New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-17
GRIMES ON KNoCKINGS -. No. III

hmm According 10 these statements " would seem
to be impossible for any man of common sense to
give the matter fair investigation without being
convinced.
A few months ago happened to be in Auburn
and made the acquaintance OF these gentlemen, and
among many other courtesies for which have to
thank them, enjoyed the privilege OF being pres
ent with small and select party TO witness the
bibition of the knockngs. / asked number Of
questions and tested the spirits IN the manner in
which was directed but did not receive a single
correct answer, and was fully convinced that the
knockipgs were made sometimes by one OF the la
dies and at others by one of the gentlemen present
whose characters ought to have been sufficient
guarantee against such a miserable artiice Hun
dreds of intelligent persons in Auburn were, how
ever. converted by the same kind OF evidence which
seemed to me to be utterly worthless.
A few DAYS ago went TO Barnum's Hotel to see
the exhibition there Of the Knocking Spirits. Mr.
Charles Heartnell of Worcester, Mass. went with
me. and in his presence, before entered the room,
wrote down several test questions for the Spirits
TO answer | did not go to satisfy myself for after
the experience which | have already related,
could have no doubts on the subject, but went al
the reouest of others who seemed to believe that
should be COMPOUNDED by the communications and
revelations which the Spirits would make. =,
A gentleman stood at the door and received dof
Ter for admission. A paper was pos'eu y" VIZ NV
containing the following
prLEs ORDER
All per.ous present ct Interviews are expected to
oo as1,, "a Of TeIisdoas solemnity and lmporiaeoe
Seogd-NO controversies WIN reference tp.he Hutn OF
i,v Of The communications should be entered into dunng
their cor tipusnce.
TbSS@Ai persons should follow without delay or dis
ssn ali directions given win reference 10 conduct POI
on &c as compliance with directions generally insu es
sst,fsclory Manifestations while neglect refusal gener
slly results IN their partial or complete cessation
fouyth-W any individual indicated by the spds Is
in communication with them no other peso should later
fere this often occasions disconlnuance OF the commun
Fifn-Tbe ladies' in whose presence the Manifestations
are made will use their beat exerons satisfy ali nq1r
les, but since The Manifestations alike In their commence
meu character and duration are ABOVE etr persondi con-
troll they car not promise that all persons all inquiries will
obtain answers Manifestations beng made except as Tue
SPIRITS " ILL.
Il will be perceived that the Rules are such as
are calculated TO prevent that rigid scrutiny which
the subject evidently requires especially so far as
relates to detecting the manner in which the noises
are produced.
About dozen persons were present. When l
entered, several gentlemen were engaged in con-
versaton concerning the nature of Spirits and their
communications. One, who seemed to speak by
authority, informed the company with much gravity
that the sounds did not proceed from the external
surface of the table or door, whatever was rap
ped but that they issued from the woody hbers in
the middle, and proceeded both ways, like an cleo
trc explosion. This explanation, of course, entire
ly excluded the idea that the noises produced
by any external mechanical Continuance such as
rapping; and, OF course, the conclusion was that
Spirit must enter the board and ensconce itself
among the fbers, half way between the upper and
under surfaces and when called upon to manifest
ITSELF it exerted its power equally and impartiay
in all directions.
Another gentleman stated that he had been in
three times before had paid bis dollar each time
and wes perfectyssatislied for he had received inn
portant Communications from the spirit world
The formation Of his head indicated that it was
well adapted for the habtation Of superstitous
ideas ard be was evidently in a state Of mind to
swallow anything supernatural and marvellous
however absurd it might be. A large good-natured
looking man very quietly said that he had been in
a number Of times, and he did not mind the money
but for some reason other, the Spirits had re-
fused TO hold any converse with him. He bad
large intellectual and skeptical head, and a care.
ful observer could read 10 his face an expression
of suppressed sarcasm, which would sufficiently &C
count for the neglect with which the Spirits had
treated him.
About o'clock the ladies' entered One was an
old lady, who seemed to have nothing to do with
the performances and merely acted the part of a
lCokeroB. There were two girls, IA to l6 years
old. There was nothing in their appearance to dis
tnguish them from ordinary country girls and
their phrenoorganization indicated very tit.le OF
the ability to take leading part in snch a per.
ormance. The fourth lady, whose name under.
stood to be Mrs. Fish, appeared to be about 25,
with q masculine aud energetic temperament
and an Organization of brain indicating courage,
cunning, skeptcism, and a ready practical skill,
with deficiency of Ideally, aud OF those peculiar
developments which are commonly supposed b IN
- r1tk
quested the company 70 sit around and near 10 a
large table, the three ladies themselves being seat
ed upon sofa, their irocks being in contact with
the legs OF the table. One gentleman very ungal.
antly suggested that the ladies ought 10 sit away
from the table but the ladies' declared that it was
impossible for them to rap the table in their present
position now, although 1t was evident that the ar.
rangements were favorable to deception | pro.
posed to the company to let the performance 20 on
for the present withoutfurther objection
rapping sound was now heard under the sofa,
as If some one was under the sofa rapping against
the bottom OF it. Next there was a rapping OF the
table, which appeared to me to be produced by rap.
ping against the legs of the table, though some
seemed 10 think that they heard it in one part of
the table and some another. Then there was ran.
ping on the floor bat this rappng was plainly
made upon that part Of the ioor which was covered
by the ladies' dresses
l sat near one Of the Younger girls and when she
made the raps could feel the floor vibrate dstinct
ly, but when the raps were made by either of the
other ladies' could not feel the vibration. There
was also slight but clearly perceptible difference
in the sounds made by the different ladies' indicat
ing that they proceeded from apparatuses which
differed in some degree in size or material Sitting
as did near one end Of the sofa, could plainly
perceive three different degrees of distance
One gentleman expressed doubt whether the
sound could be made if the ladies' stood upon the
floor at distance from the table and sofa Before
left the room this was tried, and the raps were
made upon the floor but the sound proceeded from
that part Of the floor only which was within the
charmed circle Of the ladies' frocks, and could ca.
silly perceive that the three ladies' each raped ia
turn and when requested to ask the Spirit now to
rap the table and sofa as when we were near them.
they declined, and think the lady stated tina. the
Spirits did not generally rap upon any object unless