Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-05-15

Shorty after this the chamber occupied BY the
parents became the scene of knockings similar
to those which have been described as having
occurred at Rochester. They seemed to come
from the head-b board of the bed. The gentle
man was called in there and with the closest
scrutiny he could make was fairly bothered. At
his request, the occupants of the bed moved as
far from the head-board as possible, but still he
heard the gentle rap rap, now on this side and
now on that again directly under his nose.
Having studied the accounts of the Rochester
knockings, he set about endeayoring to open a
communication with the spirit in the way pur-
sued at that place. In this he was, after spen-
ding considerable time, partially successful.
The revelations made were, however, strictly
OF family nature; and fox their benefit, and a
mong them many by-gone facts stated, and al
so some things the truth or falsity of which
the lapse of a short time will determine.
The next day more stuffed figures were found
in another room, and several Of the neighbors
were called in to look at them. While there, one
OF those present, a gentleman, received blow
from the top Of a candle-stick, on the back part
OF his head in a way which could not be explain.
Ell by himself or any one else. Subsequent
ly the same gentleman, while walking up stairs
with the boy above spoken of; suddenly found
him choking by his side-the effect of a hand
kerchief tied tightly around his throat. From
the tie, and from its tightness, he was con-
vinced the boy did not do it himself, and no one
else was hear them. 1t seemed to have been
effected instantaneously, while the gentleman's
eyes were, for an instant, ayerted.
At other times the boys clothes were torn
almost off from him, and he tumbled into a
cistern near the house while it was full OF
water; books thrown from bookcase about
the house, flat-irons and other household i'm
plements thrown hither and thither about the
house, of which twas impossible to give any
thing like a connected account. The family
have, thus far, rendered every possible facility
to those who have undertaken to examine the
subject, and in that have offered most convin-
icing proofs that they were not parties to any at
tempt at deception.
We have not yet told the half of what we
are fully satisfied is true, upon the best Of au-
thority, and are not connected with the family
in any way; but for everything which we have
named above we have the riost reliable, and to
us, undoubted and undoubtable testimony.
We are as perfectly satisfied with the truth
Of what we have repeated as though we our
selves had witnessed it. ..a.se VT
And now word as to the family. They are
VI SASSiSaoAOPuS0 IL CSCAy way ASOt0 0n0NC
of sucpicion can rightfuly be cast upon them
by any of their friends or acquaintance. Their
position in life alone, forbids the thought of
any wish or desire on the part Of any Of them to
practise or to get up any imposition of the kind
They have, however, been made subjects Of
ridicule among the thoughtless and unfeeling,
and have been excessively annoyed by the inn
pertinence and disturbances created by gangs Of
rowdies from neighboring towns. Their
wishes that the subject might not be talked of
and spread aboutin the neighborhood have not
been strictly regarded, and for the last few days
theJ have been so constantly run down with
the visits an questions Of the curious that they
can hardly find time for meals or repose They
hope, and SO do several real friends of theirs,
that the mystery, whatever it is, has now final
ly ceased its operations. - s,
The distress which has been brought upon
the family in consequence of the unjust and un-
feeling imputations cast upon the children in
consequence Of what has transpired, can only
be appreciated by those who have families look
ing to and resting upon them; and, for the
sake Of those concerned in this instance, we
hope that none will be so forgetful as to in
dulge in remarks Of a harsh nature, ut least
until they know more Of the case than they
as yet do. zsH sGs