STRANGE POWERS ARE POSESSED BY WATER DIVINERS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6805, 8 January 1929, Page 9

STRANGE POWERS ARE POSESSED BY WATER DIVINERS

MAGNETISM PLAYS BIG PART. HOW THIRSTY ARMY WAS SAVED AT GALLIPOLI. The doubt that is still attached in many quarters regarding the special cift that water “diviners’' are said to possess is the subject of an article by a London writer in the ‘Sunday News.' He says: One of the principal engineering bodies in Britain formed a committee of investigation a few weeks ago to test practically an official who holds the position of water diviner to a municipal authority of a city overseas. Tests which were carried out near London have not conclusively satisfied the committee that the official diviner possesses the powers he claims to have. In this particular instance water was not “divined” where it was already known to exist. . The reason given was that the flow and the direction had been mechanically and artificially induced, thereby destroying the senses of human agency. The” divining of water and metals appeared to be a matter of luck rather than a special gift, for there was water practically everywhere. It might be assumed that because tests were carried out under the aegis of a corporate engineering body there would be a certain amount of prejudice felt among members. I ani assured, however, that such is not the ease. On the other hand, there are instances almost innumerable where discoveries of water and metals have been made by persons having a special gift of “divining.” Miss Florence M. Turner, who has been successful as a water diviner, states that it was by the merest chance that she found that she could discover the whereabouts of water and metals. Miss Turner’s Discovery.

“A friend was staying with me,” said Miss Turner, “who, I learned, could find water, and I asked her to show me what happened when I got over a spring; and when I saw, I said: ‘I wonder if I could feel anything?’ I took a twig of hazel. It felt alive in my hands. I was very excited and spent the whole of that afternoon experimenting, after which I felt very tired. Of couArsc. I realised that I had been giving off something all the time. Since then I have arrived at the conclusion that it is magnetism, and that some persons possess this power more than others.

“My first series of tests were made in the vicinity of a large town, and my host asked me I could find water on his lawn. I replied that no doubt I could if it was there. I went out in the darkness and presently said: ‘There is water here, and in great volumes.' He replied: ‘You are quite right. You are on the main to the town.’ Since then I have found many wells for friends in various parts of the country.

“Perhaps one of my most interesting experiences occurred when one day I; was asked to find a gold ring set with diamonds, which had been lost on a lioskey ground. Up to that time I had never experimented in divining for minerals, but although I felt little faith in my powers I consented to try. I wont over the hockey ground carefully until I came to a place where I ‘felt’ something. Finding of the Ring.

“The girl -who had lost her ring was with me, and exclaimed; “It cannot be here; I hevo never been near this locality. So I passed on and continued trying the ground, but without result, until I arrived back at the spot where I felt the presence of something strange again. I suggested tkajt the grass should bo dug up within the. circle of a yard fro mtho spot where I stood. The first sod lifted, about 3in. from where my feet had been, had the ring in it.

As the story spread' I had offers from all sorts of people to divine for them. I have divined for veins of lead in Derbyshire. Divining for water and different minerals gives me different sensations. Iron, for example, makes me feel bouyant. Lead, unless I do it for a long time, makes me feel very well. Water has the effect on me of giving pain. My head aches badly behind the eyes.

“I have now arrived at the conclusion that divining is a very valuable gift, especially so for water. Persons should ascertain whether water is beneath the ground before attempting to build property on it. If this is doslo it would have expense and disappointment.”

A Dardanelles Wonder. The greatest and most sensational story of water divining happened with the Australians during the war. It is on record that JSapper Stephen Kelley of the 3rd. Australian Light Horse, during the darkest days of the campaign in Gallipoli, crawled out, wounded as he was, and with the aid of a steel rule found water at a time when men were falling and dying of thirst, Water boats could not get near the landing owing to the rain of shells that swept the beach. Kelley, who was attached to the wireless section, knew that he possessed the power of being able to locate water. He found a dozen places where wells were sunk within the lines. Later, when he recovered, the commanding officer requested him to go to Suvla Bay. Disguised, he crawled through the Turkish lines and arrived at Anafarta village, where he remained in hiding while the place was being shelled by British warships. Later he was again wounded, but got back to his comrades and was sent back to Mudros. General Hughes went to sec him in hospital one day, and pointed out of the window to a number of tnnks stirrounded by soldiers. “There is no water in them,” said the general. “The water barges have not arrived,

and the men will not go back in the lines until they liavo filled their bottles.” A Big Watercourse. The general was informed by Kelley that if they would put him on a stretcher and carry him he would try to find water for them. At that time he discovered the water by using a copper band from a Turkish shell. It proved to be the best diviner ho had ever used. Kelley was carried out in the presence of a number of officers who plied him with questions. Tho soldier continually reassured them that he could find water if it was there. Kelley had hardly covered a hundred yards of ground when he announced that he had struck a big watercourse. Drilling commenced at once, and after boring six feet water was found in such abundance that within an hour the underground spring was delivering 2,000 gallons and 100,000 thirsty men filled their water bottles. Five other wells were found before the wounded man was carried back to hospital. Kelleys fame for finding water spread so rapidly that the French general specially begged that he might be sent to the Asiatic side to find water for tho troops. There he was again successful.