New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-27
Unnccounfnbie Noises and Disturbances
I'm N West India Island.

rences, of recent date at Gustavia, ST. Barthoio-
news lone Of the West India Islands, in the pos.
session Of eweden,) have direct from gentle
man now in this City, who was at the Island a
short time since, and wss q witness 70 the facts
related. As DO notice Of these occurrences has
appeared in any of the public prints that / am
aware Of / send you the following account as
being likely to prove interesting just at this time
when the subject of supernatural phenomena, in
| the shape of mysterious "knockings," &c. is ex-
citing so much discussion. The proof Of the truth
Of these facts-that is, oftkeir actual occurrence
is abundant and perfectly satisfactory; and any
perron willing to take the pains to make the neces
sary Inquiries and Investigations can obtain evil
dence Of convincing character on that head. The
matter is rot only of general notoriety through
out the Island, but there are now several Ameri'
can gentlemen in Boston and New-York, who, dur
ing tho last few months, while visiting ST. Barthol
omews, saw enough to satisfy them of the facts,
whatever theory they may have formed in regard
TO them, and who will unanimously confirm the
truth of this account.
Some six months since (which, by the by, is
about the time Of the commencement Of the koock-
ipgs at Rochester, family of the name of Sim
LLOu1, llflHS OOS WV SSiiO~ny
annoyed by disturbances taking place in their
dwelling, at various hours Of the day, as well "a
the night, some of which were Of truly frightfu
nature. They consisted principally Of the throw
ing Of stones about the house, the sudden removal
and charge Of position of articles Of furniture the
infection Of blows upon members Of the family by
unseen bands, and variety Of strange and fan.
tasiic doings, some Of which would have seemed
ludcrous, if it had not been that the utterly unac
countabe manner in which they were performed,
by suggesting the idea of diabolcal or supernatu-
raj agency of some sort gave them fearful and
terrific character.
They continued TO Increase in frequency and vio
lence until they grew absolutely insuIIerable, and
could rot be concealed, nor prevented from becom-
ing matter of public notoriety. What immedi
stely led TO this was occurrence which rests on
the sole authority Of the family. Mr.. Simmons
was ore day seized, while in one of the rooms of |
| the dwelling, and thrown with great violence upon |
| the floor, by some unseen power. he was so
| shocked and overcome, rather with horror at the
mysterious nature OF the shock than from the phys
ical injury which he received, that he Immediately
tainted. When partially recovered, one OF the fam
lily offered him q lass Of water, which, at the
very moment when it was raised to bis lips, vas
0as6ed ID pieces STONE thrown from the OPP
posite quarter OF the room without any Wis.
ible agency, but which inflicted no other
or further injury. This, OF course, If true, or
imagined 10 be true by the family, was not a
thing to be concealed, and it was extensively
noised abroad. The Simmonses were respectable,
though poor, and those who knew them, without
surprising that there was anything supernatural
about the matter nevertheless believed that there
was some foundation for the story, and that the
family were honest in their representations and
their fears. People not only from Gustavia, but
from all parts Of the Island, began visit the
scene of these remarkable manifestations, attracted
| by curiosity and the love OF the marvellous. Among
| the rest, the gentleman { ON whom derive these
particulars frequently visited tho house, and wit
| messed, on several occasions, things OF the most
extraordinary and startling character The house
Is rather a large one, aud the principal scenes of
the disturbances are two large rooms, communi.
eating by wide door, in the manner of folding
doors My informant has repeatedly seen stones
OF considerable size fall from the ceiling of these
rooms TO the floor, when there was no aperture
| through which they could possibly have come. He
! he's seen Two chairs, standing opposite sides Of
long table, lifted, without any visible ioterp0si-
ten into the air and passing the able in op-
| potite directions, exactly change their places He
once saw vase OF flowers rise spontaneously, to |
al appemance) from msntel piece in of these |
rooms, and pass with slow and even motion through
The door into The other room, and deposit itself |
upon TIE mantel there These things, and others
OF the like character, took place in open day, at
hCm 10 O'Clock Z. NJ. and were witnessed by
many persons, frequently standing promiscuoasy
about the two rooms. Sometimes as many as
twenty would go together, and il was not uncom-
mon for parties OF young men to pass the night ia
these rooms, out of bravado-always, however.
taking care to be in sufficient numbers % keep Nd
one another's courage. The disturbances continued
IN the same manner, whatever the number of per.
present.
ought, perhaps, to mention as a suspicious cir
constance that Immediately upon the removal of
the family from the house, everything would be-
come quiet and continue until they returned
But when they were placed apart in a room by
themselves, and persons stationed in and nround |
the house to maintain vigant watch, there was
no abatement or interruption of the manifest
In The large rooms referred to. AT length, the au.
thorities thought it time to interfere in the matter,
and the Swedish Chief of Police, who regarded the |
whole thing as piece of trickery carried on by |
members OF the family, or by some mischief loving
young men of the town, for the sake of the frolie
resolved TO look ihto it. He accordingly visited the
house, and, on entering the large room called out
IN jeering manner that il there were any spirits
there, and they had The power he wished they
would throw him dollar. No sooner said than
silver dollar fell at his feet 8
NOT OF all disconcerted by this prompt acceptance
Oh h's challenge, the imperturbable functonary !
pcSed up the CON- and after pocke citing it securely
saia mat he should like to see the Spirits get il
back again, If they could. This. however Wa. a
either beyond their ability or thew did NOT choose
70 De dictated TO as to the manner in which tbav il
shouid oispiay their power; for the Chief stil rs
tains and exhibits the dollar as memento Of hi.
in'e,s'e" win the Spirits. Challenges of a similar
kind nave often been promptly responded 10 and
persons expressing disbelief and wish th., III I,
spirits would throw something at them have been c
severely hurt by stones and other missiles cor;na
rom the quarter OF the room opposite to that whers
they were standing.
For these facts, and variety Of others Of .im;.
| q m ro1 tA,tl L.