Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-06-29

and other distinguished men,!
| The most interesting and reliable account of
the mysterious knockings, which have amazed
so many thousands who have visited the Ro-
chester spirits, We extract from an article in the
| New York Tribune of the 9Th, the latest date
| received.
party OF gentlemen were invited to the
| chambers of the Rev. DR.. Griswold, in Broad
| way, to meet the Rochester ladies'. The party
| had been arranged, says the Tribune, by Dr.
| Griswold, who had been incredulous from the
first with regard to any preternatural character
of the strange manifestations, with view to
examine the actual facts Of the case, and to OBJ
tain sufficient materials for the formation of
correct Judgment Among the guests were J.
Fenimore Cooper, George Bancroft, Rev. Dr..
Hawks, D.. J. w. Francis, Mr.. Marcy, N. P.
Willis, Mr.. Bryant Dir. Bigelow of the Evening
Post, Richard B. Kimball, H. T. Tuckerman
and Gen. Lyman. In order to prevent any sus-
picions as to the arrangement Of the room, fur
niture, closets, ETC., the reunion was appointed
at the house of DR.. Griswold, which neither of
the ladies had ever entered before the party
was assembled. A little past 8 o'clock they
made their appearance-A1rs. Fox, an elderly
lady, the mother of the "ghost-seers," (Which
word we use for want of better, Mrs. Fish,
a married daughter, and her two young sisters,
with couple of gentlemen from Rochester,
After silence of half an hour, indistiact knock
ngs were heard, which assumed a more palpa-
BILE form, and the following revelations were
made, as stated in the Tribune:
1t was said that replies would be given to
any questions proposed by DR.. Marcy. He in-
quired whether the spirit which he wished to
converse with was relation-was a child
and what was its age at the time of its death!
We understood DR.. Marcy to say that the an
swers were correct, but nothing worthy of spe-
cial notice was elected. - =
Henry T. Tuckerman, the poet, was the next
to PROFOUND inquiries, which, contrary to tho
usual custom, he expressed audbly, so as to be
heard by the ladies' and the whole company
Having fixed in his mind the name of an indi-
vidual, he asked-aDd he live in New York;"
No answer. In Baltimore? in Cambridge! in
Boston?" Three distinct raps, which is the sign
Of an affirmative answer. A negative reply is
indicated by silence. Mr.. T. contnued--.Was
ne lawyer! a merchant? physician? a cler-
gyman!" Knocks. "Was he an Episcopalian?
Presbyterian? Unitarian" going over the
names Of the principal sects. No answer AT
the suggestion of a gentleman, Mr.. 7. asked
"Was he a christian?" Knocks Mr. T. then
asked the age of the person in series of tens
aWas he twenty years old at the time of his
death? Was he thirty! fifty! sixty!" Knocks. |
"Has he lefta family!" Knocks. sChildren?"
Knocks. Give? threes two!" Knocks "Did |
he die in Bostons in Philadelphia! in Albany! |
in Northampton! in Bennngton!" Knocks.
"Did he die Of consumption? of fever? of cho- I
lera? of old ages" Knocks. ~
The person in Mr.. Tuckerman's mind was the /
late Rev DR.. Charming, of Boston, who died in
Remington, Vermont, while on journey
The degree of correctness in the answers may
be judged by the reader. It may be stated,
however, that for the last years-of his life DR..
c. disclaimed The use of all sectarian names,
preferring to be called only Christian, and tho
under seventy, his physical powers had long
suffered from premature exhaustion.
Rev. DR.. Hawks was then urgently solicited
BY several of the. parties to propose inquiries,
TO which, after some hesitation, he reluctantly
consented He did not meet with any great
success. The sounds uttered were faint, almost
naudibe at several times, and in the great ma
ority ofcases indicated an incorrec, reply Dr.
Hawks pursued his inquiries with exemplary
patience, but, after several more Intellectual at
empts, he resigned the floor to Dr. John w.
Francis, who was welcomed with general roll
IT knockings from the mysterious agents, SEEM
ng to claim the privilege of old and intimate
With his proyerbal urbanity,
eating himself as if at the bed side of patient,
)r. F. asked, in terms of the most insinuating
''andness. whether the spirits present would
onverse with any member of the company
Would they vouchsafe to speak to his illustr-
us friend, the world-renowned author, Mr..
cooper! Would they converse with the great !
American poet, Mr. Bryant! To these f1atter- ,
ng invitations. no reply was given. Would
hey speak to so humble an individual as him. ]
elf? Loud knocks. Dr.. F. then asked, fixing
n a person-Was he an Aperican! was he an I
;nglishman? was he Scotchman? The knocks
'ere loud and unanimous. Was he mer- !
hant? was he = lawyer! was he an author!-
oud knocks. Was ne a poeta Yes, in dis
net knocks. VIII you tell his name! Here
le spirit called for the phabet, by sounds in- !
Eligible to the ghost-seers. The answers by !
lis me hod are given in knocks at the letter de-
red when the alphabet IS repeated by one of
le ladies'. Il then spelled out B-u-r-when !
'e company indiscreetly, but spontaneously,
terrupted, by crying out Robert Burns. This
as the true answer, and after the interview e
ith the favorite Scotch poet, Dr. F. declined !.
~ further communication. !.
Mr.: ]. FenimoFe Cooper was then requested 5
enter into the supra-mundane sphere, and
oceeded to in'errogate the spirits with the b
ost iinperturbabe selfpossession and delibe-I
ton. After several desultory questions, from II
hich no satisfactory answers were obtained, 4
r G. commenced new series of inquiries dl
the persoa inquire about relative! Yes, B,
rs at once Indicated by the knocks. A near al
latiyel Yes. A man! No answer A wo- .e
aa2 Yes. Asdanghtere mother! wifes I
. answer "A sisters Yes. Mr. G then ask
the number Of years since her death. To 70
d, the answer was given in rapid and indis- ii
ct raps, sdAe counting forty five, others for 81
nine, ffty-four, etc. After considerable par III
ing as tothe manner il which the question n