The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-11-30
FAMED BONESETTER DIES OF HEART
 TROUBLE AT 76
Friend and Healer of Champions, John D. Reese, Succumbs at Youngstown

Youngstown, Ohio, Nov 30.-l (UP)-The sports world to-day mourned the death of John D. "Bonesetter'' Reese, one-time steel worker whose delft fingers and un- canny touch healed the injuries of many famous athletes, and eased the aches of world figures. Reese, 76, died here last night of heart disease.
 International fame was won by the "Bonesetter," a modest man who found real pleasure in aiding suffering humanity. For more than forty years he employed his power pin healing the rich and the poor, the mighty and the lowly. Thou sands testified to the skill In his fingers.
 Just a Handshake Lloyd George, visiting America after the World War, shook hands so many times that his right hand was twisted out of shape. Doctors said months of rest and massaging would be needed to restore the cramped muscles. But Reese shook hands with the statesman, exerted a little pressure, disengaged their hands with wrench and Lloyd Georges hand was strong again. Hardly a baseball star in the last three decades does not owe his en- durance of strength and speed to the "bonesetter." Ty Cobb, Hans Wagner, Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson were among the parade of stars who brought their sore arms, sprained fragments and pulled muscles to him for cure.
 Followers of sport still remem-
 Der the day Wagner, the great shortstop of the Pittsburg Pirates, was carried from the field after something snapped in his back. Wagner's career, then at its height, seemed ended, but he went to Reese. The "Bonesetter" set his fingers in Wagner's back. The great shortstop screamed and tainted, but In a few days he was back in the game.
 Knew His Stun Another remarkable cure by Reese was that of Glenn Wright. The Brooklyn shortstop was injur- ed in a basketball game and his throwing arm seemed to have lost It's snap. Reese worked on the in- jured arm and in the spring of 1890 Wright came back with wing that cut down base runners from all angles of the short field. Battling Nelson and Gene Tunney were among the prizeflghters who were treated by Reese.
 Reese was born in Wales on May i5, 1855 and was left an orphan while still in his teens. In 1887 he departed for America to work in the steel mills as he had served as. an apprentice in the Monmouth shire mills in England.
 As a lad he had been trained by the noted bonesetter of his na- tive land, but he did not discover he was a natural master of ortho- pedic surgery until he came to this city.
 Then one day In the Youngs- town mills a man fell from lad- der. He landed on his back and was unable to rise. The mill 'phy- sicians could not ease the pain or diagnose the injury. Young Reese ran his fingers up and down the mans back. The man smiled and while the physician and the work CTS gaped in wonder, he rose 10 his feet, declaring there was not trace of pain.
 Won Over Doctors From this day Reese's fame spread rapidly over the country and soon the "Bonesetter" left the mill and devoted his entire time to heal ing. For many years Reese was bitterly opposed by members of the medical profession, but by 1900 his reputation had grown so great the ohio legislature passed special act permitting him to practice the pro ofession of bonesetting without medical license.
 In 1926, for the first time In its history, the American branch or the Welsh Gorsedd selected an American--the bonesetter - 10 honor with its highest award, the Druidic Degree. for distinguished service to humanity.