Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-29
WITCHING FOR WATER.

WITCHING FOR WATER.
An Ancient Superstition Described in
. Government Report
The idea that a forked twig. or so-called
divining rod, is useful in locating min
erals, finding hidden treasure, or detect
ing criminals is curious superstition that
has been subject of discussion since
the middle Of the 10th century and still has
a strong hold on the popular mind, even
in this country. This is evident from the
large number of inquiries received each
year by the United States Geological Sur
vey, Department of the Interior, as to
the efficacy Of such a twig, especially for
locating underground water To furnish
reply to these inquiries the Geological
Survey has published a brief paper. by
Arthur ]. Ellis, on the history Of water
witching, with a photography that includes
q truly astonishing number of books and
pamphlets on this uncanny subject.
In summary the paper states: 1t is
doubtful whether so much investigation
and discussion have been bestowed on any
other subject with such absolute lack Of
positive results 1t is difficult to see how
for practical purposes the entire matter
could be more thoroughly discredited. 1t
is by no means true that all persons using
forked twig or some other device for To-
| eating water or other minerals are inten-
tiOnal deceivers. Some of them are doubt
less mon of good character and benevolent
| intentions. However, as anything that
can be deeply yelled in mystery affords a
| good opportunity for swindlers. there can
be no reasonable doubt that many of the
large group Of professional finders OF wa
| ter, oil. or other minerals who take pay
4 o.. AA-1.- -pe -
their instruments" are deliberately de-
| frauding the people and that the total
amount Of money they obtain IL large. To
all inouirers the United States Geological
Survey therefore gives tho advice not to
expend any money for the Services Of any
| water witch or for the use or purchase
Of any machine or instrument devised for
locating underground water or other min
erals.
HISTORY OF THE SUPERSTITION.
In tracing the history of the subject 1t
J is found that divining rods have been
used % to locate ore deposits, % to dis
cover buried Or hidden treasure. C) to find
lost landmarks and re-establish property
boundaries. CD to detect criminals, (0 to
analyze personal character, (6) to cure
| diseases, % to trace lost or strayed do
nestle animals, Q) to insure immunity
against i'll fortune by use az a fetish.
90 to locate we'll sites. Q0) to trace the
| courses of underground streams, QD to
determine the amount Of water avail.
able by drilling at q given spot. Q9 to
determine the depth at which water or
ores occur 03) to determine the dNection
| Of cardinal points. QD to determine the
heights Of trees, and Q5) to analyze ores
and water.
The origin Of the superstition is lost in
antiquity. What is believed to be the
first published description Of the divining
rod is contained in Georgius Agrieors
DE re metallica." which was published
in 1855. The device became common first
in Germany as a means for locating
mines and also for discovering buried
treasure, a matter Of rather common in
terest in those days. when the practice
Of burying money and plate for safe keep
ing was very general. 1t was introduced
into England by German miners during
the reign Of Elizabeth Q56s-1603). and be-
fore the end Of the 18th century 1t had
spread through the countries of Europe.
Everywhere it aroused controversy. The
rules prescribed for the cutting Of the
twig partook largely Of heather sorcery
and astrology. There were indeed. to
some extent unconscious "reminiscences
of the old Scandinavian and even Of the
Aryan mythology. But this heather infiu-
ence was offset when the rod was duly
Christianized by baptism. being laid Luz
this purpose in the bed with a newly
baptized child. by whose Christian name
1t was afterward addressed. 1t Is readily
conceivable that the motive for surround
ing this practice with a religious atmos-
phere might not have been altogether a
belief in its divine character. for at that
time anyone found engaged in mysterious
works was in danger of being charged
with sorcery and burned to death.
USE OF THE OWNING ROD IN DE.
TECTING CRIMINALS.
The divining rod continued to be a ia.
vorite subject with alchemistic writer's
until about 1860. when a new turn Of af
fairs was brought about by Jesuit ia
Their. who denounced 1t as an instrument
controlled by the devil. The subject wa:
then taken up by the church. and fol
moro than 100 years it was holly debated
by churchmen. Some approved Of it ant
authorized its use on church property
} others condemned It and threatened those
} who used 1t with communication. II
1902. the year Of the Salem witchcraft. 1t.
notoriety was greatly increased by tn,
} arrest and execution Of a criminal through
the agency of a peasant who used divin
ing rod. Interest in this case was in
tense and widespread and called forth
large amount Of literature AS late as ITO
} this peasant was employed to point ou
with his divining rod Protestants for mas
sacre, under the plea Of punishment TO
crimes they had committed. The divininl
rod was in some respects closely related
to witchcraft, as Is suggested by tho us
Of lamentations In connection with divin
ing, and to this relationship may be as
cribed in some measure the strengthenin,
Of belief in it. Witchcraft at that time hat
become frenzy. and anything whicl
by any stretch of the imagination coul,
be suspected of implication with witch
craft became subject Of discussion an,
the basis Of Arm opinions and beliefs
In 11o1. however. tho Inquisition issued
decree against the further use Of tn
divining rod in criminal prosecution, an,
this use of the device rapidly came to al
: end.
RECENT DISCUSSIONS.
! In the latter part of the 18th century a,
. attempt was made to explain water witch
) Ing as an electric phenomenon, and late
/ 1t was discussed as a psychic phsnome
, non. At almost every step in the advano
} OF science some one has attempted to ex
l plain Its supposed operation by means o
the latest scientific theories
) Before the present war there were sev
, eral socities In Germany whose sole oh
5 tect was said to be the study of tn
= divining rod. In 1910 the department o
agriculture OF France appointed com