SEVERAL SEQUAHS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22832, 17 March 1936, Page 15

SEVERAL SEQUAHS

SUBSIDIARY TO ORIGINAL MR ROWLEY’S CLAIMS REITERATED (Special to Daily Times) GORE, March 10. New light on the identity of Sequah, the great healer, was produced to-day by tlie widow of Mr Charles Frederick Rowley, on whose death at Balfour last week claims were made concerning his right to a name which many years ago was famous throughout the world. It appears that Mr Rowley and Mr Hannaway Rowe are not the first claimants to the name and very possibly will not be the last. The indications are, therefore, that several decades ago the world held several Sequahs, for the efficacy of whose treatments almost miraculous powers were claimed. When the statement that Sequah had died in Southampton in 1934 was referred to Mrs Rowley to-day she was not dismayed. She said that her husband had been living at Riverton when the announcement had been reprinted by a Southland newspaper. He had at once visited the newspaper office and presented his own claims, whereupon a correction had. been published. Mrs Rowley reiterated the statement that her husband had commenced working as a travelling medicine man in England more than 50 years ago, when 19 years of age. Later he had been induced to join a company, and from that time had practised as Sequah. Whether the other principals in the company travelled abroad as Sequah she could not say, but she admitted that the company operated several wagons in various parts of the world 1 from which healers gave demonstrations and treatments as Sequah. In most instances, however, the demonstrators were employees of the Sequah Company and had no claim to the name of Sequah. On leaving the company’s employ after it had ceased to exist, Mr Rowley continued to practise and retained the name. As recently as five years ago he practised in New Zealand as Sequah. Mr Rowley had known Mr Rowe, who had set up in a small chemist and herbalist’s business at Southampton after ceasing his work for the company, of which she believed he was merely an employee. Mr Rowley and Mr Rowe appear to have been friendly, since her husband always visited the older man whenever he was in Southampton. Mr Rowe was not the first reputed Sequah to die, since another man who died a pauper in South Africa during the war was claimed to have been Sequah. The announcement of his death in the newspapers as Sequah was followed by a libel action, the result of which is not known. Mr Rowley was frequently mistaken in the colonies in later years for the son of the man,who had previously toured as Sequah, but he had in his possession photographs covering the whole period of his life, and with these he was usually able to convince doubters. Although about 60 years of age when he made his later tours, Mr Rowley retained the vigour and looks of a younger man. It is believed that he first visited New Zealand about 35 years ago and subsequently about 1922 and 1929. Few people can remember the first tour, but the description of Mr Rowley’s public work coincides with that of his later appearances -when the allegedly painless extraction of teeth was a feature, together with demonstration treatments on local crippled persons accustomed to walk with sticks or crutches. After a vigorous treatment behind the screens these persons would leave the chariot or carriage without assistance, apparently cured. Mr Rowley appears to have shared with the other claimants the capacity for dying in poor circumstances, for, despite the fact that at various stages of his life he was affluent, he was forced to live modestly during his residence in Balfour. Mrs Rowley possesses many photographs of her husband, but in view of the fact that the existence of Mr Rowe and his connection with the company is not denied, comparison is not necessary.