"A few weeks ago took place some operations with the divining
rod by Mr. Stears, of Hull, who was called to Mr. S. Campion's
farm at East Heslerton, near Malton, to search for a water supply.
At that time he marked two places near the farmhouse where, he
said, the presence of water was indicated by the rod. Since then
Mr. E. Halliday, plumber of Malton, has bored an artesian well at
one of the places indicated, and found a very copious supply of
water at a depth of 87 feet, after going through sand, clay, and a
bed of what Mr. Halliday says is quartz and lead ore. Mr.
Campion, who was previously without a supply of pure water, is
delighted with the results of the visit of the 'diviner,' and has faith
in his power with the rod. Mr. Stears has since been called in to
experiment on several farms on the Birdsall estate of Lord
Middleton, the operations being conducted in the presence of
Julia, Lady Middleton, the Hon. Geoffrey and Mrs. Dawnay, Mr.
Persons (Lord Middleton's agent), and others. Other farms were
visited, and Mr. Stears, after employing the rod, indicated the
presence of water at each. Mr. Halliday has also received
instructions to make tests at these places, and operations are now
in progress. Mr. Stears has successfully 'divined' for water on two
of Mr. Lett's farms in the East Riding, and also at Amotherby, near
Malton; and his success is drawing fresh attention to the 'divining
rod' and its capabilities in the hands of a duly 'inspired' professor.
Mr. Stears claims that he can also discover metals as well as water,
and he alleges that not one person in 10,000 can use the rod
successfully. His explanation of the power he possesses beyond
the ordinary run of his fellow-men is that it is what he would call
'animal electricity,' because at times, after using the rod for a long
period, he loses his power with it, and only recovers it after a short
rest and refreshment. In the presence of Lady Middleton and the
rest of the company he made several interesting experiments--for
instance, standing on a china dish, to show that china is a
non-conducting agent (the rod ceasing to oscillate even when over
water); finding metals hid in the ground, etc."

Mrs. Louise Cotton, writing of the operation itself, says:

"When a sensitive person who has the power of feeling the
existence of water or mineral under the surface of the earth, steps
exactly over the course of a spring or running water, or metallic
vein, etc., the