AN ALLEGED MIRACLE IN RUSSIA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3064, 22 April 1881, Page 4

AN ALLEGED MIRACLE IN RUSSIA.

The Nedelja reports that, a short time ago, some peasants were drawing water from a well in Gadiatch, when one of them espied a picture of the Virgin floating on the surface of the limpid liquid. While they were taking counsel together as to the proper course of conduct to be adopted in the face of so marvellous a manifestation, they were joined by two village girls, who, the picture being pointed out to them, declared that only two hours previously they had seen it flying about in the air and watched it as it gently descended into the well. This Btory of theirs spread throughout the

district of Gadiatch like wild fire, and as soon ac it came to the ears of the landowner upon whose property the " hely well" was situate he lost no time iv building a chapel over tbe spring. To this chapel the population of the district has since repaired in daily increasing numbers, leaving the churches empty of their congregations even on Sundaj's and Saints' Days, so that the local clergy, finding their takings growing small by degrees and beautifully less, eventually applied to the police authorities for an official investigation of the alleged miracle. In compliance with this requisition, the Stanovoi of Gadiatch forthwith betook himself to the chapel, seized Hk miraculous picture, and deposited it in the police office. Subsequent inquiry has brought to light tbe fact that the Virgin's counterfeit presentment had been purchased of a travelling pedlar by the speculative landowner above-mentioned who had utilised it, with the assistance of his peasantry, for the creation of a sacred shrine upon his estate, and had already cleared a handsome sum by, appropriating tbe money-offerings of pilgrims who had flocked to tbe "holy \yell" from all parts of the surrounding country. It is pleasant to know that this ingenious gentleman, is safely in prison awaiting his trial for sacrilege. \