The Divine Healer Who Buried Himself Alive: A Seattle Cult Leader’s Resurrection Claim
Rev. O. M. Schlatte, known as 'Schlatte the Divine Healer,' claims to have risen from a 40-day burial in the desert after fasting and praying for God's guidance. Now back in town, he asserts his authority over the famous 'Healer' of Kansas and prepares to resume his ministry.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
SCHLATTE THE DIVINE HEALER According to His Own Story.
SEATTLE, April 28.—Schlatte, the "divine healer," is in this city. He has come out to make the Pacific Coast tour and will not remain long here.
Schlatte is not the "healer" by his real name, as he is known by that appellation. He is the Rev. O. M. Schlatte, of Leavenworth, Kansas, and is the German for "shatterer," and the name was given him by the Germans of Leavenworth.
He tells with description of the famous "healer" who went into the western desert in 1895 after several failures to continue his wonderful cures.
From the day when Schlatte sunk from sight to bury himself for 40 days, and did not dispel his death, he required it. The bones of those opposed to Schlatte rested on a grave of dirt, but he will tell that "I am called of God." The body was put in the earth. He says, "I am by God to save men in the earth. Join me waiting for the path for the farm, great and the way unto dying for the benefit of mankind."
Schlatte objected certain restrictions as to his desire to bury himself for 40 days in this earth with the persons. At the last health, his ways were watched by some men in authority and members of the press and others so as not to join him. He did not explain how deep he shall be buried, but it is acceptable him. His course is in convincing the unbelief that he is chosen minister of God all time.
He took the claim that by his grace God saved a brother once gave him vision while in the sight of the world were changed for business of authority and that does not without hope. It subjoined he was called upon in an intimate personal friend of Mrs. Epling.
"I was implored by this woman," he told reporters, "to save Mr. Epling if it were my task to ask her to know that Epling saved him by hand from death. His hand in truth that saved him."
"This knowledge," he said, "I cannot reveal for the public. Up to a few times let powers God say it to any extent. You know of my cure in London and the great that visited me. One day I found my power gone—sick and make it blind as and the time must have been lost. I had failed in one day. I believed I had offended God in some way so I said to myself, 'I will do penance.' I went into the desert to bury it in the fast for 40 days and when I lay buried for a hour I commenced my work in him I did and him I but I had lost him. Up to this was not an act, but that he decreed I should rest. You shall look again and continue your work,' he said."
OAKDALE NEARLY DRY. OAKDALE, Wash., April 18.—It takes but three open saloons now, but this is only one. The failing saloon, conducted by the late Charles Epling, whose death has been mentioned, is closed and will remain so until an administrator is appointed and authority to open the saloon shall be given from the court. This is expected to occur this week.
In an era before modern mental health diagnostics, charismatic figures like Schlatte could easily congregate followers by claiming divine intervention for physical ailments. Today, we see similar dynamics in the 'spiritual bypassing' of medical science or the rise of unregulated wellness influencers who promise miraculous cures through faith alone, often preying on the vulnerable.
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