gentlemen, IL
you were bound to believe one story
or the other, which would 1t beT
The witch story was the reply or
lall. Mr.. Elliott with his true cour-
Iitesy, laughedeat the confirmation of
Imy statement. Now, probably as
Imemerism Is no longer new, he would
find as many believers as To-