Have you ever heard of Argus Copeland?
Probably not, but for a time between the two world wars, Argus the Prophet, as he was known, was famous throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Argus The Prophet
It all began at a military camp in Seymour, Victoria, at the end of the First World War, where 5-year old Argus astounded and mystified the returned soldiers with his remarkable psychic gifts. He soon became known as the the 'Boy with a Thousand Eyes' around the army camp.
With his fame quickly spreading beyond the confines of the millitary camp, he soon found himself touring Australia and New Zealand, playing to packed theatres where he would hold his audiences completely spellbound.
The 'Boy with a Thousand Eyes', would become known simply as 'Argus the Prophet'.
On 7 March 1922, Adelaide’s Advertiser reported on the remarkable powers of the young boy wonder.
“Argus, a bright, brown-eyed boy, not yet 11 years of age, has appeared before and mystified thousands of persons by his remarkable gift and thought-reading. He made his first appearance when only 5 years of age at the Seymour military camp, where he entertained 25,000, who were so amazed that they called him “The Boy with a Thousand Eyes”.
An intricate mathematical problem solved
“With his father, Sergeant C.O Copeland, Argus toured New Zealand for 2 years; during which time his mysterious powers were put to a severe test. Dunedin University students challenged him with an intricate mathematical problem, and Argus calmly gave the correct answer, which was well in the billions.”
The Advocate, on 21 September 1922, announced that Majestic Pictures had “secured at a considerable expense” Argus the Prophet, who had just concluded a season at His Majesty’s Theatre, Hobart where “crowds flocked daily to see this phenomenon”.
The article related the following demonstration of the boy's psychic abilities: “A lady who had lost a sum of money was told that one of her household had placed it under the mattress of her bed. This morning she rang up the Theatre to inform the management that, on her return home, she had searched and found the missing money in the very place deigned by the boy.”
Rare occult powers of telepathy and clairvoyance
“The boy seated himself in a chair on the platform, and after being blindfolded, his manager went amongst the audience inviting all sorts of questions from all and sundry. The questions were in the majority of cases answered quickly and accurately by the lad. Sceptics were convinced that Argus, who is only 12 years of age, possesses some rare occult powers of telepathy and clairvoyance.
"Articles which were produced were accurately described, and the thoughts of members of the audience were revealed in an amazing manner.
“In one case a returned soldier was told that he was wearing a gold ring which he obtained in Belgium, the truth of which was admitted by the owner of the ring. Even the future was divined, and, according to the statement of the manager, the lad is generally, though not always, correct in prophecy.
"The audience were quite prepared to believe the statement that this wonderful lad had baffled police, scientists and doctors. It is the intention to take him on a world tour, where his occult powers will be submitted to various scientific tests.”
Radio-telepathy test
In December 1927, Argus the Prophet submitted to a “radio-telepathy test”.
On 3 December, The Singleton Argus reported on the remarkable live event.
“A radio-telepathy test, which astounded live members of the Legislative Assembly [Lower House of NSW Parliament] and thousands of members of the public, took place on Wednesday night between [radio] station 2BL and Hoyt’s Theatre, George Street [Sydney], where Argus the Prophet waited to receive impressions.
“A strong committee was formed at 2BL to concentrate on certain questions and objects. At Hoyt’s Theatre, on the stage, Argus faced a microphone, and described those objects, and answered the questions with astounding swiftness and accuracy. Argus was watched by a committee selected at random."
… and an accurate prediction
As those in the 2BL studio picked up objects Argus the Prophet described them. As they wrote personal matters on paper Argus accurately replied to them also.
Questions relating to the Sydney Harbour Bridge were also answered.
Argus predicted that it would take 5 more years for the Sydney landmark to be completed.
He was correct: The Sydney Harbour Bridge was completed in 1932 with the last stone of the north-west pylon set in place on 15 January 1932, and the first train crossing the bridge on 19 January.
The formal opening occurred on 19 March 1932.
Another prophecy, this time in 1931, would also come to pass in the most extraordinary of circumstances.
Prophesising tumultuous political events
The Horsham Times on 6 October 1931 reported that:
“The youthful prophet who performed at Horsham for 3 nights … gave his version or prophetic utterance about the depression.
“He predicted that there would be an early election next year and the new Prime Minister would be Mr J. A. Lyons, other members of the government going over to the latter.
"This change would prove of benefit, for in about two year’s time there would be a new Australia as the result.”
Again, Argus the Prophet’s predictions proved correct with Lyons, who had quit the Labor Party in March, led a group of defectors to the opposition benches. Forming a new political party, Lyons became Prime Minister in January of 1932 following a series of extraordinary political events that resulted in an early election at the end of 1931.
This was something even the most experienced and well-connected political commentator did not see coming in October of 1931.
Read the full article on Argus the Prophet: The Boy with a Thousand Eyes here.
For more articles on weirdness Down Under, check out my website weirdaustralia.com
Images sourced from Trove database.