EXTRAORDINARY MANIFESTATIONS.

Southland Times, Issue 85, 23 December 1864, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY MANIFESTATIONS.

We extract the following curious narrative from the Morning Post : — On the evening of September 29, in the front drawing-room- of a house in the immediate neighborhood of Portland-place, a select number of persons were invited to witness some strange ' manifestations which took place hi the presence, if not by the agency,- of three gentlemen lately arrived from America, and who have passed in their own country as spiritualists of the most gifted order. The party consists of two brothers, named Davenport, 2-1 and 25 years of age, and a Mr. Fay, accompanied by Mr. JL D. Palmer, and a Dr. Ferguson, who explains the nature of the manifestations. The party invited to witness the manifestations consisted of some 12 or 1 1 individual's, ' all ' of whom are admitted to be of considerable distinction iv the various professions in ■wiiich they are connected. The majority had/never- previously witnessed anything of the kind ; and all were determined, to 'detect, and, if , possible, expose any attempt at. deception. ;.. „ At the iipjaer. end of the apartment was placed what hught he called ly skeleton wardrobe, composed bf waluut : \vood less, than an inch in thickness.. : The portion in which the .drawers of a similar piece of furniture are usually, to. be found was empty, but a seat or bench, perforated here and there with holes, was fitted to the back and ends'. -The doors consist of three; panels,, wliich shut inside with a brass bolt; .thus, when the middle dooi'isopen, any' person' caiip ut his hand hi aiid'.bolt the side doo^s. ' Tlie bolt of the middle dpbivwas shut by. some invisible agency from the inside. The Brothers Davenport having seated themselves oiv-d ois on the end bench, their hands and feet wore securely tied by those present, so as to prevent the possibility of their using those members. A guitar, a tambourine, a violin and bow, a brass horn, and a couple of bells wore placed ou the seat inside, and the doors wore .shut; At the top of the panel of the centre door was a diamond-shaped opening about a foot square, with a curtain secured on the inside. Instantly on the centre door being closed the bolt was secured on the inside, and hands were clearly observed through the opening. A gentleman present was inwtcd to pass, liis hand through the opening, aud ie was touched by the hands scicral times. The musical instruments and the bells then commenced making all sorts of noises and knockings, snatches of airs were distinctly heard, and suddenly the centre door was burst open, and the trumpet was thrown out into the room, and fell heavily upon tho carpet. The doors were subsequently closed by persons, who, when doing so, wore touched by invisible hands, and tho noise of undoing the cords was distinctly heard. ,A moment or two afterwards the brothers were found sitting unbound, with the ropes at their feet. The next illustration was more curious still, for after an interval of perhaps two minutes, the brothers wore found to be securely bound with the same cords, the ' ends* of tlio ropes being so mo "distance from, their hands. One of tlie company present was then invited to lake a seat in the cabinet, so as to assure himself that whatever might be done could not be accomplished by the brothers. A gentleman having volunteered to bo imprisoned in such mysterious compauy, his hands were .securely tied to tho knees of the Davenport.', whose hands wore fastened behind their uacJta'by cords /passed through the hotis

in the bench. . Their feet' were also tied together witli a. sailor's laiot.' A 'A^tambburme; vvas then' laid in thcgeutlemau'sjlp-hj npon>.which;a guitar ; and violin was placed, as also .the trumpet and .a couple of handbells. , Any interference with thos.e.. ■■■ articles by the gentleman in : whose lap they weredeposited was rendered impossible', by reason of (lis hands being tied. He states that the instant , the cloor was-closcd hahcls ; , Avcre .passJl-'Jovcuhis/l ' face and head, his hair, was gently pulled, and the j whole of the musical instruments were played upon ; rthe: bells wcl 'e also . violently.; rung, ptose to., liis; face and tlie tambourine beat time on his Ilea:!, iflventualiy, the musical instruments were flung behind him aud rested between his shoulders and' fche'back of tlie .'cabinet.' During the^manifestations one of the gas-burners of tlio chandelier was lighted and two wax candles were burning in ; different parts' 'of; the room. AA.yr" ; Several other manifestations having taken place in connection with the, ,. cabinet, Dr. Ferguson explained, that /it .would be desirabla that thecomyjanv shoukV clasp*: hands -and that-'the lightsshould be altogether .extinguished. ,Ay small ■writing' table hid" been previously placed in the centre of;tlvj -room, 7yith a, chair at- either side." The musical iiistriiihehts, -"bells, &c, were placed oh the table. The' Brothers 'Davenport were then manacled by the hands -land feet, and securely bound to -tlie chairs. 'by - ropes. 7 A chahy of pom-,, .miimc'atio'h *' "(th-mgh" not -a," circular- one) -was formed, and the instant -the lights were extinguishedthe musical instruments, appeared to, be, carried all about ,' the room..'. The- current of air . wliicli they ; occasioneU:ih tlieir- rapid transit wasfelt iipon the faces .of all present. .The bells wt?re loudly rung ; the Irumpet made knocks on the floor; and the tambourine appeared running round tile room;* 'jingling- with- all -its -' might. A Afc. the same time, tiny sparks nvere- observed as if passing from sou th to west." Several persons exclaimed that they were t6uched"by ; tlie instruments, which on one occasion becaines67lemo t nstrati ye that one gentleman/received a knock on the nasal orgap, which broke the skin.. and '. /caused 7a .few, drops of. ■ blbod'to/uo.w. /': .A ;-';''.-' 77/ / - ?■ -/7 7- ■ /A A ] ' Th; se ma'n:fjstations having been repeated two or three times with nearly similar results, the Brothers, Davenport joined, the chain of communication,' and;' Mr.7Fay -was bound in tlie , chair.; : His hands were bound--' tightly behind' his back ' auci his feet were firmly secured, as In the cabinet, A gentleman; present was then asked to desire him to take off his coat the 'instant the light was .extinguished/ This was done— a whizzing noise was heard ;" It's off," exclaimed Mr. Eay ;- the candle was" lighted and the coat was found lying in the middle of the room/ Astonishing although ;this. appeared to be, what folio wed was more extraordinary stilL Dr. Ferguson requested a;gehtle'man 'present to take off his coat and place it on the . table. This was done, the- hght was extinguished j— a repetition of the whizzing noise Was heard and the, strange coat was found upon.Mr.sFay, wiiose hands and feet -were still ; securely bound, and his body. tied almost immovably to the chair. - : A geii : tlemih present then inquired' whether,- if lie were :to place two finger rings on the table, they €ould be transferred td; -the liandsof7Mr.;:Fay/n Dr. : Ferguson said he .could not; imdertake that this 'featNypuld be,> accomplished, but, that; an essay would be made. The rings were deposited on the table,. the caudle, extinguished, and/Mr. Fay im-mcdiat-ly exclaimed; " f hcy.are^'oii my ; finger -',- " ; and surely enough there they were. 7 The owner of the rings then, expressed,- a s wish, that they , might be restored to his lingers.' As soon as the : room- was darkened the musical instruments commenced their mysterious concert, and,; .-after an interval of about 30 seconds, a gentleman (not' the ' owner) exclaimedthat the rings had been placed on his fingers. - This was found to be the ease. A lady next expressed a desire that a gold watch which she held-iniicr hand might bo convoyed to some distant. .por.tioih.of:, the room.. •;, Immediately • afterwards the' concert was 'resumed ; the bells, tambourine, and horn became excited,. , and the -lady exclaimed that the watch was gone. 'On the candle being 'iightol- it was found on, the carpet ; at the feet of Dr. Ferguson. One of the bells was also found in the lap of a gentleman sitting near him. . ! Some./ doubt .having, . been., expressed .as to whether it was possible for the Brothers -Da veil ' port to haye -moved chair and all in the darkness, •■ so as to elevate the musical' mstrumeTits in the air, and make them play, another illustration was i volunteered by Isr. Ferguson. Mr. Fay took his l place among ttie 'visitors, holding a hand of eaoh s as before.' A gentleman present; then sat down . between the Messrs.; Davenport, 7 and- placed. his hand upon the head of each,, .'while he . rested either foot upon* the feet '. of the/ Davenports,- --; which- were placed close -together iv a parallel s direction to each other; The Davenports then > clasped tho arms of the gentleman, anil hy this position it woidd have been absolutely impossible for one of the group to have moved Without/disturbing the others. -This having poss been arranged to the 'satisfaction' of all present, the light wa3 o cxtinguishcd, and thb/guihir was again heard as if moving in the' air, close to the faces of till present. Mr. Fay, as before stated, was seated in a row clasping hands with the persons /.right and ' left of him,- while Dr. ■ -Ferguson; /was similarly - place in another portion of the room J I With this last-named illustration the seance ' terminated. .It had lasted rather more than two ! hours, dining wliich time the cabinet was minutely inspected, the coats examinee- to whether; ; 'they Were fashioned so as to favor a trick, and ' every possible precaution-taken to bind the hands ' and feet of the persons whose presence appeared.: ' "to be essential to the development of the m'ani-J \ testations. ' * " / A similar narrative appeared in the Times ne\jsy ; paper, professing to be communicated,' by £" 'Cor- ■ ' respondent," but written,. as appears from a statement in tlio Mormiig-APosly hy "tlie accredited; ■ represent ativo of tlie dramatic department .of tlie Times." He was the gentleman who; is described; ! as having" received a demonstrative kiiock'^on the; : nasal organ. , The publication -of the account ■< of those mar-/ [ vellous " manifestations "has, as ihight be exI pected, revived the: old .controversy in the news- > papers. The professiouar magicians asserted that •I" it was all-trickery . and humbug. , M. Tolmaque,^ A 'who ? signs hiniself '"' Prestidigitateur," and who A tells ivs°that he lias performed at. Cromoriie. and in l ; Fraiice, Germany,* and Spain all the tricks per-' - formed by the Davenports, offered, to let himself I %e :bbundVhandand : foot7'aMin full hght, with I only a linen extinguisher over, him, to show > ; hands, 'make h'bis'es on ; different 'instruments,, f change coats, &c. Mr. Anderson, the Wizard of / the North, said that the whole affair is ■ nothing ■ more than mere clever juggling, and that his son i was now exhibiting the same feats in America, by . natural agency only. Iv consequence of these L assertions, tho Brothers Davenport gave another , seunee to wiiich they invited, or challenged the > conjurors. The seance took place on Oct. *11, at ', tho .hoiibO of- Mr. Dion Boucicault. The conjurors, however, did not appear, and the manifestations took place in the. presence of a company > of gentlemen, especially invited to witness them, including Lord Bury, Sir Charles Nicholson, Sir John Gku-diner, Sir C. Lennox Wyke, Rev. E. H. , Newenham, Rev. W. Ellis, Captain. E. A. IngleL "field, Messrs. Charles Readc, James -Matthews, ; Algernon Borthwick, J". W. Ka-yc, J. A. Bostoek, . MD„ Robert Bell, W. Tyler Smith, M.D., , Robert Chalmers, and others. L Tlie room was a largo drawing-room, cleared of L all furniture except ehah-s and a small table.- Six s of the party arrived at two o'clock, and carefully - examinud the apartmeut, removing tlie cabinet of ' the Brothers Ihivenport from the adjoining room, AVhurc thov had placed it, to a different louation ! in the .drawing-room. -Musical instruments and • "ropes were provided from neighboring shops, so that they should not.be tho same-, used ordinarily \ by the Davenports ; and when . the brothers arl rived their porsoiis were searched, as a precaution ' against apparatus or any other similar contrivance \ Every kind of scrutiny that appeared ncccsaafy to -, guard against confederacy or trickery having boon . exhausted, t lie seance began. Tho Brothers Davenport ontcred tho cabinet, I and sat facing each other, Captain Ingloficld then with tho new rope which had been provided, tiad , Mr. W Davenport hand and foot, with Ins hands behind his back, and then bound him firmly to '. tho scat whore li? sal. L^rd Bury in like manner-

secured--Mi*. L Davenport. / -The knots biifcbesiJhgaitures'werC then fastened, /with soahhg-wax; and ; ; a spil wag affixed.- A guitar, violin, tambolirine, two bells, and a brass triimpet7wer3 p^aced7pn; the floor of the cabinet. The doors and a sufficient hght. was: permitte;d.:incKthe7rbbm to enable the company. to:/seewKat followed. We_may omit any; detailed acebunt of the Babel of .sounds which ar 03 3 in tie cabi-iet, and the violence with which -the 'rdb'brs were repeatedly bur s'fc open, and the instruments ..exp^lljd;, the hands appearing as, usual, at a lozerigirshaped, orifice in/ the" centre door of the cabinet. Bat the following incidents- seomed to '-us particularly worthy of note A- — While Lord Bury was stojp'nj insi/la the cabinet, -the dopr . being open,' and -the 'two Davenports seen to bs sealed and . bound, a detached hand was clearly observed t-0 descend upon him; and he started back, remarking. that a iianl had ' struck him. Again, in the" full light of the gas / chandelier, and during an interval in 'the seance,] the doors of the cabinet being open, and while ; the ligatiiresbf the Brothers Davenport were being examined, a very white, thin female hand and wrist quivered for a ft w seconds in the air above. "-' This appearance drew a general exclamation from all tlie party. 'Sir Charles Wyke. now entered the cabinet, and sat between_the two young men— his hands being .bound right and left on each, and secured tothem/ The ' doors were then closed, and the Babel. of sounds recommenced; , Several hands appeared at the orifice— among" them the,, hands 'of'" a child. After a short. "space," Sir 7 --' Charles Icame/otit of-. the cabinet,, and stated that while he held the two brothers 'several; /hands touched his face and pulled his hair;'* the. /Instrument at his feet played/round his .body and over his head— one of them, lodging eventually on liis shoulder. During the foregoing incidents the .hands which appeared were touched and grasped by Captain Inglefiekl, and he stated that' to the/touch, they were apparently "human hands, _ though they pas3edaway from his grasp. Other phenomena occurreoVbut as they did not differ materially 'from : what have been described above, -we need not enter into them. \ The next -part of the, seance took place in the dark, when, as on former occasions, Mr. Fay's,, coat 'wa*- wiiis ked off his back, and the coat of one of; the? gentleineil present whisked on him, his--wrists being tightly manacled all the time: Other phenomena occurred similar to those previously described.-, : ■;.-'--• ,^ :•;; ; -At the termination of this seanca a general conversation took place on the subjebtof what had been heard and witnessed. - - Lord . B my suggested that the general opinion seemed to be that the ■Brothers Davenport arid Mr. VV. Fay should be assured that, after a very stringent trial and strict scrutiny of their proceedings, the-. gentlemen pre--;sent could arrive at ho other conclusion than that 'there was no trace of /trickery, in any form— and ; certainly ' there were neither confederates nor machinery— and. that all those who had witnessed the -results would •; 'freely •■■ state hi the society in 'which. they moved, that, so far as their investigations enabled/them to form an opinion, the phenomena which' had taken- place in their presence were not the product oflegerdemaih. This suggestion was promptly acceded to by all pre- ; sent. Notwithstanding this agreement of opinion concerning the matter,' a controversy on the subject rages . in --, the newspapers. //It is very likely that these strange " manifestations " /..wi1l be shortly tested by. a committee of ihve -tigation.