A NUT FOR SPIRITUALISTS. (New York Times.)

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 307, 2 May 1874, Page 2

A NUT FOR SPIRITUALISTS. (New York Times.)

After a lapse of twenty-four years, Rochester promises to become once more a centre of attraction to investigators of spiritual phenomena* la 1840 what is known as modern spiritualism may bo said to have had its chief start in that historic city. The Fox sisters, after having ' raised ' the spirit of a murdered pedlar from, the malarious atmosphere of a cellar at Hydesville, Arcadia township, Wayne county, New York, proceeded to Rochester, as they soserted, by spiritual advice, and opened public seances at Corinthian Hall. A committee of respectable citizens was appointed to enquire as- to the nature of certain noises which were heard by tho audience,, and a report was rendered to the •(Feet that, although a thorough enquiry had been instituted, it had been found impossible to discover the source of the noises. This was accepted by thousands of persons at the time as proof positive that the spirits of the departed might, undar favorable conditions, turn to earth and do unlimited table-turnitig, ' stamping, ' and bell-ringjng. The Foxe», having thus cunningly acquired a reputation for wonderful ' mediumthip/ wero enabled to visit tho principal cities- in tho country, and to draw a considerable amount of gold into their purses. A few years subsequently mystorioui noises were heard at a house in- tho vicinity of Rochester, but they were soon forgotten, the eorioiitj and astonishment produced by the Foxes elsewhere having proved the greater attraction. But now that the frames of these 'girls' has been so thoroughly eclipsed byothor 'mediums,' the American spiritualists may find it pic-fitable to make use of some ' manifestations' which aro said to be at present in full operation at tbo residence of Mrs Gaseoigne, in the townsl'and of Chili, within a short distanco of Corinthian Hall. Wo have it on the authority of tho Rochester Union, that Mrs Gaseoigne, with her family, consisting of herself, her ion (twelve years of age), and several smaller children, hare been driven to th« very brink of despair by the nightly occurrence of the most terrible noises during many months. j Some years «g<vit appears that tho mysterious mansion at Chili became the property of a person, tho initial of whose name has only been published by the Union. He- made i* his residence, and, for a reason which lias not been explained, took Mn Gascoigne into his lervice »» housekeeper. In this capacity sho continued down to aboub live or six. months ago-, when Mr A. dicd,.lea*insher in.posses&ion ef his effects. For a few nights- after lib demise, 'the stillness of death reigned.' Scarcely an entire woek had passed, however, when Mrs Gaicoigne's repose «*as disturbed by ' the familiar footsteps ' of tho deceased. At first, she of course thought it was fancy, and tried to compose herself to sleep, but it was no use. Sho distinctly heard the croaking of the door of tho room which had formerly been occupied' by A.* and presently she was still further alarmed by tho bed-slats, which seamed to yield to the pressure of a> human body. Then she heard what seemed- to hor like- sounds that would be produced by a* person engaged in the act of putting on tight bootst As soon as the last stamp was given to the floor a noise was made as if somebody was ascending the stairs. On tho following night the manifestations were more varied. The chairs and tables- in tho parlour wore tossed about rather freely, and ateertainintervaU ' a single whistle, of an apparently- human voice, shrill and distinct,' was heard by every person in the house-. Mrs Gatcoign* adds, that night after night a little dbg that had belonged to the deceased respond* to the whistle m tho most eager manner, but nover gives evidonce of seeing anything. To theie singular pranks, doubtless lest they should become monotonous, the ' ghost ' very often adds the more exciting one of snatching* the bed'eovering, from the almost paraljzed body of the twelve-year old Gascoigno. Four men,, neighbour* of the Gasooignes, it seems, have- repeatedly undertaken to solve tho mystery. One of the number states positively tiat a form, which in -every respect? resembled Mr A. in the flesh, on one occasion passed before him as he lay upon a lounge Ho immediately jumped up, and had juit begun to propound a number of questions, when 'the tpertre, if such it were, soon disappeared ' Mrs Gaseoigne remains in the house by the advice of counsel, for tho purpose of making good her claim to it in law. Otherwise, she declares sho would prefer to gathft-r her children around her, and take shelter in a barn. Surely faoSs hie these cannot be allowed to go uninvestigated. The depressed, spirit in the Arcadian, aeUnr, asmaterial for on ' excitement,' was as nothing compared with the whittle, elbthes-snatehings, and boot-pullings ofthis-Chili gho«t. The opportnmty alforded for a revival at Rochester of the scenes of 1849 is decidedly tempting, and we shall be very much surprihed if it is not taken advantage of. Moreover, it would be doing a kindly service to a inuch-afflioted family to leheic it of tho preaonca of one of the most trying annoyances