Otto Edler von Graeve

In 1914, as part of an interview and demonstration given to The Sun in New York von Graeve explained dowsing as follows:

"So far as it can be determined now I am susceptible to radioactivity to the alpha, beta and gamma rays discovered by Herz [sic]... Our present guess is that there is a continuous current of these alpha, beta, gamma and other rays—radioactive waves—flowing up from underground. Where there is water, oil, gold, silver, or other mineral under the earth’s surface the flow up of the radioactive waves is disturbed. Either it is stopped entirely, or the waves are swung out of their course. That is because water, oil and the minerals are nonconductors of these waves."^[1]

He demonstrated his dowsing by detecting a gold 10-mark coin which he placed first on the carpet and then on a chair. He used a bent iron rod and when he approached the coin the "rod whipped over and struck his safety belt a hard thump."^[1] When a visitor attempted the same feat nothing happened. When the visitor held one end of the rod and von Graeve the other the rod bent towards the coin but not as violently as before.^[1]

The motion of such dowsing devices is generally attributed to the ideomotor phenomenon, a psychological response where a subject makes motions unconsciously. The scientific evidence is that dowsing is no more effective than random chance and it therefore regarded as a pseudoscience.

Von Graeve also detected the presence of what he believed to be water pipes within the second floor of the building in which the interview took place. Whether there was anything there or whether the pipes were electrical conduit was not confirmed.^[1]

During the interview von Graeve also claimed to have done 402 dowsings with a 93.12% success rate.^[1]

• Bestätigungen über erfolgreiche Schürfungen vermittelst der Wünschelrute des Rutengängers [Confirmations of successful prospecting are given by the dowser's dowsing rod] (1911)
• Graeve, Otto Edler von (1911). Die Wünschelrute und ihre Anwendung in der Praxis [The dowsing rod and its application in practice] (in German).
• Meine Wünschelrutentätigkeit. Beobachtungen in Theorie und Praxis nebst einem Anhang: Anerkennungen, Protokoll sämtlicher Schürfungen bis 31. December 1912 und Statistik [My dowsing activity: Observations in theory and practice along with an appendix acknowledgments, minutes of all excavations to December 31, 1912 and statistics] (in German). 1913.
• Hildesheim (1914)
• Behörden und Wünschelrute [Authorities and dowsing] (1921)
• Auszug aus den Erfolgen meiner Wünschelrutentätigkeit von 1910 bis 1928 [Excerpt from the successes of my dowsing activity from 1910 to 1928] Padelt, Gernrode (1928)
• Graeve, Otto Edler von (1939). Referenzen über Wunschelrutenerfolge: Mit Berücksichtigung grosser Wassergiebigkeit für Gemeinden... [Sammlung von Sonderdrucken, Briefkopien etc.] [References about successes in divining rods: With consideration of large water yield for communities... [Collection of offprints, letter copies etc.].] (in German).