New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-10
"Tbe ,IystsrIous RappIngs.v

]
Mrs Fox and her three daughters left our City
yesterday on their return to Rochester after stay
here of some weeks during which they have free
| ly subjected the mysterious influence by which
they leem to be accompanied to every reasonable
test, and to the keen and critical scrutiny Of the
hundreds who have chosen to visit them or whom
! thew have been Invited to visit. The rooms which
! they occupied at the hotel have been repeatedly
searched and Gcrutir lied they have been
without IN hours notice into houses they had never
before entered; they have been all unconsciously
placed on glass surface concealed under the car
pet in order to interrupt electric vibrations they
have been disrobed by Committee of Ladies ap.
pointed without notice and insisting that neither of
them should leave the until tho nvostig alton
had been made, &c. &c. yet we believe no one to
thie moment pretends that he has detected either
Of them in producing or causing the 'Rappings
nor do we think any Of their contemners has in
vented plausible theory to account for the pro.
ducton Of these sounds, nor the singular intei.
gence which certainly at times has seemed to be
manifested through them.
Some ten or twelve days since, they gave up
their rooms at the hotel and devoted the remainder
OF their scjoln here to visiting several families to
which they had been invited by persons interested
in the subject, and subjectiug the singular inau.
ence to a corer and calmer examination than could
be given to it at a hotel and before casual com.
panies Of strangers drawn together by vague curl.
osty more rational interest, or predetermined aud
invincbe hostility. Our own dwelling was
among those they thus visited, not merely submit.
ting to bat counting the fullest and keenest in. |
quiry with regard to the alleged manifestation
from the spiri.-word by which they were attended
We devoted what time we could spare from our
duties out OF three days to this subject, and it
would be tie bssest cowardice not to say that we
are convinced beyond doubt OF their perfect intrg.
rIyand good faith in the premises. Whatever may
be the origin or the GAUGE Of the Rappings, the
ladies' in Whole presence they occur do TOt make
them. We tested this thoroughly and to our entire
satisfaction.
Their conduct and bearing is as uslke that Of de-
ceivers espossibe and we think no one acquainted
with them could believe them at all capable OF en-
geging in 20 daring. impious and shameful Jug.
Gle as this would be if they caused the sounds
Ard it is not possible that such jugge should have
been so long perpetrated in public yet escape de.
lection. juggler performs enc feat quickly and
hurrics on to another he does not devote weeks
after weeks TO doing the same thing over and over
deliberately, in fall view Of hundreds who set be-
side or confronting him in broad daylight, not to
cnioy but to detect his trick. A deceiver naturally
avoids conversation on the Eubjcctohs knavery bat
there ladies' converse freely and fally with regard
to the origin Of these Rappings' ia their dwelling
years ago, the various sensations they caused, the
neighborhood excitement crested the progress of
he developnents-whGt they have feen, heard and
.xperienced from frs. TO last. If all were fslse,
bev could not fail TO have involved themselves
his in q labyrinth Of blasting contradictions as
ssch separately gives accounts OF the most msound
pg occurrences at this or that time Persons fool
sh enough so to commit themselves without re.
,erve or caution could not have deferred thorough
Ielfexposure for single week.
OF course, variety Of opinions of so strange
natter would naturally be formed by the various
persons vho have visited them, and we presume
hose who have merely ran in to their room for an
our or so ard listened, among huddle of stran.
gers TO medley Of questions-not all admitting Of
7ery profitable anGwers-put 10 certain invisible
ntelligences and answered by Rappings orsiogu'
ar noises on the floor, table, &C. as the alphabet
as called over or otherwise, would naturally go
away perhaps puzzled, probably disguised fneY
,onvirced. II is hardly possible that mater
,st.rtibly so grave could be presented unaer
less favorable TO CONVICTION bu'
# those who have enjoyed proper opportunities
or full investigation we believe tna' ia"y 'aiee
our,hs are convinced, as We are thar these sngu'
Ar sOoud. aud seeming manifestations are cot pro-